The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-30

The first memorable political discus
sion l recall occurred in the Summer
of 1910, at Oxford, between Judge
Romulus M. Saunders and John M.
Morehead, ESQ., The former was the
Democratic candidate for Governor;
the latter was the Wing candidate, ana
was elected. / was not yet twelve
years old, but remember the interest
of the men, and the enthusiasm OF
the supporters of the respective cam
didates as they made telling points,
and presented impressive arguments.
General Saunders was regarded as the
ablest Democratic debater in the State.
The impression / received was that
he was too we'll up in politics for his
competitor The next political speech
l recall with interest was that of Hon.
Henry Clay, of Kentucky, the Wing
candidate for President. 1t was at
Raleigh in April. 1874, and was deliv-
cred to a great crowd from the west
ern portico of the solid and then fine
Capitol, building. L remember his
graceful, commanding bearing, how
he walked all the time on the long
platform erected, and how his fine
resonant voice rang out in clear and
impressive notes and the loud and re-
peated cheerings of his enthusiastic
audience. His first period captured
his auditors. / remembered it ver
batim for dozens of years, but now it
is gone. 1t was something like this:
Friends and fellow citizens, ladies and
gentlemen of North Carolina: | have
long cherished a desire to visit your
State and to meet your public men and
many of it's good citizens. | antici-
pated that l would be cordially greet
ed and by goodly number, but / did
not expect to. see the whole State. "
Then came the great hurrah. He
spoke for more than two hours. When
he arrived at Raleigh he was met by
the committee of reception. headed by
Hon. George e. Badger. par-excellence
the greatest speaker in all the State.
1t was at the old Raleigh and CASTOR
Railroad depot, and a way was open
ed from the track to the street lead
ing north from the Capitol. 1t was
along this that a large crowd of en-
thusiasts was assembled. Mr.. Badger
delivered the address of welcome, and
/ remember that it was much praised
for it's excellence its eloquence, its APP
propriateness Mr.. Clay eloquently
replied. A public dinner was given to
Mr. Clay in one of the groves, and
many were presented to the illustrious
Kentucky statesman and orator, but
who was of Virginia birth. as have
been so many of the famous men OF
this country. Mr.. Badger gave at his
residence, near the Capitol, and just
northeast of it, dinner to the emin-
ent guest, at which some thirty gen
tlemen were present. After dinner the
host proposed that Mr.. Clay should
visit the Capitol. This was done, and
the guests were his escort After visit
ing the Senate Chamber. they all
crossed over to the House of Com
mons. After looking around, ana
viewing the painting of General Wash
ington, the guests were seated. Mr..
Clay arose, and moved that the dis
tinguished gentleman from North
Carolina, Mr.. Badger, should take the
chair. Mr.. Badger was always quick
on trigger, and at once occupied the
Ichain Rising he called upon the
eminent visitor from Kentucky. Mr..
Clay, to state the object of their as
sembling. Upon this invitation, all