The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1860-10-25
Trapping and Trlckery-A new Chapt.
ter in Virginia Politics.


As the country IS now very generally
, aware. Mr.. Lamb the Breckenridge elector
for Norfolk, accosted Joudge Douglas. on
lis first public appearance in virginis
during the campaign. with two questions
, as to his opinions and ca1 se Of action in a
certain contingenoywith that eaud ,r
which is Distinguishing feature o Douglas
character. a. the utter want of it is the
trait of his opponent. he promptly and
emphatically gave the responssrwhich was
excepted Of every loyal rcitizA. semarkiug.
at the same tims, that held Mr.. Lamb un-
der an abAaiopoo PROFOUND the same
queries toShiScAnd,date, and publish the
replies.
This. lpsas generally understood; Mr..
Lamb pledged himself to do. and no honest
man will question the proposition that
every consideration Of fair dealing of hon.
orable warfare, of common self respect i'm
periously called on him to propohrld those
interrogatories Immediately .Ip.his qxu
candidate. No fair man in vir6inia pre-
sumed for an instant that Mr.. Lamb would
fail in this obvious d.tv, and as it MAS
soon after announced that Breckenridge
would make speech the public coufdeit
ly looked for an ans'er of some sort frop the
month of the coudidate of Mr.. Lamb.
! To make a ssurance doubtly sure. near
ly every National Democratic newspaper
in the land urged upon Major Brecken-
ridge the propriety ola response, and those
Of his own State kept the questions stand
ing at the head Of their columns for sew
eral days preceding his speech. To the
amazement Of all, Mr.. Breckinridge did
not find time in three hours ola harangue,
to make the faint'st alusion TO questions. the
reply to which by Mr.. Douglas has been
occasioned trade ofignorant abuse of him
in The hands of the seceders in every quar-
ter of the South, and in many places the
chief topic of objection
This silence was everywhere denounced
as it deserved to be. and as il will be to
the last momont Of his campaign. and the
honest. fair dealing deople of tho Slnlh
who scorn the evasions Of cowardice far
+ more than The assault Of open opposition,
have stamped the unmanly act as the shit
of man who had not The intellect to frame
or the courage TO announce an houest an
. swer.
In this state Of affairs. the Hon. Francis
E. Rives, of this city. addressed note to
Mr.. Lamb on the 18th Of September, as
, follows:
, "PkrERsHuRcH. Sept Is. 1860.
'DEA RSlR:--As a fellowvirgirian. fel.
low Democrat, citizen of the South, and
! a native OF the South. | feel an interest in
: all that concerns the present condition o
public affairs--tha, must be my excuse. i
any is necessary; for this note. under.
stood from Judge Douglas and from the
public prints. that on the occasion of the
Judges speech ia Norfolk, you addressed
him two question. as the Breckinridge
. elector for Northfolk. with respect TO the
course he (Douglas) would pursue or adj
wise in the event of Lincoln election.
From the same sources learn that they
were Immediately and frankly answered.
: and the answer was accompanied by the
claim. which all honest men will concede
to have been just and proper, that you
address the same question 70 Mr.. Breck-
: inridge. and publish the replies. Since
that time Mr. Breckinridge has delivered
!, speech in which the subject Of those
questions was not even referred to. de
sire to ask, respectfully. whether you have
t produced those questions to Mr.. Breckin.
ridge. and whether any and if any. what
reply you have received.
Very respectfully, F. E. RlvEs.,
To the respectful communication, he
! has returned no answer up 10 this moment
J Here we could wish TO close the record
confident that Maj. Breckinridge stands
. convinced of that unpardouabe sin in the
: eyes of free, outspoken America, wilful
deception OF the people; but unfortunately
for Mr. Lamb he has been too sorely CALLED
by the unceremonious demand Of the pub
lie for more light on this transantion, and
in his issue of Friday last affords us the
clue to this beautiful piece Of party man
everiDg in the following admission:
"A few weeks ago the prospects Of Breck
inridge and Lane were gloomy in the
South but since poor douglas was caught
In the trap we set for him. the tide has
turned agains: him. .,-Nortoik Argus, Fri.
day, Sept FL.
Does Mr. Lamb dare to insult the people
of Virginia by averring that this query to
Judge Douglas was prompted by no des-