Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-08-03
Public Speaking.

The political campaign has commenced in
good earnest. What with Conventions-Uni
md Democratic-and political speaking, the pub
lie mind has been kept in state of excitement
for the past week. On Friday evening Mr.. Hart.
son, the Union nominee for Congress fo- the
Third District, and Judge Pratt, of Sierra, ad-
dressed the largest gathering of Union men we
have seen in this place since the Lincoln cam
paign. Mr.. Harrison opened the discussion in a
neat and logical speech, which was heartily ap-
plauded by the assembled multitude, and every
ono who listened to his earnest and dignifed ar
gument, felt convinced that he was the right man
for the right place. Without being brilliant Or
Mtor, he is nevertheless good speaker, thor
ough- going Radical, good and true man, and
one who will do honor to his constituents in the
councils Of the nation. After he concluded,
Judge Pratt took the stand and for over an hour,
by the charms Of his eloquence, held the large
audience spell-bound. Nature has done much
for Judge Pratt in giving him a fine presence
and uelodious organ of speech-the finest we
havc heard in California Add to this mind
we'll stored with classical knowledge and legal
lore--a poetical nature, and above all the con-
seriousness Of being the right side, and it is not
TO be wondered at that his speech was one which
created an impression not soon to be forgotten.
Some portions of his specch were really sublime,
gems of eloquencc; thoughts rs rich and poet
ical classic epic, clothed in burning words
and glowing periods, fnlicw ed each other in rapid
succession, and created an enthusiasm which
too deep and heartfelt to be expressed in
cheers or other outward applause. We have
never seen political effort listened to with more
profound attention than the one on Friday night
The windows and balconies of the houses which
commanded view of the speaker, were graced
by the ladies of the town, and not one of them
but felt sorry when Judge Pratt concluded his
GRAFTON. 1t was not stump speech, but an ora
ton, which reflects honor on the speaker and
the cause he defends and which adds lustre to
the Union party which can never be cffaced but
will 9 go sparkling down to posterity."
On Saturday night Mr. Greed Raymond, whose
creed is ultra Democratic and who was expect
ed to utterly demolish Judge Pratt, addressed
meeting called By the Democracy, but which was
composed of large majority of Union men. Mr..
Raymond is rather a good-looking gentleman,
with the most exaggerated idea of his own i'm
portauce--of ntolerable vanity and self-conceit,
who imagines that eloqnence consists in retail
ing stale anecdotes and foolish stories, and who
is not over particular in TT gard to any statements
he sees fit to make. He evidently wished to i'm
press the audience with the remarkable !act that
young as himself should be alrea1v SO
great man. With the valor of an Don
Quixotte, when he challenged the windmill Hay
mond called upon Judge Pratt to meet him on
the stand, knowing full well that the Judge was
then forty miles away With the pomposity of
the irog in the fable, he strutted upon the plat
form with the most extraordinary gesticulation
and theatrical changes of voice, he attempted to
initiate Judge Pratt, whom he evidently consid-
crs as his master. Where Pratt was eloquent
ana impressive, Raymond was merely ridiculous
But we must give this shining light of Democ-
racy credit for one thing, and that is a remark
ably retcntive memory. How else could he have
,,;r efa n q p
of the world. with which he very aptly opened
his speech. or Artemus Wards account of Ober.
lin? What a rich morsel that was for the
great (?) Democratic speaker! We thought n,
one time be never would get beyond Oberlin and
college. He hurled the old thunder Of aboli
tonism with tremendous force against Unior
men. How they trembled when he called them
that terrible word language cannot express tht
agony and despair which filled their souls wher
be again and again relen.iessly and withou
mercy or rcmorse lacerated their feelings by
holding them up to the execration OF the assem-
bled Democrats as Abolitonists." Not salts
ned with that terrible vengeance he actuall,
hung John Brown over again, forgetting, how
ever, that his soul has been '' marching on io
several years, and from last accounts had no
stopped vet most likely because Governor Wise
sul men of his stripe are just now prisoners o
war. The balance Of his speech was composed
of n niger" and Cinnamon, in about equal pro
portion : the "nigger," if anything, lttl'
ahead. Tie only real good portion of his speech
was whore he attempted to give an imitation ane
quotation of one of Judge Pratt's efforts. Th'
spurious qualities of the counterfeit were toe
palpable however to deceive any one. Mr.. Hay
mond made the assertion that Pratt was paid fol
bis speeches, while he (Haymond) paid his owl
expenses, and underwent all the trouble and ex
pense of the campaign merely because h
thought the people needed his services. While
we have no comments to make as 70 the reracity
Of that statement, we nevertheless think it al
injustice that Mr.. Raymond should do all thi
work for nothing. We therefore propose in goot
faith and candor that the Union State Csntrd
Cor,nzs;tee pay Mr.. Haymono's travelling expenses
aud the same amount of money, in gold, which
he SAYS Pratt receives in Sreen6acks: TO stuml
the Stata in favor of tks Democracy. We are
bad prophet if the State does not give an in
creased Union majority, .or such Was the cffec
of Haymond's speech in this town.
faAsks.--To Judge Felter for mammosl
i.en C,ln cr,l.