Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-05-20

NA<hN - . SAh1ASe
made speeches to the sercnading crowd
They leave, to-day, for Alexandra, where
they speak tonight
As regards our Congressional election, the
general impression is, that Gov. Smith will be
defeated, the Democratic vote being divided
between him and Shackleford; and Major Tho
mas will be elected; the friends OF all three
gentlemen are very active and will make every
effort up to the election day, for their man.
On Yesterday the Fauquier White Sulphur
Springs, were offered at public sale, but were
not sold, no one bidding high enough. They will
| understand be opened at the usual time for
visitors.
To-day is the day for the hanging Of John
son of Rappahanock, for the murder of his
wife. More hereafter. Yours, "FAuQrIEE."
The Discussion at Alexandria Last Friday Night.
Liberty Hall. Alexandria, was crowded to
excess last Friday night, with a large and,
with small exception, an intelligent audience,
to listen to the joint debate between Mr.. Cog
gin, the Opposition candidate for Governor,
and Mr.. Montague, the Democratic nominee
for Lieut.. Governor Of Virginia. 1t was a treat
amply remuncrativc to the attendants. Both
gentlemen excellcd in their respective charac-
tiers. Mr.. Goggin in that of an unsurpassed
retailer of amusing and well-told Joe Miller
stories; in other words, a good Jester. Mr..
Montague in that Of a powerful, entertaining,
and convicting vindicator of the principles Of
which he is 50 bold and fearless Il champion.
Mr.. Goggin, for one hour and a hall, kept
the audience in one succession Of laughter Mt
his wcll-told anecdotes, and interested ii by the
force of his intermediate comparisons. His
speech did not reach the dignity of his position
as was brought home to him by Mr.. Montague,
in his reply to Il suggestion of Mr.. GOggin that
he (Alontagur) did not like anecdotes. The
lieutenant, as Mr.. G.. called him, confessed to
the impeachment by 4 scathing exposition of
the deprecated character of craftsmanship,
which, in the person of II candidate for Cover
nor of Virginia, would shelter his weakness by
the miserable device Of 4 well-told anecdotc.
Mr.. Cioggin was unfortunate in attacking
Mr.. Montague as u sccessioniSt. This brought
out from the latter, in his reply, the most ire
futable defence of State rights that We have
ever heard. He exposed how Goggin, who
there indicated the essential principle Of the
resolutions of '9S and 80, had at Caroline Il
few weeks before opened the discussion by 4
high-wrought culogy upon John Taylor, the
author Of these resolutions, in order to invite
the support of the descendants of Taylor and
those of his contemporaries in that county.
Equally unfortunate was Mr.. Goggins allu-
sion to Mr.. Letcher's connection with the Ruff
ner pamphlet. Mr.. Montague, referring to Mr..
Wiley, who was on the stand, read his speech
in the Virginia Convention of 1851, containing
more dangerous abolition sentiments than the
Rutrner pamphlet, not for the purpose of I'M
pcaching his integrity to the South, but 10 en-
hibit the sentiment Of the West when the Ruff.
ncr pamphlet was written, and to show that Mr..
Goggin was estoppcd by his association with
Wiley from any assault upon MIR. Letcher'S an
teccdrnts on the slavery question.
Every blow at Mr.. Letchcr in this conncc-
ton would fall with increased effect upon Mr.
Wiley, then on the stand. This idea Of cstop-
pal he elaborated more fully by q reference TO
the vote of Goggin and his party for Mr.. Sum
mers, who, not in a debating society, but in the
highest legislative tribunal Of the State, had ut
tered anti-slavery sentiments, which we've found
more worthy to be published in an anti-slavcry
tract, published in London, and sent out here
to affect the Democratic party in the North,
than anything in the Ruifner pamphlet. lie
especially disclaimcd any question of Mr.. Sum
ncrs' soundness now, but referred to his pre-
vious position to show with what i'll grace Mr..
Goggin, who voted for him, now arraignS Mr..
Letcher.
Each Of the gentlemen occupied an hour and
a half, and then a quarter of an hour in reply.
We have not space to exhibit the whole discus
sion, to show with what provoking speech Mr..
Gosgin excited the visibility Of the crowd, and
with what powerful effect Mr.. Montague adj
dressed the intelligence Of the audience.
Mr.. Goggin complimcnted the editor of this
paper by n frequent introduction Of his name
as the author Of some disconnected paragraph
to sustain him in his idea that the Democracy
is dead, or in some other equally ridiculous hal
lucinatiOn.
Mr.. Montague parricd this suggestion hand
somely, by expressing establishment that, if the
Democracy was dead, he should be engaged
travelling around the State sweating himself
lean to fight it.
We say to Mr.. Goggin, in all candor, that
we pity the weakness of position of a candidate
for Governor Of Virginia who has no better
means of sustaining himself than by culling
isolated abstracts from the editorials in his
paper, destroying their sense and retailing
them with q few funny anecdotes to constitute
n speech, in discussing the great questions at
issue in the present Virginia canvass.
There were two notable incidents during the
evening: Ono was the uncouth and uncallcd-tor
demonstration made by Mr.. Goggin on ex-Gov.
Smith, who, being upon the platform, stepped
up to Mr.. Montague, during Mr.. Goggin'S
speech, and whispered something in his ear
no doubt some fact of which he was personally
cognizant, to rcfutc some error of statement
that Mr.. Goggin had just made, which he not
unfrequcntly did during his speech. This cx.
cited Mr.. Goggin, who turned round, and, in a
rough manner, said, | will stop, my friend,
until you get through. Gov. Smith, iminedi-
atcly retired to his seat, when Mr.. Goggin said
that he meant nothing personal to the Cover,
nor; and then, in 4 boastful manner, exclaimed
| that he had met Letcher and his lieutenant,
and if now the Governor was the attorney oil
Letcher, and desired to pit himself against him,
he was prepared to attend to him also.
Another incident was when Mr.. Montague
referred to the unsoundness of Mr.. Fillmore,
some know-Nothing editors in the room Missed.
| Mr.. Goggin, after it had proceeded a while, got
up and waved his hand, as if it was some magic
wand, and begged his friends to dcsist. This
had but little effect, until Mr.. Montague re-
minded them that that kind Of thing could not
affect a man rs old as he; that lie would not
stop; and that they could only accomplish
their purpose by killing him on that stand; that
as long rs he had breath he would exercise his
right to speak.
We would advise Mr.. Goggin to check him
self of that ill-mannered habit of which he is
possessed, Of g%rinning to the audience, whenever
his competitor is coming down upon him with
crushing effect, as much as to say, wait till
get hold of him, | will knock all that, when he
knows he is but holding out inducements by
the sly contortions of his not very handsome
face, which he cannot fulfil. 1t is in bad taste
anyway, and should not be INDUCED in by any
gentleman of dignity.
We also advise him to stop retailing that
Misrepresentation about Mr.. Letcher, saying
that Inc would have voted against the fugitive