The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-10-24
ROANOKE COUNTY.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.l
-. ..I. SALEM. VA. October q, 1879.

TCbrrespondence or the Hicninono Dlspa'ch'j
49,. SALEM, VA, October q, 1879.
Major Daniel, who was expected to speak
here to-day, unfortunately failed to be on
hand. About - o'clock, however, the band
began to play, and large crowd was soon
collected at the Town Hall, notwithstand-
ing the very rainy weather. The speakers
present-Maior Kirkpatrick, OF Lynchburg,
and Captain Frank Blair, OF the city OF
Wytheville-agreed upon division Of time,
and thus opened another campaign battle in
our midst. DIR. Kirkpatrick in very clear
and iorcible manner showed that the DEBT
was resting upon us under falr and leeat
contract, and must be paid; no use
trying to get around these, facts. lie
cited quite number OF historic cases,
where legislatures and State conventions
thought 10 repeal and repudlate their Just
obligations, hut the United States supreme
Court overruled their decisions in every in
stance. The Resdiusters would have us
butt our brains out against this stone wall.
The McCulloch bill is the most generous
offer a creditor could make or debtor ex-
pcct. Mr.. Kirkpatrick made personal appli-
cation OF the Readiusters' principleS-some-
what after Gov. kemper's unfortunate (!)
illustration-they do not like their prin-
c1ples brought home to them. A "happy
fellow in the crowd shouted out that honor
would not feed his children. What re-
Election upon the civilization Of our age! A
father setting bis children's bread above the
honor OF a good name. Alb, methinks the
public debt is not the cause Of such degen-
ctacy. But returning, Captain Blair re-
spends to his " courteous friend and
how? Well, to be honest, with lot OF
stuff which many an Intelligent speaker
would only confess himself the father OF
for the sake OF caricature. TO be sure the
Captain mas bis style, and we only refer 10
it that others may the more easily ludse
how the discussion went. few vulgar
Jokes introduced what arguments he ad'
duced. Arguments, did we say? Sincerely,
th ere was not q sound dialectic bone IN the
whole body of his speech. Ii there was
any argument 1t was reduced al d6Sdrdans.
Auditor Taylor was given the lie. The
speaker boosted himself up in the estlma-
ton of bis friends on the false assurance
that with a two-thirds' vote in the next
General Assembly the Readiusters could
ride over tina: one.armed Governor! In
his many poetical references se speaker
certainly forgot these noble lines OF DR..
Young
Or. "On reason build resolve: that column Of
True majesty In man.;
but foolishly followed up his assumptions
with such an outpouring OF political balder-
dash as is seldom witnessed before an intel
ligent audience; though we must confess
the crowd was rather mixed. Among those
present the Captain seemed to have qulte 4
number OF friends, who rolled his sweet
morsels under their tongues, nearly yellhs
their heads off by way OF applause. One OF
our most reliable merchants, speaking OF
bis principles, said afterwards in our hear lea, r,
ing: 81 could not safely credit any man
who refuses to support the payment OF the
public debt. The fact is that those VINO cry
down the McCulloch bill in this sectlon are
not, as rule, debt-payirg. class OF peo-
pie" This may sound harsh, yet mere IS
more truth than poetry IN tue s.aae,nGn o.
The Southwest Virginia Episcopal Con-
vocation is now in session at this place.
B.