Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-05-10
For the Enquirer.
F0r tic enquirer.
Political Discussion in Christiausburg, Va, on Mon
day, the End Of May 1859.

cay, the Znd OF may, 1903.
Never were the Democracy Of Montgomery
more delighted witha champion than they were
on this occasion with the effort of Robt II.
Glass, the efficient and talented editor of the
Lynchburg Republican" He opened in
speech Of an hour and a-halG in which, lie re-
viewed in an able and graphic manner the poll.
cy Of the Democratic party from the davs Of
up one by one the great questions that have
heretofore marked the dividing lines between
the Democratic party and the Opposition, the
acquisition Of territory, the subtreasury tariff,
&c. &c lie spoke Of the country as it was in
other days, and as it is-charged the Opposi-
ton of always having been Northern party,
and proved to every mans satisfaction that in
their opposition to the Democracy they were
aiding and abettng the abolitionists. lie said
to his competitor CIV. r. Staples that he
charged it home upon him and his party, that
the Opposition party had been untrue to the
South, even upon the slavery question, and he
entered into an able argument to prove it Hon.
Vim. g. Preston, who addressed the people of
Montgomery at their Circuit Court in April, was
present, and although Mr.. GLASS; speech was
not intended as reply to his-for Glass did
not hear it, yet more apt and appropriate re-
ply to Preston, could not have been made
under any circumstances. lie refuted every
position, and exposed, as with pencil Of light,
every declaration that the honorable gentleman
made at the Circuit Court. Mr.. Glass challenged
Mr. Staples to the refutation of single argument
he had advanced. IIc called upon him repeatedly
to point out when he (Staples) came TO reply,
single position he Glass had assumed, that
was not attested by the political history Of the
country. The speakers defence OF Letcher was
able and satisfactory.
lie reviewed the professions Of the OppOsi.
ton and asked where were their trophies -
But the writer cannot undertake to give even
an outline of Mr. Glass fine speech.
Mr.. Staples took the stand. at the conclusion
of Mr.. Glass speech, and was received by his
friends with tremendous applause and terrific
yells, and delivered speech of an hour and
har's duration am sure do Mr.. Staples
no injustice when say he utterly failed to re-
ply to Mr.. Glass. Although challenged to a
refutation of Mr. Glass speech, he utterly and
| totally failed to meet single argument lie
! made speech satisfactory to his friends; for,
at the conclusion Of every sentence, they
seemed .fiuntic with delight; for the yelling
and screaming was wonderful. He made some
good hits at Glass talked a great deal about
the RuIner pamphlet; could not trust man
who had endorsed it; and stated that if ne had
known that Samuel McD. Moore and John
Echols, flor both of whom he had voted tor
Electors had endorsed that pamphlet, he
never. never would have roted for them lie
talked About Lctcher wanting to divide the
State; and here he waXed eloquent. Mr..
STAPLES declaims very well and if he has ar
argument to advance, he hides it in the Ian
guagc he employs, and his hearers never dis
cover it
Mr.. Glass rejoined in a speech Of twenty
minutes, and Mr. Staples in speech OF twenty
minutes to Glass, and the discussion closed
the Democrats delighted with the argumenta
tive speech of Glass, and the Opposition equal!
delighted with the speech Of Staples-the De
morcrats having all Of the argument, and tn
Opposition having all the Frss.