The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-10-03

election, and expected to address the
people. Since coming into the Court
House he bad been handed slip of pa
per containing an arrangement of time
for discussion. (Here be read from
the slip an arrangement similar to that
mentioned above.) He said he had not
come here for discussion that he would
not debate with anybody except the can
didate on the Democratic ticket opposed
to him. That the people wanted to hear
the candidates for Congress, and that he
proposed they speak during the after
noon according 10 any arrangement that
suited them, and he would speak at night
but he would not be limited in time,
BE observed that TO each of the Republi.
can speakers only one hour was allowed
while ono Of the Democratic speaker!
was allowed an hour and half. He wa
thus to be placed between "the uppcl
and the neither mill-stones." This wa:
not fair, and he objected to it. All he
wanted was fair play.
Mr.. Walker said that at q recent
meeting in Kanawba county at which
Governor Stevenson and himself were
announced among the speakers, the
Governor then, as now, declared that he
would not take part in any discussion,
but that after he (Walker) had spoken,
the Governor made reply in which he
was personally and bitterly assailed, it
having been first stipulated that he
should not be permitted to reply. As
the Governor had then followed him, he
proposed now to follow the Governor.
He had proposed to the committee to
have the candidates for Congress conduct
their debate in whatever manner suited
them best, after which Le would debate
with the Governor in alternate balf-hour
speeches as long as the people would
stay to listen, but this the radicals would
not agree to. This was Democratic
meeting, however, having been first call
ed to bear Mr.. Davis. but the division ol
time was the proposition Of the Republi.
can committee, and was reluctantly con-
Cured in by the Democrats. 1t was q
skunk of the Governors own catching,
and he might skin it himself.
Mr.. White, chairman Of the meeting,
stated that the arrangement for discus
sion was proposed by the republicans,
and accepted by the Democrats, and be
was opposed to any change now being
made in it.
General Goffva then called for and
took the stand.
GEN. GoFT's SPEECH.
He said be came as the candidate OF
the republican party-that party which
had been SO much villifed to-day. He
came to defend the very measures which
had been so bitterly denounced. AL
thongh Mr.. Davis had spoken so bitter
ly ofthe doings Of the republican party,
did he find any act of the Democratic
party to which ho could point with pride!
1t is an easy matter To find fault with and
denounce those who are charged with the
conduct Of governmental affairs, but bard
to show any good thing in Democracy.
The style of Mr.. Davis argument had con-
sisted in ringing changes upon the words
constitutional" unconstitutional" and
"nigger." His argument had been merely
a repetition of the arguments Of the &C.
cessionists in 1911. He had talked only
of States Rights and the reserved powers
Of the States. These questions were in
issue in 1861 they had been referred tc
tho arbitrament Of the sword and thus
settled aud lost.
He then proceeded to argue that the
amendments to the Constitution recently
incorporated with that instrument had
been fairly aud legally adopted in compli-
ance with the prescribed form, and thai
the party which now opposes the operation
ofthese amendments occupies the position
held by the rebels in 1861, when they Sc
ceded from the Union. These question:
have been settled by the bayonet and b.
tho ballot, and will remain settled unit
over!hrown by such arguments as ho hat
Just heard. These men should not tall
about the Constitution and its sanctity
They had violated itthemselves often ant
in many ways. They violated it in 1856,
and would do SO again. The Democrati
platform adopted at Charleston, by its de
clared hostility to these constitutions
amendments, had done the same thing
These amendments embodied the fruits o
the war and the people would not submit