Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-08-28

TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUSTUS, 1850.
The Meeting Oh Thursday Might.
Avery large and heterogeneous asscmblage
collected at the African Church on Thursday
evening last. KS VIC entered the building we
found that the Hon. Henry S. Footc had al
ready commenced his address.
Mr.. Footc informed the audience that he had
seen in the newspapers Of the morning an an
nouncement made by some people, he didn't
know who, that an individual with whom he
was not acquainted, but who nevertheless might
be possessed of very great amount of politi
cal information, was very desirous to reply to
his Nootes) address OF The evening Mr.. Foote
had already thrown down the gauntlet to the
two Virginia Senators, Messrs. Hunter and Ma
son-botl Of whom had failed to meet him.
1t was not, therefore, from want OF courage
that Mr.. Foote declined to meet any one. Mr..
Foote was lilty-six years ofage-had held high
and important official position and felt entitled
to choose his own competitors and to select
them from the "leaderS Of leaders. -
Mr. Foote was, therefore, unwilling for rea-
dvdual who hud challenged him. But Mr.
Foote had son-and if Mr.. O. Jennings Wise
was 50 very anxious for political discussion,
Mr.. Footc would bring that son to Virginia. for
the especial accommodation of Mr.. Wise.
n. B. Mr.. Footc fills is reputed to be ve-
ry young gentleman ndeed-just escaped from
the hands of his college tutor.l
Immediately after the delivery Of this sarcas-
tic and not over-courteous eyordiuu, Mr.. Wise,
who was seated among the spectators in one Of
the galleries, arose and requested permission of
Mr.. Footc, and Of the Chairman Of the meet
ing, to address word of explanation to the
audience
This occasioned loud cheers and not few
antagonstic yclls After hard endeavor Mr..
Foote restored order, and continued his speech
without making any reference to the request Of
Mr.. Wise.
Without rising from his seat, Mr.. Wise again
interrupted the discourse with the following
words:
II again request permission for moments
explanation. The Chairman can either grant
or refuse it, but I am entitled TO courteous
reply to this request"
After some consultation with the Chairman,
Mr.. Foote announced that he understood Mr..
Wise only to desire time for short explana-
| tion Mr.. Foote was willing to yield the floor
for that purpose.
Mr.. Wise then spoke still standing in the
gallery
"FcIow-citizcns: Yesterday evening, several
leading members of the Democratic Associa-
tion Of this city, requested me to hold myself
in readiness 10 reply to the speech TO be deli
vered this evening BY Ex-senator Foote. re
piled that | would much prefer they should
! select some older and ADLER Democrat for that
purpose; but, If they could find no one else, |
was ready 10 do the feeble utmost Of my hum
bic capacity towards upholding the Democratic
banner, whenever the enemy should come in
upon us as 4 flood.
| "This was the only agency had in the
matter.
'The Democratic Association appointed af-
| terwards committee, who waited upon the
Douglas Association with the courteous request
that ! might be permitted to reply to Mr.. Foote.
After consultation with Mr. Foote, the Doug
las Association returned a reply courteously
declining the proposed discussion.
"Here, then, ] felt justified in supposing,
was an end Of the matter. accordingly came
here tonight, simply as q spectator, and took
nv seat in part Of the building allotted to
spectators
"Wilh these facts before you, you can Judge
for yourselves whether the caustic and by no
means complimentary sarcasm with which Mr..
Foote has chosen to refer to the matter, was or
was not entirely unprovoked and uncalled for.
~ had heard that ex-senator Foote had
thrown down the gauntlet Of discussion to the
Virginia Democracy in general, at least to any
supporter of Breckenridge and Lane in this
State, who would venture to take 1t up. l
acted on this information. But it now appears
that Mr.. Foote is unwilling to meet any man
in Virginia, except only Senators Mason and
Hunter. 1t appears that Senatorial age and
dignity are both required to qualify Virginian
for the high privilege Of competition in debate
with Mr.. Foote If mere Senatorial age were
the only requisite could attain the standard
am Just about old enough to be elected to the
United States Senate.
CAS- to the challenge which Mr.. Foote so
eagerly throws out in behalf Of his son, can
only answer that am at all times ready to
meet, in discussion on the present issue, both
father and son, or the whole Foote family COM
bined, if it be desired.
As Mr.. Wise took his seat, the Democratic
portion of the audience applauded with loud
,nd 1onr continual cheers
So soon as the tumult subsidized, Mr. Foote
announced that he had intended no unkindness
to Mr.. Wise, and trusted that the latter in
tended none towards him. Mr.. Foote also
threw out a challenge to Ex-Gov. Wise to meet
him in discussion. After this, he continued
his discourse without interruption.
We have thought it due to our junior editor
to give The foregoing account Of the scene which
transpired 1t seems, from this, that Mr..
Footc recognizes, among the whole list Of Vir-
einia Democrats, but three adversaries worthy
of his steel. This is a very naughty position,
aud one which the gentleman will not be per-
mitted to maintain in the Old Dominion. We
make bold to say, that there is not county in
the State which cannot furnish two OF more
Democratic orators, each Of whom is fully
competent both to meet and to defeat Mr..
Fuotr, in public discussion on the present issue
We do not think il probable that either Mr..
Mason or Mr.. Hunter will find it necessary to
accept Mr.. Foote's exclusive challenge.
We predict confidently that Gov. Wise will
not accept the favor so graciously extended TO
him. 10 require the Ex-Governor to demollsh
such q speech as Mr.. Footc delivered in Phila.
delphia last week, and rehashed in Richmond
last Thursday, would be like putting Hercules
to the distaT-or, rs our friend John Mitchell
| ,rnI,ld nynrnsS il IL would be "like nrraYlng o