Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-04-05
he For the Spectator.
Discussion In McGaheysville
RooK1NeHAM Co.. March %, 16

d r..ff.
,Messrs. Editors :-On Saturday last, the 26th
we had the pleasure OF hearing political d,s
cnssion in McGaheysville between Col. Charlie
h. Lewis, Senatorial Elector of the Wing ant
American parties, and Thos. L. Yancy, Esq.
Senatorial Elector of the Democratic party, ane
Mayor Of the ''soulless Corporation" OF the towI
Of Harrisonburg The discussion was conducted
10 the very best humor upon both sides, and
passed off without creating any unpleasant feel
Jugs in the bosom of any present. Col. Lewis
led off in speech of three quarters of an hour
aud was replied to by Mr.. Fancy in the same
Ieugth of time, and each rejuDed In speeches o.
twenty minutes. Colonel Lewis, is we'll
posted politician, and successfully maintained
the many grave charges he brought against the
present prohgate and corrupt administration. =
He exposed the alarming extravaganza and vile
corruptions which were so clearly established and
are so well known to be true, that his compet'
tor did not dare to deny or attempt any apollo
.gy for them. He proved that Mr.. Letcher oc-
cupies the anomalous and ridiculous position Of
claiming to support the administration whilst be
disapproves of every recommendation OF the
President. s-t ssgol bas s,gt.
When we saw that the Democratic party had
appointed Tbos. L. Yancy as its Senatorial f.
Iector we were grati6ed, for We thought that il
had appointed man who would not stoop to
any of the tricks OF the demagogues. We have
known him all his life, and have always esteem
ed him as not only person of clever talents,
but as gentleman in the true and highest sense
Of the term. We might say that we have loved
him aud still do, almost as brother. This be-
ing the case, inn. zine then oar surprise and NOR
tification when we found that the first thing be
attempted to do, was to make the impression up
ON the audience that Ool Lewis in bis official
capacity as Elector, was the representative OF
Wings, Americans and Black Republicans. He
said that COL Lewis was the Elector of "Whigs,
Americans and Others" and that he supposed
"ot!ers" must mean the "BLucb Republicans" !"
He must have known that there Were no Black
Republicans in this State and that if there were
hey would, like the National Era," the Abo.
lition Organ at Washington City, prefer the sue
cess of that candidate-John Letcher-who, In
ls47, desired division of the State that the
Western portion might be Abolitionized. When
we witnessed this little trick on the part of 80
cIsrer young man as Mr.. Yancy, we were al
most constrained to believe that it was impossi-
ble to be Democratic speaker without being
demagogue. Ii We had esteemed less the au-
thor of this trick, we would not have been NOR
tifed to such degree; for twas on his account
that we were panied, and not that we believed
it would impose upon any one, tor We have
better opinion of the good sense OF those present
than to believe that any one could be deceived
by It. But esteeming him as favorably and
kindly as we did, we felt somewhat as David did
when deceived by his friend, Ahithopel. Speak
ing of the treaehery of his confidential counsel
lor. David says: For it was not an enemy
that reproached me; then could have borne It'll
neither was it he that hated me, that did mag
nify himself against ME then would have hid
myself from him; but it was thou, man my E.
quail, my guide and my acquaintance" When
OIL. Lewis replied he told him very properly
tina, there were "othersn besides Wings and A.
nericans in this State who were appalled, at the
-xtravagance and corruptions of the present
Democratic party, who would vote for Goggin,
and they were honest Democrats who were mis-
represented at present by corrupt members OF
their party. There were others consistent Dem :
ncrats who could not consent to vote for Letch-
er, after opposing Geo. W. Summers because OF
his advocacy OF emancipation In 1882, when
Letcher as late as 1847 advocated diuision OF
the State that Western Virginia might he an Ab-
clifton State. The rejoinders were spirited and
good humored, interspersed with pertinent an
ecdotes which amused the audience. To defend
the Democracy at this time is an uphill business
let him try it who will.
After this discussion, speeches were made BY
Messrs Samuel Reubush and Chas GrattaD, two
of the sersn candidates for the Legislature in
this County. Their speeches were favorably
received, particularly that of the latter gentle
man, as was eyinced by the frequent and loud
applause with which it was greeted.
ROCKINGHAM.