The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-10
Correspondence of the Richmond Dlspatch.l

correspondence Of the Richmond Dspatch.l
WARSAW, VA, September 9, 1880.
An unusually large number OF the citizens
OF this and the adjoining counties were here
| to-day in attendance on the September term
OF our County Court, as well as to hear that
willy exlounder OF Virginia politics in re-
gard to State and national issues from Ma
hone standpoint, the redoubtable(!) Massey,
who had been duly advertised to be present
| on this occasion. Thomas CroXton, Esq,
OF Essex county, the Democratic presiden-
| tial elect0r OF the First district, was here TO
meet him, and the commencement OF the
discussion was looked forward TO by all
with much interest.
Having finished all It's business the Court
adjourned, and after dinner the eager crowd
began to cOngregate in the courthouse,
where your correspondent also repaired.
| There stood the Parsin" already upon the
stand, and from his self-satIstied air | infer
red that be was cooked and primed with Re-
adiuster arguments. His little eyes spar
kled as he glanced at his audience, and il he
did not view his bearers much as an eagle
would his prey, he certainly seemed salts
fed that they would prove easy victims 10
his very plausible yet fallacious reasoning.
But not seeing Mr.. CroXton present. he did
not commence his speech until that gentle
man shortly thereafter came in. AS Is usual
with Mr.. Massey on occasions OF this KIND,
he insisted on having the last say, so that
the agreement between him and Mr. CroX-
ton stood thus Massey was to speak one
hour and half, 10 be followed by Mr..
CroXtOn in q two.hour's speech, and then
Massey should have half an hour in which
to reply.
At aIf.past O'Clock. with a slight shrug
of bis shoulders, the Rev. Mr. Massey began
his speech. He said that he appeared before
the people of this section under many dis
advantages; for whilst Mr.. Croxton was
well-knOwn to them, he was an entire
stranger, and could not expect TO be re-
ceived with as much favor as he would II
he were among the people OF his own coun-
tv. Yet he was a Vrginian, and held
VIrginia's interests to be his. He said be
came to enlighten the people as TO her true
condition, and to tell them what their duty
was in the coming campaign; he was Auditor
of Public Accounts, and was perhaps bet
ter able to do so than any other man. He
defined readjustment rs an " honorable and
lust settlement OF the State debt" and said
that term meant nothing more nor less. The
only hope OF its settlement, said he, was
through the Readiusters, and TO that end
he appealed 10 every Conservative who
wished to hand down to pOsterity an herit'
age untrammeled by this ponderous bur-
den TO rally around the leaders OF that party,
and 1t would surely be attended to. Ten
nessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and the
Carolinas-all had compromised their debts,
and he did not see why Virginia could not.
He had arithmetic at his tongues end, and
told anecdotes to make his figures interest
ing. He argued astutely, but. believe, de-
luded no one, and sat down, appauded
only by chosen few"
At 3 O'Clock Mr.. CroXtOn took the stand,
and was greeted by an enthusiastic cheer.
| He said he was there as the Democratic
| elector to discuss the claims which he had
| on the Democratic voters OF the county, anG
did not wish to drag State issues into the
discussion. But inasmuch as the gentleman
who had preceded him had talke OF no.
thing but reimbursement and Masseylsm, h(
| would in that respect endeayOr TO make
every true Democrats duty plain in the
coming election. He thoroughly ventilated
the State-debt question, and showed thai
with all their piteOus cries about the bur-
den Of the debt, and with all their prOfes.
Si0ns OF fidelity TO Hancock and English
they were not particular about the election
of Hancock and English further than affect
ed the political interests OF Malone and
Massey. He adyerted TO the course OF the
Readjus,ers irItIying to capture the Staan
tan Convention, and. from the fact OF theil
utilization with the Republicans in The late
State elections, deprecated in the coming
national contest their aspirations to be the
| dog, and wish that portion OF the Demo
fcratic party OF the State which was repre-
| scented in the Cincinnati Convention. anC
which is recognized by the national Demo
crazy, to be the tail. As for his part, be did
not propose to be wagGed by any such dog
During his speech Mr.. CroXtOn was fire.
quently applauded, and at its close thu
cheers of his enthusiastic hearers were
deafening.
| Massey's half hour in reply was devotet
principally to anecdotes. He said he espe.
cially did not wish to deceive the coloreC
people, but would tell them as their friend
and advocate that as Garfield and Arthur had
not shadow OF a chance OF election in this
Safe, they had better vote with the Read.
iusters il they did not wish to throw their
votes away. They liked his jokes, and
laughed because he was opposed 10 the Con
servatiyes; but your correspondent heard
more than one say that Garfield and Arthur
would certainly get their votes, and they
were leaders, too. Mr.. Massey did not eX
| plain his position on the Independent ques.
ton, although in his first speech he prom.
ised to do so. In that respect no man who
heard him can tell where he stands. Truly
| be has wasted sweetness "on the desert
| air." MAARL.
Hancock Club Organized.