Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-11-02
An Old Debating Society.
That FlOurlShed III Stanton 4 Half Century
ago.

That FlourlShed III Stanton A Half Century
In hunting over some old records a few
days ago, Judge Lyman Chalkley came
across the records of 1.-The Henry Clay
Society," an organization for debate, which
existed here just half century ago. 1t
was organized at a meeting OF several
gentlemen of Staunton convened at the
law Office of 10. Addison Waddell, Esq,
for the purpose of forming debating soci-
ety. Oh October 10th, 1915. Nicholas K.
Trout presided over the meeting and John
B. Watts acted as Secretary. The perma-
nent officers elected were JEo. 3. Watts.
President; n. X. Trout, Vice President;
J. l.. Campbell, Secretary; J. D. Imboden,
Treasurer, and John B. Baldwin, Censor.
THE ORIGINAL MEMBERSHIP.
j The following gentlemen signed the con-
stitution-Jno. B. Watts, Nicho. K.
Trout, J. l.. Campbell of KY, H. J. Gray,
|
Lewis Peyton, John Il. Baldwin, VIM. b.
Johnson, Jos. A. Waddell, James Fl. Skin
ner, Franklin I. Geiger, Jno. D. Imboden,
VIM. Frazier, Jacob Shafer, VIM. A. Glas-
gov, Edwin L. Page, V. E. Geiger, S.
Edward Clarke, Thomas Poage, L. Wad-
E. W. Page, Jno. W. Page, John Dabney
J. Montgomery Peters, Jas. M. Gushing
of Mass. and Jas. E. Graham.
DISTINGUISHED AFTERWARDS IN FIELD
AND FORUM.
OF this list many names afterwards at
tanned distinction. N. X. Trout was for
many years Mayor of the city. J. l..
Campbell who then taught school in
Staunton, became afterwards Professor
at Washington & Lee University. H.
Jouette Gray was blind and was profess
sor at the Institution for the Deaf, Dumb
and Blind. VIM. H. Hartman afterwards
became Confederate General and was
killed in action at Waynes boro. J. n. Hen
dren served for many years as Judge OF
Augusta county. John B. Baldwin became
Speaker of the Virginia House of Dele
gates, was member of the Secession con-
vention, and was one of the committee who
went from Virginia to see President Lin
coin with view to averting war. Jos. A.
Waddell afterwards represented Augusta
in the Senate. John D. Imboden became
Confederate General. James H. Skinner
became Confederate Colonel. was dis
abled by a wound Oh the field, and after
the wal represented Augusta in the legisla-
ture. G.. W. Berlin moved to one of the
western counties, was elected to the Seces-
sion convention, and is now living in
Bridgewater, Rockingham. Thomas Poage
became Confederate Colonel and was kill
ed in action. OF the original signers six
are still living. Among those who joined
afterwards were John L. Stuart, George
Harper, Henry M. Rust, Reuben D. Hill
and Charles Fl. Lewis, afterward Minister
to Portugal.
The meetings of the Society were held in
| the StauntOn Academy, then at Mr.. Wad-
dell's office, and possibly at other places.
There seems to have been determined
purpose on the part of the Society to rocst
beneath the roof Of the Episcopal church,
purpose which we take it met with little
encouragement from the authorities of that
church. Several resolutions were offered
at various times looking to this end, but
all were quietly shelyed. The last was by
MI. Peyton. resolving THAT the Society
in future hold its meetings in the lecture
room of the Episcopal church and that
Johnson, Gushing and Imboden be appoint
ed committee to make the necessary ar
rangements." The entry says that after
some discussion, the resolution, on motion
of MI. Trout, was laid on the table owing
to the thinness of the meeting.'
NO PoLITICs.
The Society seems to have been anxious
to steer clear of politics, composed as it
was of both Wings and Democrats, for we
see that ''Mr. Imboden nominated as homo
rary member, Henry Clay. OF Ky.," but it
is followed by the significant entry, "witIl-
DRAWN
| SLAVERY DISCUSSED IN VIRGINIA
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
The first question discussed by the Hen
ry Clay Society was ''Should capital pun
ishment be abolished ?" j. A. Naddell in
the affirmative, and J. B. Baldwin in the
negative. But the Society. later, often
ventured on very ticklish ground. such as,
''Is Slavery as it exists in Virginia favcr
able to the permanency of Republican Gov
ernment 20 j. B. Baldwin in the affirma-
tive, and J. L. Campbell in the negative.
KEEPING THE BOYS IN ORDER.
The young debaters Of that day seem to
have been of rather bumptious order, for
we see that "Mr. Waddell moved that it
shall be the duty of the President to i'm
pose fines for disorder, not exceeding so
cents in any case, subject to appeal" The
boys seem to have resisted this financial
onslaught on them, for we see that Mr.
Waddell, later, withdrew the motion as
far as passing it at this meeting was con-
cerned, and gave notice that he would
bring it in at the next meeting" MI
Waddell seems to have had much trouble
in keeping the boys in orderly fashion, and
we see that he had to introduce resolu-
ton, which was carried, fining member
~ cents if he did not rise when addressing
the chair, and another 12A cents if he was
not present at roll call We notice, how
ever, that as fast as the old boys were fined,
they voted unanimously to he relieved from
the fines, and the severe rules did them lit
tie financial harm. So, notwithstanding
that the tenacious MI. Waddell had by this
time gotten thesystem Of fines adopted into
the bylaws, they escaped just the same.