Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-10-30
from The Culptper Court House KVPuDTeIH'
rrJ,. sA~Isrussfon OH Monday.

The Bell. Douglas and Breckenridge electors
for this district were present on MONDAY last
and addressed the citizens, in the Court House
upon the political topics Of the day. Inc ar
rnngcrneut between them was, that uen. hun
ton, the Democratic %elector, should open Tho
discussion in Il speech of an hour, to be follow
cd by NIcssrs. Brent and Stackelfori, and Their
to have twenty minutes to close the debate
Under this arrangement, Gen. Hunlon took
the stand and delivered q clear, forciblc anu
logical speech, in which he portrayed the evils
likely to result from the election of Abe Lin
coin in 4 vivid manner. lie then passed on Ia
John Bell and Edward Everett, and showed,
very plainly, that they were tainted with abo'
lition sentiments, and most Objectionable to the
South; that Mr.. Bell vas a high tariff man and
very crotchety on other subjects Of national
importance. The Snuatter Sovereignty doc
trine Of Mr.. Douglas was handled without
gloves, and the Judge raked fore and aft for the
PRONUNCIATION of his force doctrines at Norfolk,
Mr.. Breckenridge was spoken of in the highest
terms as one in every way worthy to he elect
ed to the Prcsidency-aS a man UI eminent
talents, many virtues, and perfectly sound on
all the great issues Of the day.
AltcT MI. llulllO.l SlOSCi, III. pltiL W.
into an elaborate argument 10 prove lhat the
Squattcr Sovereignty doctrine Of Judge Doug
las had been held by nearly all the leaders o.
the Democratic party, at different imes,a and that
he WIS not, therefore, objectionable OH that ac'
count. lie also argued that the Judge had al
ways advocated the interests OF the Solti
against the North, and that he had never acted
amiss in any instance. And yet upon The fun
damental doctrine ofState Rights, Judge Doug
las denies the right OF pcaccablc secession, and
advocates that coercion should he exercised -
Upon the rights nfthc States in the Territories,
where docs he stanl.-of course, opposed tC
the Sonth. Upon the tariff question, he thinks
the mineral resources Of Pennsylvania require
The fostering hand Of government" TO a great
err extent than now. Does the South believe
this? Upon the question Of the distribution OIL
tho public lands, the Judge favors the North
crn souatlcr. DO We? Upon the subject Of
internal improvements, he goes for inc
Pacific Railroad scheme. Is the South Il unit
in favor Of that undertaking; In line, is there
any living question Of public policy or ConStl
"tulionai right, except the acquisition OF Cuba,
on which he squares with Democratic ideas o
national policy? We know Of none.
Mr.. Brent is IL lorcib!c and eloquent speaker,
and handles his subject with ability. But VT
think if he w0uId turn his talents into the
Breckenridge channel, and tell his hearers
something about the aulcccdcntS Of John Bel
and this great Constitutional Union party, he
wonld be serving Tue cause .! true Democracy
and the interests Of the South, far mere thar
he is ut present. ,
Mr.. Slackcifurd, the Bell %clcctor, next took
IL ..l -. n..,,l Ia, n,.;r. tlat hn 1,nf
heard the same old tune played upon one
string for the last twenty years that Of abo
lilinn-and that Democratic orators hat
charged all the Wing candidates for the Prcsi
dcncy, from Clay up to Bell, with being tainted
by that doctrine. We ~rccollcct having hcarC
this same tune played for u longer period thar
that--since lS3G-and who was the originator
of it? Why this saline old coon of Il Wing
party. They used it against Martin Van Bn
ren for the first time in sc, they followed i
up in 40, reiterated it in lStS against Cas-
land with success, ~too-dug it up in .:
against Pierce, started it in 81 against Bu
| chanau-b1t it WAS no g"-and finally
in the last Gubcrnatorial canvas, wher
it had literally died out, they raised the skele
ton, and fought John Letcher with it, reducing
the Democratic majority in the State from Ovcl
ten thousand to less than six. In fine, TIT
Wing party have never failed TO Use this Abo
lition cry against Il Democratic candidate
where they thought they could make it tell
and it now comes with 4 bad grace from then
to charge the Democratic party with fighting
the devil with fire. Mr.. Shackrlford pursuct
the usual course Of the Bell orators in abusing
the South, and charging the Breckenridge party
with being in favor of q dissolution of the Cnior
per sc, and with u host Of other unpardonahl.
sins, in his estimation. lie lalulcd John Bel
and Edward Everett TO the highest heavens
and stated that John Bell, 50 far from heing at
.Abolitionist, was the owner Of 400 negroes
and that Breckenridge did not w one, and wa.
waited upon by white labor.
In this connection We copy Il SHIRT articl,
from the Memphis 'Avaianchc," touching Mr.
Bells interest in those 400 negroes that sc
much parade is made Of:
"Dnrs Jomv BELL. nwS 4 NrGHu:-The Opposition have
been engaged in u disgusting attempt TO imrair the conf
dence OF the Southern people In Sir. breckinridge, by rs
sorting that he was not the owner Of a slave. 1t was NJ
allegation OF poverty against him, unHisely made TO weak
rs 4 Ia rge Shareholder. What Is the fact Mr.. Bell doe,
not own n single negro. A Nashville Correspondent Of tht
Cshawba (Aa) Gazette says:
'As I'M Item Of news, on good authority, ! was InforInet
that Mr.. Bell does not own a single slave. This 7 was tolt
last evening, by n Mr.. Carter, who keeps the 81. Cloud IIo
tel, in this place. lie Is a strong lei! man, and has beer
personally acquainted with Mr.. Bell for fifteen years. II.
saws he does not know Of his ever owning any slaves, ant
tina, he Is positive III oh MS WIFE DoEs soT owS ONE At Pre-
GENT. His present wife IL bis second, and he Is also hel
second husband. Her former husband was wealthy, but 81
his death the property was LEFT to six children, except hel
portion, which, on her marriage 10 Mr. Bell. she gave &c
him 10 pay Ls debts. At prcsen. the family are in good
living circumstances, without Il servant Of fs own. Thu
above Il certainly correct, and | send il to you on account
Of The capital that his friends are trying to make by re
DOrtlnC that lie IL pGsseSsel Of one !uUurrU."-! Ur1lII
AraIdnche.
When the Yirginia Wing papers and orators
are pouring their abuse upon the South and
her people, do they ever r~ecolIect that the only
aid and sympathy p~rctfered Virginia in the
John Brown raid came from this much abused
section. THE North stood aloof or cheered on
the ~lanatical traitors in their unhallowcd war.
The South voted aid and offered assistance
Yet, scarce a word is said about Northern fana,
titism and aggrcssions, but the walls of their
wrath are poured upon the poor suffering South,
and her citizens are branded as traitors when
they simply ask for their rights, let alone de-.
mand them.
Gen. Hunton closed with an eloquent pero.
ration in favor Of breckenridge and Lane, and
when asked by Mr.. Shackclford, what he
would DO in case Lincoln was elected" he said
he would await the action Of bis own State,
and if she was willing 10 submit 10 Black Re,
publican rule he was willing also; but if she
resisted. he would enlist under her banner and
fight TO the bitter end.
The "IIRErKrSsIHI.E CuNrLlcr."-The Win.
chester ''Eirginian," abiding TO one Of Abe
Lincoln'S threatening speeches, says Let q
Southern State scccde from the Union, and who
out Of the State can prevent il ?-and let Lin.
coin attempt to place Il rope around the necks
of her people, for obeying the laws OF their
Southern State, and then We shall have at once
the 'irrepressible conflict and 'damn'd be he
who FIRST cries hold, enough"
Sinking Of Western Steamer.
MEMPHIS, Oct. 24.-The steamer Fred, bound
from Memphis to Cincinnati, with q thousand
bales of cotton on board, sunk to-day of Island