Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-16
PUBLISHED DAILY AND TRI-wEEKLY BY
EDGAR SNOWDEN.
ALEXANDRIA,:
MONDAY MORNING, MAY ls. 1859.


PouTlcAL.--Again was Liberty Hall
crowded to OVERLOOKING, on Friday night, to
listen to political discussion. Increase
of appetite" seemed to have grown upon
what it had fed, the previous highland all
were eager and anxious to hear the speakers.
Mr.. GoGGIN. the Wing candidate for Gov
ernor, commenced the discussion. He was
received with hearty applause. We are sure
we express the opinions of all, when we say,
that he not only pleased but delighted the
audience by his happy manner, his ready
wit, and his open and manly mode of deal
ing nth all the questions before him. Nor
were his wit and manner his only recon-
mendations. His points were all we'll made
and his arguments logical and strong
Those who have heard him before, in this
canvass, say that he never appeared to
greater advantage. and never acquitted him.
self more creditably to himself, and with
more effect to the cause which he advocates,
and the party Of which he is the gallant
leader and standard bearer.
lie took up, first, the doctrine of Secession
which has lately been propounded and urged
by Mr. Montague. and apparently made a
plank in the political platform" of the par
ty striving to retain their ascendancy in
this State. He showed how contrary that
doctrine, az maintained and defended by Mr..
NJ. was, to the opinions and teachings of
James Madison and Andrew Jackson, and
how destructive it would be. if practically
carried out to all hope for preservation
and perpetnation of the Union. His CON-
ments on this head were forcible and con-
elusive.
He then took up the famous Rufner pam
phlet, and contended that the doctrines of
that pamphlet, as endorsed by Mr.. Letcher
at the time it was published. were thorough
ly anti slavery. and that. they were as bad,
and worse than any opinions ever entertain
ed by Geo. w. Summers. Bolts. Ballard
Preston, Or others, who had been denounced
and ostracized by the Democratic party, as
abolitionists. He returned the poisoned
chalce" to the lips of those who had so often
used this slavery question for effect, charg-
ing them with eating their own words, in
the case of their own candidate. lie ad-
admitted that Mr.. Letcher had recanted
these opinions, and now expressed different
ones; and did not say that he would act, If IN
Office, upon the doctrines which ne had re-
Gently held. But if he was to be excused,
why was the gross injustice committed OF
hunting and bounding Summers, for express
lug similar doctrines years and years ag"--
and who is not only large slave holder, but
as true, and good, and safe man as amy one
in the broad limits of the Commonwealth.
simply because he is a Wing. 1t was upon
the Inconsistency and Injustice of the party
in this matter, that he charged home, and
with all the powers Of his wit and argument.
If they relied, he said, upon what they called
the "moral effect against the South, had
Summers been elected. would not the same
'morsl effect" be produced. if MIR. Leteher
should be elected? He used the arguments
of the Democratic party against Summers. IS
arguments against the present course OF that
party.
He next commented upon Mr.. Leteher's
expressed opinions as to forcing the people to
pay their taxes in gold and silver shopld the
Banks suspend-and upon that gentleman
proposed division of the State; and in this
connection made glowing and thrilling ap-
Zeal to the people in behalf of Virgins III
terests and Virginia zone and indivis'hie'
lie then took up the general political H.
sues, and one after another, propounded to
Mr.. Montague, a succession OF questions
touching these matters. to which he desired
answers. MIR. NJ. was here rs the advocate
of a can didate nominated by Convention
that had approved of MIR. Buchanan's ad-
ministration, and yet Mr.. M. himself not
only failed to support the measures of that
administration, but repndated and denounc-
ed several of the most important OF them
DO you, said he, addressing Mr.. NJ. approve
the Pacific Railroad, and the Tariff? You
do not-and yet here you are supporting the
Administration candidate for Governor!
Mr.. Letcher's acceptance of the increased
nav for Members of Congress, his participa-
ton in the expense incurred for deiraylng
the junketings of Kossuth and his follow
ers in Washington. and his vote sgainst the
pensions for the old soldiers, were all com
men ted on. .,a %
He said that he had great confidence that
the people of Virginia would sustain him IN
the effort he was now making, and that II
elected, he would endeavor to perform his
duty faithfully in behalf of the rights OF the
Commonwealth, and the interests of the peo-
nile. lie was in favor Of their great works
of internal improvement. and he was in la
vor Of relieving the people, az much as pos
sible. from the burthen Of the taxation they
endured for their construction. There was
a fund. he said, which belonged To them,
and which ought to lie applied to that pur-
,ose He referred to the Pablic Lands
Give us our just and rightful share of that
IL. could Or, far 10 finish our i'm