Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-05-07
RICHM,O ND wHIG.
DISCUSSION IN CHARLOTTESVILLE.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, May 3, 1859.
To the Editor ofthe Whig:
Yesterday MAY court dav and we had no no.
ical Discussion until night Late In the afternoon
was announced by hand bill and orally that DISCUSSION
wonld come of in the Court House. at o'clock 7. NJ
between Messrs. VIM. l.. Gordon and James C. Southal
and that the ball would be wound up after the regular
Set-to between Gordon and Southall, by Mr. Vim. W.
"ilmer, more commonly known Little Billy t;ilmer"
At the hour appointed repaired to the Court House.
and found there large and respectable audience In
short time the speakers appeared when Mr. Gordon led
on In speech Of an hours length. II an uphill
business with him all the time. He admitted, among
other things that Letchers nomination. by the Peters
burg Convention, iods bad nomination." which ad-
mission brought down the laundering applause from
the house. He admitted, moreover, that "Old Buck
the chosen leader of the harmonious Democracy had
deceived his party had gone asiray from the true faith
and was now worshpng false idols Mr.. G. did the best
he could, under all the circumstances, for bad
IL was manifest to all who heard him. that his heart and
soul were not in the cause which he attempting
advocate The Truth is and it had well he spoken
right out that VIM. L. Gordon is a high toned honora-
ble gentleman, and that consequently he has bu, little
sympathy with such folks 'honest John Leteer" Mr.
borton would like be a Dsnocrs, he could hut
there Is no congclAty, sympathy between him and
the dirty demagogues who rule the party and conf
IDENTIFY predict tt in less than twelve months from th
time he will be where nineenths of the conservative
and respectable men Of the country arc TO wit in
opposition tn the ruling dynasty.
After Mr.. Gordon had concluded speech which was
nancstly most irksome task to him. he succeed
ed by Mr.. James G. Southal
Mr. Southal has taken but little interest in public af
fairs for the last four or five years lie young gen
teman Of liberal education. lie has had the advantage
OF two trips to Europe within the last half dozen wears
and has made the most of his opportunities.
When Mr.. = commenced his speech in reply to Mr.
e., he manifested good deal of diidence aud cmbar-
rassinent. But ~ lac became interested in his subject
his dilidcncc seemed to abandon him and hc entered
upon the grave issues involved in the present canvass
and discussed them with power and ability which have
not been surpassed upon hustngs. lie arraigned
John Lecher upon the Rurncr Pamphlet his eleven
votes for Wendell his subtcrfges and equivocaons hs
lafat UFfRVa a.Is1. 1Nl,..
called Reform Convention of 1851 and whilst the Ian
guage of the orator, he would charge in 80 many
words, that John Lctcher had been guilty of deliberate
tachood, he left II to the audience say, upon the
overwhelming of testimony presented by him. how
TAR he had succeeded in convictDg him of departure
from truth
Mr.. s boldly proclaimed, upon the evidence adduccd
ny him. that he had Of faith in the aforesaid
John Lctcher, and that whatever other Wing
might say OF their confidence in him a high-mnded,
honorable man, he NJ $, entertained such opinion
of him. He intimatcd In very unisa.bio terms that
The aforesaid john when tested by all his anecedents
scurvy fellow, and that the less that said in his
praise by gentlemen the better. Mr.. Southalrs whole
peech was most decided success. Afler paving his
respects the Dutch Reformed Abolitonist he devo-
ted about half of his time to exposton-and II
uastcrly exposition il was-of the frauds corruptions
monstroscs and roguerics of the Buchanan Admnistra
lion. He laid bare, with masters hand the mine of
corruption which, in the language of Roger \. Pryor Is
constantly issuing forth insuicrablc stencil. The
abomnabe frauds In tho Navy Yards tha REGULATION and
extraVagance connected with the Custom House system
the wastcul and proigato expenditure of the public
ney, in every department OF the Governments these and
many other subjects, handled In the able and
kllful manner. In the language of the speaker
has become dshonorcd and disgraced nation,
~ in the eyes of all honest home but in the eyes
of all respectable foreign nations aud in this connection
the speaker alluded in appropriate terms, the edito
ralS which have recently appeared in the London Times
.Arnng the Rh patton agains; the corruptons of
t ernmen and PRAYING t,at tn rGoners there should
short in their career, lost they should lie visited
,sll those frauds and abomiHable coFruptons which
sirs Government by-word and reproach
<<,f<<sss<.I. speech gs- reSai.~A ,hs <s~-t viii