The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-08-31
Discussion on Monday.
THE CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES LOCK HORNS
"A BoIsTERoUs AND DIsoRDERLY ASSEM-
BLAGE.-How THE SPEECHES WERE RE
CEIYED, sc, &C.

CEIYED, &C, &C.
Rockingham must lay down her laureis
The reputation she has gained tor court-uay
exhibitions pales by the side of Augusta
latest achievement Steadily the sister coun-
ty has been building up her fame. Each cam
paign has added its cubit until the very Gil
max of completeness was thought 10 nave
been reached And Just when its lofty us
tinction had discouraged all competitors oio
Augusta transforms herself and rushing INTO
the lists brenks through all the barriers OF DC
corjlm, and bears away the palm Tor bosier-
BUSINESS The scene III the court hou'e vi
Monday last, was si'npy disgrac. mi. For the
first time in ouI life we felt heartily ash 'l"ed
of the county of our birth. Decency ltseit
was laid aside. and friend and toe were alike
subjected to treatment which could hardly
have been eouaIed in the sandlots Of Calitor-
MIA. There seemed no desire Whatever 10
hear argument or listen to reason. Indeed
the speakers were scarcely permitted 10 util-
ize Init of their time, the other mOlety being
onpropriated bv those whose only desire ap-
reared to be to create confusion, by Yelling
hooting. shouting and shrieking as II The de-
mon of uproar had mortgaged every moment
and was preparing to foreclose
The court house was packed to suffocation
Men crowded on top of each other, ana JOS
tied and damned and screamed until Bcdlam
itstlf was picture Of repose compared Win
the scene Many appeared to have come Tor
no other purpose than to make themselves
CONSPICUOUS. The silliest questions were con-
stantlv being propounded to the speakers'
the most nonscnscal comments were INDUCED
mt the top of the voice; stale wit and stupid
retort were heard on every side, and every
sally, no matter Ivy whom made or how utter
w unworthy of notice, was the signal tor a
fresh outhuIst.
l, had been extensively advertised
that Hon Jnn Paul and Col. Chas.
T. O'Ferrall. candidates for Congress from
this district, would have their first joint dis
,.ussiun in Stnunton on Monday last. lmme-
dinleiy after the adjournment of the Court,
the room began To ill and presently IL deafen-
ng yell announced the arrival of Col OFer-
rail. As he advanced to the stand, the cheers
continued with increasing vigor and Gid not
abate until he had taken his seat just then
the court house fairly lrembled with applause
mad, reckless. prolonged outburst went forth
rs Paul calmly marched up the aisle. When
both candidates had lak,n their chairs the
contest OF the loud moulhcd commenced,
PAUL" PAUL" "O'Ferrall! "O'Ferrall
could now and then he distinguished above
the general camor that prevailed. When ex-
haustlon had brought comparative quiet,
Capt JAS Bumgardncr, chairman OF the DEM
ocratic County Committee, announced the
terms of the debate. 1t being Capt. PauPs APP
poutment, Col O'Fcrrall was to lead off in a
speech of one and IA half hours, Paul to fol
minutes for rcjoinder.
COL. o'FERRALL
being introduced by Capt. Bumgardner, COM
menced by saying that it afforded him much
pleasure to stand face to lace with the people
of Augusta, and 10 know that he was their
standard bearer, chosen to carry aloft IN the
coming contest the grand old Democratic ban
ner. He promiscd that the flag should never
be lowered whikt it remained in his hands
lIls purpose in coming before the people in
This canvass was to throw light on the politi-
cal situation, and casting aside all passion and
feeling, give fair, square presentation of the
issues involved i'll the campaign. He hoped
thAt his competitor would meet him on that
ground and not consume time in empty de-
clamaton.
With this introduction Col O'Ferrall pro-
cccded to trace the history of the Conserva-
tive party in Virginia from 1869 to the present
time In each of the political contests during
that period Paufs voice had been heard
throughout the Commonwealth rallying the
Democratic hosts, and no later thun two years
ago the same distinguished gentleman declar-
cd himself Democrat of the true blue stripe.
Now, however, Mr.. Paul appeared in the at
titude of an Arthur Administrative Candidate.
What the Republican party had done to thus
change Pauls allegiance, the speaker could
not tell. 1t had ever been the party OF pro-
scription and hate, prosecuting the Southern
people rclentlessly, and losing no opportunity
TO heap oppression upon them. The speaker
then went over the oft told tale of reconstruc-
ton in the Southern states, as presented
| from Democratic standpoint, and coming
down TO q later date, charged Malone with
treachory to his State because he voted to re-
fer to the Judiciary committee the bill present
ed in the last Congress admitting to the army
and navy those who had held Office under the
| Confederate government, and whose political
disabilities had not been removed He charged
the Republican party with hatred to the
South because they continued to tax whiskey
| and tobacco, and because Arthur had vetoed
the river and harbor bill which embraced APP
| preparations for Southern streams. Paul, too,
had proved a traitor to the people OF his dis
trct, because he endorsed Authur's admins
| tration, and Tor the reason that he had voted
| for Kclfcr over Randall for Speaker. Furth-
ermore his competitor, as member OF the cleo
ton committee, in the last Congress, had &C
tually voted to turn out Democrats and seat
| Republicans, anG some OF Tie hcpuDllcans
whom he had helped to seat were negroes.
The above briefly summarizes the first
eighty minutes of Col O'Ferral's speech. The
remaining ten minutes he devoted partially to
the exposition of the tariff question, in which
time he managed to completely mystlfy his
hearers as to his position on that important
ISSUE He declared that he was in favor oil
such an adjustment of the tariff as would
equalize its burdens, but when asked by Mr.
Paul # he would have voted for the tariff com.
mission, a measure specially designed to &C
complish his avowed desire, had he been in
Congress, replied mo" The lust five minutes
of his time were appropriated to an apostro
pho to principle, and fine piece of declama-
ton it was. 5t-
Col. O'Ferrall was enthusiastically applaud
cd throughout his entire speech. At times he
was coarsely interrupted, but the interruptions
came more frequently from his own followers
and he so acknowledged it, for time and again
he requested silence, assuring those whom he
specially addressed, that whilst their demon
STATIONS were kindly meant, they were ill
| timed. When the Col. took his seat,
| HON. JOHN PAUL
was introduced by W E. Craig, ESQ, Chair