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into a right, without having been inculcated
by the Church ?
Bat, sif, it would he impossible to review
the gentleman’s speech in an hour. This is
no plocfix- tbr controversial investigations,
llow couifl any mail be expected to establish
any contteverted point with a Church s wbith
lias been nearly nineteen hundred, years in,
finding out the immaculate conception* the
Virgin Mary ?
THE TERROR OP RXCOMHCXIOATIORS,
But giving to the Church the benefit df.alT
the geutleman’s disclaimers, there still exists
the divine right to excommunicate, and it is
the'.moral power and terror of personal ex
communication, the exercise of which this
country has to dread. In reference to depos
ing monarch*, the Church might even safely
surrender the power to depose, and let it all
rest upon the divine right to excommunicate.
According to the showing of the gentleman
from Pennsylvania, “ excommunication unless
removed within a year, was to assist in work
ing oul dr positions.”
The gentleman admits that he believes in
nil the religious dogmas of the Romish
Church. He says:
“ 1 acknowledge all my obligations to the
Church of which I am an humblo member,
und I recognise M the rights of the venerable
hand of that Church to the spiritual deference of
its child/en; and I desire that no part of what
I may say, or what I may concede, in my re
marks, may be considered a* yielding a single
dogma of the Catholic Church. I believe all
that that Church believes and teaches as reli
gions dogmas.”
The gentleman declares “(hat he would op- -
pose the invading army and'navy of the Pope,
Were such a thing to oncur.” But the Pope does
not scar with •* armies and navies. Becomes
not with “ all the pride, and pomp, and circum
stance of glorious war.” His excommunication
is the only sword he needs—his armies are the
innumcrous hosts of superstition, whose name
is legion, which come thronging tire atmosphere
of the imagination. The very *• daggers” of the
air, which appall the firmest heart, unnerve the
stoutest bodv, snd paralyse the strongest intel
lect. Will tire gentleman say that against an
excommunication he would dare to raise his
head, his hand, or his voice? No, sir. He
yields not one of the religious dogmas of the
church. Would be not be liable, now, elite a
member of Congress, were he to commit evil, to
be excommunicated, as a person, by the Bishop
of his Church ? Certainly. If excommunicat
ed, would not all Roman Catholics Ife obliged to
refuse him meat or bread, or countenance,
or shelter? and would it not be their duty
to the church to persecute him t Yes. What
then would be his condition ? As a Catholic,
his spirit wonll be prostrated, his mind would
be unhinged; his soul would be crushed; an
American Congressman would be denied en-
tiancc into the lowest Catholic hovel in the pur
lieus of Washington.
Supnasc the gentleman was President of the
United States—and his name, I believe, has been
honorably mentioned in that connexion—at a
man he would still be liable to excommunication
by an American Bishop i And in his person the
habitation of the President would be liable to
become a whited sepulchre ! and the Chief Ma
gistrate of this Union would be grovelling in
the dust at the feet of the Roman Catholic pow
er.. So it is of no moment whether the Pope
daims the right to depose or not, if under tne
terrors of excommunication, the mysterious and
prostrating powers of the Church cam be as well
snd effectually
had improved it, was nude mailer over many things
and was admitted to enter into the service of thb Lord.
•• Watch and fray,” is the Divine injunction ; which,
if it needs any interpretation, means non and work.
Shall Iho lion rely on his strength and not use his mus
cles? Then the Iamb could devour him. Sir, there is
a practicability in all those Divine injunctions, which
is well illustrated by the lives of the reformers, in the
slecph >s vigilance and active energy of their sarblo.
This practicability is more humourously carried ont by
Cromwell in his great battles. The renowned comman
der always went into battle with a prayer to God—but
not a prayer merely—his words were: *• Bless God and
ncK your KLijrrs.” It was by this practical working
ol his laith, with his chase!era vigilance and activity,
that he was enabled to effect a revolution which made
hU name immortal,and aided in gritting many branch
es of fieedom oa the great tree ot English liberty. And
to this practical working of the Divine Injunctions, I
trust that all Pioteitants will bend their energies, and
not be deluded by any dream of fancied security. The
Protestant Clergy are God appointed sentinels. 1 warn
them nut to be lulled to sleep; 1 warn them by the late
of Atectryon s l warn them by ihe fate of Algos; 1 warn
them by the fate of the unprofitable servant.
NO LAW PROPOSED AC A INST CATHOLICS.
But wc are told that the constitution declares that “no
religions test shall ever be required as a qualification to
«sy office or public trust under the United States.”
That in the first article of the amendments to the con
stitution, it is declared “ that Congress shall make n<k
law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohib
iting the free exerrise thereof” What is the meaning
of this ? Il means that Congress shall pass no law
making a religious test a qualification tor office. And
it leaves every individual tree to say that he will or will
not vote fora man for office who professes certain reli
gious principles, or holds a certain religious creed.
Does the American party propose to enact any law to
exelnde from office Roman Catholic* ? A'o sir. <•. says
fur its members, we will i oi vote for Roman Catholics;
and when we get the power, we will, as a party, turn
nut Roman Catholics, and put in Protestant natives, as a
party rule—a rule which has been exercised time out of
mind by the Democratic and Whig parlies in tbiscoun-
try. You may call It proscription, if you choose; but
party proscription has been made respectable, as a rule
of action, by both the great defunct parties.
-1 have sworn, upon more occasions than one, to sup
port the Constitution ol Iho United States, and there is
■o clause in j|,for which I have more reverence than
that whichsefeure* to all men the freedom at religions
opinions. The American party will never infringe that
sacred riausvof the Constitution. The war it wages is
a war fur the freedom ef religions opinion! It wars
against the tyranny of priestcraft; and aspires to the
privilege of laying a pure Bible before the laity of the
Roman Catholic Church; and demands that they be
permitted to read and .interpret. It aspires to a refor-
matton of the fJ^t,
We do not wish American children to be taught from
their infancy to reject portions of the sacred Scrip-
turns, and to <• believe in spostolic and oectssiastkal tra
ditions” as their frith requires, as will bn seen from
this extract from the Roman Catholic prayer book:
*• I most folly admit and embrace Apostolic and eccle
siastical traditions; i also admit the sacred Scriptures,
according to the sente in which our Holy Mother, the
Church held, and does hold them, to whom it belongs
to judge of the true sense and interpretation of the
Holy r'criiknres. Nor will I ever take and interpret
them otherwise than according to the unanimous con
sent of the Fathers.”
It ii time to d ssipate these -blind teachings. It is
time theyoungmind should be allowed to see the beau
ty of thought, the value of logic, the power of reason,
the nece**itv of in vestlmion
What kind ot freedom of religious opinion is it. when
the child is taught from infancy to think alone through.
the priests ? When Protestant books, primers, and cat
echism* are torn from the hand of the child, and burned
as heretical ? When every fibre of the young intellect
Is strung with the arguments of superstition, overpow-
lyii
limtjjpra t^tttrjjraau.
LAW, ORDER, AND THE CONSTITUTION.
ATHENS, GA. ,
THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 1, 1855.
ingly imposed by the gorgeous displays « f the
: altar or paintings, and musk, ana symbols.
I propose no law to invade the sanctity of the Ro
man Catholic altar, or touch with rude hands, the steer
dotal robe. 1 invoke pnUie opinion. I would expose
the absurdities, rebuke the idolatries, and ridkale the
mockeries of the Roman Catholic Church. Sir, to sae
, . . ll - T . put to work
1 have already spoke of the desolating effect
of an excommunication. We cannot well ima
gine its_ extent. And I cannot forbear, in this
connexion, to refer to an instance of the powers
of a priest. In thia country, over a member of his
congregation. I give it os I find it in a newspa
per, ana do not, of course, vouch for its accura
cy:
Singular Proceedings is a Roman
Catholic Church is Jersey City.—We have
already mentioned the differences between Fa
ther Kelly, the 1‘reist of St. Peter’s Church, in
Jersey City, and the officers of the Montgomery
Guards, the former having, on several occa
sions, denounced the latter from the altar, for
alleged violations of the church relations.
“ We leant that on Sunday, at • last prayers,’
Captain Farrel. of the Guards, entered his pew
in St. Peter’s from which he had been previous
ly forbidden by the priest, Father J. Kelly.
This act was the cause of much excitement.
The pnest appearing before the altar, and ad- .
dressing the congregation, stated that he would,
not proceed with the services until pew No. 81 1
(Captain Farrell’s) was vacated. The captain
hesitated to remove, but at the urgent solicita
tion of some of the oongregatiou, he finally
walked out of bis pew, at which most of the
members of the congregation, and members
of the Guard, ofwhicn ne Is commander, became
highly excited, and insisted on his returning
and taking possession of his pew. The captain
was prevailed upon to re-enter his pew, but the
pric-t still pci sis ting in his determination not to
proceed with the services until said pew was va
cated, the caption finally yielded fits post and
retired. The service then proceeded.”
I do not know that Capt. F. was a member of
the Church. It is sufficient to know that the
pnest, surrounded by the gorgeous and impos
ing gewgaws of his altar, possessed the moral
power to drive a freeman from his pew ! This is
excommunication in miniature!
Then what virtue is there in the protestation
of patriotism which the honorable gentleman so
emphatically makes ? It did not extend to the
moral power of the Pope; and even, in another
sc ?J*i the gentleman, in effect, takes it back.
His protestation of patriotism is made—os he
admits—in the face of what he says is “ really
an impossibility." What good is there in mak
ing pledges against an impossibility ? Her* are
his words:
“ In the early part of my remarks, I took oc
casion to say what would be my course, if, by
any remarkable—but really impossible—concur
rence,of circumstances, the army and navy of
the Pope should invade the country.”
If the invasion of the United States, by the
Pope, with an army and navy, is an impossibility,
hat virtue u there in this ostentatious display
of patriotism ? The gentleman fortifies himself
by referring to the remarks of Bishop England.
That learned and eloquent prelate said:
“ But if the Pope werp to declare war against
America, and any Roman Catholic, under the
pretext of spirituM obedience, was to refuse to
oppose this imperial aggressor, he would deserve
to be punished for his refusal.”
In file understanding of the gentleman fan Penn
sylvania. ibis means s *• If the Pope should declsr war
against the Untied Slates—which is ♦ roetty an impossi
bility'—soy Roman Catho.ic who should refuse to op
pose the Pope—though it would bo impossible for the
* °P® to do such a thine—would deserve to be punish
ed! * There is certainly vary little danger of any man
bring punished lor disobeying hi* government in an
order which cmiM only bo given to him opon the kop-
ptinmgsfnn impossibility
Sir, 1 do not doubt the patriotism of the honorable
gentleman from Pennsylvania, [Mr. Chandler 1 I only
regret that bo has involved ir in on much mystery, and
expressed it in such dubious phrases.
a woau aooct iscntat. ocsxavaTions.
The church give# to per Bishops .ad Arehhi.hope.
the right ..f mental re«nratioti*T<*ntl«s.-Ttatakl
bishop of Canterbury, the invincible Thomas sBecket,
Hworem the constitutions of clarendon, under Henry
II, to ohserce lAns “trealty. aid >ssd jfcitf. and ssithent
frmsi or rooetve.” fl llume. 311 ) He afterward* re
in.and when upbraided by the
etMag awfnlly solemn, grand, and ennobling in
ihe superstition. It exhibits the open and humble ad
mission of an over-ruling Divinity. But to see the best
educated meu of the country bowing down to noyau,
End iHzptisBAff kfilt w ff fpurf furfly^ their sotMdsy tkt
end spirits of the sir, ia indeed humiliating! Bat a week
ago, In New York, this mockery of baptising bells came
off with all solemnity.
Sir, we do not wish our children taught that* Ml
coa scare assay the deed. We wish to teach American
their only confessors. To correct Ibeee evils, we invoke
public opinion, and proclaim that we intend to practice
.any proscription. We ask no law ; bat goes ns a pure
And let no native suppose that he has before him ao
easy task. Tbs Roman Catbolio Church has already
acquired immense power in America. Their system »,
never to relinquish gn inch of sod. They do not build
log cabins to preach in’) they make no perishable plank
houses to preach In, they are not humble enough for
that. They leave that to the koroticsd Methodists, Bap
tists, Presbyterians, and others. In their swaggering
pride, they forget that the fathers of tho Church were
“ fishermen” and tent makers.” When they build an
edifice,its foundation is laid deep in American soil, and
its spires rise high into the American heavens. They
are already millions l This enemy is formidable. Then
let every native go to work—let every Protestant be a
sentinel on the watch towers of liberty.
fnsed to keep In* «at*i
nftheCatho-
of the elections entirely to the rich—
who, by grinding oppression and a thou
sand petty annoyances can force the
poor either to vote with them or absent
themselves from the polls 1 *• Money is
power,” even when restrained by law ;
but when the law favors its exercise, it
is almost omnipotent!
We would have every American free
man possessed of such independent firm
ness as to boldly and publicly declare
for the man of his choice if he knew that
starvation and beggary would conse-
wIvmthat their husband, are their only confe.sora ; ****** enSUe ’ B,,t th ‘ S “ not the Case >
American children that their father, and mothers are and we must deal with tacts as they ex-
^foreign ms.
tSF Mr. B. M. Hitch is an authorized
travelling agent for this paper.
Mr. W. A. Harrison ia also an au
thorized travelliug agent.
fc^We are again compelled to omit
any quantity of original matter.
THE VIRGINIA ELECTION.
It turns out that Henry A. Wise,
the Foreign Jesuit candidate for Gov
ernor in Virginia has been elected.
We must confess that this result never
entered our mind as a bare possibility,
until we read Mr. Wise’s letter afterjhe
had concluded the canvass, in which he
spoke of the glorious ‘ viva voce system
of voting. We at once saw there was
danger in this thing.
In this proud old State, where there
is more of the real old-fashioned aris-
IX. after him with a sharp stick. In
fallibility U the exclusive prerogative of
ihe Pope—and he will not tolerate such
pretensions in ne f his co-laborers,—
So little Elick’ may look out for a bull
with the longest and sharpest sort of
horns! We regret that wo have not
sufficient space tO^give .this remarkable
demonstration further notice to-day.
SINGULAR SPECTACLE,—WHAT
DOES IT MEAN?
On our arrival in town on Monday mor-
ning, we heard from various sources that
a singular spectacle had been presented
in the streets on Saturday night. It
was described as a straggling, irregular
sort of procession in Indian file”—a
space of ten feet between the moving
figures—a sort of “ linked sweetness
long drawn out”—marching with a mea
sured tread— accompanied with music
—and many persons bearing tapers or
other lights.
The nature, character, objects, ends
and aims of this singular nocturnal de
monstration have led to much specula-t
tion in the public mind. Having acci
dentally learned from the Almanac that
the first Sabbath in June was “ Trinity
Sunday,” we very naturally concluded
l that it was some religious observance of
tocracy of England than in all the rest ^
of America combined—where the right ■V w °. c ‘V
. „ ~ . .... ° the Catholic church, which just now •.!
of suffrage is restricted by property / . .
, * v - * , growing rather popular with certain of
qualifications,and the mode of voting the! ... —,. f . .
execrable viva vote syatem-the object 1 ..T ” “''' 8
of which is to restrict freedom of choice I ^ s,,el *SIhened b, the presence of so
among the virtuoos poor-the practical ”“ Jr ' ,ghtS “ a = we “ el, " e neJrt J al1
working of which-is to give the control ’ 6 snmtnerj o. I; e old Mother of
;<*p _
rr bishops of England he said “be had .’indeed
rit the constitution* Irgoliy, mitt goodfoitt, and tritteut
frond or rrsorvo; but in torse words tvae virtually im
plied a s alvo for ihe rights of their oaoaa, which, being
roniMTied with ihe mu>e of God and His t.’liurcli, could
rrHu^rr^ ** a ‘ ,ir * maj ***
. The gentleman fr..w Pennsylvania shows us that the
Lite Hi.hop England |te!4 a contrary doctrine in the
Irtiited States He it ao. Itut when the oipninn* of
•that learned and ehquent prelate shall have perished ;
wht it Inn name shall occupy but a bare Ml in tho com-
ore«.-ed volume Ot renown, when the last paragraph of
his remembrance vhall have been, by the moths ot ages,
«lltirely oaten out of tie rseyelmedias ef posterity, the
***“*• and friar ol Thomas a Becket will sfand immortal
in rise archived ol the Vatican, and in the history of
the world, as a great iMtellectualcliff, from which'the
yain water* of oblivion, ago after age, recede in tlteir
fruitless efforts at snhn.Unnu.
• Tf' *a no navaga ?
r Arthur •* nay bo called the practical
ftflSL. vt hern condemned ;
lil* doctrines never disavowed ; his practice authorizes
w' W /T n this arm of the Roman Catho-
lie Church la uplifted in America, tell mo not there is
This is the reng of ibe Siren. I warn my
countnmeutnbe armed, w every I’rofcMant make
himself a sentinel on the watc.. d'wersol liberty.
. Yet ’- Ip ot •*! we are Md that there is nn
BHMrig patMe secret order of America! - • The elo
915?°* di * ,ln a« l »b*d statesman ..f VilL .iia, Mr.
Wise, tells us. speaking of the Protestant rifergy: “They
are as a whole church militant, with their armor bright."
r j ? r * * M ! ou ’> jealous, watchful, and organized,
landed iMelher against Papacy. They are learned.
rb any brotherhood of monk$.”
'* T'loy need no such political organization to defend
their faith.” “In the name of their religion.” he e\.
claim*, «I ask, wkynst rely on God ?» Sir. they have
no right to rely on G.al alone. They are God-appoint-
tc sentinels.
Nog to the slothful, not to the indolent, not to the
idle and lazy of hi« followers, does God giyehi- re.
wards. The servant who hid his talent and returned
(1 unimproved (o li.it master, was driven away. He who
L ATER FROM EUROPE.
ARRIVAL OF THE STEAMER
PACIFIC.
New York, May 31.
The U.S. Mail steamsbp Pacific, with
Liverpool dates to the 19th inclusive, has
arrived, being seven days’ later advices.
Cotton is buoyant in Liverpool, with
active speculative demand. Advance of
| to 316th.
Market closed active and firm. Sales
of the week 112,000 bales, of which spe
culators took 49,000, and exporters 5,000.
Fair Orleans 6£, Middling 5}; Fair
Uplands 6J, Middling 5$.
Breadstuff's dull, unchanged.
Crop prospects good.
Consols advanced to 89$.
Money easier.
Sevastopol 6iege unchanged up to
May 12th.
Expedition of 15,000 men embarked
from Kamicsch and put to sea in the
direction of Azoff. They returned with
out landing.
Omar Pasha’s force has returned to
Eupatoria.
Large reinforcements arc expected to
reach the allies in ten days.
Relations between Austria and the
western powers are unchanged, but be
tween Prussia and Austria they are more
intimate.
Russia notifies the German states that
the Czar, only holds to the first two guar
anties on condition of the neutrality of
Germany. .
France and England, have, presented
an ultimatum to Sweden which Sweden
is inclined to reject.
The Fiench Exhibition has opened.
The ceremonies were dull.
Pianori has been executed.
Latest.—Canrobert, the French
General, has resigned,owing to ill health.
He has been succeeded by Pelessier.
ifd-LOOK Let
REYNOLDS & BROTHER,
. (Oner Sansom <L‘ Pitta refs,)
BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS, ATHENS, GA.
Invite the attention of the public to their
preparations for PRINTING, in all its de
partments.
They are prepared for the execution of
Bill*, Circulars, Cards, rickets, Pamphlets, dec,
and are Printers of Cobb’s REPons.
Sept. 21,1854^ ly . R. R,
Tli o poet says— -7
Desth is another life We bow our heads,
rxl -oing out., we think, and enter straight
Auoi'.er ue iden chamber of the king's,
Larger llin. *bi* wo leave, und lovelier.
Nevcrthtl , *83, ioost people dread death, and
will catch at«. .'ery remedy for the tortures
tbnt rack the mortal body and hurry its dis
solution. The Pain Killer is pre-eminently 3. with great force,
the safest and most reliable medicine for re
lieving many of the ills which flesh is heir to.
tst. We are fully-satisfied—judging
from the very nature of things—that a
large majority of the people of Virginia
are and were opposed to the election of
Mr. Wise; but this iniquitous and exe
crable viva voce system of voting—(fit
instrument of tyrants 1)—has enabled—
just as Wise saw it would—the purse-
proud aristocrats of Virginia, who pos
sess more money than brains,to triumph
over the patriotic masses! If the peo
ple—the real people of that glorious old
commonwealth, ever wish to be really
free, let them obliterate this ‘‘ damning
blot from her statute-book.”
P. S. At a jollification held in Wash
ington since the election, Mr. Wise
again refers to the viva voce as the cause
of success. We have no question but
that he is right in this. His election,
therefore, does not exhibit any evidence
of the weakness of the American can-e
in that State,but only shows the strength
of the chains by which its poor but pa
triotic people are bound and enslaved!
Thank Heaven! this grinding tyranny
is not countenanced by any of the other
States, and his Holiness and his Jesuit
coadjutors cannot browbeat the people,
and drive them from an honest expres
sion of their sentiments. Let the peo
ple of Georgia ever cherish, as the
sheet-anchor of their safety, the present
glorious ballot system—under which
the most timid can boldly vote for the
man of his choice and have “ none to
make him afraid.”
In addition to the above very snbstan
tial reason for the American defeat in
Virginia, may be mentioned the fact
that ten thousand Irishmen are now
employed on her public works, all of
whom voted for Wise!
Although disappointed in the result,
there is nothing in it to discourage the
friends jof Gam at the South. Let them
gird on their armor afresh. Let their
motto be, “ In God is our trust.” Let
them work ! and victory must crown
their efforts. In our Revolutionary strug
gle, Gates’ defeat at Camden did not
prevent the final surrender of the foreign
foe at Yorktown, nor did it damp the
ardor of the patriots who fought and fell
at King’s Mountain aqd other victorious
fields !
Mr. Stephens has declared himself a
candidate for re-election. He addressed
the'people of Oglethorpe on Tuesday
rather a thin crowd, Opened the exer
cises by reading the Soripture—claimed
to eland in Moses’ place, when he warn
ed ihe children of Israel against wor
shipping the golden calf!! (What blas
phemy!) The Saviour said something
about those who claimed the seat of Mo
ses, which might be quoted against Mr.
these creatures, we understand, is to
go from house to house—ascertain what
papers are taken, and if the Watchman
happens to be of the number, to pro
scribe it—curse ahd villify its editor—
and demand its immediate discontinu
ance ! ! ! 7 V - L- i ;
Gracious Heaven ! has ,t come to
this ? that the people of Georgia are
not to be permitted by their would-be
masters to take what papers they
please ? Will the honest, independent
voters submit to this sort of Jesuitical
surveillance,—this impudent dictation,
or will they, like freemen, kick these
minions of power out of their houses,
when they thus pollute them by their
presence ?
We do not know that we have any
right to expect better things of these
people. The proscribing of an humble
country editor’s newspaper is a small
matter, compared with the doings of
their .foreign masters, the Catholic
priests, who have not only proscribed
God’s Holy Word, but actually burnt
the Bible even in this “ land of the free
and home of the brave.”
Let not these reptiles “ lay the Batter
ing unction to their souls” that we do
not know them. Like the devil, when
he entered Paradise, they can be track-
For sale, at the Drug Stores of Smith £
Billup3 and C. W. <fc H. R. J.Lwig.
In the course of his speech he claimed,
so we are informed, that he has always
been right! He will hav§ Pope Pius
Harlots” is carried on amid |the glare
of wax candles ! 1 It may have been one
of those solemn convocations of*• the
faithful” for the baptism of bells for the
purpose of scaring the devil away. We
do not, however, undertake to say that
this, or any other conjecture concerning
the singular spectacle is true. As the
thing was thrust before the public un
heralded, unannounced, we are all left
to conjecture what could have been its
object.
P. S. A friend belonging to the so-
called “ Democratic” alias “ Foreign
Catholic” party, informs us that Ihe
phenomenon above alluded to was a
torch-light procession in honor of the
election of that arch hypocrite, traitor
and defamer of Gen. Jackson, one Hen
ry A. Wise, the Catholic candidate for
the office of Governor of Virginia I Well,
well, our guess was not a bad one after
all. We thought the whole thing smelt
strong of the Vatican.
Lest an erroneous impress loir may
be created at a distance, as to the extent
and character of the unique demonstra
tion, which we are assured was con
sidered a torch-light procession by those
who participated in it, we will state
that we have inquired of many persons
who saw it in full blast” as to the
number in'its ranks. Their estimates
have varied from sixty to seventy-five.
All agree, however, in saying that it
was composed almost exclusively of
negroes and minors. A gentleman in
whbm we have the most unlimited confi
dence, informs us that he stationed him
self at a favorable point of observation,
and counted every soul in the proces
sion, black and white, and that the pre
cise .number was seventy-two 1 Among
them he recognized barely two voters!
No doubt the Catholic papers of the
seaboard will magnify this miserable
farce into a ” great upheaving of the
masses.”
The truth is, it is impossible to get
up much feeling in favor of Mr. Wise
among those who are Democrats from
principle. They remember him as we
do, as the reviler and slanderer of Gen
Jackson—as the mail who blackguard
ed Mr. Polk in the rotunda of the capitol,
while Speaker of the House of Repre
sentatives, cursing him as a “ d d
petty tyrant,” and telling him to “ pock-
*et the insult as a d—d coward as he
was.” Some of this bully’s friends
went so for as to say that he spit tit Mr.
Polk’s face, hut we never believed this.
THEY FEAR*THE LIGHT!
The Foreign parly, true to the in
stincts of their spiritual guides, the Ro
man Catholic priests, seem to fear the
light as the devil dreads holy water!
From a sincere and conscientious com
viction of duty, we have hpeij endeavor
ing for some time past, to spread light
before the people, in our hqmble way,
through tfie columns of the Southern
Watchman, on the subjects which now
agitate the public mind. Our feliow-
citizens, regardless of past party differ
ences, and anxious only for the good of
the country, feeling desirous to investi
gate these matters, have liberally sub
scribed for our paper. This, it seems,
Joes not suit the views ofthe'whippers-
in” and understrappers belonging to the
“ Athens Junta,” as we have been in
formed that in some of the adjoining
and upper counties of this district, they
have actually apportioned the counties
into “ bailiwicks” and assigned each
:s ed by their slimy trail 1 We know them
just as well as if we had examined the
collar they wear and seen the engraved
initials of their owner’s name! Whether
their conduct and their names shall be
laid bare before the scrutiny of a vir
tuous and indignant public, depends en
tirely upon their future course.
man his field of labor.
. •• ’ -
s ffrt; ■ .
The business of
MEETING AT COLUMBUS.
We received one day last week a cir
cular from Columbus, containing the
proceedings of a meeting recently held
there, which was attended by seven hun
dred citizens—the resolutions of which
are appended. The circular invited
our co-operation in the movement.
For the present, we decline commit
ting ourself on this subject—because we
believe that the National Convention of
the American party now assembled in
Philadelphia, will adopt a Conserva
tive National Platform, or whieb
all true American patriots, North and
South, can cordially meet. We may be
mistaken in our antcipationsff. If they
fail to do so, God help the country to
weather the storm which mast follow;
for, r f strikes us, that no rational man,
whose judgment is unwarped by party
prejudice, can eafFar L.T—olf crcn ro-
hope for anything from either if the
old parties, both of which are entirely
denationalized, and neither of them able,
in their palmiest days, to withstand the
sectional storm which is notv brewing,
and will break in all its fury in 1856.
The next President will be either a
member of the u American” party or
William H. Seward, who will be
elected by the united vote of the Free
States! I
Saturday Evening, May 26.
Agreeably to previous notice, an un
usually large number of our fellow-citi
zens, irrespective of all party considera
tions met at Temperance Haft.
On motion, Wm.H. Mitchell, Esq.,
was called to the Cbair. and Davenport
P. Ellis, Esq., requested to act as Se
cretary. The object of the meeting
being explained by the Chairman,
On motion of Gen. Jas. N. Bethune,
the chairman appointed as a committee
to draft and report suitable subject mat
ter for the consideration of the meeting:
Col. John Woolfolk, Col. Seaborn Jones.
Mai. 8. A. Wales, Dr. S. A, Billing,
R. M. Gunby, Col. Van Leonard,
Dr. Henry Lockhart,David J. Barber,
"Wm, F. Luckie, James C. Cook,
S. R. Andrews, Hon. Hines Holt,
Wm. Dougherty, Esq.,Maj. Jno. H. Howard,
B. Y. Martin, Esq.. James A. Bradford,
R~L. Mott, Charles Cleghorn,
Sami. Rutherford, Joseph B. Hill,
Thomas O Douglass.
The committee returned after a short
absence, and reported to the meeting for
its action, the following
preamble and resolutions.
Whereas, the history of the past has
convinced us, that we whose interest
and affection attach us to the South,
have nothing to hope, but every thing
to fear, at the hands of the existing poli
tical organizationsof the non-slaveholding
States, from the spirit of Abolitionism
which, to a large and fearful extent, per
vades and controls all of them. And
whereas, the action of those States upon
the question qf slavery, conclusively
shows that a large majority of the peo*
pie thereof are actuated by one com
mon sentiment of hostility to the insti
tutions of the South. And whereas, the
gallant band of Patriots within those
States, who are friends to the South and
faithful to the Constitution, and whom
we remember with gratitude, have been
routed, disbanded, and almost annihilat
ed—we believe the exigency imperati
vely requires us to be One People and
One Party. Therefore, be it Resolv-
cd— • ’* -!-’•*
1, That we hold the American Union
secondary in importance only to the
rights and principles it was designed to
perpetuate. That past associations,
present fruition, and future prospects,
will bind us to it so long as it continues
to be the safeguard of those rights and
principles.
2. That the State of Georgia, in the
judgment of this meeting, will and ought
jo resist, even (as a last resort) to a dis
ruption of every tie. which binds her to
the Union, any action of Congress upon
he subject of slavery in the District o
Columbia, or. incompatible with thef
safely, the domestic tranquility; the
rights and the honor of tRe slave-hold
ing States; or any act suppressing the
slave trade between-slaveholding States;
or any refusal to admit as a State any
Territory hereafter’applying, because of
the existence of slavery therein; or any
act prohibiting the introduction of slaves
into Utah and New Mexico; or any
act repealing or materially modifying
the laws now in force for the rccoveiy
of fugitive slaves.
3. That, in the opinion of this meet
ing, the time has ai’rived when our fel
low-citizens should cease from their dis
sensions, and forget the differences
which have separated them; and that a
common danger and common enemy
should unite us for our common defence
and safety.
4. That we hereby repudiate all fel
lowship and connection with the present
national political organizations, or any
that may be hereafter formed; unless
based upon the principles and policy of
tbe foregoing resolutions; and recom
mend to our fellow citizens of each, of all
classes, whether native or naturalized,
without distinction of party, to assemble
together, and send delegates to Mil-
ledgevilfg on the fourth of July next, for
the purpose of nominating a candidate
for Governor, and framing and publish
ing a basis of action upon which we may
all stand and all co-oprate.
5. That we hereby respectfully re
quest the Democratic and Whig parties
to postpone a nomination for Governor,
and to call upon the people of the State,
without distinction of party, to meet to
gether in their primary assemblies, to
select delegates to make a nomination for
Governor who shall be the candidate of
the People and not of a Party.
And be it further Resolved, That the
chairman appoint a committee of seven,
to transmit a copy of the proceedings of
this meeting to the several counties in
this State.
Messrs. Thomas Ragland, James N.
Bethune, A. S. Rutherford, John A.
Jones, F. M. Brooks, James K. Redd
and John I. Ridgway, were appointed
that committee.
The meeting was addressed by Hon.
James Johnson, John A. Jones, Esq.,
and Hon Hines Holt, with their usual
ability and fairness, in support of tbe
preamble and resolutions.
The preamble and resolutions were
then voted upon by the meeting and
heartily adopted—there being but one
dissenting voice.
It was further Resolved, That the
proceedings of the meeting be signed by
the Chairman and Secretary, and copies
be furnished to the Editors of the city
papers, with 9 request to publish the
same.
On motion, the meeting then adjourn
ed. WM. M. MITCHELL, Cb’n.
D. P. Ellis, Secretary.
Maj. John H. Howard, who was one
nf the ''nmmittee to draft the above res
olutions, and who being ausenr rrom
home did not see them until after their
adoption, suggests to the committee that
the Know Nothings be also requested
to make no nomination for Governor.—
Which is concurred in by the under
signed :
Satn’l Rutherford, Van Leonard,
Thos. O, Douglass, John Woolfork,
B. Y. Martin, S. A. Wales,
W. F. Luckic, D. J. Barber,
R. M. Gunby, R. L. Mott,
J. C. Cook, Seaborn Jones,
John H. Howard, J, A. Bradford,
Charles Cleghorn, J. B. Hill,
S. R. Andrews, Henry Lockhart
S. A. Billing,
William Dougherty absent from the
city.
*
“ SAG N1CHTS”—UNPARALLEL-
ED EFFRONTERY!
It turns out, that after all the abuse
heaped by the so-called Democrats upon
the Know-Nothings, on account of their
secrecy—notwithstanding the fact that
the President has on this account pro
scribed American citizens—turned them
out of office and filled their places with
foreign Catholics :—in spite of all this,
it seems that this same Administration
which had so determinedly set its face
against secret political organizations has
actually sent out missionaries from
Washington for the purpose of extend
ing the Democratic secret political or
ganization known as Sag Nichts, or
** Say Nothings.” Il appears that one
of these secret agents, who was also a
clerk in one of the Departments, was
recently apprehended during a riot
which occurred at one of the meetings
over which he presided. After his con
finement in jail, he wrote to the editor
of a Know-Nothing paper, (believing
him to he one of the new order) in which
he complained bitterly of the neglect of
the President (who he familiarly styles
“ Pearce”) andJothers,in permitting him
to lie in jail, when they could so easily
bail him. The Know-Nothing editor
publishes this letter, and it is one of the
richest things we have seen. Accord
ing to its disclosures, there is a regular
plan on foot for the combination of all
the foreigners and Democrats in a “ se
cret oath-bound political society,” for
the purpose of outgeneraling the Know-
Nothings !! He says the thing is already
beautifully working in some of the States
—that it goes first-rate with the Dutch,
but that the Irish da not relish it so well
This is the substance of the letter re
ferred to. We intended to have pub
lished it, but have mislaid it. This new
! order, it is said, has spread, or is spread-
: ing all over the \yl)o!e country!
We call upon the honest people of
Georgia to lock at this thing in all its
enormity. Not that we have any fault
to find with the secrecy of the new order,
but that those who daily denounce the
Know Nothings solely on the alleged
ground that they are a secret political
society, should themselves spend the
public money in paying the salary of
their travelling missionaries, who are
traversing the country in every direc
tion for the purpose of establishing se
cret oath-bound societies, seven-fold
worse, according to their own showing,
than thoSeofthe Know Nothings!
Do not all honorable men despise
such low, contemptible hypocrisy—
such deception and humbug ? ^ Will
they tolerate such conduct? ■
We Tiave but little doubt but that
these gentlemen whose very name
smacks of the ‘sweet German accent’—
these redoubtable •* Sag Nichts,” have
effected a lodgment in these diggins.—
If not, there are members of another
secret political society here—the most
shamelessly corrupt and profligate asso
ciation-distinguished alike for the trick
ery and cunning of their prototypes the
Jesuit priests, as well as the mean and
cowardly spite and malice of the French
Jacobins. We mean the St. Tammany
Society of New York. We shall, when
we have space, devote some time to the
further investigation of this subject.
We are credibly informed that the so-
called Democratic party now numbers
four secret political societies within its
foldf; and yet they are the men who
cry out against the Know-Nothings on
the ground of secrecy!! Down with
such abominable hypocrisy—such un
heard-of impudence! Do those who
make such a noise about secrecy think
that the people are fools ?
The richest thing that has hap.
pened lately is the manner in which the
Augusta Constitutionalist and other pa
pers opposed to the American party, have
appropriated as their own “ thunder ’
the Georgia platform of 1850. They
have bounced upon it with as much as
surance as if they were its constructors,
and now vociferously cafl on its real
builders to take position by thiir sides!
This strikes us as being one of tbe most
amusing spectacles lately presented !
We do not wish to be understood as
censuring these gentlemen forf ailing in
to the support of that platform, but what
amuses us is the air with which they
mount it, at the eleventh hour, and call
upon its rent builders, who have never
deserted it fir one moment, to go and do
likewise !
Ever since its substantial and unmis-
takeable ratification by the people of
Georgia,we have regarded it as the com
mon rallying ground of all parties in
Georgia, so far as the question of Nor
thern aggression is concerned. Every
body is in favor ofthe 1 Georgia platform.’
Fhen why, in the name of common
sense, should these eleventh-hour men
who originally opposed it, work them
selves into a “ pucker” just at this
time, in regard to the vast importance
of sustaining its doctrines ? Will these
new converts, whose zeal outruns their
knowledge, sustain the constructors of
that platform if their names are present
ed as candidates for popular favor ?
No ! no! They were tried, and found
wanting.
Charles J. Jenkins, one of the purest
and most incorruptible patriots in this
or any other State, and who was the fa
ther of the platform was a candidate for
Governor two years ago, and these gen
tlemen not only refused to support him,,
but conducted the canvass in the mosk
unfair and illiberal spirit of detraction
and misrepresentation, and succeeded
by their gross humbug and deception,,
in elevating to that office a gentleman
distinguished for his opposition to that
platform ! ! !
With this record staring them in the-
face, will not the people inquire, M Is
there not a cat in the mealV’
The truth is, the hubbub kicked up
about the Georgia platform is at this,
time peculiarly unfortunate. It is of
the utmost importance that the peop
of the South should present a solid fro:
on the Kansas question, so that their s
titude may have a moral weight wi
Northern fanaticism ; but the fuss mat
over the Georgia platform just now w
lead the people of the North to belie'
that we are divided even on that que
tion, which we have no idea is the cas
CIRCULATE THE DOCUMENTS
GIVE the people light !
The speech of Mr. Smith (Demoer
tic Representative in Congress from AI
bama) delivered in the House of Repr
senlalives in January last, will soon 1
retdy for distribution. Send in your o
ders, as we wish to ascertain tho nun
ber needed to supply the demand .
Price $3 per hundred, ca-di
“ Watchman*’ Office, A
May 10, 1855,