Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-03
LEBANON.

| A Forensic TIIt-DiscussIng the Re.
suits of the War-AWaFd OF a Gold
| MedaI-AnOtheF Debate to Come
on, etc.
Special Correspondence Union and American.
LEBANON, March 30.-It is the custom
with the Literary Societies connected with
| the University here to reward the finest
! debater in each society with gold medal,
which is presented at the commencement
exercise at the close of each term, a. d,
according to a recent change in the mOdUS
operdadi, a public debate is usually resort
ed to, in order to determine upon the rela-
tive merits of a chosen few, who contest
for the coveted honor. In accordance with
this custom, the Amasegassian Society
elected some time since two gentlemen, as
debaters, who were regarded SIS the best
among their number, Messrs. Shorter, of
Alabama, and Crockett, Of Tennessee, both
members of the senior law class.
Last evening having been designated as the
time for them to meet, Masonic Hall was
thronged with the beauty and intelligence
of this little city; and as both gentlemen
were personally unusually popular and sus-
tanned regulations the best as debaters Of
the first order, there was intense interest
felt before the exercises commenced. The
Hon. Jordan Stokes, bon. John W. Phil
lips, and Hon. II. Y. Riddle, having been
chosen the judges as to the merits Of the
respective debaters, took their seats, and
the President announced as the subject for
discussion the following:
"Resolved, That the late civil war was
. benefit, rather than an injury, TO the
South"
The affirmative of this proposition was
assumed by
AIR. SHORTER, OF ALABAMA,
and maintained by the most superior speech
which it has been our fortune to hear at
the hands of any young man; indeed, it was
remarked by one Of Lebanon's most
cultivated gentlemen, that the speech would
have done him distinguished credit in the
halls of our national Congress. From the
commencement of Mr.. ShOrter's argument
to its close, he applied himself directly to
the subject in hand, and managed it with
the ingenuity of an experienced debater,
and adorned it with the beauties Of Oratory
seldom equaled in one so Joung. l could
not pretend to sketch even an outline ofhis
speech, nor can l convey proper idea OF
the high appreciation in which it was held;
but do say that the argument in favor Of
the affirmative, which continued for
two hours, was exhaustive of the
subject, and stamped its action as a man
of brilliant mind, thorough attainments
and deep research. The question of ma
tional finances, and the immigration ques
ton were discussed freely and with clear
ness and force, and the speaker pictured
the prosperous and happy condition of our
country in the days that were to follow
ours, when, indeed, benefits would be real
lied as a result of the war, which had |
robbed our land of so many of millions of
wealth, and so great a portion of her bone |
and sineW. He also considered the ques- |
ton from the standpoint of education, in |
an agricultural point Of view, and |
as affecting the social status Of
the people of the South. During the pro
gress of this speech, the gentleman re-
heved the close reasoning and stern logic by |
occasional illustrative figures, which were |
always to the point, clothed in language |
powerful and eloquent; and were always |
rewarded by storms of applause, as were |
his many happy and iuapromptu witticisms. |
Though Mr.. Shorter spoke for two hours, |
and argued his subject closely, yet he eli
cited the undivided attention of every one |
present, and q whisper was not heard, save
when it burst from the hearts of the de-
lighted audience as an applause. His clos
ing remarks were truly eloquent, and more
than one in the vast number of people,
predicted, as he took his seat, that he was
vet, if life was spared him, TO stand in the
halls of Congress as the champion Of his
native Alabama.
MIR. CROCKETT, OF TENNESSEE,
followed on the negative, and grasped the
subject with determination, feeling, as he
did, the strength of his position. He doubt
ed many Of the positions assumed by the
affirmative, and proceeded to argue the
question with vigor and force which char
acterized his speech throughout. be COZ
tended that it was not the doors Of slavery
which had kept immigration from the
South, but that, as emigrants came from
European countries to this, they sought the
climate best adapted to their natures, and
reviewed the history Of immigration in
order to establish this fact. He argued that
the war had resulted in not only the devast-
alton of the homes of the Southern people,
hut had left them in a condition, financially,
from which legislation had not relieved them;
and he urged that the people were not so
we'll prepared to repair broken fortunes as
formerly, etc. He cOntended that the present |
system of labor was deficient, and that the |
neople of the South were left remediless, |
nrging. too, that the loss Of property ha |
de9riTed the Southern youth Of the advan- |
ta6e of the superior education by which |
thew were characterized prior to the war. |
Mr.. Crockett consumed just two hours in |
the discussion, during the whole OF which |
time he reasoned closely and logically, and |
showed himself the perfect master OF his
subject. So strong were the premises he