Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-08-11
VIRGINIA POLITICS.


Democratic Gubernat0rialCa Cam
didates-- Malone ana the State
Debts.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
MARTIEsvILLE, August8, 1881.
The campaign between the regular
Democrats and the Readjusters, which
promises to be the hottest known in
Virginia since the famous Wise
Flourney contest, was opened here to-
day. William Il. Cameron, the Re-
adjuster nominee for governor, had an
appointment to address the people
of this (Henry) county, it being
county court day. John w. Daniel,
who received the Democratic Guber-
material nomination few days since,
fastened here to meet his opponent.
The oratorical contest was well adj
vertised, and the largest crowd ever
assembled in the county was early
upon the court green. 1t was about
evenly divided between Democrats
and Readjusters. Moonshine whisky,
for which this region is famous, hav-
ing flowed freely, both sides we're in
splendid condition by two o'clock, the
hour for speaking. Major Daniel led
off 10 speech of hours duration.
He planted himself on the debt pay
ing platform recently adopted by his
party and eloquently denounced what
he termed the inconsistent record
Of his opponent. He held up the
Malone party as Repudiationists and
ridiculed the unjust and untrue cry
of the Readjusters that Virginia is too
poor to pay her debts" He spoke at
length of the States prosperity, and
said she is amply able to pay her debt,
maintain her free schools and aid in
ternal improvements as far rs neces-
sary to develop Der resources. The
Democratic Conservative party is
pledged to make a settlement on this
basis, acceptable to creditors and
honorable to the commonwealth. No
other settlement, he said, is consistent
with honor and with Virginia's fair
name, and no other settlement can be
tolerated by honest men. He assailed
Mahone's record in the United States
Senate. and was particularly bitter
upon Camerons assertion that he
would carry Africa into the war"
Cameron was received with cheers
when he arose to reply. The Re,
adjuster candidate is not an orator
such as Daniel, and finds it hard En-
cope with him on the hustings. bnt
his effort to-day shows that IA has
studied his subject well, an9 he has
a very plain, fOrcible way Of present.
ing his views. He adgits his short
comings in days past when he was
editor Of the Peterspurg Index and a
leading FundeF but said that was
fourteen years ago when the debt
question and the peoples ability to
pay was little understood. He was
then in favor Of paying every dollar
due-is now; but he has changed
his ideas as TO what amount
IS justly due. Cameron's attack
on the Bourbon Democracy was bitter,
deep and incisive. He indorsed Ma
homes Senatorial career. He de-
tended the attempt to form coalition
with the Republicans, and predicted
that the Lynchburg convention will
act wisely and indOrse the Readiuster
ticket. He charged the Democracy
with blocking the way to a settlement
OF the debt question, and was particu-
larry severe upon Governor Holiday
for vetoing the Riddleberger bill. He
charged hh opponent with opposition
to free schools, and declared the
Bourbon Democracy is clOgging the
wheels Of prosperity.
Daniel s rejOinder of half an hour
was devoted TO a discussion of the
proposed coalition, and his picture Of.
MMahone, Cameron & Co. counting
Cuffee" at Lynchburg next Wednes-
day was humorous in the extreme
His closing was probably the most
eloquent perOration on the principles
OF Jeffersonian Democracy ever heard
In these mountains.
Cameron'S half hour rejoindar was
devoted principally to defense of
the coalition. He also ridiculed the
nomination Of James Barbour, "the
daddy of readjustment, for the second
place on the Democratic ticket to
catch Readluster votes. lie puts the
debt Of Virginia at S20,00O,0O0 says,
she is unable to pay more and never
will pay more. Both speakers aC-
quilted themselves handsomely and
we're applauded very often. The cam
paign is now fully opened and warm
work from now until November may
be expected, The candidates go fEOm