Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-29
Parson Brownlow on Goggin aud Letcher.

The editor of the Knoxville Wing. the cele-
brated Parson Brownlow, who was present ut
the discussion in Abingdon, Va, gives the fol-
lowing account of it:
I'VE attended the Debate on Monday be-
tween Messrs. Goggin and Letcher at Alb
ingdou, and we now avail ourselves Of this
occasion tn notice it, The crowd was very
large, and both parties were enthusiastic
The discussion was an able one, and was
equal to our warmest and ablest debates i'll
Tennessee. The gallant and gifted Goggln
led the WAY in a speech of one hour and
twenty minutes, each having reply Of forty
minutes. Mr.. Goggin held the audience
spell-bound by the force and power of his
logic. the music of his superior voice, the
power Of his eloqucnce, the crushing nature
OF his charges against Letcher and his party,
and the boldness with which he made those
charges, a. well a. the proof with which they
were sustained. Gugsln is among the finest.
and most efficient speakers in the SOUTH
His blows fell thick and fast on the unlucky
head Of Mr.. Letcher. and the political par
" represented hy his nomination-every one
Of which went homo with telling ctfect-and
he was enthusiastically he"rcd from first To
last. The Petersburg Convention was hand
led without gloves-the sins and short com
ings Of the Democratic party-the ruinous ex-
travagance ofthe Administration-th whole
sale robbery and plumber of many OF Buchan-
ans officials, We're shown up i'll their true
light. and by master hand. Lastly, John
Lctcher, with his Ruffner pamphlet sup
port of Van Buren, with his Free negro sut-
fragc, &c, were handled with such ability,
as to make Letcher quakein his boots. The
castigation given him by Gogg IN reminded
Us of the palmy days OF Jones and Polk
1t will repay any Wing to travel 80 miles
to hear Goggin upon Democracy and l.etcher.
John Lctcher is al ADLER speaker than he
is reported to be. though he is no match for
Vim. l.. Goggin. lie is the personihcation Of
one of the first families Virginia dress
es fne-wears large gold spectaces, low
down upon his nose-has red head and fair
skin, and cuts his hair close. He is all the
time on the dctemsire, and struggled to parry
the thrusts of Goggn, but to poor purpose.
Goggn has him down and keeps him there
all the time. Goggin, who is an able law
yer. prosccntcs from the word 20. Letcher
makes desperate effort to defend himself
and his party: but with such IA record rs his.
and with the sins.o his party all on his back,
he staggers and founders like IL drunken and
drowning man. His defence Of the Admin
istraton is so lame an affair, aS to damage
the cause without Il reioinder. He repudia-
ted the thirty million bill, the Cuban policy,
the Pacific Railroad, and the Tariff doctrines
Of Buchanan. lie only defends the extrava-
gance Of by the Administration.
Goggin makes friends and votes wherever
he goes; and while we do not expect our par
" to carry the State. we are confident OF
large gains. But Goggin and his friends
really expect to succeed, and they are pro-
ducing good impression everywhere. The
excitement is high in Virginia, and there
will be large turn out on the 10Th of May.
We confess, that when we look at what Nr-
ginia ha, done, we expect defeat; and still,
when we look at the issues, and the superior
ity of I'll" Whig candidate. We snail not be
surprised 10 hear of his election