The Ripley Advertiser

THE CANVASS-THE SPEAKING ON MONDAY.

The Presidential canvass opened in this County last Monday. The democrats were represented by two of their candidates for elector-Cols. Matthews and Boone, and the Whigs by Gen. A. B. Bradford. It was a great day for the Whigs. Although the Polkites doubled their teams on the occasion, yet Gen. Bradford showed himself amply competent to defend the whig principles, ably, conclusively, not only against the Cow driver and Well digger, but against their whole ticket of electoral candidates, and Jolly Roger thrown in.

The discussion was commenced by Col. Boone. He complained that his party were accused of having no principles, but opposition to the Whigs, and undertook to define the doctrines of the democratic faith. He said they maintained that all power was inherent in the people-were in favor of a strict construction of the Constitution-believed that Congress had no right to pass a law unless they were authorised to do so by the Constitution, and some half dozen other generalities that every whig or democrat in the land would readily assent to.

One thing struck us as not a little inconsistent in Col. Boone's definition of democracy; after asserting with much solemnity that all power was inherent in the people-that their will was supreme in every thing, and that to oppose it, was the strongest feature of federalism, he branched off into an elaborate defence of the veto power of the President-called it a conservative power-the greatest safeguard of the people.

Now in as much as the veto of the President can only be used to check or suppress the will of the people as expressed through their representatives in Congress, we were at a loss to reconcile these two articles of the democratic creed: but we account for it by supposing that the fault lies with us-that like the doctrines of the Mormon Church, the beauties and consistencies of democracy can only be seen and appreciated by those who have faith in their mysteries.

Col. Boone was followed by Gen. Bradford in a masterly speech of two hours. Our space will not allow us to give any thing like a report of this speech. It was more than the whigs expected, and every thing they desired. We must give a few sketches.

Gen. B. gave a scathing rebuke to those who complained of the non-performance of whig promises. What could we do? Death deprived us of our venerable Harrison, and his mantle fell upon one who proved himself a traitor, and joined the ranks of our adversaries. While they hypocritically accuse us of not fulfilling our engagements with the people, they hug the traitor to their bosoms, and commend the treason! Gen. B. charged boldly upon the democratic party

Col. Matthews followed Gen. B. and closed the discussion. Our readers will understand us when we inform them it was from the Col. As is his wont, he made the most extravagant statements as to the principles and acts of the two parties, and drew upon his imagination, instead of the history of the country, for facts to sustain him.

We give a few specimens of the statements which Col. M. attempted to palm off upon the people for facts --he stated that the whigs had printed cart loads of Ogles speeches for circulation, with the expectation that Mr Van Buren would be nominated by the Baltimore Convention, when the truth is not a single copy of Ogles speech has been printed in the U. States, since 1840.

He stated that the U. S. Bank was condemned by the Va. and Ky. resolutions of 98, when the fact is, that the bank is not mentioned in those resolutions.

He stated that Madison says that the federal Convention of 1789 refused to give Congress the power to charter a bank, when the truth is, that Mr. Madison says no such thing.

He stated that all the Presidents had exercised the veto power but the two Adams. When the truth is, that Mr. Jefferson never exercised the veto power during the whole 8 years of his presidency.

He stated that the brokers are all in favor of a U. S. Bank, when the truth is, that every Broker on Wall street in New York are opposed to such a bank.

He stated that Mr. Clay voted against a resolution in Congress to inquire into and punish frauds on the Indians, when the truth is, Mr. Clay only voted to lay the resolution on the table.

He stated that the object of our Revolution of '76, was to resist a Tariff, when the truth is, it was to resist taxation without representation.

He stated that the Compromise Act provides that if a duty of 20 per cent. would not support the Government after 1812, that the residue was to be raised by a duty on the free articles specified in the compromise act-when the truth is, that there is no such provision nor nothing like it in the compromise act.

He stated that the duty on log chains under the tariff of 1842 was 80 to 100 per cent., when the fact is, that it is only 2 cents per pound.

He stated that the poor man pays ten dollars to where the rich man pays one to support the government under the tariff of 1842.

He stated that Great Britain and France have united to guaranty the independence of Texas on condition that Texas will not come into our Union, when the truth is, that there is no evidence of any such proceeding on the part of Great Britain and France.

But enough. Our friends, every where, may be assured that the Whigs in Tippah will do their whole duty. We shall annihilate, or greatly reduce Brown's majority of last November.
For abandoning all their old issues and endeavoring to revive their fallen fortunes on the Texas humbug. Had the question lost its importance? Was the U. S. Bank question no longer the leading issue between the parties? Was it no longer important what dispositions should be made of our public domain. All these old and legitimate issues were to be suddenly abandoned, and lo! Presto-change! and the democratic banner is suddenly unfurled with the single motto of "Polk and Texas."

But the elections in Louisiana had disclosed the alarming fact that the people were too wide awake for that humbug, and we must next look for some new inscription on the flag of the "Progressive Democracy."