The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-10-20
The J0int Debate.

Mes>rs. Grinnel! and Mircheli, candidates
for Congress in this District, addressed. ac-
cording TO their appointment, the citizens of
this countyein Joint debate on Saturday last.
The day for fall out of door meeting was
particularly fine ore, o little too windy per-
haps, but otherwise unexceptionable. The
meeting was he'd on College Square, the at.
tendance Of members of both parties from all
parts of the county was large, and very
commendable disposition was manifested to
wy iitss secured 10 disturb the bar
mony Of the meeting.
Mr.. Grinnell opened the discussion in a
speech ofan hour and half, and closed it
in speech of half an hour, and we speak
but the united voice of every impartial list
ener when We pronounce it one of the very
best eff rts ever made in Ottumwa. In
manner happy in arrangement logical in
matter bold, honest, fearless, it carried CON-
viction to the mind Of every nearer, that the
speaker was not only an honest man but
ready, able and eloquent advocate of the
cause he represents. The Union men were
proud of him, and satisfied that in selecting
him as their standard bearer in this import.
ant contest they had done wisely and we'll
had placed the right man in the right place.
We cannot venture to give even synop-
SIS of this very happy effort, we should only
mar It IN the attempt. He alluded to the
eighteen months during which he had rep.
resented this district in the councils of the
nation, and with becoming pride to the votes
he had cast there for the government, for
the war, for the soldiers, and for the great,
eternal principle of human liberty. He spoke
OF the Democratic party as having done
many good things in its day, but in produ-
cling James Buchanan they got down to the
sediment and run emptyings. He arraipped
the Democratic party for its departure from
the teachings of Jefferson and jackson, for
its completely with the rebellion, pr, we'd by
its refusal to crush it in the bud as Il m;eht
have done, and as a contrast between the in
efficiency, weakness and semi treason of
Buchanan and the patriotism, yigor and sue
cess OF NJ. Lincoln's administration. men.
toned the fact that Buchanan was unable to
borrow II millions at 2 per cent, while the
Germans, proserbially cautious peope in
money matters, had offered to loan the gov
eminent under Lncolsfs rule, 300 100000,
at 81 per cent HIS opponent, who akpired,
to 60 to Congress, he showed in undoubted,
ly his true colors. Said that he had failed
in every instance to answer the many. char.
ges he had made against him and his party.,
alluded to his double dealing in. regard to-
the issues involved; and read series OF
resolutions written by him before he was n
candidate. and which undoubtedly express
ed his real sentiments, and which were at
the most ultra copperhead, peace and trea
sonable character. (They were published
by us last week.
Mr. Mitcaelrs speech Of an hour and a
hall was devoted ( sl y srthing but the ques-
tons der.discussion and FOR war speech
was certainly a curious production. He is a
stranger here, and a young man, and,hence
there was natural curiosity to hear what
he had to say and he was listened to with
attention; but if there was ever weaker
production from the stump in this county.
we have never heard it. His own party
were astonished aud ashamed of him Dur
ing his harangue Of an hon: and half he
lodged every issue and charge made against
him and his party by MIR. Grinnel, nor was |
he any more attractive IN his manner than
he was convincing in his argument. His
y9ice was shril and unmuslcal his ideas
low, vulgar and repulsiSe. He devoted the
principal portion Of his tine to the den,u,noi-
ton Of ministers ofthe gospel, aid to the
exploded twaddle about the negro He lad
Teen in Mr.. .Grlnnell's town and could Der.
son.lly testify to the existence Of a lager