The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-08-28

his powers better thar his confident ,op-
nonrnt and his near relatives did. Be
| lore the contest was over they realized
that a new star OF the first magnitude
had risen III the mountains, and that rs
radiance might dim those whose pril-
liancy had been so much admired. MI
Avery. 4 thoroughly equipped politician
and an able ,lebater. often found the
strength Of his weighty arguments AVOID,
ed by witty repartee or unexpected
counter-thrust To strike, or corner 50
subtle an antagonist. was Well n9il iil-
uoSsitle. For instance, he charged mat
Vance represented Il morlbund party,
| that many of its leaders were abandon
inc il and sons Of other leaders. For
instance, he said. John =. Clay. son of
Henry Clay. and Daniel Webster sons.
Vance, at the moment remembering OILY
Mir. Nebs1er'S daughters. lnterJecttu,
.Dauipl Webster has 10 sons; Ills chill
dren are all daughters. Is 1t possible;
said Avery. turning on INN III triumph.
Won do not remember Colonel flctcller
Webster. of the Mexican war: Vance
| then remembered Fletcher. but too well,
and with Il sudden impulse 10 get our Oh
his corner. somehow, cried out, striking
his nose with his dexter finger. Noah
WebSter's son. the ep~ellin@-bOOk man
SON. Nhercat the boys raised such !
yell that Mr.. Avery deSpaIred Of set
ting the matter straight. rs he de-
<lItiF1ii lItII tli' ~ IL ''Atf ~ ;
| that was Il mean trick Il know il was,
Avery. but You had me so fast ! just
had TO wriggle out somehow. Some
times their encounters We're varied by
surprises Of q different kind. Once. when
they were advertised to speak at Il cross
roads at the top Of a hill, ut II O'Clock
on Il certain day. Avery was there on
time, and surprised not to see or hear Of
Vance. who could ever BOAST Of punctu-
ality III meeting engagements. lie waited
y few moments after the hour for speak
ing. and was getting ready To address 4
few Sedate citizens on the ground, when
down the hill, toward Il branch. be saw
4 little cloud of dust rising and then he
heard the sounds of revelry. lie had not
long to wonder what was the matter.
for soon there was q crowd OF young
men and boys, dancing and shouting.
with Vance in the midst Of them. a-foot.
displaying enc OF his early accomplish
ments. 10y giving the music Of Molly put
the kettle on" or other rustic tunes.
with the fiddle and the bow" Like
Meal. when she saw David dancing be-
fore the ark. Mr.. Avery questioned the
dignity of the proceeding. but he could
not doubt that Vance had already can
tured Il part of their crowd. Such 4 de-
DartUrc iii Congressional campaigning
Indicated originality. if not genius. and
originality is 4 leading feature CT genius.
On occasions his speeches We're charac-
terized hy impaSsioned d~enunciation of Il
growing tendency toward secession in the
Democratic party. and by appeals for
the Union. In one way or another. by
election day. he had, to Use tie language
Of his ardent followers, Set the noun
tains on fire" and lie c~onfounded the
Democratic leaders BY carrying the dis
trict by 800 majority.
In 1869 he was again elected to Con-
@reSs. his opponent being Colonel David
Coleman. to whom he returned the ON
pliment for his defeat for the State
Senate four years before. IN the am
paiGn With Coleman. his speeches were
generally on a higher plane, because he
was then a United States Congressman.
and because of the momentous issues
lpCn the country. though he still eli.
iivencd the debates with ~sallieS of Wit
and anecdotes illustrative Of his argu-
ment. rs before. That he could he
pathetic. rs wei as amusing IS shown by
his reply. before Il crowd filing the court
house in -ASheyill". to Il charge from Mr..
Coleman that ne had voted. during pro
tcding session Cor "~Ntravagant pensions
for soldiers of the war Of 1912. During
the same session leading Democrats.
upon the recommendation of PreSidCn1
Buchanan. had urged the passage Of 4
bill appropriating 100000. GOO for tho
purchase of Cuba: and Mr.. Vance. in his
reply, contrasted with that contemplated