The Nevada journal., 1861-08-16
pOIIrICaI. spE.KINc.

| IOLiTlCAIA SPEAAIN6.
Messrs. Ashley, Conness, Phelps and Ed
gerton, addressed the citizens o. Nevada
from the same stand on Saturday evening
last, in the order of their names above writ.
ten. The speakers on the Douglas side in
sisted on having the choice of time and
place on the stand, and it was acceded to
them by their Republican opponents. The
discussion was of an interesting character
not of very wide range, but confined to
few points. The language of Messrs. Ash
| ley and Phelps was courteous and gentle
manly that of Conness and Edgerton, at
times, coarse and abusive. Conness ap-
pears to labor under the impression that an
examination of his Legislative record is an
assault upon himself and his character, and
certainly he is very unfortunate in having q
record that cannot be referred to without
laying bare his character az legislator at
least.
Mr., Ashley reviewed the excuses Of Mr.,
Conness for voting for the Dulkhead, and
showed their shallow sophistries, Mr.. Con-
ness in his San Francisco speech alleged
that the bill came into the House with an
aseertained majority, and knowing 1t would
pass he wFested from the monster $50, 900
a year for the School Fund, Mr., Ashley
querled Il the bin had clear majority in
It's favor why did the friends Of the bin ae-
eept Of the amendment Of Conness, They
could easily have veted down his amend
ment and saved Atty thousand q year But
they were afraid of me, said Conness
might have delayed It's passage and II might
have been lost for want of time, MS Il was
near the close of the session. II Mr.. Con-
ness was at heart opposed to the bill why
did he not by amendments, postponements
and various parliamentary tricks, for which
he is noted, kill the bill2 An examination
of the Journals of the Assembly will show
that the excuse of Mr.. Conness, of the near
approach of the end of the session, is totally
without foundation. The bill passed the
Assembly some weeks before the Legisla-
ture adjourned, giving him and Edgerton
ample time to discuss and vote for that
other most infamous of all bills, the libel
bill.
The efforts Of the Soft-Shell candidates
were principally devoted to raising an issue
with the Republicans. The effectiveness of
their logic may be understood by giving a
specimen of Edgerton's argument; He was
for sustaining the Administration in its war
policy "plumb up to the handle and clear
beyond" He would oe eternally roasted,
stewed, chawed and fried would tleed, die,
be tortured, guillottined, and suffer little
besides, to carry on the war against the
rebels. A little later in the argument
when his attention was turned to an expo
sition of Republican principles-he declared
the object of the war on the part of Repub-
licans was to set the niggers all loose and
destroy slavery and yet Mr.. Edgerton was
heart, soul, body, boots and breeches, going
to stand by the President in carrying on
this war The gentleman was here put in
o ridiculous light,
Mr. Edgerton told several anecdotes, which
had their origin in Napa county, in all of
which an idiot figured as the principal per-
sonage. The impression is left that Napa
produces more than Its share of that kind
of people, in spite of the flowers of elo-
quence with which he tried to dissipatc it.
CONFESS made no votes for himself by the
temper of his speech, its matter and manner,
and Edgerton will find that his cake is all
dough before-to use his own expression-
q moon shall fill its horn.