Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-09-04
Gov. Smiths Speech.

Ex-Gov. Smith came to Staunton on Thursday
last, by invitation of the Breckenridge and Lane
Club, and on Friday, at 2 o'clock, T. NJ, enter
ed the Courthouse to address the people. He
was escorted to the stand by Jas. II. Skinner,
ESQ.,, who introduced him to very thin audi
ence, which would have been insignifcsntly d.
minutive but for the presence OF many Bell
and Everett Wings. These latter are in such
good humor with themselves and the rest OF
mankind at this particular time, that they are
disposed to help their Democratic friends out
whenever they are ''hard up" for an audience.
The Governor seemed surprised and disap-
pointed to find so many vacant seats. He re-
GREETED that SO few were present to be enlight-
ened, but nevertheless expressed his determi-
nation to consume the afternoon if those present
were willing to remain and listen. He did speak
for four mortal hours to the most solemn, lugu-
brious and sleepy assemblage of sovereigns we
have seen for long time. AS the evening
shades began to prevail, things waxed inefably
dull The few Breckinridgers present endeav-
ored to maintain show of interest, but failed to
conceal their sadness; while the Wings, moved
kept themselves awake by sheer determination,
and endured unto the end.
To report the Ex-Governor's harangue is an in
Fiction that we do not propose to perpetrate upon
our readers We should certainly lose subscrib-
ers by the operation. His opening remarks were
devoted to the old story of the wrongs done to the
South by the North, and the peril to which the
"peculiar institution" is just now particularly ex-
posed. Having established to his satisfaction
that the aggressions of the North have been in
tolerable, he proceeded to notice the present
condition of parties, paying his respects in the
first place to the Constitutional Union organiza-
tion, and demonstrating in the genuine old-fash-
toned Loco-foco style, that neither John Bell or
Edward Everett ought to be trusted by the
South, because they are Wnsound on the slavery
question! In the conclusion of his speech he
discussed the doctrine of s'Squatter Sovereignty"
which he believed to be the shortest cut to all
the ends of abolitionsm. The Ex-Gov. Seemed
very 10th to say anything about Douglas or his
Douglas friends An amiable feeling disposed
him to tread very gingerly, for he knew that he
was treading upon Douglas ground; but he did
finally intimate that Douglas was endeavoring
to cheat the South, aud that the object of his
tours in the abolition States was to convince the
people that his plan is sthe best out" for secur-
ing free-soil The last issue made was one of
veracity between Judge Douglas and President
Buchanan. Gov. Smith read letter from sold
Buck" in which he denies most emphatically
that he ever told Mr.. Douglas, as the latter is
reported to have stated in recent public speech,
"that unless he supported the Lscompton Con-
stitution he would cut the heads off of every
friend he had in office" Having made up this
little issue, the speaker took his seat amid i'm
mensely faint applause, whereupon the congrega
ton woke up and dispersed with considerable
velocity