The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-09-29
rCofFespshdence .orth Richmond nifpatsh.l
puhase Speaking I'm Grays0n County

CORRESPONDENCE sof the Ricbmonu Dispatsh.j
Puhass speaking I'm Grays0n Eounty'
IkDEpEsDExGE sepsembers2k. 1879.
LastshIonday, the 22d Of September, was
<County-Court day here, and IL was ZIG,
rious day FOR Grayson. It was nnaersLooa II
that Senator John w. Johnston, y. V. " hii-
tie. and Hon. Thomas s. SBocock would ad-
sIresa the neonIelos this County on the greats
issue OF the day. Will Virginia be wise
and honest ?.0For some. unknown cause
Senator Johnston did not put in an appear
ance, but Mr. Whittle and Me. Bocock were
promptly on hand. Att O'Clock the court
house bell rang, and after. short session OF
tine County. Court the Readjasters, who
claimed a right TO the courthouse, as they
mad apnointed the same place Tor meeting
| and choosing their own candidate Tor the
House OF Delegates, would not give way
| until some time In the evening. rearing
we had not time for both OF our speakers to
| do themselves justice, Ar. -Whttle kindly
Colonel A. N. Davis introduced the
and seclusion Of our mountain home It Is
rare that we have opportunity to take cUun-
sci from one so distinguished IN State and
. national legIsIatiou-of one so gifted, so
able. and capabe-as the gentleman who
will address you to-day. His name Is no
unfamiliar sound in our land, since he has
long been associated with the best achleVe-
ments Of Virginia craftsmanship. his SER
| vices take rank with those OF the best orators
and statesmen in the land. Passing over his
grand achievements as Democratic elector
time after time in the giant struggles OF the
old Whig and Democratic parties, bis bril-
| liant career as member OF the lower house
OF Congress in ante-belluna days recall his
distinguished position, as Speaker Of the
Confederate House of Representatives,
which link his name with the lost but glo-
rious cause OF our struggle for constitu-
tional liberty. +
AZ the conclusion OF Colonel DaYis's re-
marks -
Mr.. BocoCK TOOK THE STAND,
and begun one OF the greatest speeches ever
made in Grayson. He referred TO the brave
nv OF the Dare-Deviis in our late war at the
outset. thus bringing to himself the atten-
ton of the soldiers, whose hearts still thrill
with Joy, and whose eyes still blaze with
enthusiasm when those days are recalled
when they followed the flag OF their coun-
try, determined to reap victory or death.
II would be useless in me to attempt to
commit his speech to paper. would that
I could give his every word and gesture TO
every person in the State. AS he stood be-
fore us we could not but admire and look
with pride upon Tue man whom his country
had so honored.
Mr.. Bocock stated that he had come to
reason with our people, not TO appeal to
prejudice; and he did reason with them.
Even the strongest ReadiusterS gave him
marked attention. He answered conclu-
siYely every argument Of the ReSdiusters,
or, rather. every objection they had to the
McCuloch settlement. He said he did not
understand why it was the Reaoiusters SO
persistenlly objected to the coupon when it
was simply payment made to the State ir
It's own coin. He, with others, had worked
hard for the welfare OF Virginia, and bad
used every means to honorably bring the
)payrrent OF our public debt within our re-
sources: and now, after it was done, the
enemies of the State objected to it, and he
thought that as soon as "a little man with
cooked bat was elected United States sem
ator'' all opposition would cease. In
q word, we will say his figures were
conclusive, his logic WAS pointed, and lis
flights Of eloqucncc were sublime. He was
frequently interrupted with outbursts OF
applause. We have heard OF several Re-
adjHsters who declared thst they had been
mislcd, and wanted 1t understood that they
were Rtadjusters no more forever. | can
best Illustrate the result Of Mr.. Bocock's ef-
fort by relating a little circumstance. A
certain Reaiiu>ter, who has heretofore
claimed the county as two to one in their
favor, was asked how he liked the speech
OF 6ir. Bocock. His reply was, "f that
old man speaks much longer he VIII make
everybody .Fundcrs.' But rs our time
is limited we will speak no more OF the
great speech Of the great man who honored
as with his presence. We shall DE exceed
ingly well pleased il he can speak in every
county in the State before election day.
Time has had no effect on his towering in
tellect. would it were in my power to
bestow Upon him the gift OF eternal youth,
| for VireinIa's sake. We wish him un-
bounded prosperity, and hope he will be
with us again very soon. All were sorry
| that time allotted us prevented Mr.. Whlttle
from speaking. ! heard him in Carroll last
court. and can say that the people OF Gray
son missed great speech.
THE READJUsTRRs
nominated Colonel William G. Purks their
standard bearer for the House Of Delegates.
The Conservatives are well pleased and con.
tident we can beat him. The Colonel was
in the Legislature before the war, and we
understand he voted, with others. twelve
millions Of our debt upon us. Now he
wants TO repudiate, or, as he expresses It,
rcadiust 1t.
we propose canvassing this county thor
ouenly, and are determined that every
mal shall understand the issue. II | am
not sadly mistaken Grayson will assist in
placing "tbe little man with cooked hat
and scared conscience" like an old volume,
in the silence and darkness OF the upper
shelf. w.
A Letter from Colonel Cameron.