, 1862-05-24
masbin0ton Statesman.
SATURDAY MORNING, MAY "a, 1862
Editorial Ink-Drops.
PORTLAND, May IS, 1856

PORTLAND, May IS, 1862.
Yesterday was the great speaking day in Port
land. The two candidates for Governor occu-
pied the rostrum during the afternoon, notwith-
standing other celebrated speakers" were an
nounced. Mr., Gibbs led off in speech of an
hour or more then Mr.. Miller followed, after
which Gibbs spoke another hour Both claim to
be "simon-pure" Union men; both declare them
selves in favor of the war, and both alike pledge
themselves to sustain the administration IL all
constitutional and legal measures. Miller is in
favor of hanging the rebel leaders, and sparing
the deluded men and innocent women and chill
dren. Gibbs declares the same policy. The re-
markable similarity of the positions occupied by
these gubernatorial asprants was striking feature
in the debate and from what was said it was i'm
possible to pronounce either OF them the better
Union man. Judge Williams spoke in the even
ing, and as was anticipated, said nothing about
=" constitutional and legal measures" in supporting
the administration to put down the rebellion.
This is the doctrine of the party which placed
Gibbs in omnation-namey To sustain the
administration "undeT all circumstances, and at
all hazards;" and apprehend that the lodging
of this position by Mr.. Gibbs for the purpose Of
coRcilating votes will not aid his election or BEN
eft his cause. The trick was too transparent. /
presume all the secessionists in the State would
most heartily endorse his platform, and agree to
support the administration in all constitutional
and legal means, themselves of course being the
judges of what is constitutional and legal. Ac-
cording to this platform every man has the right
to pronounce upon the legality of the acts Of the
administration; and while Mr.. Gibbs might with
hold his support for one act which he deemed
unconstitutional, a secessioniSt acknowledging
precisely the same loyalty TO the government
would certainly have the same privilege. Judge
Williams made sound. logical Union speech,
declaring that there was no middle ground in the
present state of the rebeon-that there could
be but two positions held the one for and the 9TH
er against the government. A severe commen-
tary on Gibbs milk-and- water, half-anGhalf pol
icy.
During the coming week we are to be edited
by several other distinguished speakers, among
whom are Col. Farrar-euphoniouSly called
''SGppery Bih,"-Elisha Applegate-that strange
compound of lunacy and wt,-and "Bro." Pearne
the " rising Oregonan orator. Notwithstanding
this latter gentleman is in the habit of skulking
within the protecting folds of the church and as
suming that his public speeches are not public
property, and therefore not fairly liable to criti
cism, shall be present at the speaking and see
that he stands square upon the platform to
which he has committed himself In connection
with " Bro" Pearne's speaking, | rather admire
the bold and above-board style Of the announce
ment. If preachers mus: make political har-
angues IN these lmes,-and by no means would
deny them the right, though l might strongly
question the policy antagonistic to the preach
ing of "Christ and him crucifed,' i should much
rather hear them from the rostrum Ct political
debate than from pulpit solemnly consecrated
to the worship of God. 1t may be that the pres
ent emergency demands the efforts of the bold
8 tho 81, fbo
stump; but it strikes me that most of the poti-
cal speaking nowadays is like the platforms of
parties. as defined by Judge Williams last even
ing: Speaking of their force and effect the
Judge remarked that "they are sort of political
clap-trap, made for the purpose Of gulling the
people Politicians understand this perfectly,
and the people are beginning to understand II
pretty yvo by this tinao" So Of public sroak ing.
1t is " sort Of clap-trap TO gull the people !"
and the patent fact that the people nowadays
go simply "to hear what a man may have to say
for himself" is conclusive evidence that their IN
terest ceases with the voice of the speaker.
Whatever may be the result Of the canvass, |
sincerely hope that uncompromising and unset
fish Union men-if such there are amongst the
nominess-may be entrusted with the offices OF
the State.
A personal rencounter occurred on the streets
a few DAYS SINCE 1t was not erdctly a case of
love and suicide; but there enough of the ri
diculous in it to excite the leers of the crowd.
MIR. Hicks of the Vancouver Telegraph, formerly,
and Madame Reeve, who has evidently been itch
ing for notoriety in this community, were the ac-
tors in the drama. Madame Reeve is of
that class of women that Artemus Ward calls
"powerfu strong minded"-"them ar what lee
turs on important suhjecs, for the benefit of their
illuded and depressed sistern." In these times,
however, her theme is the rebellion. Like many
of our celebrated" lecturers, this woman has
but one speech and being determined that the
dear people of every nook and corner shall have
the benefit of that, she accordingly appeared be-
fore Vancouver audience and declaimed 1t some
two weeks ago. Mr.. Hicks made very sensi-
BILE criticism of the effort, and very properly dis
couraged the idea of women taking the stump.
The Madame replied in style of literature pc
culiar only to "yellow covers" supposing, no
doubt that it would utterly silence the editor and
cause him to "hide his head in shame" But the
reioinder. which appeared in the last issue of the
Telegraph, must have speedily upset this notion.
The Madame, having been beaten at this game,
concluded to try and beat the editor by another
process Watching her opportunity, she and
her "man" corned the editor at the foot Of the
stairs at the OregoniGn office-she having Sc
dueed him from a room in the upper story of the
bulldng-and set out with whip and cudgel TO
give him thorough drubbing. Hicks drew his
pistol and discharged it at the man. The shot
not taking effect, he was in the act of cooking
the pistol again when an accidental discharge
lodged the ball in his own leg. The "man" fed
upon hearing the report of pistol the woman
screamed and fell into the arms of bystanders,
and the editor, though not having achieved
bloodless victory was borne ingloriously from the
field.
The steamer Oregon, from San Francisco dl-
rect, arrived last night She brought news Of
the capture OF Norfolk, Portsmouth and the Ma
w Yard. The news from the seat of war is all
one thing ow-a-days-Federal victories and ad-
vances upon the enemy. For this almost un-
paraleled exhibition of successful Generalship
the country is indebted to General Mcclellan.
He has stood up while Scott faltered. Both con-
tended against the same species of domination,
exercised by fanatical members of the Cabinet
and the Congress. Gen Scott condemned him
self for not having the frmness TO resist this abo-
lition influence when it brought his arms to de-
feat. and this occurrence no doubt fastened his
resignation from the command In other days
he would have been equal to the emergency but
Mcclellan has proved the man for the times.
The water is gradually rising, and great fears
are entertained on all hands. The up-river
1 Il