Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-09-03
RICHMOND WING.
TIE CAMPAIGN IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.
II, d. E,|;Jor of fLs WLio.
ABINGDON, August 30, 1860

AZ 'se Asu'Of " "' Hf'g-
ABINGDON, August 30, 1861
Thinking Il might be Of some interest to you, have
seated myself to try aud give you sort OF synopsis OF
the speaking here on Monday, 27,h.
Early the report was spread that were 20 have n
"sooiRqn which wooliI TO be did" by two Demo-
Gratis respectively Douglas and Brecktes-Judge g. W..
Hopkins on the part OF Douglas and Col Samuel Good
son on the part Of Breckenridge It being court day
and a considerable crowd being present, "bg" time
was expeeted-and had it. The Sheriff OF the coun-
ty came the door of the Court House, and in sleu
toran voice. exclaimed, "0h, yes OBJ yes the Hon.
George w. Hopkins will make speech" No
soon had the words LETT his lips than rush made
for the Court House. After the house was pretty well
filed Judge Hopkins arose. and in that clear aud dis
tnct tone for which he is noted, commenced charging
upon the imminent dangers in which the country WAS
now placed and what he thought be the duty of the
Democracy in the present crisis Among other remarks
he said be understood that Col Goodson wished TO have
division Of the time and that he willing to do so
with the Colouel At this juncture, Col GoOdson who
occupying the Clerks desk, arose, and said 1t was
mistake he had manf sed no such wish, and did not
noe wish it. The Judge proceeded until he to the
point where he wished to introduce extract from the
Petersburg True Democrat which was an txraet from
the speech Of Mr. Harrison, at Dougs meeting recent
" held at Lexington, Kentucky. Mr. Harrison began
hitting Beck pretty hard the Col thought, when he
bounced up with the exclamation, "Hold on Judge,
object 10 that Have you got Mr. Breckuridges specch
The Judge answered that he did not have Mr.. BIS
speech but that il the True Democrat from which
he was reading and he, well as all Others present.
considered il pretty good authority. 81 object 10 it,
said the Col NO court in the country will admit news
papers legal evidence, and he'd be id if he would
lie sat down. when the Judge arose. aud asked the Col
it he wished the time divided he did not care about
being interrupted The Col said he had TO 60 home Oh
the o'clock train and did think he could spare the
time The Judge proceeded VIII n he was again inter
rupte6 by the Colonel Who desired he expressed him
self 10 lead off, he perceived the Judge was aux
ious that he should declare his principles, aud he'd be
id il he ashamed to declare his principles before
any man.
The Col arose and went 10 the stand then he led on
with an apology for speaking that he hadn't the reno
idea of speaking when he left home but that as he
was here he reckOned he might as well proceed
He said he had not changed his skin'-his hairs had
turned, but his shin hadn't He said he was not much
used to speaking that he orce indeed for several
years candidate for Congress but that was ALL as the
people knew what his hyel was and showed Il to him,
Sy not voting for him. lie did not wish, or, he ex
pressed hms, to Mr. Walter Preston, who was present.
the Wings need not have speaker OF their own, as
Judge Hopkins enough Wing for him, and he did
doubt but thar the Judge would do as much for them
"a one their speakers He went on charging on
Mr. Brecks merits saying he was proud TO be the friend
OF Mr. that he had voted for him once, and that he
would for him again; said he proud 10 say that
he a seceder that be at the Richmond Conven-
ton, and he saw Mr. Yancev and that he with the Rich
mond Wing, believed Mr.. Y TO have sense enough for
whole convention. Mr. Yancey, he said, was accused
Of being frs-ed,er: wasn't Gov johnson, the man on
the Douglas ticket worse rCeaer than lancey; had Mt
he gone all the South making hreeang speeches!
Mr. Jos Campbell said he did not make the speeches.
but that he, (JOhnson did the writing and Yancey the
speaking This suited the Col exactly, he turned to the
Judge, and with great guso, said, Yes johnson did
the wiring and iancey the speaking" He said the
Judge was speaking about Mr. Breckinrdges platform
rather the Breckte PLATFORM what objection had he
IN Didn't IL plOcaim nrOtpctiOn slave
the Territories? and wasn't that what the revolution was
for have equal rights all the country, both North
and South for slave, well as other property be adj
hered TO that PLATFORM and proud Of II. II that
constituted disuniOnst he was one, and was proud Of
it, for If the Constitution formed to give equal rights
all and did not give protection to his Hggers IT he
into the territories stay here, he
did not wish TO stay in the Union
The Col spoke, or, rather n,saadSrsd about an hour
aud nve minutes some one told him nus time was
up and that he had better stop He stated this 10 DC the
fact and say lie must be oil for home, he had been
Informed the would be in he picked up his bat
and "todded" IL is needless to say that the Colonel
dad 20 home that tran nor did he go till the next
evening. / think lie smelt mice"
After Col Goodson had finished, Judge Hopkins re-
sumed his place and began showing Mr. Breckinrdges
record with mastery hand. He said Mr.. u. was in bad
hands He convinced those present, it is my opinion
that Mr. Breckiu ridge nominated by squad OF dis
unonists that the nton by which he was nomina
had been gotten up for disuuion purposes and that
il was the duty of all loyal Union to vote for Ste
phen A. Douglas. He said he believed Mr. Bell to be
Union man. and that he would vote for him with pleas
ure if could be shown him that he could beat Lin
coin; but that in his Judgment Mr. Douglas was the only
man iu the field that could do that thing From begin
ming to end Judge Hopkins speech courteous gen.
temauy and altogether against the Breckenridge party
As he stated at the beginning he did not come TO wal
against any man, but against their party principles
After he had finished J. Campbell Esq, took the stand
and his usual eloquent aud pathetic way besought al
who had the veal Of their country at heart TO rally TO the
standard of Bell and Everett the only means by which
the country could be saved and her institutions pepetu
ated.
The crowd was about dispensing, and good portion
of it bad gone when il announced that Ratification
Meeting would low be held. suppose about hundred
and fifty remained Mr. Campbell arose and introduced
series OF resolutions which received by accama-
ton Judge Roderck X Butler Of Tennessee, was then
introduced. The Judge made very fine speech, the
words flowing from his tongue in the style common to
Tennessee speakers IL TO me they possessed
of natural talent for oratory He gave bis opinion as
TO Mr. Bells chances for election considered them very
good Said be had been into North Carolina, and that
Il WAS his opinion that the Old North State would give
Bell 20 900 majority in November. lie said Mr.. Bell
never had been defeated before the people, and that he
couldn't believe hs would be in Noyember-nsy, kHer
he would not be.
Alter Judge Butler had finished Walter Preston, Esq,
arose aud in halfhour's speech in his usual eloquent
and forcble STYLE put the whole thing in NUTSHELL
To say the least he made very happy effort.
Mr. Preston finished when the motion 10 adjourn was
passed a.