The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-09-18

mlSh. he told the people thaC the men
their county were not sufficient for the pun
pose, and that the McCuloch bill advocate
tors to teach them what their duty was. In
men who had come to oppose them wer
worthy representatives OF their cause. Fac
was salaried officer, receiving every yea
more than the average farm in Rockingham
county was worth, and these were the me
who had been sent to instruct the hare
working farmers how they should pay thei
taxes. The gentlemen, however, were nc
entire strangers to the people Of Rocking
ham. Once before Mr.. Tucker had adGresse
them, and the older members of the at
dence, at least, would remember the time
the occasion and the result 1t was in 1861
and Mr.. Tucker then came to advocate rec
mouthed secession and dissolution OF tn
Union. His cause triumphed then. and 20
know the result. War, blood drinking an
terrible, followed Your fields we're lai
waste, your houses made desolate and th
flower of your manhood was laid beneath tn
sod. He plunged you into the vortex Of rev
olutiop, and the sacrifices you endured ex
coed all human computation. lie sent you
sons to the front to die in the storm OF sho
and shell, but where was he during all tina
trying ordeal? Safe, safe from harms toucl
in bomb proof office. Never once did hi
smell the smoke OF battle; never once di'
he try to stay the fury OF the blow he hal
been so eager to precipitate. All /! you can
not forget those terrible days, for the greer
graves that on everyside surround you are
perpetual reminders of them, and as in eacf
year when the June roses bloom, you scatter
your floral offerings above the silent soldier
of the ''Lost Cause" the memory OF seces
sion and those who brought it about come
wildly before you.
But, Mr.. Tucker, the speaker continued
was Oh one battle field, but the enemy ha(
gone, and the champion of secession as 9
member of the sanitary commission, envel
oped in yellow scarf which meant ''don'
shoot at me. Pm harmless" c. me to bring
a few supplies to the wounded.
Continuing in his bitter onslaught, and moi
failing to hit at Senator Withers, when op-
portunity was offered, Mr.. Paul consumed
almost all of his time, and made but slight
allusion to the subject under discussion
He told his opponents that nine-tenths Of
the audience knew more about the State
debt than those who essayed to teach them,
and said that when the McCulloch bill was
repealed. they intended to enact in its stead
law that would dispense with the coupon
and restore the State to her sovereignty.
At first the crowd cheered Justify, but as
Mr.. Paul proceeded the applause grew faint
er and fainter, and evinced but little enthu-
siasm. When he took his seat there were
spasmodic shouts, but nothing like the old.
time yelling.
J. RAN TUCKER.
Mr.. Tucker followed Capt. Paul. When
he advanced from his seat cries OF "Paul -
"Paulr' "Tucker!' "Tucker!" went forth
with unsurpassed vigor and the uproar be-
came appalling. Every man was standing
on his feet beating the air with hat and
hands and screaming at the top Of his voice.
The McCulloch bill men seemed to have let
out all OF their pent up lung power, and the
Mozarters yelled themselves hoarse. For
two or three minutes it looked as if Mr..
Tucker would not be allowed to speak, but
he stood there boldly and defiantly, and
showed by his manner and attitude that,
like Senator Withers, he demanded to be
heard and meant that his demand should be
obeyed. When comparative quiet had been
restored, he thanked Mr.. Paul in cutting
irony for the courteous reception rendered
him, and turning upon that gentleman
opened the full battery OF his impassioa ed
oratory with fervour that electrified the
audience and threw them into perfect
spasm of applause. Round after round of
deafening shouts succeeded each
other as his rapid sentences poured forth,
and when to his burning words were added
that wonderful mimicry and facial coLtor>
ton, which few can employ TO such an adj
vantage as Ran. Tucker, the ecstacy Of the
crowd burst forth in mad ringing cheers,an
for the first time in our life we saw a Rock
ingham audience turn against John Paul.
Mr.. Tucker told them that at the outbreak
of the war he was Attorney General OF the
State, and that when in 1868 his term expired,
he was written to to know whether or not he
would aOain M.
was that his all was at the service of his
State, and wherever and whenever du ty call
ed, he was ready to respond. If his own
inclination had been consulted, he would
have chosen the field, but the unanimous
voice OF the state call ID him again to the
Attorney Generalshp, and as every good
citizen should do, he had gone where duty
pointed the way. He then appealed to the
crowd to know whether or not he had acted
as true man should, and from every quarter
OF the court room the cries of "yes" syes'
went up. He denied point-hlank that he
had ever been on the battle field enveloped
In the yelew scarf: pronounclng that
charge utterly false, and as he rtterel The CO.
NAL its eehoes were caught up in tornado Of
applause that seemed to ahake the Court
House TO its foundation, For few min utes it
was impossible for him 10 proceed,so prolong-
ed was the cheering, but when partial quiet
came, he launched forth again, and struck
straight to the Rockingham heartily series OF
writings and anecdotes, that no
man in Il c State OF Virginia can approach. 1t
was the most effective argument he could
have used. and accomplished what nothing
else in the world could have done-a CONVEX
sion of the sympathy from Paul Occasion.
ally he would ring in a real solid reason for
supporting the McCulloch bill, ana when he
closed cheer after cheer and yell after ell,
showed how completely the crowd had been
captivated.
Panl felt that his hold had lost its grip,
and seemed to be aware for the first time
that the sceptre of power might pass from
his hand.
At the close,
HARRY RIDDLEBARGEn
made gallant dash for the lost ground and
succeeded in retrievinga portion of it. The
vulnerable points of Mr.. fuckers speech,
were ass luted ruthlessly. but his eagerness
outstrippeu his Judgment and once or twice