Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-10-18
Political Discussion last Night.

night bowcon Mr.. Geo. G. Round. Indepen-
dent Candidate fer The Stato Senate, and Capt. |
L. l.. Smith, tho Conservative aomiueo fer the
sane position, aud Geo. A. Musdbach, Esq, of
this city, and j. Willard Greer, of PRICE
William, was one of the most Interesting that
| has ever taken place in this city. Mr.. /. G.
O'Nesl. in few remarks, in which be said
| that not knowing what Mr. Round IVES going
to say, he could not endorse his sentiments.
| lie Introduced Mr. RouDd, as one who he knew
| to be a gentleman OF honor ard integrity. Mr..
| Round said the conservative party 10 Virginia
was GlVlved ; one party clamOrlng Tor the pass
age Of the MoCulIoch bill, aud the ether 10 favor
oil flrclab'y reac jusling the state debt and the
Issues IN the present campaign were hot politi
cal, but issues etfectiog tito material prosperity
Of the state of Virginia. He thought it was
right to repudate; be was not 10 favor OF 70
puiiatiug anything that was not right, and
though that tho McCuoch bill was dishonest
and disgrace to the state. This was an issue
upon which honest men differ, and be wanted
it agtated until settlement of the debt could
be had that would stand the ties: of Justice and
right aud there never was more universal
sense of iu 1stice on the part Of the people than
now. The hleCulloch settlement was tOrclble
reao ustmcnt; even conservative paptrS alluded
to it as su,h. Three attempts had been made
to settle the state debt, one in 1866 aud one in
1877, both of which amounted TO uothiug, not
witbsandng the predictions OF kepper aud
Walker, the state ran behind hand, and the
funding bill was proDourced failure. by all
parties ADD now tho MoCullcch settlement,
which. il could bn proved. would also prlve
failure. Hugh McCullooh was fest repubIi.
can member from New Yulk, then Sesrtt,ry of
the Treasury. aud then O broker 10 London.
Aud this was the man, who, like Nebuchadn Ter,
had sat up an image, and commands all mon to
fall down and worship it. Ho proposed to
tear tho italse face from tie image, uud show
il to &C. instead Cf an angel Of lght, un arch
demon from The pit Of he'll. The McUulluoh
bill an justice to the creditors the state;
, 1t gave 10 the brokers exclusive conttcl OF tho
dett. aud creditors were compelled to transact
their busle5s through McUuIcca, and pay him
therefore. Ali tho creditors stood ulon tbs
, same footing, and yat peecrs were funded at
so cents on The dollar while cor sJls were funded
at 100. Tor 100. Mr.. Round weut on 10 say
that II The McCullcch bill was carried out tho
government I'll tho state would be destroyed,
aad proFGu gated the priGoipul that there were
higher Obligations resllug upon man ttan to
pay an houest debt. He sid The bill Vas
gigantic scheme OF bribery uud corfupiou, and
talked about widows aud orphans, robbery
OF tie sehoJ! fund. weeping babies. debt
loaded ,Osteriiy, aGd all sou!s Of sOrrowiul sub.
isrts, bat nobody wept; anu nobody laughed
aid 1t was p;auy sees that Mr.. Rounl bad
Spcut hs labor, aud money too, for nlught.
Capt. L. l.. Smith then took tho s:aud, and
was received ~th tremendous sppauS,; cheer
Htter cheer went up, ard it vas some time be-
fore he could mako himself heard; but upici
baiDg restored. be sad the e,lendid reception
nc hal met with Oa tue part OF his fellow cltl
Zsns. who had known him from toyhooG, would
DO remembered by him az the happiest momeot
oil hiJ I;it, Tor ii Was always Is pleasure 10 him
to know that e had 50 acted az to deserve tic
applause OF shoso who Enow him best. lie then
prcc4uied to teur tic false i.c, from the argu.
moots Of Mr.. Rcuad, and said 10 had given
5 tho people. who had come there for light 90 q
complicated sutlects. nothing but elittcriug
gcncrAitlee, aud theories, without Bringing one
solid argument against the McCu!icch bill.
: Any oUe, be said, could say the bOodholders
were ro5biog the children 0! the state, but bad
MIR. Refund brought the slightest proof to prove
, the assertion, (crlcs OF 10, no. lie thea PRO.
caedcd TO discuss the McCuCch bill, and for
one hour he stood before ths. large audiance,
and plainly explained 10 them tho advantages
that would accrue to the state By reason CT its
ad0pilon. ila proved that il Was the very best
settlement tia: could bo made honorable to the
state and satisfactory TO the crcdilors that il
was honest, Just and righ!; Just 10 al! classes of
men, and that IL WAS the only salvation for the
public schools, IN which he was deeply ineres-
tsO; aad ii they send him TO tho State Senate,
he would show that public schools cauld have
10 wnrmcr friend than himself. ia showed
that Dr.. Rufia. tic head Of public education
| 1pHt hnt tlo, -
toe debt as the very best that could be inside
Tor the schools. lie pCvad by Gen. Mahone's
oTu statements that the schools were safe uu-
der It. Then he preceded to show in detail
tog, uuder the McCull0ch bill! tho government
oi this state could be sustalci aud the public
schools Kept up. bringing facts and figures to
bear to Provo his assertions, and maklog them
} so plain that the way tsriug map, though he
: be fool, could not help understanding them,
Ito asked Mr.. Rourd what party bo represent
cd; to which MIR. Round replied that he did
not represented the honorable biks. Ho then
proceeded 10 show that Mr.. Round, being
member OF no party, wOuld't be responsible to
any QUO for his acts. lie showed that msiority
OF the neu who passed the McUuoch bill
were readiusteis. aud asked Why all this agita.
was created, it was because that some men had
their own Interest more at heart than the ma
terlal prosperity of the state. lie closed beau.
tifuliy, urging all to rally around the old party
that had saved tho state. and secured her from
degradation and ruin. Capt. Smith wes inter.
rupted tc7era! times during the delivery of his
speech by questions from gentlvmen in the
audience, 70 all OF which he responded 10 the
most satisfactory mauuer.
Capt. Smiths speech Was, without doubt
marterly efcr:, ono Of the finest ever delivered
in this ely, even the few who think differently
with him on tho debt question were forced to
acknowledge that it had been presented clearly
and strongly, aud his warmest friends aud ad.
mir2rs were surprised. Ii that meeting last
| night means any hing, it means that Alexandra
is with Capt Smith, heart and hand The re
cepton this sIeech met with was Certainly very
f,ttetiug TO Cspt, Smith, for it was greeted
with applause from the commencement 10 the
end.
When Mr.. Round came forward to reply. tho !
/ ~ nhn,,t I,.tf