Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-10-30
For the Spectator.
Mr.. Douglas In Stanton.

This unfortunate adventurer had the accumu-
lated bad luck, on Wednesday last, to be repre-
sented in this place by tile two political Knight
Errants in his cause-Messrs. Tim. Rives aud
VIM F. Gordon-who were imported with many
fond hopes, and whose Fictitious and mushroom
claims to greatness owe their creation, necessa-
rily well as naturally, to the brisk demand for
even moderate talent in that God abandoned fac
ton. BY reason OF notice in bloated capitals
posted over town and country, that the Hon. u.
W. VOORHEES,, @. L. Valandngham, Patrick
Henry and perhaps Davy Crockett would prob
ably be present quite smart sprinkling OF cred
ulous country people, of all parties, was brought
together. But when the trains and stages con-
tinued to arrive, unfreghted with these precious
names, Mr.. Rives and Mr.. Gordon suddenly be-
came the heroes of an ovation scarcely tran
scended by the splendid triumph that awaited
the exled Napoleon on his return from Elba.
Mr.. VIM. F. Gordon-of protean memories
such as Taylor, Calhoun, Breckenridge and sun
dry others, was introduced by Gen. Hartman in q
few brief but eloquent laudatory remarks, in
which he spoke, innocently, of 9this illustrious
son of an illustrious SIRE" Well, after this bal
derdash, as the orator himself soon proved it to
be, the sillustrious" proceeded to rise, slowly
and majestically, some thought even painfully,
from his seat, and after exhibiting to the spec
tators, for about two minutes, a very traglcal
face, and very white vest-just such as is seen
on the statue of Cicero-he sterDly, and in the
fashion of a brigand, assured us, with his thumbs
tastefully hooked In the arm-holes of his Tully
wastcoat, that she had always been Demo-
crat," and besides, that she was reared at the
feet of Gamaliel," with which original quotation,
the orator concluded the argumentative part OF
his address, and seemed to labor during the rest
of the time not so much to exat Mr.. Douglas, as
to show into how many graceful shapes the hu-
man frame might be bent, as we'll as how APPLY
his mouth was contrived by nature, to enunciate
all rotund, six foot words, out of the common
reach.
Exactly one half hour passed slowly away be-
tween the tragical rising of the "illustrous" gen.
tleman, even to the setting of the same, which
last decided ''hit"-accompanied by merited ap
pIause-was performed by the orator with a
very pleasant smile, after having perpetrated the
most full blown brilliant Senatorial failure, in
small way, On record.
Next, "the greatest orator Virginia can boast"
the "Old War Horse" of the Democratic party
Mr.. Tim. Rives-was thrust upon the congrega-
ton, who greeted him with hearty recognition,
such as is usually bestowed upon an old and hon.
ored political leader, but which seemed rather
out of place to those who well knew that until
within the last three weeks he had never been
heard of by nine-tenths of this wel-drilled as
sembly.
Mr.. Rives is very ugly man, and therefore
it probably occurred to him that the graces
would not suit his style-so, scorning the charm
ing self-satisfied attitudes of Mr.. Gordon be fed
to the other extreme, and, for four hours enter
tanned patient people, with numberless antics,
which would have been creditable in the ring,
but were siDgularly out of place before an assem-
bly, which had met for political Instruction.
From this chaos of grimsees, it was occasionally
possible, by close attention, to receive something
which a very warm admirer of Mr.. Douglas
might call argument, but which had often be-
fore been heard from the lips of our native
speakers.
But the supleness of Mr.. Rives is one of his
chief merits as a speaker, and though plainly
not meant by nature to reach the highest emf
nence amongst the intellectual race to which he
belongs, yet had he been born a good-lookng
babboon, he would have arrived at early dis
tinction in some of the grotesque accomplish
ments which adorn that race of beings.
With real goodwill towards this gentleman,
who in private seems another being entirely,
have one parting word of advice; that he will
at once and forever renounce public speaking, tor
which he is wholly unfit, and return to the So
cial pleasures of home for which he seems emf
nenty suited. The voice of fattery, which calls
him out, is not always the voice Of truth.