South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1859-05-06
Mr.. Goggin's Speech at Phoenix Hall.
From the Petersburg hieliigencer, .rprH 22.


contribute TO the pleasure and cdfcation Of
our readers, who, we sure, will one and
all, avail themselves OF the opportunity of
acquaintins themselves with the sentiments
and principles Of our gallant standard bearer, as
directly enunciatcd by hilnseIf-one Of Eirgnias
most gifted sons-thc true friend Of the people
the ardent and eloquent advocate of the great
cause Of constitutional law and Iibery-tllc in
flexible foe TO Democratic tyranny and corrup-
ton-thc man, in Short who holds party in sub
ordination to country. Such man is WIN. L.
GOGClN, in whose political record not the
slightest taint Of dsalTection towards either the
! Commonwealth, the South, or The Union can be
! found.
, FELLOW CITIZENS ofPErERsBUnG
In compliance with call made upon me
in the month of February last. by con-
vention assembled in the city of Richmond,
| consented to place myself in the position
of the candidate of a convention composed
Of Wings. Americans, and all parties op-
posed to the nomination of John Letcher
for Governor of Virginia. At that time,
| | made arrangements for capvassins the
! Commonwealth. and for meeting :he nom-
inee of the Dcwocratic party in debate, and,
| in accordance with those arrangements,
this happens to be the day appointed for
discussion in this part of the State. 1
have endeavored to discharge the duties de-
volved on me. and long list of appoint
ments, made by my competitor, have been
followed by us, together, from the town of
Harrisonburg, to the town of Lewisburg.
on the 9th of this month. There his an
| Ill T.. 81 1 1
crs, and endeavorcd to compel ne to follow
them but thought had done so long
enough, and said it was my lead the next
time. | made list Of appointments, in
which he was TO follow me, commencing at
the town of Covington. and which have
been met by me to this point. am now
here, in fulillrnent of thuse appointments,
but it has been the misfortune of my cum-
| petltor to be prevented from meeting them,
and to be confined to his room by sickness.
ont Of the State Of Virginia, and IN the
District Of ColuniLia was not rcioiccd
at his sickness. nor do condemn it. He
has all my sympathy in his aifliction but
beg leave to say to him, somewhat in the
language of what is sometimes seen OIL the
cars over the platform, ado not stand on
this place it IS dangcrous-wc give you
this caution" had my friend under my
keeping but he got on the platform Of the
District Of Columbia. and if he happened
thereby to get into condition wherein he
could not make his appearance at the pla-
ces designated i'll my list of appointments,
he is to blame ; more particularly as I see
it announced that he sat down to dinner
during that time with Senator Douglas I
certainly do not complain of the dinner, nor
OF his going into the District of Columbia,
| except when, as candidate for Governor
OF Virginia, he goes to avoid meeting the
charges of political hercsy which he knew
would be preferred against him, and which
he knew he could not rcbut. I do not
doubt he was sick-not at all, for he has
told me so; and here take occasion to say
that whatever the gentleman says person
ally as man, have the most implicit con-
hdeDcc in; but when he speaks as a poll
ticiaD, then I may doubt or believe him, as
please. The charges to which refer are
those heresies and those opinions enter
tained by the gentleman with which his
own party has charged him, and with which
he was charged sy Oqse qse%SdsfaG ShH G'B BY birth,
profession and education. l know I need
offer no apology for referring to the old
war horse" of the party, Timothy Rives,
Esq, OF Prince George county.
l came here, not to protest against his
nomination, but against his election.
Who brought him here?
want to show you, if some of you were
not witnesses Of the asscmbIagc or the bo-
dy which nominated him, what sort of q
gathering 1T was. while, at the same time
show you come here by the choice of
convention, which in point of numbers in
point OF responsibility. in point of charac-
ter and integrity, and every characteristic
that can adorn men, was such as scarcely
ever before assembled in the State. Such,
am proud to say, was the convention
which nominated me, nnd such it was ac-
knowledged to be, even by the Democracy
themselves.
But what sort of convention was it that
nominated my friend and connection
40 not intend to say anything of it as COM
ing from the Wing party or its press. but
1 VIII only present you with what the De-
mocratlc party themselves have furnished.
But here permit me to say, do not mean
the party which was once the Democratic
party. For Democratic leaders I have no
sympathy; but for the great masses have
much respect, because 1 believe many of
them are honorable, honest and patriotic
OUT Tor those horses who pretend to be the
leaders IN the great team, have very lit
Tie respect and no sympathy. 1 make 10
personal alluslon to any member ofthc par
ty, when | call attention to an article as
coming from one high in the ranks and |
member of that convention. / will read
you an extract from the IuV,y Star. De.
mocratic paper, published in Mr.. Lctcher's |
own district.
From The rdlley Star. I
Ns deportment was anything but gratifying |
ana pleasant, reminding us very much of the do, !
lngs OF Iammany Hall, OR some other rowdy az. |
seiholy. 1t was. from beginning TO end. conru.
sion worse confounded, and ali that The devil
would 40, If run stark mad was here let loose - !
IN vain me President raped and called TO order.
ioI % no earthly power could Ajeck the Kissing,
ocno",ns and racket. Every man felt cnthusi.
asuc. whether the result Of intense feeling. or
the 0veriiOwinu of spirits ,yc ,ro ,,,,bI o., .,