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A FAlftf BE¥0T£B T® P0UTI€8. AtHttOtHTtHIE. NEWS ANB IIIERAIBIE*
VOL. XXIV.
ATHENS, GEO., ’THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1855.’
■ - ■ . - ■ *»■ ' <--T'' 3
NO. 33
iTV |
i'inuift',
vum.isnun weekly,
BVHILLk SLEDGE,
jl. A. Hlism.lt HIM., .1 OII.S A. SI. K1>GK’
BIM I’OUS AND l’KOPRIETOKS.
(t flier. Up-stairs, No. 7, Granite llow.
TERMS:
rTwo DnllarN prr annum, in ndvntirr, or
Throe DolInrM, if delayed.
T«* Clubs rcinittiu# $f 0, iu advance, Six Co
llie* will be sent.
Any subscriber failing to uive notieo of his •b-sire
to duunmtimie bw imbacriiitmii at the e\|
the time f»»r which it has been
uts wishing to continue it, and
£3^* Xo iiajier will la* dis<
option of tin: K liters,» until
BATKM or ADVRUTWINfi.
For oik- sqnnif. ruiwixtinsr of lvv. lv linos sin nil
IvjM*. or H|mee c<|iiivnlent, <)n<
.i t, Will 1.0 Vl.si loro.1
!•!•! liable nrcnr.liunly.
nnliuui'.l, (o.v'ojit nt the
all am .traces are ]>am.
Dollar for the first
h weekly eontiuu-
iit/*urtion, ajul V*Uy Cents for
anee.
Special contracts can be made for yearly udver-
lUiiitf-
Lc^al advertisements inserted, at the usual rates.
Aniiouncintr eninlidates for otlice, Five Dollars,
puvublc in mivnnee, in nil eases.
Husbands advertising their wives, will be charged
to he paid invariably in advance.
Advertisements should always have the desired
number of insertions marked upon them when handed
yii, or otherwise the will be published till forhid, and
.harm'd aeeordiuoly.
X> I RECTORY
•-^•frol'ossi.msl ami Husiuess m. iicnu Imvo their
•:ir.is iiis. rl.sl umlcr this IknuI, t'..r mio year, at the
rail's ..I Five Dollars t'<»r n onr.l nf'iint mure ttmi
linos, ami.
i uililiti.mnl Hue.
IHi. (. R. LOMBARD,
w
r.tlmt Ills olli ■
in Sii.ro, Colly
Mint in: & ( arltox,
n t:\t.KKS in ' I’ain-y mnl Stnp'i-
Hir in' a.'i'i Cl'.., kery, No. 7, (Jralilo Km
AiIn io. H i. (.Ian. -«>.
>v
U. IV!!AON & BROS.,
> \ I.K in 1 retail d'*ah*rs in Dry f?«v
li.ir-twaiv, Croekery, Ac., X*
sun kl i\ TtinnioND,
HCNF.Y AT CA\V,deil*ei’son,.Taekson eoui
ti i.. w'll attend promptly to nnv busines
i to nb [April i!», 18A5.
wj
KAN i
UMJJYM DEMKEY,
Attorney nt Law,
dee e-»j*eei:»l uttenti ir. l<> rollertincr. and to
of all persons eniiiled to LAND WAK
bounty land bill of the la*l
i lb
late
id Street, ovi
the
store of 1. M. Ken-
Man h 1 a—tf.
IU LI. & THOM AS,
KVl.RKS in Sill,
I) H'l'Lv
Urn
lirnnili- Wow, Athens,(i.i
Fuury, mi l Staple Omuls,
Uerv, Groceries, &e„ No. 4
[Jan. 1!'.
xs
I. 111.'
w
Atlu-i
FERRY *& REESE,
lit tLKSALK and retail dealers in lints, (’ ips,
lloots, S’.eies. Trunks, Ac., between Drs.
and White’s e wner, Hroud street. Athens,
(.Van. VX
F. AV. LITAS,
1KM.KS VLK mill retail ilenlorin Drv fSmwls.
t Jroeieries, Hardware, At*., N ». L\ Broad st
is, Hu. [Jan Ilf
W
r. IV. & !!, ft. .1. LONG,
IIOl.KSALE imil relnil Dniooisls, Aih.
i..keep I'onstantly on lminl a Inrue mi l well
si-li-i-T-- l sleek of faints, (Ills, Varnishes, Dve Stull's,
l!vu*lies, Wi nh.w Glass ami I’ntly.
Also.ili'nl* rs in .Vmerie.m, French an.) English
Ciii iiiii'al, Ilnurs, Meilirmes, Perfumery mnl Fnuev
I From the Riehmonrl Enquirer ]
KNOW-NOTHING ISM P\ VEILED !
CONSTITUTION OF THE NA-
TTONAL COUNCIL OF THE UN-
ITED STATES OF NORTH AME
RICA.
Article First.
Tliis Organization sliatl bo known by
tlio name and title of THE NATION-
\L COUNCIL OF THE UNITED
STATES OF NORTH AMERICA-
and its jurisdiction and power shall ex
tend to all the States, Districts and Ter
ritories of the United States of North
America.
Article Sf.coxd.
The n 1 ' . of tliis organization shall
lie to protect every American citizen
the legal and proper exercise of all
his civil and religious rights and privile-
<rcs ; to resist the insidious policy of the
Church of Rome, and all other foreign
influence against our republican institu
tions, in all lawful wavs; to place in all
offices of honor, trust, or profit, in the
gift of the people, or by appointment,
none hut native horn Protestant citizens;
and to protect, preserve, and uphold the
union ofthe.se States and the Constitu
tion of the same.
Article Third.
Sec. 1.—A person to become a mem
ber of any Subordinate Council must ho
twenty-one years of age; he must be
lieve in the existence of a Supreme 11c-
ing as the Creator and Preserver of the
Universe. Homust he a native-bornciti-
nez;a Protestant,either horn ofProtestant
parents, or roared under Protestant in
fluence ; and not united in marriage with
a Roman Catholic ; provided, nere.rt.7ie-
/ex.<t, that, in this last respect, the State,
District, or Territorial Councils shall he
authorized to so construct their respec
tive Constitutions ns shall host promote
the interest of the American cause in
their several jurisdictions ; and profi led,
moreover, that no member who nviv
1
A irti.-l..
I“ 1 * t i
(•inns, Di-iIits mnl nil ntlicrx. e:in <lc-
:rir imilts mi'i iii! ' jirniiqit mti iitimi,
*1 iiri'iiiiiiiiuiliitiii^ terms. Tlii-ir
.villi }>ir:it cai'o, mnl will lie wv.rranlisl
•.I. Jan, H*.
i. iiiMiimi:, i. x. WKHIM.
T. STENllOI SE A CO.,
I At >L\YAh‘DlXti ami ('omir.b-toit M'*ivl..Tiits,
N". H i\nf Str**pt. (Minrb*ston, S Ib f r
to K. DuIim. HuikI. Williams »V Wilmx, ('linrlor-tGii;
H:up1, Wiirpuiu* ,\ Augusta; ,1. Xo reruns, Allan
t:»: (M’diaDllcr, Obattauooja; K. II. .V D. L.
Fotlin \ To., Knoxville. Julv L>«— Iv.
II. L. BLOOMFIELD,
HJ'SALK ami n»tnil Clothing St;
rrcut, Athens, (Jr.
Broad
[May 10.
(
N. .H'DSON,
'MMl'*''* i v \i i' I! f' 11A NT, and denier in elm
f 'p.mlv t;« . , . r .nfoetmnnrie*. Fruits, Ace.
on tlu- t orner of .iml Ja’t ks 'ii strec'ts, Atl.ens,
Hu. Aj»vil *Jf‘, lSihi.
IRON AND BRASS FOINDKY AND
ItAOIIMi WORKS.
I RON mnl ltrnss Cnstinp. of every variety ami
ili'M'rijition, Imjiroveil Iron f'ireiilar Saw Mills,
warranloii equal to tlio heat: Steam Engines, For
l ing I'muiu, (itilil Mining, .Mill, (tin, awi all other
kin.U nf Oeering; Mill Irons anil all kinds of Mn*
eliinery niinio to order: Iron Kcneing of solei-t jmt-
ti'ras: Fhaigli and Wagon Castings mnl Dog-irons.
Every variety of repairing imil wrought iron work
promptly executed.
Our general assortment of patterns, are the nnen-
mnliition of years. A list will lie sent those nd-
•lressing, post-paid,
RKCHEX NICKERSON. M. F.„
f Agent Athens Steam Co., Athens, On.
Jun IS—iv.
I ir.MTntE MINTFACTORY AND
WARK-ROOn.
iflMlE nndorsigtsed hogs to nnnminee that ho has
now- on hand nt his WAItE-KOOM, near the
vEpiseopal l lim'i'.li, an extensive assortment of Fur-
n/iiri, nf every description. Connected with the
varo ronhi, is a (:,UiISET SHOP, where lie is
prepared to make any article of furniture to order,
mil nt short notice, and to repair old furniture, do
<|>lieh!ering, Ac., Ac. He keens on hand an os-
-'ortment of i • ili Mrvil/lin?*, of every variety.
Fi«t.’» Patent itlcfnllic anil other coffins,
.'•"istantly on hand. I tT TERMS CASH.
Novemher ikl, 1S51. WILLIAM WOOD.
NLW TAILORING ESTABLISHMENT.
H AVlNd scrurod the Borvirr* of O. P. Cnldwf*ll
tonncrlv ruucr for Win. O. 1‘ric**. of Savannah
uiitl Aujrusta. I will have executed, in the neatest and
miwt taduotiuhle style, nil order? confided to our care.
I’niil we get poodn, we will tnko the measure and
i"rw tr.i il).. p itterntoour mnnufnct iring estnldinhmem
hi i.ie Xt.nh, where 1 will pay pnrtiruiy attention to
L;c tu; U ,. ;; . a l and nakiug, n:i I forward tlio garim tit
•’ ! h t" the c siouiei in three weeks from tlu* tune the
inesMue is left.
^ ’ H j‘l h iv- \ good assorititent of plain and fancy
. F meres, Veatinjj, 5ce , here hy t'uo lflth of
Ju v. nt which time all ordcis left, Will meet with
I’ORirh aU»Miiion,
J uttingiifi.l tn iking at the shortest notice,on very re a
»Me terms, from dun day forward.
Atlieas f J»- l e*JH,l«i5. K. L. BLOOMFIELD.
fers prices, wo,
April 19—Jy.
S 1 Hon * » stock of Dry
ltar^L. , *'N,* tt ? 0<lM i Hots, Hoots mid Shoos,
. *5* nr e, Iron, t.vockory, Groceries, Ac., for sale
Ap>Uthi ’ y A NICHOLSON^
11 lil.UUIAIVI.—Tiie snliseri
-Lyl. her tins IIJS'III'O an assortment of
Price A Co.'s celebrated Meiodeons,
which lie will sell at tlio Manufiu tu-
with the addition of freight,
A.K.CmisDS.
B"s r .L n i ; ~ r ’?’ 000 Ib * Tennessee HneOn, for
.\priU9 ’ v y J ' PPsnov A SOE.
irvp a Roman Catholic wife shat! ho i
cligihlc to office in the Ortler ; and pro |
rifled, farther, should any State, Dis- j
trict, or Territorial. Council prefer the
words “ Roman Catholic.” as a disquali
fication to membership, in place of “ Pro
testant” as a qualification, they may so
consider this Constitution and govern
their action accordingly.
Sec. 2.—There shall ho an interval
of three weeks between the conferring of
the First and Second Degrees ; and of
three months between the conferring of
the Second and Third Degrees—provid
ed, that thiUrestriction shall not apply
to those who may have received tin*
Second Degree previous to the first day
of December next ; and-provided, fur
ther, that the President of State.District,
and Territorial Councils may grant dis
pensations for initiating in all the De
grees, officers of new Councils.
Sec. o.—The National Council shall
hold its Annual meetings on the first
Tuesday in the month of June, at sueh
place as mav he designated by the Na
tional Council at the previous Annual
meeting, and it may adjourn from time
to time. Special meetings may ho call
ed hv the President on the written re
quest of five delegations representing
five State Councils ; prorided, that six-
tv ilavs, notice shall he given to the State
Councils previous to said mceteng.
Sec. 4.—The National Council shall
lie composed of seven delegates from
each State, to he chosen by the State
Councils; and each District or Territo
ry where a District or Territorial Coun
cil shall exist, shall he entitled to send
two delegates, to he chosen from said
Council—provided, that in the nomina
tion of candidates for President and
Vice President of the. United States,
each State shall ho entitled to cast the
same number of votes as they shall have
members in both Houses of Congress.
In all sessions of the National Council,
thirty-two delegates, representing thir
teen States, Territories, or District,
shall constitute a quorum for the trans
action of business.
f>EC. 5.—The National Council shall
he vested with the following powers
and privileges :
It shall lie the head of the Organiza
tion for the United States of North
America, and shall fix and establish all
signs, grips, passwords, and such other
secret work, ns may 8cem to it necessa
ry.
It shall have the power to decide all
matters appertaining to National Poli
tics.
It shall have the power to exact from
the States Councils, quarterly or annu
al statements, ns to the number of mem
bers under their jurisdictions, and in re
lation to all other matters necessary for
its information.
It shall have the power to form State,
Territorial or District Councils, and to
grant dispensations for the formation of
such bodies, when five Subordinate
Councils shall have been put in opera
tion in any State, Territory, or District,
and application made.
It shall have the power to determine
upon a mode of punishment in case of
any dereliction of duty on the part of its
members or officers.
It shall have power to adopt cabalistic
characters for the purpose of writing of
telegraphing. Said characters to he
communicated to the Presidents of the
State Councils, ami by them to the Pre
sident of the Subordinate Councils.
It shall have the power to adopt any
and every measure it may deem neces
sary to secure the success of the Orga
nization ; jtrorided, that nothing shall
he done by the said National Connell in
violation of the Constitution ; and pro
vided, further, that in all political mat
ters, its members may he instructed hv
the State Councils, and if so instructed,
shall carry out such instructions of the
State Councils, which they represent
until ovcrulcd by a majority of th,o Na
tional Council.
Article Fourth.
The President shall always preside
over the National Council when present,
and in his absence the Vice President
shall preside, and in the absence of both,
the National Council shall appoint a
President pro tempore ; and the presiding
officers may at all times call a member
to the chair, hut such appointment shall
not extend beyond one sitting of the
National Council.
Article fifth.
Sec. 1.—The officers of the National
Council shall he a President, Vice Pre
sident, Chaplain, Corresponding Sec
retary, Recording Secretary, Treasurer,
and two Sentinels ; with such other offi
cers as the National Council may see
fit to appoint from time to time ; and the
Secretaries and Sentinels may receive
such compensation as the National Coun
cil shall determine.
Sec. 2.—The duties of tlio several
officers created by this Constitution shall
he such as the work of this Organiza
tion proscribes.
Article Sixth.
Sec. 1.—All officers provided for by
this Constitution, except the Sentinels,
shall he elected annually liy ballot.—
The President may appoint Sentinels
from time to time.
Sec. 2.—A majority of all the votes
cast shall be requisite to an election for
an office.
Sec 2.—All officer? and delegates of
this Council, and of all State, District,
Territorial and Subordinate Councils,
must he invested with all the Degrees
of this Order.
Sec. 4.—All vacancies in the elective
offices shall he filled by a vote of the
National Council, and only for the un
expired term of the said vacancy.
Article Seventh.
Sec. 1.—The National Council shall
entertain and decide all cases of appeal,
and it shall establish a form of appeal.
Sec. 2.—The National Council shall
low a tax upon the State, District, or
Territorial Councils, for the support of
tho National Council, to lie paid in such
manner and at such times as the Nation
al Council sh ill deterntine,
Article Eighth.
This National Council may alter and
amend this Constitntien at its regular
Annual meeting in .Tune next, by a
vote of the majority of the whole num
ber of the members present. {Cincinnati
Xoe. 24f/t. 1S-34.)
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
Rcle 1.—Each State, District or
Territory, in which there may exist five
or more Subordinate Councils working
under dispensations from the National
Council of the United Srntes of North
America, or under regular dispensations
from some State, District or Territory,,
arc duly empowered to establish them
selves into a State, District or Terri
torial Council, and when so established,
to form for themselves Constitutions and
Bv-Laws for their government, in pur
suance of, and in consonance with, the
Constitution of the National Council oi
the United States; prorided, however.
that all District, or Territorial Constitu
tions shall he subject to tlio approval of
the Nationel Council of the United
States. (June, 1854.)
Ri le 2 —All State, District or Ter
ritorial Councils, when established, shall
have full power and authority to esta
blish ail Subordinate Councils within ■
their respective limits ; and the Consti
tutions and By-Laws of all such Subor
dinate Councils, must he approved by
their respective States, District or Ter
ritorial Councils. [June, 1854.]
Rvi.e 2.— \11 State, District or Ter
ritorial Councils, when established and
until the formation of Constitutions, shall
work under the Constitution of the Na
tional Council of the U. S. (June, 1854.]
Ri le 4.—In all cases where, for the
convenience of the Organization, two
State or Territorial Cornells may he en
titled to but thirteen* delegates in the
National Council of the United States
—the proportioned number of delegates
to depend on the number of members in
the Organization; prorided,that no State
shall he allowed to have more than one
State Council, without the consent of the
National Council of the United States.—
[June, 1854.|
Rule 5.—Tn any State, District or
Territory, where there may he more
than one Organization working on the
same basis, [to wit, the “Lodges” and
‘Councils”] the same shall he required
to combine; the officers of each Organi
zation shall resign, and new officers he
eleted ; and thereafter these bodies shall
he known as State Councils, and Subor
dinate Councils, and new Charters shall
lie granted to them by the National
Council. [June, 1854.]
Ri le six.—It shall lie considered a
penal offence for any brother not an offi
cer of a Subordinate Council, to make
use of the sign or summons adopted for
public notification, except by direction
of the President; or for officers of a
Council to post the same at any other
time than from midnight to one hour be
fore daybreak, and this rule shall be in-
coporated into the By-Laws of the State,
District and Territorial Councils.—
(June. 1854.) .
Rule Seven.—The determination of
the necessity and mode of issuing the
posters for public notification shall be
entrusted to the State, District or Terri
torial Councils. (June, 1854.)
Rvle eight.—The respective State,
District or Territorial Councils shall be
required to make statements of the num
ber ot members within their respective
limits, at the next meeting of this Na
tional Council, and annually thereafter,
at the regular annual meeting. (June,
1854.)
Rule nine.—The delegates to the
National Council of the United States of
X^rtb America, shall be entitled to three
dollars .per day for their attendance upon
the National Council, and for each day
that may be necessary in going and re
turning from the same; and five cents
per mile for every mile they may neces
sarily travel in going to, and returning
from, the place of meeting of the Nation
al Council; to bo computed by the near
est mail route : which shall he paid out of
the Treasury of the National Ceuncil.—
(November, 1S54.)
Rule ten.—Each State, District or
Territorial Council, shall he taxed four
cents per annum, for every member in
good standing belonging to each Subor
dinate Council under its jurisdiction on
the first day of April, which shall be re
ported to the National Council, and paid
into the National Treasury, on or before
the first day of the annual session, to he
held in June; and op the same day in
each succeeding yean. And the first fis
cal year shall he considered as commenc
ing on the first day of December, 1855.
(November, 1854.)
Rule eleven.—The following shall
be the Key to dctcrutisc and ascertain,
the purport of any communication that'
may he addressed to the President of a
State. District or Territorial Council by
the President of the National Council,
who is hereby instructed to communicate
a knowledge of the same to said officers :
A R C 1) E F s II IJ K I, M
co efi a
U V \v
X Y
12 IS
NOP Q
21 I 10 1« 22 5 11 1
Rule twelve.—The clause of the
article of the Constitution relative to be
lief in the Supreme Being is obligator}-
upon every State and Subordinate Coun
cil 1 as well as upon each individual mem
ber. (.Tunc 1854.)
Rule thirteenth.—The following
shall be the compensation of the officers
of this Council:
1st. The Corresponding Secretary
shall he paid Two Thousand Dollars per
annum, from the 17tli day of June,
1854.
2d. The Treasurer shall be paid Five
Hundred Dollars per annum, from the
17 th day of June, 1S54.
3d. The Sentinels shall he paid Five
Dollars for every day they may he in at
tendance on the sittings of the National
Council.
4th. 'I'lie Chaplain shall he paid One
Hundred Dollars per annum, from the
17th day of .Tune, 1854.
6th. The Recording Secretary shall
be paid Five Hundred Dollars per an
num, from the 17th day of June, 1854.
fith. The Assistant Secretary shall lie
paid Five Dollars per day, for every day
lie may he in attendance on the sitting of
the National (’ouncil. ’ All of which is to
he paid out of the National Treasury,
on the draft of the President. (Novem
ber, 1854.)
SPECIAL -VOTING.
Vote First.—This National Council
hereby grants to the State of Virginia,
two State Councils, the one to To locat
ed in Eastern and the other in Western
Virginia, the Blue R5-lgc Mountains be
ing the geographical line between the
two jurisdictions, (.Tune, 1854.)
Vote seuonh.—'The President shall
have power, till the next session of the
National (’ouncil, to grant dispensations
for the formation of State, District, or
Territorial Councils, in form most agree
able to his own discretion, upon proper
application being made. (June 1854.)
Vote third.—The seats of all dele
gates to and members of the present Na
tional Council shall be vacated on the
first Tuesday in June, 1855, at the hour
of six o’clock in the forenoon; and the
National Council convening in annual
session upon that day, shall be composed
exclusively of delegates elected under
and in accordance with the provisions of
the Constitution, as amended at the pres
ent session of the National Couucil; pro
vided, that this resolution shall not apply
to the officers of the National Council.—
(Nov., 1854.)
Vote fourth.—The Corresponding
Secretary of this Council is authorized
to have printed the names of ‘the delc-
ates to this National Council; also,
those of the Presidents of the several
State, District, and Territorial Councils,
together with their address, and to for
ward a copy of the same to each person
District, anH Territorial Councils shall
in the first instance confer the Third De
gree upon as many of the Presidents and
officers of their Subordinate Councils, as
can be assembled together in their re
spective localities, and afterwards the
same may he conferred upon officers of
other Subordinate Councils, by any pre
siding officer of a Conccil, who shall have
previously received it under the provis
ions of the Constitution. [November,
1854.1
Vote tenth.—'To entitle any dele
gate to a seat in this National Council
at its session in June next, he must pres
ent a properly authenticated certificate
that he was duly elected as a delegate to
the* same; or appointed a substitute in
accordance with the requirements of the
Constitutions State, Territorial, or Dis
trict Councils. And no delegate shall
he received from any State, District, or
Territorial Council, which has not adopt
ed the Constitution and Ritual of this
National Council. [November, 1854.|
Vote eleventh.—The Committee on
printing the Constitution and Ritual is
authorized to have a sufficient number of
the same printed for the use of the Or
der. Anil no State, District, or Territo
rial Council, shall he allowed to reprint
the same. [November, 1851.]
Vote twelfth.—The right to estab
lish all Subordinate Councils in any of
the. States, Districts, and 'Territories rep
resented in this National Council, shall
he confined to the State, District, and
Territorial Councils, which they repre
sent. [November, 1854.
"Note.—See Constitution, Am. 9,Sec. 4, I\5.
Judge Andrews’ ActtjUanc?#
CORRESPONDENCE.
Macon, July, JJfli, 1855.
Dear Sir:—As Chairman of the
Committee it becomes my pleasing duty
to notify you that, at the Convention of
the American Party held at Macon on
the 27th and 2Sth ultimo, you were
unanimously nominated as the candidate
of said party for office of Governor at
the approaching cleerion.
Owing to the omission sooner to no
tify me of my appointment, this com
munication has been thus long delayed.
Allow me, sir, respectfully, to urge upon
you the acceptance of the candidacy;
and that your acceptance may be as
speedily as possible before the people of
the State. You will oblige me with an
early reply.
Your fellow-citizen.
WASHINGTON POE.
Chairman of the Committc.
W. Poe*
J. 11. Davis,
W.m. Gibson,
John A. Jones,
II. V. M. Miller,
Hon. Garnett Andrews.
REPLY OF JUDGE ANDREWS.
Washington, July 10th, 1855.
Hon. Washington Poe, Chairman, &c.
Dear Sir :—The above letter was re
ceived at Montvalc Springs, iu Ten-
nessc, where I had gone for the benefit
of my health. I had ordered my cor
respondence from home to be forwarded
to me at that point, and received it by
the same mail, that brought yours, hut
as the reception was in the same hour of
my departure for home, no sufficient op
portunity was given for answering en
route. After reading the correspon
dence, which had accumulated during
my absence, I have taken the first mo
ment to answer your communication.
So much, sir, on account of what might,
to you and other friends, appear an in
difference to my position, if unexplained.
I apprehend it is known to you, that
before the nomination mentioned in your
communication, I had very positively
declined the honor, which I had reason to
believe might he tendered me by the
Macon Convention. The main reason
for refusal was a desire that organization
should he effected under what is known
as the Columbus movement, which I
hoped would convene, and as I advised
my friends nominate another.
I trust
ed, by* this time, there would have been
named; and further, the Corresponding such developments as would justify me
—l. iAio*_:„* -> 1 ; n nn effort to cousamate mv original
Secretaries of each State, District, and
Territory, arc requested to forward a
copy of their several Constitution to each
other. (November, 1S54.)
Vote fifth.—In the publication of
the Constitution and the Ritual, under
the direction of the Committee—broth
ers Dcshlcr, Damrcll and Stephens—the
Name, Signs, Grips and Passwords of
the Order, shall he indicated by |* * *,]
and a copy of the same shall he furnish
ed to each State, District and Territorial
Council, and to each member of that
body—(November, 1854.)
Vote sixth.—A copy of the Constitu
tion of each State, District, and Territo
rial Council, shall be submitted to this
Council for examination. (November,
1854.
Vote seventh.—It shall he the duty
of the Treasurer, at each annual meet
ing of this body, to make a report of all
monies received or expended in the inter
val. (November, 1854.)
Vote eighth.—Messrs. Gifford of Pa.;
Barker of N. Y.; Desliler of N. J.; Wil
liamson, of Vu.; aud Stephens, of Md.,
aro appointed a committee to confer
with similar committees that have been
appointed for the pbrposc of consolidat
ing the various American Orders, with
power to make the necessary arrange
ments for such consolidation—subject to
the approval of this National Council,
at its next session.—[November, 1854.]
Vote ninth.—On the receipt of the
new Ritual by the members of this Na
tional Council who have received thy
Third Degree, they or .any ot them may,
and they arc hereby empowered to con
fer the Third fiegree upon members of
this body in their respective States, Dis
tricts and Territories, and upon the
Presidents and other officers of their
State,'District, and Territorial Councils.
And further, the Presidents of the .State,
wishes. But I discover from the news
of the day, and other sources, that no
organization under the Columbus move
ment will likely' take place, or if it
should, be of such magnitude ns to su
percede the one whose committee tnan
you arc. As tlio Democratic party had
previously, by refusal to join theCoIum-
ims movement, deprived it of the power
of assuming the attitude of anything like
State unanimity, as the joining in
such organization might have had the
appearance of a disbanding of the Amer
ican Party in Georgia, and as it might
have failed to pass n Resolution that 1 *
might consider a sine qua non, it is per
haps Aviso that no affiliation lias taken
place other than what appears in one of
the resolutions of your Convention.—
Duly impressed with the responsibility
of refusing so high an honor, tendered
by so large and respectable a body of
tnen as the American Party, I could not
excuse myself for declining the same
without very weighty, not say irresisti
ble reasons; and the rather, as I think
there are some why I should not decline,
of such magnitude as not to he disregard
ed or overruled. One of which is that
my declension might embarrass, possibly
occasion, or bave tlie appearance of, a
disorganization of the American Party
in Georgia. The statement of a few
facts will make manifest the importance
of the continuance, and successful con
tinuance ,of this party in Georgia.
In the Convention of 1850 the State
declared in the paper known as the
Georgia Platform,’ among other things,
that she “would, and ought to resist,
even (as a last resort) to a disruption of
every tie which bound her to the Union,
any refusal (by Congress) to admit as a
State any territory thereafter applying,
because ofthc existence of slavery there
in.” Kansas ferritory will soon apply
for admission hrto the Union as q slave.
State. T* * V^tod by* Gov. Johnson in
his late ietter of acceptance, that “the
united chorts of Frecsoilers and Aboli
tionists under”—what he chooses to
style—“the black banner of Know Noth-
ingtm,” (hut really' under the unpopular
influence at the North' of the Nebraska
and Kansas hill,) “have elected to the
next Congress a controlingmajority.”
If the state of facts now existing shall
. [Continue when Kansas makes applica
tion tor admission into the Union, she
must he rejected under this controlling
majority'; and then a disruption of every
tie which hinds Georgia to the confeder
acy will inevitably' take place. The de
cree has gone forth, as proclaimed by'
the State in her Convention of 1850.—
Has Gov. Johnson or the Democratic
party told us of any escape from the
crisis, so certainly' pending 1 Have they
devised any ? or are they seeking any ?
We cannot admit the unrelenting war
waging through the Southern States, to
subject all to the iron rule of Democracy,
to he sueh. For if every voter in their
borders were to bow the knee to its ban
ner and turn to St. Tammany’,indevotion,
it would not add another vote to the
yeas when the hill for the admission of
Kansas shall be put upon its passage;
for the Southern vote, under whatever
name, now is, and alway's will bo a unit
in its favor.
The war raging against the National
American Party, lately organized at
Philadelphia to bring the needed aid
from the North whence only it can he
had. is anything else than "an effort to
meet the crisis awaiting Kansas, and
which we are approaching with the
sleepless tread of time We have had
much figuring, showing how the Demo
cratic party hot voted, but none liow it
will he aide and trilling to vote. Others
more patriotic or vigilant, seeing the old
Whig party defunct, the Democratic
powerless—and the Abolitionists and
Freesoilers with a controlling majority
iu the next Congress, have combined in
a new organization a new party—the
American—with the hope that it posses-
es principles of nationality equal to the
exingencies of the, important occasion.—
The unpopularity of the Nebraska and
Kansas bill which, like an avalanee,
swept over the North, overtopping horse
and rider, “Captain and cattle,” dimin
ishing and corrupting all parties has left
the fate of the admission of Kansas at
the mercy' of the freesoil power.
The American Party lately assembled
at Philadelphia, after purging itself of its
freesoil element, among other things,
resolvedygthat Congress possessed no
poUWdfflflcr the constitution to exclude
any State from admission into the Union
because its constitution does or does
not recognise tiie institution of slavery as
a part of its social system. Here is an
accession of strength against that con-
truling majority' deprecated by Gov.
Johnson. If the Democratic party were
desirous of the admission of Kansas ns a
slave State, instead of endeavoring to
crush, would they not cherish this new,
and we hope, efficient ally' against the
common foe i—Would they not feel a
sympathy for it on accounn’t of this part
of their platform ? Though the Amer
ican and Democratic parties cannot, on
account of the old prejudices and new
principles, affiliate, yet the admission of
Kansas as a slave State depends on their
combined action against “the cohorts,”
when the final contest shall arrive, For
when the vote shall he taken on that
measure, and the Democracy shall be
found too weak* (as they will, according
to the admission of Gov. Johnson,) the
nays will have it, unless help conic from
some other quarter. Are they' unwilling
to have it though it he not a Democratic
vote ? Arc they unwilling the country
should be saved unless save Democratic
rally only 1 Is Democracy the primary'
and the country the secondary good ?
When we shall lie casting about for the
election of a President avIio will not veto
the hill, if passed, and shall find materi
al sufficient for the purpose, if combined,
it will he the duty, then, as now, of ev
ery patriot to throw no obsticle in the
way of so important a consummation.
Whatever irreconcilable hostility there
may be on other points, on this vital be
yond all others, every patriot should
cherish that sympathy, on the exercise
of which, in the hour of trial may' de
pend the fate of untold millions.—And
what is the attitude of the American and
Democratic parties, now, on this view
of the matter? The former gives its
approbation and sympathy to the latter,
when its fidelity to the South deserves
it. The Democracy: seek to crash this
new party in its infancy, not only on the
ground of insurmountable issues, hut on
that embraced in the slavery portion of
its platform, and which is all the portion
of its platform, and which is all the
South can ask. Also denouncing its
platform because it does not approve in
express terms the Nebraska aud Kansas
bill, though agreeing, “for common jus
tice and future peace to abide by and
maintain the .existing laws upon the sub
ject of slavery, as a final and conclusive
settlement of that subject, in spirit and
substance.” Arc Kansas and fhfe Un
ion of so little consequence as to depend
on the reasons on which fhe resolve was
given, though immaterial fof our purpose?
Must the fate of this country be perilled
on the difference between twcedle-dum
and tweedle-dce ? And that by a party
which in its last Baltimore Convention,
declared, without approving in express
terms, that they would abide by and
adhere to the faithful cxncution of the
on the Georgia plat - ,
ing of the acts of Congress • .on the com
promise measures, declares, that whilst
the State of Georgia d6ea not wholly
ti.«y m »?***« m
versyJ'- ^And- (his by^-arjjMty,
California v''V applying for admissio’
did not approve .the principle, tliat, a,
Stat er should come into the Union wjth
or without slaver'.*. [a9 provided Tn- the
•Nebraska and Kansas bill,] t»ut were
ready fora disruption,to maintain suchj
disapproval. Sometimes they criticisq
the platform of the American Refty, be
cause it pretermits the expression of any
opinion upon the power of Cougrcss tq
establish or prohibit slavery, though it
is the sense of the nationnl couucil that
it ought not to legislate upon the subject-
in the. territories. And this by q
party which, a few short months ago,
was ready to set tirerto the four corner^
of the confederacy, if Congress did not
legislate on ilie subject of slavcJ.v in tho
territories, by repealing tho Mexican
laws prohibiting the introduction', of.
slaves into tho territory acquired from
that power. And this by a (tarty)
which voted for Air. Van Buren for Pres
ident though from the lights before him
li e pretermitted tho expression of any
opinion as to the power of Congress to
1 egislate upon the subject of slavery in
the District. I know that principles are
of the highest importance, but here the
resolve is all wc need, let it come ftonj
what motive it may.
The inference from all such criticisms
is, that Kansas may be rejected and thq
Union dissolved, unless we can obtain
votes on a principle wo know is impossi-
ple and to us immaterial. A pqrty
which thus cavils, on the ninth part of a
hair map possibly desire tho admission
of Kansas, but that desire must be very
weak that is weighed against a quibble.
It looks significant of tho small valuo
they'place upon the Union.
The philosophy of organizing new pan*
ties consists in the selection of a plat
form of principles that will be accepta
ble to a majority of the nation, if possi
ble ; anil though each may not be accep
table to all, yet for the sa^q soi&’q
favorite principle, every' meniber ofi tjfb
party- will adopt the platform as a whole.
Just as in deliberative assemblies, d
constitution or a hill may not be accep
table in every' section, possiblyAQ bfljf
one member; yet for the sake of the
measure as a whole, or for some favorite
section, a majority may' be content to
adopt the whole measure. So the Nor
thern portion of the American party v
suffering under tho grievances of foreign
influence, are willing to adopt tho whole
platform, the slavery question included,
perhaps not so much for its own sake as
for the section concerning the amend
ment of the Naturalization Laws. In
these new issues, we have none of
those old prejudices nor hostilities fo
encounter, which would be in the way/
of making converts to nn old party.
Since the manifestations of suplt Indis
criminate hostility by the Democracy,
to tliis the only means of obtaining
strength for their votes on the slaver)?
question that have been before Congress,
in charity I hadsupposod they were given
from pure motives of justice and fidelity
to the South, but the present jnc[ica^ion
are, that unless aid can be bad through
tho Democratic party, it will not be ac-
ptable. The wish seems to bo for
Democratic ratherthanSouthernstren^thu
The reluctance that one might well
have felt, at being found in opposition
to a party, right in so importap) ■ £ mat
ter, through wrong in btlieVi Ajf} inore
than neutralized at the humiliating dis
covery.
The American Party’ cut loose from
and sent howling to their dens, at the
North, the abolition members of tlici£
body—the fiist time, I believe, that b,
party has, in convention, separated worn
and publicly repudiated a part of its
body, for jiuwdndness on the slavery
question.
The Democratic Party still cherish in
their ranks the Van Burens, Kings, and
forty-three member of Cdiigrtyss ylio vo
ted against the Ncbraska-Kapnas bill,
and though its President—(who too oi-
ten gives his platforms to the South and
his acts to the North)—put under tho
ban, Dickinson, Bronson and otbipr
the hard-sheil Democracy, the most
uncompromising and reliable friends thq
South ever had beyond the Potopjac •
proving “false alike to the friends who
served, as well as the toes jylio would
have spared them.”
It has been objected that the sound
portion of the American Party Nortn
is too insignificant in numbers to lie re
lied on for support. ’ If pot already so,
from present indications it may, by th£
time Kansas applies for admission, bg
more numerous than the. sound Democ
racy North. But it matters not whether
it may be ten or thirty. One vote may
decide the question upon which the' fat^
of millions may depend.
It being admitted that if tiie jxani
bill paSses, it must be by an accession
Northern votes, the question constant _
recurs, now can they ho had ? 1 hq
Democracy, as admitted by Goy. .JfiJSd;
son, and ns'shown by tiie vote on the
Nebraska Kansas bill, whjjp forty three
joined the Frecsoilers, is a decaying
party, and like the old Whigs, consuap
ing under the intense heat of popular in
dignation generated’by iha 'hdiojiiiJncM
of that measure at the North. .If not
withstanding their old Democratic pre
judices and discipline, they deqert .by
scores, wc can hardly expect-' recruits,
even by units. If these old Democratic
principles are so exhausted as not oiily to
be nnablc to attract ne^ar members, but
to hold the old' ones, it is worse jlyto
hopeless to expect accessions from such
a drained source. Indeed I don’t? djq-'
derstand t)ic party as ? exp£CtSWjg’ any
new recruits from thajt quarter. Then
we mitst try new issues, new attractions
and iicw powers of cohesion.
The American Party are tauntingly
asked! if the Georgia Platform is Satis
factory to them, why not join the Dem-
ocracy, who have already taken theur
stand upon it. We ,ofoject fii|t;
thev have only squatted en one tUMBi
