Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-10-06
General Leach 1m Robson.
EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL

As your special correspondent wa
at the joint discussion at LumbertoI
between Gov. Vance and Judge Settle
L leave 1t to him to give you an &C
count OF that perhaps the best on
that has yet taken place in the State
as it was inspired by the largest GROVE
that have yet assembled in the Stat,
since their campaign began, th,
lowest estimate beng 5000. Gov
| Vance covered himself AL over will
| glory, and lefs an enthrsiasm in tht
county that will not slacken unit
election day, and will bring to the
polls men who in years have not voted
The impression he made was never ex
celled and only partially paialleled il
Henry Clay's palmy days.
The object of this communications is
to tell you what Gen. j. M. Leach did
III Robson county, and L only can
give you brief synopsis at that.
On the 23d he spoke to large and
enthusiastic crowd at Shoe Heel, and
after discussing the political issues for
two hours and half the crowd still
desired him to go on, but having no
one to meet him on the other side, he
preferred saving himself for Lumber
ton. on the 10Th, where he hoped he
would have the pleasure of meeting
the redoubtable Norment and give him
such a sledge-hammer demolishine as
would uuft him to enter the campaign
again.
On Monday Gen. Leach arrived at
Lumberton and soon had an arrange
ment with Norment for q JOINT discus
sion. have heard the Geueral re-
peatedly. have known him person.
ally for years, but must confess, that
with oil my knowledge of him, 1 was
amazed at his mastery and grand effort,
OCCUPYING II hours. Norment replied ut
the same length in the most voi acious
bombastlc manner it has ever been my
to listen to. During Nor |
nlent's speech the train arrived with |
Vance and Settle, and the discussion !
was stopped for awhile. After the |
enthusiasm of the immense crowd had |
subs ded over Zeb Vance's arrival, the |
discussion continued and Leach had |
Tho reply. L shall not attempts an |
analysis or synopsis of his remarks.
1t has been my good forsnue TO have
heard some OF the bent stump orators !
n the United States. I heard John |
IL. Aorehead make his great speech |
as Presldent of the Convention in
Philadelphia in 1848 that nominated
ten. Taylor for the Presidency. [ |
nave listened at Daniel Webster in the |
United States Senate. L have heard |
Bragg aud John A. Gilmer, John Kerr |
md David s. Reid, - Pettigrew of |
south Carolina, Henry A. Wise of Vir- |
slnla; have listened for four hours |
~ Wendell Phillips of Massachusetts |
md been enthrAlled Mt the feet of |
ance-the greatest, best man of all.
Well, Leach then commenced, and I |
cannot or will not attempt to tell you |
what he said. I can only tell you
something of the effect produced. For
he was fortified with Nor, |
nent's record, and he condensed IN a |
thirty minutes speech more eloquent |
nvective, more logical sarcasm, more
denunciation than I have
ever heard. The large crowd were
'wayed and controlled as [ never saw |
before, and Moments worst enemies |
with him. For once his |
'enslbllltles were reached, although |
coated in rhinoceros hide. For once |
ne showed his hack feathers, and |
'quirmed under the scalpel that Leach |
vas applying with scientific hand to !
lis effrontery and impudence, and to-
lay IN Robson county Gen. Leach |
las done more for the Conservative |
party than any other man in North |
Carolina save one-Z. B. Vance. "God |
bless him. is the cry of the old and |
7onng. Heaven speed him on his visit |
10 South Carolina to give that gallant,
noble son of that do~n-tro 1den State, |
Hampton, lift. and may Providence |
smile Oil his Efforts there as here il the |
rue prayer of every one who heard |
lim on the 18th at Lumberton.
Yours, W. j. Ell.