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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,