Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-09-26
The Gorham-wallace Discussion.

lltlcai issues OF the day were discussed IN
Mokelumne Hill, on Saturday evening last
| by George C. Gorham and William T. Wal
lace. The town was brilliantly illuminated
but owing to the limited notice given of the
meeting the crowd in attendance was not SC
large as we had hoped to see. A large num-
Der of ladies graced the balconies. After q
salute had been fred, the meeting was called
to order by William Innes, Esq, who pro.
posed the names of the following gentle
men as officers. They were elected: On the
Republican side-for President, DR.. james
Hepburn Vice Presidents, James Cole, S.N
Parker; Secretary, c. B. Highly. For the
Democrats-President, DR.. NJ. Griswold
Vice Presidents. B. F. Morris, J. H. Kelly
Secretary, G. F. Wesson. DIR. Hepburn
stated that Mr.. Gorham would open the de-
bate with speech of one and quarter hours
in duration Mr.. Wallace would then occu-
py an hour and three quarters in reply. Mr.
Gorham closing the discussion with hall
hours speech. The President introduced
who received him with loud applause. Mr..
Gorham has clear, ringing voice, distinct
enunciation, and an easy. graceful delivery.
For his allotted time he held the audience
SPELL bound, while he made the most ex-
haustive and convincing speech that has been
delivered in Mokelumne Hill since the days
of the lamented Baker. Without resorting
to Misrepresentation, aspersion or calumny,
he admins cred to the Democratic party a
terrible castigation, charging them with De-
ing the cause of the war, responsible for the
Indebtedness with which we are encumbered
and that it is entirely owing to their efforts
that the Union has not been restored. He
supported every assertion he made with ire
sIstible proofs. Mr.. Gorham ventilated Sey-
mour's "record," vindicated the justice and
necessity of the Reconstruction Acts, and
demonstrated the vital importance of main
tanning the Republican party in power until
our national affairs are definitely settled
But we have not space for even synopsis OF
his admirable speech. lie was frequently
interrupted with applause, and upon the
conclusion of his remarks three hearty cheers
were given for George G.. Gorham.
Mr.. Wallace was then introduced by the
Democratic chairman, and was received with
marks of appreciation. The poor fellow i'm
mediately commenced the herculean task of
attempting to prove that Horatio Seymour
was and is loyal man. He devoted fully
one half of his time in attempting to perform
this impossibility, and after labored effort.
came out at the same hole he went in. He
said Seymour was not in Office when the war
broke out, and couldn't do anything."-
When the riot was in progress in New York
city, he wasn't at home. and, of course, he
couldn't do anything" As soon as he re-
turned home lie advised his "friends'' ''to go
home," as he had written to Washington in
reference to their grievances, and if the Gov
ernment did not redress them, they could
assemble again. He read Seymour's "loy-
al history" comprised in two short tele-
graphic dispatches. returning thanks for
troops sent to repel Lees invasion but he
neglected to mention that Seymour presided
over Convention. in 1868, which declared
the war to be failure. lie then sung the
Democratic refrain, composed of an indefinite
number Of stanzas, in which "nigger," "Chi-
naman," "bonds," ""taxation, ""Radical mis-
rule" democratic economy" "white mans
government and "destruction of commerce.
figured principally. He made the alarming
statement that it costs more to administer
the affairs of the nation now than it did when
Jackson and Polk were in office; said that if
Seymour were elected our national expenses
would be reduced $500. 900, 900 annually,
but did not have time to tell us how he said
the Chinese Treaty provided for the admis-
of coolies into the public schools that john
son. by failure of Impeachment. was elected
President by Republicans, and that the de-
crease of American commerce is owing to
Radical misrule." These were the princi-
pal points of the gentieman's speech. His
argument was tissue of falsehoods and mis-
representation from beginning to end, but so
nicely woven together as to be well calculat-
ed to deceive his listeners. Amid three sick
ly cheers, the eloquent @ speaker subsidized.
MIR. Gorham's reply was inimitable-in-
describable. He literally tore the unmean-
ing sophistries of his opponent to shreds,
exhibited his misrepresentation in the light
of truth, and riddled his position with the
sharp, incisive bullets of humorous sarcasm.
He explained the Chinese Treaty, and showed
that Radical Senate SO amended it-as it
originally came from Democratic Presi-
dents hands-as to exclude Chinese from our
schools, except West Point and Annapolis
referring to impeachment he said that thirty
hive Republican Senators voted johnson
scoundrel, while twelve Democrats and seven
renagades were sufficient to keep him in his
position. He disproved everything Wallace
had said regarding the debt, showed that the
decrease in our carrying trade is owing to
the fear of more "Alabama's' in case the
Democrats are successful, and that the de-
probation of national securities arises from
the Democratic doctrine of reputation. Mr..
Gorham fairly electrified his audience with
his eloquence. and as he demolished the man
of straw which his opponent had set up. he
was greeted with the most enthusiastic ap-
plause. Upon the conclusion of his speech
three rousing cheers were given for Mr..
Gorham. and three more for Grant and Col
fax. The Democrats made a miserable fail
ure in their attempt to hurrah for Seymour
and Blair-only one man joining in the sad
refrain. There is but one opinion in regard
to the discussion, and that is that Gorham
got the best of it.
J. W. RIcKs, the whilom preacher, foot
racer. whisky destroyer and temperance lec-
r.