The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-10-02

posing appearance, some fifty years of age,
his steel-grey hair thrown straight back
from his forehead above the medium
height, square shouldered and heavy SET
with the quickest aud keenest of eyes flash
ing behind gold-rmmed spectacles, and q
voice of singular impressiveness and power
his mein and manner are well calculated TO
rivet the attention of an audience and hold
it to the close. Whilst Mr.. Massey was
speaking he seemed busily employed In
taking notes, and to one who knew nothing
of his past history and the prominent part
lie had played in the council OF the nation, the
impression might easily have been conveyed
that he was unaccustomed to the rough
rounds of the hastings. He seemed sinSu-
larly sensitive to the thrusts OF his opponent,
and now and then turned nervousy about
in his chair, or hastily grasped some OF the
numerous documents that lay on the table
before him. At times, he would catch up his
pen and note with feverish energy some
point in the argument he was listening to,
and then turning quick ss flash on the
speaker, dart at him question, and if there
was the least hesitation in answering.
fill! up the interim with a cutting irony that
These interruptions, however, were always
by permission, and not once were the rules
of courtesy violated on either side. When
he first commences to speak, DR.. Curry has
~ fho Init hut nc
he proceeds and warns up with the subject,
the listener loses sight of this altogether.
He tells no anecdotes, but his direct and
startling questions far more forcibly bring
out the points he wishes to impress than the
most apt Illustration by anecdote could pos
sibly do. He throws IN the Interrogation
marks here, there and everywhere, but woe
betide those who attempt to pay him back in
his own coin, for we have never yet seen his
equal at repartee. In the time allowed him
on Monday last. his rebuttais OF the points
made by Mr.. Massey where necessarily
brief, but they were sufficient, for so thor
oughly did he have the subject in hand, that
1t seemed as if his opponents batteries were
under his direct control, to be spiked at will,
or turned broadside against him who had
first brought them into the field. AT every
point he met him face to face, and even the
authorities quoted by Mr.. Massey were in
voked to destroy the force of the arguments
founded upon them. MIR. Massey had read
Judge Hughes letter to the editor OF this
paper with great impressiveness and en-
phasis, and was met by Judge Hughes more
recent letter to Mr.. Thorn, which will be.
found on the first page of today's VIRGIN
IAN. He quoted Judge R0bertson's opinion
in Peyton VS.. Burrows, and wa. met by
Judge Rebertson's statement that it would
be madness for the people of Virginia not to
accept the McCulloch settlement. He quoted
from Alex. Hamilton and the U. s. Supreme
Court, to sustain his position, and was met
by the late decision of the same tribunal in
the Tennessee cases. determining directly
against him; and in this way taking up
point after point which Mr.. Massey had
labored so arderously to impress, he riddled
them to the core, and exposed the sophistry
ment that there was no legal liability to pay
the debt, and that the only obligation the
people rested under was moral one. DR..
Curry pronounced such doctrine as down
right, outright reputation, and if it gained
favor among the people OF the State would
blacken the fair escutcheon OF Virginia for
all time to come. The bankrupt law, he
said, removed the legal liability of indiyidu-
ais for Indebtedness, and left unaffected the
moral obligation, but not one in thousand
ever discharges the debt which this law re-
leases him from. His time was not wholly
occupied in answering MIR. Massey, for he
found ample opportunity to ably and elo-
auently advocate the McCulloch bill, and
demonstrate that under its. provisions the
State could meet all of its obligations, main
tain its honor and foster and protect the
schools.
A majority Of the audience were undoubt-
edly on DR.. Curry's side, and frequent and
loud were the testimonials of approval which
meet him at every stage OF the discussion.
Mr.. Massey also had many friends present
who were by no means silent, and at times
cheer after cheer greeted him, but it was
more the applause to keep up courage than
the exultant shouts of victory. Throughout
the discussion was marked by the utmost
courtesy, and not once cid either speaker
descend to personalities. What the efeetlof
Mondays work will be on the All Of Novem-
Der it is of course impossible to tell, but we
note one change since our last visit to Har-
risOnburg, and tina: is that Genl Rollers
friends are now quite as sanguine as are Mr..
Paul's, whilst before th.y only hoped.
ARREST OLE COIINTEREEITERS On Tues.