Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-04-19
ICON MCSICATED
Political Discussion

,.sr GROVE. ORANGE County, April
=, Tbcrc was a discussion to-day between
49,, Smith and Mr.. Thomas, at this place.
:, Thomas led off in a speech of n hour,
:, which he ably advocated Wing principles,
.noved that President Buchanan, 1.-The
o, embodiment of the Democratic party"
ia commended in his message to the last
r,rcress, the adoption of specific duties, as
=. hest means, not only to replete the Trea-
',-v hut the only means, by which the rob
,o-y Of millions could be prevented, which
h,d already occurred under the present ad
,oIorem system. Mr.. Thomas arrayed many
,h.rres against the present Administration,
=. ;,s nroficate expenditure of the public
,rsr and closed with ali emphatic en-
-,;ry ~ to what had become OF the seventeen
mIIiIions surplus in the Treasury, when Pres
;ion, Buchanan anne into office!
Gny. Smith, in his usually assumed con-
sl,n, and easy style, replied i'll a speech of
"ne bour. He commenced by arraying and
InId;nc nm .or the admiration of the con-
'.;,nanry around him, his long and arduous
Lille services, and defied the world to point
p, one hlotch on his political record. lie
3i undertake to show what had become of
.ho seventeen millions alluded to by MIR.
Tboma., and did explain to US how some
nine millions had been applied in the re-
demption of Treasury notes, &C., and then,
w,st adroitly passed on. lie made no re-
snopse that | heard, to the enquiry made by
ur Thomas, whether he concurred with the
President. in his opinions on the subject of
.nec;6, duties, nor did he say any thing in
-ssnIv 10 what Mr.. Thomas had said about
,be Thirty Million Bill, Protectorate, &c.-
Nevertheless. in the conclusion OF his speech,
no ,riumphantly claimed, that he had not
only met. but demolished every issue which
had been raised by his adversary, and no
dnubt, some of his political friends believed
i though the manifestations were very fee
HE whilst | All we'll assured, that in the
judgment of many who attentively listened
!, him, tand among them some genuine
Democrats. even if they be Shackeltord
men. rs can be found in the county he had
no, fairly met and argued a single issue
made by Mr.. Thomas, except his explana-
tion Of how nine of the seventeen millions
had been applied.
Mr.. Thomas. in his rejoinder of fifteen
minutes. turned to great advantage an asser-
ton the Governor had made, whilst explain
ing why the Treasury was now empty, that
every dollar of the twenty millions deficit IN
the revenue for the past fiscal year, because
of the fact, that our imports had been les
sened one-third. from providential causes,
was then in the pockets Of the people. MIR;
Thomas begged the dear people just to feel
in their pockets, and ascertain whether 1t
was really there or not-there was one uni
versal response that it was not there.
The Governor followed, but failed to make
any impression in his favor thu, could per-
ceiye. | doubt not, but that the friends OF
both profess to feel well pleased with the
result. | know most certainly, that the
friends of Mr.. Thomas are highly gratlhed.
and believe that good will result from his
visit among Us.