The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-08-25

who last year paraded this State trying t
teach Democrats their duty. si 81
THE DEBT AGAIN.
Col. Cameron again referred to the debt, an
asked Maj. Daniel if it should turn out tha
the present rate of taxation should fail to NEE
the obligations of the State, schools, interes
&c, would he then be in favor of an increas
of the rate Maj. D. replied that he woul
answer at the proper time. In further allud
ing to the debt and the Democratic platform
the speaker said that he had heard his com
petitor speak three times in the canvass an
had never yet been able to tell what it wa
proposed to do with the debt. In conclusion
he asked if Maj. D. was in favor of abolishin
the capitation tax as a prerequisite to voting
THE REJoINDERs.
The rejoinders were spirited, and drew
forth rounds of applause. Maj. Daniel com
menced by saying that the legislation whicl
enabled the schools to flourish had been put il
operation by his party. Whether or not tn
party had been swept out of existence in 1873
was shown by the returns Of last year. Thel
it was that the Democrats polled $4,000; tn
Republicans $4,000, and the Readjuster
brought up the rear with poor pitiful littl'
10000. He defended the Allen amendment al
a measure of economy, and as infinitely bette
than the Fowler amendment for which thu
Readjusters voted As to the capitation tax
he had voted with Paul and Massey to put il
in the constitution If elected Governor, ht
said, will not be called to consider that ques
ton until it has been passed upon by the leg
islature. If the people through their repre-
sentatives declare for its repeal, shall cheer
fully carry out their will.
Are you addressing Col. Cameron) in favor
of it's abolition? +aa
Co., Cameron:-I favor its abolition as pre-
requisite to voting.
Maj. Dansa:-Are you in favor of abolishing
the tax?
Col. CT am not.
In closing, the speaker said that his COM
petitor had not answered the direct question
as to his political status,-whether he was a
Democrat or Republican. If he insists upon
carrying Africa into the war, the more the
pity for Africa, for men of Virginia cannot
forget that they are Anglo Saxon.
The speaker defended Senators Vance and
Hampton against the charge of political
carpetbaggism, preferred by Col. Cameron, and
eulogised them as chivalrous gentlemen.
COL. CAMERON
in his rejoinder said that he wished it distinct
ly understood that he was Democratic Read
juster with liberal sentiments, and that Maj.
Daniel was Democratic under and could
explain his own sentiments In reply to the
charge that the Readjusters were flying in the
face of the courts, he maintained that every
stride of progress had been made by the over
throw OF the courts. In illustration he cited
the Ship Money case.
Maj. DanaeE.-That was packed court.
Col. Cameron:-Yes, and SO is your Funder
court packed, and you condemn us because
we want Readjusters in their place.
The speaker insisted on knowing what Maj
Daniels course would be, if the present rate
of taxation should prove insufficient to meet
the demands upon it.
In reply Maj. Daniel stated that when the
hands on the dial pointed to high noon, what
need to ask if it be midnight.
In referring to Senators Vance and Hampton
and others, Col. Cameron denounced them in
calling terms. Vance came from State that
has repudiated its debt. The knightly Hamp-
ton had made statement in Staunton, and
then denied it and had it proved upon him,
and the rest were about on par.
After some other little hits at his competi-
tor, Col. Cameron closed, and the discussion
was at an end
We have not undertaken to give anything
like verbatim report of the speeches, and it
would be impossible to convey any adequate
idea of the manner of their delivery. Mai.
Daniel is an ideal orator. His magnificent
presence, deep, mellow voice, beauty of Ian
guage, power of invective and breadth of
thought, combine to make him almost irresis-
tible on the rostrum. His competitor, Col.
Cameron, while not SO impressive at first, has
an earnestness and directness ofmanner, which
wins upon his auditors, and coupled with rare
readiness of wit and rebound, ranks him in
the front line of debaters. He is quicker than
Maj. Daniel, sees an advantage at the instant,
and presses it justfar enough The encounter
of Monday was brilliant intellectual tourney,
each champion striking with all his vlgor for
the high prize and both meriting and receiv-
ing the plaudits of admirers. And though
there was war to the knife between them, yet
that courtesy and lofty bearing which would
haye graced the Knights of old, proclaimed
each to be gentleman by instinct and educa-
ton, and that not for the prize itself would
either stoop to an unworthy act.
Both parties were more than satisfied with
the result of the day, and the Readjusters
seemed particularly pleased. To an outsider
it looked as if neither side had room for ex-
ultation. The champions were so nearly
matched that the balances hung evenly Col.
Cameron saved his best lance for the last
round, and selecting the most vulnerable point
in his adversary's armor, drove it to the hilt
with telling effect. Knowing that Maj Daniel
was bound down to cowardly platform
which proclaimed against an increase of taxa
ton, he asked him what he would do IN case
the present revenues would not meet the de-
mands made upon them. 1t was home
thrust, and the proud man in whose heart
there doubtless swelled up the answer "In-
crease the tax and pay every honest debt"
was forced to evade. Not even the talent and
lofty character of Jno. W. Daniel can elevate
that platform to his own high plane, and if
the Democratic party is defeated in this con-
test, it will not be through any fault of their
leader, but because that leader was trammelled
and weighted down by the work of those who
lacked the courage to be honest.
DEATHs-On Tuesday of last week, DR..
Livingston Waddell, of Lexin gton, died in
the SO year Of his age. He was not only one
of the most venerable, but one Of the most
and popular physicians in Virginia,
and christian gentleman in the strictest
sense of the word. During the war he was
chaplain of the SD Va. regiment, afterward
by Col ]. H. Skinner, and sub
was assigned to duty in the military
hospitals at Staunton. His wife was a Miss