The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-08-29
tor ne Ntsstssgptaa.
The Discussion at Raleigh.
r.,4,eu Ano,,s. pond 1860.

RALEIGH, August END, 1861.
EDfToR MIssIss1PpTAN I'll cannot fail tc
give you an account of the discussion at this
place on yesterday the 21st, between Major
Minis and Col. Merwin, the Democratic and
Opposition Electors for this District. At an
| early hour in the morning the citizens of our
| quietlittle town were aroused by shout, loud
long and vociferous, when looking down the
road towards Sylviarena beautiful Flag was
seen flying at the head of large company
with the names Of Breckenridge and Lane
inscribed thereon in beautiful characters
AS the procession advanced it increased until
it numbered fifty or more horsemen who went
out and met Maj. Minis and escorted him into
Town under the flying color Of Breckenridge
and Lane.
Never before have we seen anything more
appropriate, and that had better effect upon
the assembled crowd (Which was the largest
we ever saw in Raleigh than to see the noble
and talented Elector approaching slowly our
Town under the noble colors of true Demo
crazy.
The discussion was opened by Maj. Minis
/ who spoke for about an hour and quarter
and nobly did he bear himself throughout the
whole discussion, dealing out death blows to
the Belleverites, having made thorough and
perfect vindication Of the National Democratic
Platform, and the measures that stand upon
it, he made a fierce and terrible onslaught
upon the position Of his opponent, Col. Mer-
win, lis Janus faced platform, and the pseudo
abolition candidates that stand on it.
Col Mcrwin was completely whipped
Muscle by muscle did Minis lash his political
corpus till there was not sound spot on him.
He took up Mr.. Bells record and really
showed, as think, that Mr.. Bell is running
on the lgroRg ticket; he ought to be on the
Freesoil Ticket. He showed from the Con.
gressionaI record that Mr.. Bell not only ad-
mits the power Of Congress to abolish slavery
| in the District of Columbia, but that he went
| further and made speech in Congress in IA
vor oft. To this position Mr.. Minis drove
| Col Merwin and forced him to defence ofthc
| position.
There were many persons present who re-
| GREETED to see him undertake to defend that,
the blacklist page in John Bells record for
what is the difference between that and the
position of Abe Lincoln Seward, Greeley &
! Co. The only difference is the former con-
tends for the power of Congress but objects to.
the policy, while the latter contend both for
the power and the policy Establishing slavery
Now when we examine closely these two
positions can any sane man say that the result
to the South-of the administration of either
John Bell or Abe Lincoln would be different
Do we not concede everything that the South
has been contending for since 1920, when we
admit the power of Congress to abolish slavery
in the District of Columbia For if we so
construe that clause in the Constitution Civ
ing Congress "crclusive jurisdiction over the
District of Columbia as to give it power to
abolish slavery in the District, then by the
same process of reasoning we may say that
Congress has the power to interdict the slave
trade between the States, because it has the
power to regulate commerce between the
States. IF John Bell or Mr. Merwin admits
the one they are bound to admit the other
And then ask what better off would the
South be with John Bell in the Presidential
Chair and Black Republican Congress than
we would be with Abe LINCOLN himself? Not
one whit better. With Southern men there
can be no choice between Bell and Lincoln, for
the slavery question is The question of the day,
and although Bell is sounder man than Lin
coin, yet with his construction Of the Consti-
tuition, and with the political caste that is
likely to control the Congress of the United
States during the next four years there will be
no difference in the results in the administra-
ton of the two.
AS for the little Giant-poor fellow-he
has no sympathisers in this county and receiv-
cd only passing notice from Col. Minis who
stated that he had started in the canvass with
seventeen dollars and a half and that he
would give ii to any man who would show him
Democrat in good standing with the party
who was in favor Of Douglas lie wanted to
see a Douglas Democrat TO See-what sort OF a
looking animal he was, and in the vast
crowd of400 or 500 there was not one
Thus closed the discussion, and old Smith,
the Banner County Of 1851, will be the ban
ner county in 1860. Nobly will she bear
herself in the coming contest and roll up
majority for Breckenridge and Lane unequalIed
by any given heretofore for any candidates.
In the afternoon there was a Breckenridge
and Lane Club formed, numbering some fifty
persons or more. While the committee were
out our young and talented friend, Jas. C.
Campbell was called on, who addressed the
meeting in one of the best and happiest ex-
temporaneous efforts Of his life. Well may
the country be proud of him, and we predict
that 'ere he has attained the meridian of life
he will make his mark prominently in the
counsels of the country.
Our Club meets again next Saturday when
its organization will &c completed and we ex-
pect great good to result from it.
Yours &C., in haste,
OBSERVER.