The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-09-09
rresnondcnce of the Richmond Dispatch.I
LExINorcN, VA, September 6, 1881.

hoe sIGSO," &C.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.l
LEXINGTON, VA, September 6, 1881.
The scenes OF yesterday will be long re-
membered by the people OF Lexington and
the county Of Rockbridge. Maior Daniel
and Colonel Cameron met here in Joint dis
cussion. An unusually large crowd assem-
bled from all parts OF the county to hear
them. The understanding was that Colo
mel Cameron should open in a speech OF an
hour and a quarter, Moior Daniel should
follow in speech Of the same length, Colo
mel Cameron reply in q speech OF half an
hour, and Major Daniel close the discussion
ia a speech Of the same length.
COLONEL CAMERoN's sPEEC WAS SCATTERING
and with difficulty recalled after finished.
He commenced by announcing that be was
the candidate of neither the Democratic
nor Republican parties, but OF the Read
ulster party. He claimed that the Read
busters had wiped out the Democratic or
! Funder party in 1879, and that they were
| going 10 do 1t again. He said that be stood
upon the statement OF The debt as published
by the Whig some time ago, which bad so
far gone uncontradicled, the challenge OF
that paper 10 show its iDaccuracy having
never been answered. The speaker claim
ed that the Readjusters were friends OF the
public schools, and that under their foster
ing care they had grown more numerous
and Waxed strong as a system. Colonel
Cameron expanded at length upon the cap
%ltation.tax, and, taking it as bis text, gave
bis audience quite a treatise upon finance
and political economy, mixed up with no
little sophisIry and dd C0ptGndum logic.
What connection the great mass OF it bad
TO do with his Textile caplLatiOn-tax-I
think few, IL any, OF his audience under
stood.
COLONEL CAMERON DID not ANSWER THE
QUESTION
| put TO him by Major Daniel as to whether
he was q Democrat or a Republican, but
continued TO lay before bis audience in the
| filthy embrace OF John +. Lewis, with no
motion OF dis lips to so much as indicate
that this paddock which Malone had put
upon his mouth was against bis inclina-
ton. Colonel Cameron alluded to his re-
cord upon the debt question, and said he
was then young and that circumstances bad
| changed. Speaking Of his former abuse Of
the negro, he said that the uiterances were
made when ne believed the negro wished
to override the. white man, but that times
and the surroundings hsd changed, and
that now be fought the Funders because
they were trying to override the negro;
that under circumstances similar to those
in 1868 and 1869 he would do the same
again. Colonel Cameron was cheered by
these In the crowd who favored him,
though from the cheers which greeted
every thrust Of Major Daniel il was plain to
see that the ColonePs followers were In a
decided minority or very low spirits.
DANIELS GRAND RECEPTION.
When Major Daniel came forward he was
greeted with a perfect storm OF cheers and
yells so long and continued that he stood
for some time silent before the apparently
wild crowd. When the speaker commenced
he showed that he was worthy OF the ova-
ton he had received. Never has your cor
respondent seen q crowd so aroused by any
speaker. A storm OF cheers greeted him at
every turn, and he held his audience mag
ni6cently In hand from the beginning to the
end OF both speeches. The voice OF this
community Is one in ~pronouncing the effort
the most magnificent ever made In Lexing.
ton. Only those who witnessed the scene
can appreciate the enthusiasm Of the crowd.
Major Daniel said he was a Democrat, bad
always been one, and would be elected as
one, and dragged Colonel Cameron pitiously
before the public for his silence upon this
point.
CAMERoS's FUTURE A BLANK
He said the Coloneps future was by bis
own acknowledgment blank, and il II was
10 be anything like his past the Colonel:
friends should wish for his sake that II
could be so, since il would not then require
the sponge OF Virginia's anger to wipe II
out by burying the owner in oblivion. He
showed up his opponents Inconsistencies,
and twitted him with the ludicrous mixture
Of hot and cold In his career until the crowd
was wild with merriment and laughter. He
then discussed in statesmaElike manner be.
coming the next Governor OF Virginia the
serious issnsx OF Of the canvass, showing
Virginia's ability to pay the interest on her
debt at the rate OF 3 per cent, and have u
addition a sinking fund for the liquidation
Of the principal, aud the ease with which
such a compromise could be effected,
quoting as authorities TO back bis state
meuts
MALONE, Massey, AND DYSON.
He showed how Malone bad bankruptet
three railroads for Virginis, and sQuander
ed her money, taking the position that II
the State now had what be bad run through
for her the debt question would give us nc
troubles Upon the school question Msiol
4 Daniel took high ground, branding rs false
The charges that be was "a enemy OF thu
schools, and showing from his record IN thu
4 Legislature thai from being one of th,
founders Of the system be bad always re
NAMED is friend, rs every vote that be had