Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-08-02
The Discussion.

Yesterday the candidates for the Senate and House of
Commons for this county spoke in the Town Hail. We
had got back yesterday morning after having been two
nights on the cars going to and returning from Wilson
we had written out our notes of Gov Ellis speech in
the forenoon and paper 60 to press and telt
used up 80 we concluded not to try and attend the dis
CUSTOM but the sound of applause drew US down to the
Town Hail. when the discussion about half through
Col Person was making calm argumentative speech,
addressing himself to the judgment of his audience, and
occasionally elicitng rrepressble bursts of applause
COL Person referred to national politics. to the nomna
ton of Breckenridge and Lane and to the platform up
on which they stand and to their prospects of being
elected He paid his respects to the State issues and
devoted some time to exposition of the deceptious
and dangerous character of the I'D ualoem hobby as
well as to the nsincerty and inconsistency of its leading
advocates.
Mr. Meares one Of the Opposition candidates for the
Senate arose, aborng, apparently under very consid
cradle excitement-it may have been his manner, but
certainly it differed very much from cur recoecons of
that manner when he served as Fillmore elector four
years ago.
Mr.. Meares "pitched in " from the word ego" talk
ing about Democracy and Democrats as humbugs and
the prince of humbugs Hefgured the old PARTY down
to Tophet very soon. Assured all hands that George
E. Badger was very great man, agreeing in that opin-
ion precisely with Mr.. Badger himself Mr.. Badger
had more sense than any twenty Democrats in the State
etc. Some folks geese are all swans Mr. MeGres didn't
quote old Hickory's opinion Of John Bell. Pity Mr..
Badger keeps the napkin tightly wrapped round his
talent He might as well not have it for any good it
does anybody else. Why gentleman personally as
clever as Mr. Meares should have INDUCED in such bit
ter nvective we are unable to surmse unless that he
was CALLED by the prospect Of the certain defeat Of his
party. Mr. Persons speech called for such reply.
We have word to say about the Democratic plat
form. The Democratic platform simply demands that
the General Government should do It's duty by extend
ing to persons and property in the Territories Whcr
ever its constitutional authority extends, full and
adequate protection against all assaults or unlaw
full interference, 20 matter from what quarter they
come If we are afraid to claim our rights in the Un-
ion-afrad to demand that the General Government
should do its simple duty, what use is there in having
General Government? What sense can there be in the
Southern people paying taxes tor the support OF that
Government? What in the world was the General
Government established for if not to protect the rights
of persons aud property in the Territories Or wherever
It's constitutional authority extends? And yet when
the Democratic party asserts this plain right, the Oppo
ston orators charge them with standing upon the
platform with the Free Soilers and we know not what
else.
Again, the Democratic platform contains the follow
ing preamble and resolution
Whereas One of the greatest necessities of the age
POLITICAL commercial postal and military point OF view, Is
speedy communication between the Pacific and Atlantic
coasts therefore, be it
Resolred That the National Democratic party hereby
pledge
passage of BILL to the of the consttu
tona authority Of Congress- for the construction Of Pacific
railroad from the Mississippi river to the Pacific at the
earliest practicable moment.
This, Mr.. Meares said, was old Henry Clay Whiggery
etc. The resolution goes for bill only to the extent
of the Constitutional authority of Congress" Now,
upon the extent of that constitutional authority have
arisen the differences between Mr. Clay party and the
DemoCeatic party and until it can be shown that the
Democratic party has abandoned its position and
adopted that of Mr. Clay and his party the objections
urged by Mr. Meares wholly without force effect
Although the policy and sectional Justice Of granting
alternate sections of the public lands to assist in the
construction of railroads. has been severely questioned
no party has said that it is Unconstitutional Congress
can constitutionay grant the right of way through the
public domain 1t can grant alternate sections it can
make postal contract it give engineering aid
to military road it can make stipulaOns as to the
conveyance of troops, arms and munitions of war;
Within its constitutional authority, and without viola
ting one DemOcrauC principe, congress can GO muCn
to aid in the construction of Pacific Railroad
Eli w. Hail. Esq, opened the discussion. F. D.
Poisson, Esq, folowed-then Gel Person, and next O.
P. Meares, Esq. We heard only the portions of the
speeches of Messrs. Person and Meares above briefly
referred to. Mr.. Hall having no immediate competitor
addressed himself learn to general politics.
and made stirring address. Mr.. Poisson also
quite animated not having heard him, we cannot say
whether he devoted much attention to Mr. Person
Mr.. Meares did.
The discussion between the Sheriff candidates at night
was marked by mutual courtesy. The fact s that the
Office is desirable one, and two very clever gentlemen
desire it, and that is about all the contest conrover
sy could find between them All beyond that amounts
to very litte.-DRily Journal 18th INST.
BES~ Gov. Ellis is precisely the same man that he was
two years ago, only with this recommendation he
has been tried and not found wanting He has violated
no pedge-tailed to redeem no promise No charge Of
official neglect can be brought against himno sins Of
omission or commission can be laid at his door Least
of ALL such be charged by the people of Wilmington,