Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-10-18
CHARLES CRY County, oct lOtb 1860.
TIE CANVASS IN CHESTERFIELD-OU
FLECTOR


TO the Editor Of tie Hhig:
Allow me TO call your attention TO Free Barbecue
given at the Old Pits in the county of Chesterfield.
The distinguished Ecctor of this District Marmaduke
Johnson Eq, whose able efforts in this canvass have
won for him claims to admiration and graft
tude, early upon the ground.
Mr.. johnson, according to agreement with Mr.
Cooke, (Oougas aud Mr. Friend (Breckinrdge) led of
IN speech OF hour in which he proceeded in the first
place show the momentous issues Involved in this Pre-
sdenio election, differing in most Of its aspects from any
which had preceded it,
He then painted in glowing colcrs the now divided and
impOtent condition OF the harmonious and unteri.
fed Democracy aud appealed to the Chesterfield De-
mOcracy whether they ever saw their party exhibit such
a spectacle. He pointed the crord TO his Douglas friend
on The light and then TO his Brock friend the left
and asked why they there TO day the leaders Of
two hostile and rrtconcabe sections of their once boast
ed party He said he doub ed that he should be call
cd upon 10 act conervaOr OF the peace and begged
them TO deal as gently with each other the Of
their respective wings would allow. This scene was
skeened humorousy that Democrats well as Wings
commenced laughing, immoderately, that he begged
them TO disturb the proprehSs Of that solemn
son they engaged in the funeral obsequics of
the great National Democracy.
Me- j. then analysed the Of the then disrupted
condition of the Democratic party aud showed that il
had been brought about by the Introduction of a new
principle into the platform at Charleston one that was
mere abstraction and dametTcay opposed to the prn-
eple announced in every platform by the Democratic
party from 1913 down TO the meeting of this Conyen-
ton He showed from Mr.. Brecklrdge's record that he
had time and again committed himself this doctrine Of
nonnteryenon, and he had ridden into the Vice Pres
deucy upoa it.
He challenged his opponent in his reply to show, in
what respect this Charleston platform of non-nterven.
tion upon which Judge Douglas now stood differed from
the Cincinnati platform. He asked him to make note
of this and TO sbw the difference IN his reply lie then
showed from the record Of Joha Bell the utter ality Of
the charges which bad been brought against him. Demo-
crac orators upon the slavery question: and closed with
powerful appeal TO men OF all parties TO rally to the
standard Of that old Tennessee stakeholder whose col
umns alone presented an undivided front to the common
foe.
Mr.. Cooke then took the stand, and commenced with
well directed fire into the columns Of the Breckenridge
Democracy calling the followers Of the secession ticket
BACRsLDERs from the time honored organization Of the
National Democracy. lie appealed 10 the Chesterfield
Democracy TO leave this secession party for secession
lists nothing but dsunionist and rally under the
standard Of that old line Democracy which was upheld
in tbs contest by Stephen A. Douglas. lie announced
the staTi fact that the convention which nominated
Mr. Breckrdge had only four States with entire dele
ga'ions and challenged his opponent TO de the fact
and he would read the record against him in his reply.
The crowd then repaired 10 an joining grove where
dinner was in preparation for them.
After dinner, Mr.. Friend mounted the stand and
pitched with vim into Mr.. Douglas aud the early pot-
cal inconsistencies Of his representative as Mr. had
predicted Mr. +. then proceeded 10 ventate the
cord of Judge Douglas and charged upon him having
broken faith with the Democ7atc party, upon the sub
mi sion of the question growing out Of the Kansas and
Nebraska Bill to the courts. lie then challenged Mr..
Cooke TO show where the Democratic party had ever
since lss deserted the odOus doctrine of Soustter So
vereignty. Mr.. f. made as forcble and telling speech
as his cause would admit Of, up to this point and was
about TO conclude without saying word about Mr. B. H.
when he turned and directed at him that old and dull
aofK ~
paper to prove that be had said be would rather
the sidewalks of Louisville bespatered with little
blood than the whole country drenOhed.
Mr. johnson commenced his reply and drew the force