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COLUMBUS, GEORGIaT”
TUESDAY MOHNINO, MAY 29, 1355.
Congressional Convention, 2d District.
Wc suggest that the Democratic Congressional Conven
tion for the Second District be heid at Americus., on Wed
nesday, 11th July next. The Supreme Court will be'in
cession at that time in Americas. What say our Demo
cratic cetemporaries to this suggestion? The lime and
place ought to be agreed upon at once. wtvvtd.
Apology. —Our paper factors having failed to furnish
us with paper of the usual sze. wo are compelled to
throw out two columns of m liter ; and to defer the
publication of the proceeding!? ol the meeting Saturday
night 26th inst., until Wednesday next.
Action ol the Democratic Party in Muscogee—
A Platform erected on which all Southern
Men may stand.
We publish in another column the proceeding? of
the meeting of the Democracy of Muscogee, which aa
eembled in this city on Wednesday 23d inst. The*
meeting was an unusually large one, and the results,
if followed up by the S f ate Convention, wiil prove to b<- *
of the most vital importance to the South and the Un
ion. We call the special attention of every citizen of
the State who is anxious to preserve the constitutional
rights of the South in the Union, if possible, but, if that
cannot be done, to provide other means outside of the
Union for their protection, to the series ot resolutions
adopted by the Convention. They were designed by
the authors of them to meet fairly and squarely the
pending issues between the North and the South and
to place the Southern Democracy upon a platform broad
enough for every true republican in every part of the
country to stand upon and pledge them, without refe
rence to old party divisions to affiliate in party associa
tion with all men who will co-operate with them in its
maintenance. To secure Southern union, therefore, it
is only necessary for the-members of other parties in
the South to place themselves upon a similar platform
ned the work is effected. This can be the more readi
ly done as all the issues of the present crisis are fully
covered by the fourth resolution of the Georgia platform,
which the Convention adopted, and recommended the
Convention, shortly to assemble in Miliedgeville, to make
the basis of Democratic action in ail future contests be
tween the Not tit ind the South in which the institution
of slavery may be involved. The Union men ofGtor
gia will not abandon their own platform because the
Democracy of Georgia have retreated upon it from
their advanced line of 1850. The Southern Rights
men are earnestly entreated to refer to that platform.
It covers the whole ground of comroversy between
the North and the South at this time and will be none
the less acceptable to them because it was made the
means of defeating them heretofore, if it can now be
used as ibo means of uniting the South, and as a sword
* avenge us upon our fanatical enemies.
A word as to the substitute offered by Maj. How
ard and rejected by the meeting. The preamble and
Ist resolution are in substance affirmed by the resolu
tions adopted by the Convention and if separated from
the 2d resolution would have been passed by the Cop.
vontion. But in the present disorganiz ‘d state of old
parties it was not thought advisable, a3 urgd in that
resolution, to disband the Democracy, especially in face
of the fact that the Know Nothing organization, <f the
object and purpose of which we know but little nnd
that liitlo is not calculated to inspire confidence at the
South, ia in full vigor. It was thought more advsaible
to preserve the Democratic organization and make it
the rallying point of all lovers of constitutional freedom
in every part of the Union and especially of all sound
men at the South. It will also be remembered that
Maj. Howard’s substitute was introduced to the Con
vention under Know Nothing auspice?. While they
were urging the Democracy to disband, they gave no
pledges that the secret political organization of which
they were members would follow suit; and it v;as very
natural for the meeting to fear that in their zeal for the
South they were laying a trap for the unsuspecting and
unwary Democrats of Muscogee county. This may
not have been true, but when a man puts on a mask it
is not the fault of the public if his motives are suspect
ed. Besides, the 2d resolution of the substitute of
fered by Maj. Howard laid down no broad platfoim
upon which he proposed to rally all the men of all tho
parties in the South. True, it proposed to “unfurl a
banner under whose folds all Southern men may array
themselves,” but it was silent, profoundly and omi
nously silent as to the inscriptions it was to have bfez*
ing upon its folds. If tho Know Nothings, who intro
duced tho preamble and resolutions, were in the ascen
duucy in the grand army Maj. Howard proposed toraD
!y, they might have inscrib’ and upon it the sentiments of
their odious third degree, or that other clap trap,
Americans shall rule America , or some other such
Know Nothing trumpery ; and instead of being the j
lender of Southern patriots, tho Major might have
found himself at the head of a rag-lag aud bob tail army
of Union savers. To our minds the preamble nnd rtso
lutions eo'earmstly advocated by Major Howard were
designed by those who offered the in to break up Uic
Democratic party, and, if adopted, would have resulted
in this alone. Wo are glad th%> were voted down.
The action of the meeting resulted in the withdraw
al of ten or twelve Know Nothings from the party. —
We are 6orty to part with them, and hope they may
find in their new associations as true and loyal Southern
men r.a they left behind them, and may never have
cause to regret their departure from the old paths, if
they shall be able to purge the American party from
the stain of Abolitionism, they-will have accomplished
a herculean and praiseworthy labor and will deserve ‘
well of tlte country. Wo may bo permitted, without i
casting any slur upon their powers, to question their
capacity to achieve the work they have undertaken.
SOUTHERN UNION.
Some further though * upon the Democratic
Platform.
In our leader upon the Platform adopted by the
Democratic party of .Muscogee we passed by one or i
two very interesting featur s which we now design to !
bring prominently before the public.
The most important is the subject embraced in the j
9th Resolution. After declaring the position’ of the
Democratio party upon the issues involved between ti e
North and the South in the Kansas quarrel, and pledging
themselves not to affiliate with any party at the North,
or elsewhere, that would not approve and carry out n
good faith the principles of the Nebraska Kansas act,
the Convention look up the vitally important subject of
Southern union. Two modes of effecting this object
wgre presented to the Convention for consideration :
Fiist, to renounce our allegiance to the Democratic
party, arid call upon all Southern men to join us with,
out distinction of paity upon the Platform we had erec
ted. There were eeveial objections to this line of
policy. Ist. It had been tried iu 1850 and failed of the
desired object though the necessities of our position
were much more pressing then than now. 2d. In a
movement of eo much importance it was thought un
advisable to take an irrevocable step forwards without
consultation with the leading patriots in the various
Southern States, and without pledges of co-operation
from the various parties, cliques and orders into
which the Southern people were divided. It is
nrcedlcss to add that no such consultation had been
had ; that no such co-opeiation was pledged. On tin
con trary, a proposition of this eort had been made in
good faith in an organ <>f t ho Democratic party some
months gone, and instead of eliciting favorable men
tion, had been ignored by the Democratic press of the
State, aud was seouttd by the opposition pnss. 3d.
The Democratic party was the only living political or
gaffzation in the Southern States, except the Know
order, and it was apprehended that if it were
‘disbanded, ihe people might fce lured into ihe council
\hamb; 8 of an association of whose purposes and ob
tcts the best and truest men in the South entertained
\e most lively apprehensions. 4th. Assurances had
u given by leading Vv fugs in the State that it a
rtper platform were adopted by the Demcratie State
vention shortly to assemble in Miliedgeville and an
uobjectionable candidate nominated for Governor, they
woM waive their prejudices to the organization and
join With us in the budding up of such a great party at
the Smth as would unite all good and true men in every
portico of the Union and thus secure the supremacy of
the cdoßtitution, the right* of every section under it,
and the admistration of the Government upon true j
Republican principles.
Whatever Know Nothings and demsgogues may
think of these considerations, they were controlling ones
with the patriotic Democracy of Muscogee county.
They, therefore, resolved that they would meet their
Democratic brethren in Slate Convention and refer to
the assembled wisdom of the party, in Convention as
sembled, the high and holy duty of determining the moat
effectual means of attaining the union of the South in
the defense of the rights of the South. And this is the
spirit, meaning and intent of the thh Resolution of the
Platform of the Muscogee Democracy. That that pa
triotic body will n>cet the question referred to them
by the Democracy of Muscogee in the spirit of ec
lightened patriotism, we do not entertain the shadow of
a doubt. The Democracy of Georgia have not been
l.sgg .nd in the assertion of Southern rights. In the
terrible contest of 1850, they were arrayed iu solid
column upon the fighting line, and they must prove
recreant to all the glorious memories of the past if they
are not in the van in 1855. If, therefore, the Con
vention of sth June shall meet with propositions from
other political organizations in the Slate, in whose
► pledges they can pla<e reliance, to break down the par
tition wall, as thin as paper, which separates the old po
litical organizations of the State, for the purpose of lay
ing down the basis of a larger and more comprehensive
platform whose sole object shall be to secure the
supremacy of the Constitution, the rights of every
section under it, and the administration of the
Federal- Government upon true republican principles,
we are surerthat such propositions will be received and
acted upon in good faith and With an eye single to the
good of the country.
We hope, therefore, that neither Whigs nor Demo
crats who are anxious to promote the onion of the South,
upon sound principles, for the defense of the South will
give a moment’s heed to the hypocritical pr fes?ions
of devotion to Southern Union now so lustily rung in
their ears by the members of tho Know Nothing order.
It is madness to believe that the Southern Democracy
ever can or ever will co-operate with a party which
strikes a deadly blow at the most sacred principles of
human rights. If the members of that order are really
anxious to promote Southern union, the first thing they
must do Is to withdraw from an association which num
bers among its most honored members 6uch deadly ene
inks to the South and such traitors to the constitution
as Gardner and Wilson, ol Massachusetts, Trumbull, ot
Indiana, and Ilnle, of New Hampshire. As long as
they continue to affiliate! with such monsters, the De
mocracy will wage‘eternal war upon them and there
can be no union of the South for the defense of the
South.
The Georgia Platform and the 6i Union Degree# 5 ’
The Democratic, or, if you please, Southern Rights
party of Georgia objected to the Georgia Platform be
cause it shirked the pending Issues between the North
and the South and drew a fighting line far in the rear
of our then position* When, however, the South is
driven back to the defen ea of the Georgia Platform,
every Southern Rights man in the State will be found
at his post ready to do or die for his native land. That
hour is fast approaching and it therefore becomes im
portant to point out clearly the principles of the Geor
gia Platform. They are contained iu the 4th of the
scries of resolutions passed by the Georgia Convention
of 1850, which is in these words :
‘Be it therefore resolved by the People of Georgia j
in Convention assembled , 4th., That the State of Geor
gia, in the judgment of this Convention, will and ought
toi'tsfft evt-n (as a last re sort) to a disruption of every
<ie which binds her to the Union, any action of Con
gress upon the subject qi, slavery in the District of
Columbia, or in places subject to the jurisdiction of
Congress, incompatible with the safely, domestic tran
quility, the rights and honor of the slaveholding States ;
or iu any act suppressing the slave trade between the
sluveholding States, or in any refusal to admit as a
State any Territory hereafter applying , because of
the existence of slavery therein ; or in any act pro
hibiting the introduction of slaves into the Territory of
(.Tdih or New Mexico; or in any act repealing or ma
terially mod.tying the laws now in force for the re
covery of fugitive shaves ’’
To the maintenance of these principles the people
of Georgia are committed by the most solemn act of
their dil< gats in Convention assembled. We cannot
retreat from them without incurring in the eyes of all
honorable men the most dunning infamy. Now it is
well known that the great majority of the people of the
Nor.lwrn Stairs are pledged to the repeal of the Kan
h;u act and also to prevent her admission into the Un
ion with a constitution recognising slavery. Recent
events make it almost certain that Kansas will, in the
course of the next two years, apply for admission into
liie Union with a constitution tolerating slavery. If the
North is true to its pledges, Congress will refuse to ad
mit her into the Union “because of the existence of
slavery therein.” What then ? Other States and
ocople may submit to the outrage, but Georgia cannot.
I She is pledged to resist such refusal “even (as a last re
sort) to a disruption of every tie which binds her to the
Union.” There is, therefore, every reasonable proba
bility that the citizens of Georgia wiil be called on,
during tho next two years, by a Convention of her
people, the supreme power in the Stata, not only to
weaken the bonds of the Union, but totally to destroy
and subvert it. Such a call, no good cilizizen who true
allegiance bears to the State of Georgia could refuse to
obey.
In view of these solemn duties, is it not treason to
tlfe Stats of Georgia for her citizens to bind themselves
by solemn oaths “to uphold maintain and defend the
Union ; to discountenance any attempt, coming from
any and every quarter , which is designed or eaculated
t and. sirov or subvert it, or to weaken its bonds ? ,J In
1 certain centing-Miees, we, as Georgians, are bound by
! our allegiance to the State “to disrupt every tie which
binds her to the Union/’ We cannot, therefore, with
out violating the most sacred duties of citizenship as
sume obligations inconsistent with those imposed by
tlie Georgia Platform. Yet we blush to write that every
Know Nothing who has taken the third or Union De
cree of tke Older has bound himself by solemn oath to
sustain the Union at all hazards and against every enemy,
j The obligation tak-rii by the members of this degree is
| in these words:
. OBLIGATIONS.
1 VOll and each ofyou, offour own free will and accord,
in the presence ot Almighty God and these witnesses with
your hands joined in token of that fraternal affection which
should ever bind together the States ol this Union, forming
a riiiii, in token ol Jrour determination that, to far as your
efforts can avail, this Union shall have no end, do solemnly
and rincerely swear tor affirm) that you will not under any
circumstances, disclose in any manner, nor suffer it to be
done hy others if in your power to prevent it, the name,
signs, pass-words or other secrets of tins Degree, except to
tho-e 10 whom you may prove on trial to bo brothers of the
same Degiee, or in open council for ihe purpose ot instruc
tion ; that you do hereby solemnly declare your devotion
to the Union of three States: that in the discharge of
your duty as American citizens you icill up old, main
tain, HiidtMend i:; that you will di-courage aud discoun
tenance any attempt coming from any and event quarter,
which y .ij bcltcve to be designed or calculated to destroy ,
or subvert it , nr to weaken its bonds ; and that you will u-*e
your influence, as far as in your power, in endeavoring to
procure an amicable and equitable adjustment of ai! politi
cal discontents orfftiereoees, which may threaten its injury
or overthrow
You do further promise and swear (or affirm) that you
will not vote for a iy one to till any office cf honor, or profit,
•■■r trust, of a political character, whom yen know’ or be
lieve to be in favor ol a di solution of the Union of these
States, or who h endeavoring to produce that result; that
>ou w il! vote for and support for all political offices third
or Union Degree members of this order in prefereuce to ail
other* ; that if it may done consistently with the Constitu
tion ami laws of the land, you will when elected or ap
pointed to any official station, which may confer on you
tile power to uo so, remove from office or place, all persons
whom you know or believe to be ip favor of a dissolution
ol the Union, or who are endeavoring to produce that re
sult ; and that you will in no case appoint such persons to
any political office or place whatever. AH this you prom
!*o aud swear (or uffiun) upon your honor as .American
citizens and triends of the American Union, to sustain aud
abide by without any hesitation or mental reservation vvhat
c.cr. You also promise and swear (or affirm) that this,
and all other obligations which you have previously taken
in this Order, shall ever he kept sacred and inviolate. To
Ml this you l pledge your lives, your fortunes, and your sacred
honors. So heip you God aud keep you steadfast. [Laeh
one shall answer, “ l do.”j
We invite the particular attention of our readers to
that part of this insidious obligaion which we have
italicised. There is no doubt about its meaning or ob
ject. It is designed to tie the South on to the North in
any and every emergency by binding the consciences of
her sons by solemn oaths to maintain the Union at ali
hazards and against every enemy. If tho majority of
the Southern people are caught in thic insidious snare of
the Know Nothings, farewell to Southern rcaistence,
farewell to the Georgia Platform! The doom of the
South will be forever sealed.
Yet mn who belong to the Know Nothing order
| and have doubtless taken this obligation are just now
busily talking abont Southern union and united resia
tance to Northern fanaticism 1 Non tali auxiiio. nee
defensoribus istis, tempus egi\
Southern men who have taken the obligation of this
degree a"e the bond slaves of fanaticism. They must
either purjure themselves, or else resist even the Slate
ot Georgia, if she should dare to cut the bonds that
bind her to the Union.
It may be denied that we give the true version of
the obligation. To convince our readers of the aecura
ey of our statements we <>ivo the following history of
the document from the Louisville Journal , a paper in
the interests of the Know Nothings. Tho Journal
says;
The editor of the Pittsburg Gjzette, who is an enemy of
the American party, has, he says, got possession of one of
llio books ia which the rites of the order are contained, and
publishes what he aseerts to be “the genuine Ritual of the
First, Second and Third Degrees as now administered in the
several councils ” He doe3 not tell how he came in pos
session of the Ritual, but another Pittsburg editor stales that
it was among the contents of a 10-t pocket-book which the
finder took to the editor oi the Gazette, who abstracted the
document therefrom and laid it before the public.
The chief obligation imposed on members of the First
and Second Degrees is, according to the publication in the
Pittsburg paper, to suppoit native born American citizens for
all offices of honor, trust or profit in the gift of the people,
to tho exclusion of foreigners and aliens, Roman Catholics
in particular, and without regard to party predilections, and
to dismiss foreigners and Roman Catholics from office
when the power io do so is possessed by those taking the
obligation. But it is to the Ritual of the Third Degree, as
here given to the world, that we particularly desire to call
the public attention and.to invite the public scrutity. The
whole country will see otr reading it, that it embodies,
whether genuine or not, the strongest and most solemn anti-
Northern abolition obligations aud the strongest and most
solemn anti-Southern secession obligations that could be
administered ‘tin the presence of Almighty God.’’
The Convention ol the Democratic Party.
This and similar captions have frequently appeared
in our columns, recently, to the no small astonishment
of many very good people who have persuaded them
selves and are anxious to convince others that all the
old political organizations are held together sofelv by
“the cohesive power of public plunder.” Tistrue that
tho bank issue is dead, that the tariff issue is almost
dead, and that new and strange issues have grown up
in their stead ; but these old issues were merely inci
dental, and if they had never been heard of, the antago
nism between the Democrat and the Federalist, the
Consolidationist and the States Rights man would have
been as bitter and as irreconcilable as they were when
these were the watchwords of political strife. In the
administration of Government, issues are constantly
arising in which the principles which underlie the
great national parties which have divided the country
from the beginning and men take sides upon them ac
cordingly as they are Democrats or Federalists. Os
this class are alt the issues that have been raised by the
Abolitionists. When it is proposed to exclude slavery
from the Territories, the Democrat consults the constitu
tion and, finding that no such power is conferred by that
instrument upon the Federal Government, is compelled,
to resist its exercise, if his practice is consistent with
his professions ; for strict construction is a fundamental
canon of the Democratic creed. On the other hand,
the Federalist enquires whether the exclusion of slavery
from the Territories will promote the general welfare,
and if lie satisfies himself that it will, he totes to exclude
it; for it is a fundamental canon of the Federal creed
that the pow er of the Federal Government is go-exten
sive with tho necessities and wants of the States and
| people. See Mr. Webster’s celebrated speeches upon
Mr. Calhoun’s resolutions.
Os a like character are the issues raised by the Know
Nothings. It is a fundamental maxim of Democratic
faith that all white men are equal and that no discrimi
nations ought to be made between them, except such as
tho general good may imperitavely demand. Hence a
Democrat cannot proscribe a class of citizens on account
of their religion, nor deny to a naturalized citizen the
elective franchise, nor make the conditions of natural*!
zation \mo onerous as to amount to a denial of the right.
So also it is a fundamental principle of the Democratic
creed that the people are the sovereign power and are
of right entitled to pass upon the merits of all office*s of
Government and all measures of policy. Hence a
Democrat never can be a Know Nothing.
It is thus evident that the Democratic party is not
and never can be dissolved except by the absoption of all
other parties. As long as there is a political party
or order or society which aims to enlarge the powers of
the Federal Government, to trample upon the reserved
rights of the States, or to curtail the priviligcs of the
citizen, or to set up another authority in the State in
place of the people, the Democratic party has work to
do and should not be abandoned. It is with unalloyed
pleasure, therefore, that wc sec these frequent calls for
Conventions of the Democratic party.
It will be a work of supererogation for these Con
ventions to reassert the position of the Democracy upon
the questions of the bank, the tariff or internal improve
ments by the Federal Government. These are res
adjudicate . But upon the slavery question in all it?
phases, it is essential that firm and decided ground
should be taken. This has never yet been done satis
factorily by our national conventions. Generalities
will do no longer. The issues, as raised on the Kansas
act and the fugitive slave law, by the abolitionists, must
be fully mot, and the true Democratic position defined
and proclaimed. So also must the issues raised by the
Knew Nothings be met and the .true Democratic posi
tion be defined and proclaimed. That position is un- j
dying hostility both lo the Abolitionists aud Know j
Nothings. Neither class, we resume, will be allowed j
to participate in Democratic Conventions unices they \
renounce their heresies and give in their adhesion to !
the Democratic platform. They are the enemies of the J
Democracy aud can only gain power by breaking down j
our organization. Their principles are at war with I
Democratic principles. If they triumph, we fall. It
is an absurdity, therefore, for a man who is a Know
Nothing to claim to be a Democrat. A W.hig Demo
crat or a Democratic Federalist is not a greater absur
dity. No man, however, ought to be excluded from
our Conventions because ho has been a Federalist, a
Whig ora Know Nothing. All who will pledge them
selves to abide by the action of the party upon the issues
now pending before the cotin My and support its nomi
nees against the world, will, we doubt not, be cordially
welcomed to our Conventions. No others, we hope, will
presume to take part ia out- deliberations. We mike
these remarks because we have heard that Know
Nothings who were once members of the Democratic
party intend to attend the County Convention of the
par;y which will take place at the Court House on
Wednesday 23d inst. We are actuated by no personal
hostility to the gentlemen referred to. Soma of them
are our personal friends, and we have mourned over
their defection from the old faith with heartfelt sorrow,
and would most gladly see them abandon the Know
Nothing party and lesume their places in the Demo
eratia party. But so 1 ng as they continue to affiliate
with the Know Nothings, the Democratic party cannot
and will not recognize them as political friends. We
speak the sentiments of all true Democrats in the
county.
On both sides of the Fence.
The Washington Union has achieved the great feat
of sitting on boih sides of the fence in its editorials upon
the troubles in Kansas. In one issue it sustains Gov
ernor Reeder, ant| iu the next apologizes for the Mis
sourians. That passage of Scripture to be found in
1 Kings, xviii ch. 17—40 v., is particularly commended
to the study of the Editor. If Reeder is right, the
Missourians arc wrong and vice versa; and if the Mis
sourians are right then tho Union is guilty of treason to
the be6t interests cf the South in attempting to white
wash a traitor, and a hypocrite.
A Sphinx at W ashingtok.— A sphinx has been re
ceived at the State Department, sent over to the Gov
ernment by Mr. DeLeon, United States Consul Gene
ral in Egypt. It is an antiquity of course, and has
the body of a linon and face of a young woman. It is
capitally cut in sand-stone, and stands about two feet
high. It is covered with hieroglyphics, and has carved
on it representations of a beetle, a bull, a scorpion, dogs,
a crocodile, faces, and other figures.
The State Road.—We find in the Empire State
a communication from Maj. Cooper, Superintendent of
the Western and Atlantic Railroad, giving a very full
and satisfactory exposition of the management of the
, State Road during the present year. We are fully
s satisfied that his management has been eminently suc
cessful, and that mesi, if not all the complaints that
’ b&vß been wade agsinet-hira are utterly unfounded.
Meeting oi the Democratic Party of Muscogee*
A j...ion of the Democratio party of Muscogee
county assembled in the Court House, in pursnar.ee of
previous notice, at 12 o'clock M., on Wednesday 23d
inat. Hon. Martin J. Crawford was called to the chair
and J. A. Fox, Esq., appointed Secretary.
lion. Alfred Iverson offered the following resolu
tions ;
Resolved, That we, a portion of the Democratic par
ty of Muscogee County, now assembled agreeably to pub
lic notice, approve and sanction the Democratic Conven
tions proposed to be assembled at Miliedgeville and
Am ricus ; and that we will appoint the usual number
of Delegates to those Conventions.
j ßesolved, That the Cna rman appoint a commiitee of
0 to present the names of delegates to the respective
Conventions and to sclent such other m ttter for the con
sideration of the meeting as they may deem advisable.
John A. Jones Esq., offered a preamble and resolu
tions ns a substitute, which were sustained by Maj.
John H. Howard and Wiley Williams Esq. lion. Al
fred Iverson then raised a point of order as to whether
a Know Nothing should b allowed to take part in a
Democratic meeting. Mr. Jones insisted that he was
a Deimcrat and claimed as a right all tho privileges
that attached to him as such but refused to deny that
he was a Know Nothing. Pending the discussion of
this point of order Mr. Jones called upon all persons
who favored his resolutions to withdraw from the Con- ’
vention and walked out followed by 6ome Democrats
and several Whigs.
The resolutions offered by lion. Alfred Iverson were ;
then taken up and unanimously adopted. The oom- j
mittee consisted of Messrs. Alfred Iverson, Marshall J.
Wellborn, S. A. Billing, David J. Barber, John 11. ‘
Howard, James Hamilton, P, H. Colquitt, Porter J
Ingram and T. Lomax.
After an absence of a brief space the Committee :
returned and reported the following
RESOLUTIONS *.
1. Resolved, That we sympathize with the friends of the j
slavery cause in Kansas, in their manly efforts to maintain !
their rights and the rights and interests of the Southern |
people, and that we rejoice at their recent victories over I
the paid adventurers and Jesuitical hords of northern aboli
tionism.
2. Resolved, That the deep interest felt and taken by the |
people of Missouri in the settlement of Kansas and the
decision of the slavery question in it, is both natural and
proper, and that it is their right and duty to extend to their
Southern brethren in that Territory every legitimate and j
honorable sympa hy and support.
3 Resolved, Thaifwe claim for the citizens of the South- j
ern States the right to emigrate to Kansas with theirslave j
property, and to have it protected by law; that we claim I
for the people of that territory, as well as others, the right
to establish slavery ii they choose; we claim for our breth
ren in Kansas an “open field” and Hair fight” in the impor
tant and exciting struggle before them, and wo deprecate
and denounce any official inlet ference, either directly or in
directly,come from what quarter it may, which may be
calculated or intended to defeat these rights, or to give
‘ face and form” to their political institutions.
4. Resolved, That the people of Kansas have tho right,
when the number of their population justific? it, to form a
Republican State Constitution with or without slavery a?
they may determine, and be admitted info the Union upon I
equal footing with the other States, and that her rejection
by Congress on account of riavery, would be aju.-t cause i
for the‘disruption’ of ail the ties that bind the Southern I
Slates to the Union.
5. Resolved, That we approve and endorse the action j
of the last Congress in tho pa-sage of the Nebraska Dili, i
and the principles thereby PHtabiished, and we demand that !
they be carried out in good faith‘in the future legislation of j
the country.
6 Resolved, That those Northetn men who have
fought the battles of the South on the Nebraska-Kansas j
act are entitled to and shall receive our most cordial sym- j
pathy and support, and as long as they continue to defend
the rights of the South under the Constitution are worthy ]
of party affiliation with the Southern people.
7. Resolved. That whilst we are willing to act in party
association with all sound and reliable men in every sec- j
tion of tho Union, wo are not willing to affiliate with any i
j party at the north or elsewhere that shall not recognize, !
approve and carry out in good faith, the principles and pro- j
visions of the Nebraska B il, and that the Democratic par ,
ty of the South ought to cut off all party connexion with |
every man at the North who doe? not come up fairly and j
fully to this line of political sentiment and action
8. Resolved, That the 4ih Rosolutti n *of the 4 Georgia j
Platform” of December 1850, ought to be firmly maintain- !
ed by tho whole South, an i that we Recommend the |
Convention at Milledgcville to re affirm it, and make it
the fundamental basis and guide of Democratic action in
all future contests between the North and South in which
the institution of slavery may be involved.
2. Resolved, That we consider the union of tho South
upon the foregoing platform, essential to the safety of the
South,and the perpituity of a constitutional union of these j
States, and we recommend to the Convention iffiout to as- ;
semble at Miliedgeville, to consider this subject, and adopt !
the most effectual means to attain this important object,and
unite all good and true men iu such a political and party as- I
sociatton as will secure the supremacy of tho constitution, i
the rights of every section under ir, and the administration j
of the government upon true. Republican principles.
10. Resolved,That the repeated alleged insults to our j
flag and outrages upon our citizens by the Spanish author- I
ities of Cuba, demand the most prompt and energetic at* j
tentionand action of our government, and if found to be I
true, nothing less than full indemnity tor the past and i
ample security for the future,should restrain it from a re- j
sort to extreme measures of punishment and redress.
11. Resolved, That we are decidedly opposed to the ae- j
cret political organization, commonly called the “Know I
Nothing” order, or “American Party,” which is now at”
tempting to control the politics of the country and usurp
the government. Wo are opposed to it Ist. Because of the
secret character of its proceedings 2d. Because it impo
ses upon its member?, by solemn oaths, a blind obedience
to the dictates of others in their social and political rela
enjoins upon its members the denial
of the truth—inculcates and promotes insincerity and du
plicity, and stifles the bold.open, manly conduct and con
versation which characterizes the man of honor and the
freeman. 4th. Because it builds up and diffuses through
society an organized band ol secret spies, to watch the con
duct and catch the words of the unsuspecting to be report* j
ed to their secret midnight councils, and made the founda- 1
tion of persona! and political proscription and persecution, i
sth. Because! it makes religion a test “of qualification for ‘
office, thereby violating the Constitution, engendering ill- j
will amongst religious socte, and leading to personal strifes |
and the shedding of'human blood. 6th. Because it closes /
the door ot all political right3 and preferment to foreigners |
of every grade and character, and strikes at the privilege of
emigration, thereby condemning the sentiments and policy J
J of the Founders of the Republic, and reversing the uniform
action* of tho Democratic Party, in holding out to
! the world that “America is tho asylum for the oppressed ot
| all nations.’, 7th. Because it unites Southern men in filial
i party bonds and political organization, with tho worst ele
ments of Northern fanaticism—subjects the Southern lodg-
I 63t0 the controlling numerical strength and power of the j
j Northern associations, and forces them to yield obedience j
or support to the dangerous, destructive, and disgraceful i
j movements of Northern abolitionism. Bth. Because it j
pledges its members, by solemn oaths, to a blind allegiance j
| to tho Union, and makes that sentiment an object para- \
mount to all other obligations, and forbids in spirit, it not j
in terms, any resistance to Northern aggression or uncon- j
stiiuiional oppression. 9th. Because, in short, its organic j
zation and mode of proceeding—its aims and objects—its j
from and spirit, are subversive of those great principles of
civil and religious liberty which have ever been, and we
trust will ever continue to be, the pride and boast of the
American people.
12. Resolved, That we consider it the duty of every pas
triot, who reveres the Constitution and the Union: of every
citizen, who love? the peace, good order and dignity of so
ciety: of every Christian, who advocates the liberty of
conscience ana of religious worship; of every true .South
ern man, who is determined to maintain to the last extrem
ity. the jut and equal rights of the South under the Con
stitution, to unite iu the overthrow of this mischievous and
dangerous party
13. Resolved,That we repectfully but earnestly urge our
brother Democrats, who liave joined this secret order, to
reconsider their steps and withdraw from an association,
which contains the element? of to much mischief and dan
ger,and which, il it triumphs at ail, must triumph over that
iiine-honored party with which they have been so long
and intimately connected, and over their >ld friends with
whom they have stood shoulder to shoulder in so many
hard-fought fields of political warfare.
14 Resolved, That without reie'ence to old party di
visions, we are willing to affiliate in party association,with
all men who will take position upon the principles and the
platform embraced in the foregoing resolutions, and ie
speclfully invite their co-operation.
Maj. John 11. Howard gave notice of a minority
report and of a motion to utnke out the 1 ith Resolution.
He was not, he said, a Know Nothing. They were
wrong he knew in their proscription of Catholics, but
he believed this was a mere bait to catch the Protest
ant clergy, as most of the Know Nothings of his ac
quaintance had no religion at all. But he had no
fear of this organization. The members of it
in the South could be counted ort in the struggle with
Northt-rn Abolition and it was bid policy to insult men
whose aid we needed. He had no objections to the res
olutions reported by the Committee, they were all good
and true and Southern,except tho 1 Ith.lf passed by the
people and not by a party they were good enough.ln the
present crisis of aflairs, we mast cut loose from all par-*
ty assciatian and unite with all our Southern brethren
ia defense of the South ; and he had, therefore, sup
ported the resolutions of Mr. Johu A Jones in the first
instance, and now offered them as £ substitute for the
resolutions reported by the majority of tho Committee.
He did not believe effectual resistance could be offered
to Northern aggression as long as opposing parties
existed in the South, though he believed Democratic
principles must control the policy of the convention
his resolutions proposed to assemble.
* 4th Resolution—Georgia Platform:
That tho State of Georgia,in the judgment of this Con* j
vention, will and oughtto resist, even (as a last resort) to a
disruption ol every tie which binds her to the Union, any
action of Congress upon the Bubject oi Slavery
in the District of Columbia, or in places subject to
the jurisdiction of Congress, incompatible with the safety,
domestic tranquility, the rights and honor of the siavehoid
ing States; or 4 nny act suppressing the slave trade between
the slaveholding States; or any refusal to admit a<ra
State any territory hereafter applying, because of the exis
tence', of slavery therein; or any act prohibiting the in
troduction ol slaves into the territories of Utah and New
Mexico; .or any act repealing or materially modifying
the liwi m forw for lh recovery gs iugifiv® sfeveo.
Hon. Marshall J. Wellborn in reply to Maj. Howard
argued that it was our duty and policy to take issue
with this secret organization which, under cover of
plausible pretexts was in effect aiming a blow at a fun
damental principle of human rights, the freedom of
conscience. Indeed, it had been suffered to go unas
sailed already too long. He deemed it the best mode tc
dissect it, and plainly expose its false and dangerous
nature, as had been done in the bold and masterly lan
guage oi the Chrirman of the Commiitee, who repor
ted the resolutions, (Hon. Alfred Iverson.) It was con
ceded by the gentleman, (Maj. Howard,) that the prin
cMes of the Know Nothings, so far as they make re
ligious opinion the test of qualification for office, were
wroQf*, and the gentleman regards that tenet of their
creed as deceitfully thrown out to gather strength. If
this were so, were we at liberty to withhold our denun
ciation of it ? For his own part, however, he did not
doubt there were many true and fair minded men of both
political parties, Whigs and Democrats, who had joined
without a full and careful investigation of its nature and
tendency. Many of these on reflection would reeedo
fiom it, the Deincrats resuming their places in our
ranks, as invited by* the Resolutions to do, while it
was our privilege to hope, that many Whigs, preferring
correct principles to party alliance, would join ns, and j
thus repay the loss we shall finally sustain from our I
present number by the Order.
I lion. Alfred Iverson then took the floor and in a very
j able address sustained the Report of the Committee. j
He was opposed to tho formation of a strictly Southern j
j Party as it would result in tho formation of an oppo- j
! sing Party in the Northern States and aa the North had
’ a majority in Congress and in the Electoral College,
; such a movement on our part would result in the inev?
I itablo defeat of the South. We had tried the policy re
| commended, in 1850, and the result was our total and
j ignominious defeat, and such would be tho result of
| similar action to-day. The Democratic party Vas the
j party of the Constitution, and the only reason why it
| had i:ot achieved a complete victory over fanaticism was
j that our Northern friends were not supported with
| unanimity at ‘he South. There was no such objection
to the Democratio party as tho gentleman supposed.
| The Whig party was disbanded, and he was in posses
| sion of assurances from the leading Whigs of Georgia j
j that they would affiliate with the Democracyif they were
| placed upon such a platform as that erected in the re- !
! port of the majority of the committee, and he did not
question but that every man who really was in earnest
in his purpose to defend the South would co-operate
with us, and that a great National party would be form
ed true to the constitution and jealous of the rights of
every section.
The Know Nothings were a distinct political organi
zation. They were arrayed in hcatiiity to the Demo
sratic party in Virginia and Tennessee. In the North,
! a similar spectacle was presented. There is no oth
i er party that is waging war upon the them except the
| Democratic. Disband that and where will the people
igo ? Into the Councils of the Know Nothings of course,
i Thera was nowhere else for them to go. In the North
i ern States the Order ia in league with fanaticism. In
| June next there will be a Grand Council of the Order,
| and John A. Jones and Wiley Williams and other
j Democratic Know Nothings will meet in secret conclave
| -with Gardner and Wilson and Sumner, aud other of
I the most infamous Abolitionists in the land. Such as
! sociations were ominous of evil to the South. Party
! associations are the most difficult of all others to break,
| and the most powerful in the formation of opinion. lie
I instanced tho fact that the States Rights party of Geor
j gia, had by associating in 1840with the Whigs, renoun*
eed all their old principles aud given their support for
I years to the American system. So it would prove
! with the Southern Know Nothings. By the third de
j gree of the Order they are sworn to support the Union
under all circumstances. If the Northern Lodges were
to abolish slavery, the Southern Know Nothings would
be bound by the oaths of the third degree to adhere to
the Union. There is no safety to the South, but in the
overthrow of the Order.
On motion of A. Ivereon the report of tho majority
! of the Committee was received,
! Maj. John If. Howard moved to strike out tho 11th
| Resolution, which was lost, only 1 vote being cast iu the
j affirmative. lie then moved to substitute tho folliow*
j ing resolutions reported by a minority of the Cornmit-
I 66 :
RETORT OF THE MINORITY OF THE COMMITTEE.
Whereas, tho history of the past has convinced ps, that we
j whose interest and affection attach us to the South, have
nothing to hope, but every thing to fear at the hands of the
j political organizations of the non-slaveholding States, from
the spirit ot Abolitionism which pervades and controls all
of them: And whereas, the action oi these Stales upon the
question of slavery conclusively shows that a large majori
ty of the people thereof are actuated btf one common sen
timent of hostility to the institutions of the South: And
whereas, the gallant band of Patriots within those Stales
who are friends to the South are faithful to the Constitution,
and who we remernbcY with gratitude, have been routed*,
disbanded and almost annihilated, wc believe the exigency
imperatively requires us to bo one people and ope party.
Be it therefore Resolved, That the time has arrived when
the differences which haev divided our fellow citizens should
j be forgotten, and a common enemy, and a common danger
j unite us for the common safety.
2. Be it further Resolved, T hat to attain this end, the
j delegates appointed at this meeting to the Convention to be
j held at Milieageville, on the clay of June next, be,
and they are hereby, instructed to make no nomination for
Governor at that Convention, but to advocate tho publics- j
tion by the Convention of a call upon the people of the ,
• State, without distinction of party, whether Democrats, i
; Whigs,Know Nothings, Temperance men, and the op- j
tv cents of f all, to send delegates io a convention to be j
held at a place and.time therein named, for the purpose or :
nominating a Governor, and unfurling a banner under I
whoflS folds ail Southern men may array themselves. I
The vote was taken upon Maj. Howard’s substitute,
which was lost—only one vote being oast for it. i
j A. Iverson then moved the adoption of the report of the
i majority of the Committee which was unanimously adop- ,
| ted.
The following delegates were apppointed to attend .
| the Gubernatorial Convention : Messrs. J. F. Boze
| man, Porter Ingram, James Hamilton, John B. Dozier i
! and Geo. J. Pitts,
The following delegates were appointed delegates to
tho Congressional Convention—-Second District, —
Messrs. A. J. Robison, B. V. Iverson, J. B. I licks,
Martin J. Crawford, and M. J. Wellborn.
On motion cf P. fl. Colquitt, the meeting adjourned.
Martin J. Crawtord, President.
J. A. Fox, Seo’y.
Democratic Nomination. —The Democratic Con*
vention, which assembled at Forsyth, a few days ago,
nominated J. M. Smith, E*q., of Upson county, on the
17th balloting, as tho Democratio candidate for Con
gress from the third district. Mr. Smith is a rising
young lawyer of respectable talents.
Mr. Smith, we learn, U a self made man, having
spent his youth in the field and black smith shop, and
acquired his position by his unaided efforts It is the
boast of Democracy that it honors such men.
Know Nothing Liberality.— -The Savannah Re
publican , a Know Nothing paper, discourages its party
from opposing the re-election of A. 11, Stephens and
Howell Cobb to Congress. “The welfare,” says th*:
Republican , “not of Georgia alone, nor of the South,
but of the whole Uuion requires the return of these
men to Congress.” If this policy is adopted the bud
ding ambition of many young “Samivels” in the 6th
and Bth districts will be blighted by an untimely frost.
Mr. Toombs’ Letiee. —We learn that Mr, Toombs’
letter on the subject oi Know Nothmgism was mailed to us
at Miliedgeville, some time last week. We regret to add
that it has never come to hand. The whole country is
looking for its appearance with intense anxiety. We hope
Mr. Toombs will pick his flint and try it again.
Burke County. —At a meeting of the Democracy of
Burke county, Messrs. Sapp, Jones, Schley, Anthony
and Hutchins were appointed Delegates io the Guber
natorial Convention. The following resolution was un
animously adopted ;
Resolved , That we deem it inexpedient for tho
Democrats ox the Bth Congressional District to nomi
nate a candidate for Congress at tho ensuing election,
and that we believe it to be tliei? duty to support, with
out regard io former party relations, some candidate
who is openly and avowedly hostile to the order of
Know Nothings—an order sot less dangerous to the
peace and stability of our institutions than abolitionism
itself.
J. C. Br2ckenridge’s Successor.— The dcmocrooy
in the Legington district, Kentucky, represented ia the
two last congresses by J. C. Breckenridge, and former
ly by Henry Clay, have nominated as their candiate at
the next election L, B. Dickerson of Scott county.
Local News.
Clothing.—The fashions for the summer are much
more to cur taste than they have been for several years
past. The flowing skirts relieve tall gentlemen from
the picked ai? they wore for two years past.—
No man can avoid the reproach of wearing old clothes
who does not order anew supply for the season. To
such persons as desire to make a good and fashionable
appearance this season, at the fashionable summer re
sorts, we would suggest the propriety of consulting tho
advertisements of J. 11. Daniel fc Thomas, and of I.
A. Bhokaw & Cos. Both firms have a large supply of
elegant goods of all descriptions and have iu their em
ploy Tailors who can fit you to a T.
Summer Resorts.—Our old friends, R. T. Marks,
of the White Sulphur Springs, and James Wooten, of
the Chaylebeate Springs, again solicit the public atten
tion to the superior claims of their watering places as
surKrner resort for the Southern people. The first step
iu the formation of a Southern party, now so popular
with most of our citizens, is to cut off all social and
commercial dependence on tlia North, and as example
ia better than precept, wo expect to find all our red hot
patriots in the mountains of Meriwether, this summer,
invalids had, therefore, better secure rooms at once, &e
j tho hotels will, in ali probability, be crowded. We feel
1 free to promise all who cal! at cither watering place a :
j most hospitable entertainment.
S Auction Sale of Negroes. Messrs. Harrison, j
i Austin & McGehte will sell iu front of the Market j
| House on the first Tuesday in June, several likely house !
servants. See advertisement for further particulars. j
Know Notbfngism is* tho Sec?H!l District. ;
We have reliable information that there is scarcely *
a handful of Know Nothings io Baker county. This is j
what we anticipated from the good and true men of the {
banner county in the second district. The same au- >
thorny informs us that though a few Democrats in tho |
adjoining counties to Baker have been wheedled into ;
the council chambers of the Know Nothings, they are
gradually withdrawing, and that by the first Monday
in October they will nearly all come back to their old
friends and time honored principles. Our advices from {
l Decatur are also cheering. Will our friends in the
’ other counties composing the district keep os posted as
!to the state and condition of parties? We are sorry
j to say that the secret order has gained a strong foot
hold in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties. The
friends of correct principles are determined to fight to
j the death, and by the co-operation of ?oand men from
j the ranks of tho Whig party and the aid of returning
i prodigals we do not despair of victory. Let our friends
in the lower counties keep a steady front to the foe.—
i Ilis lines are wavering and we look for the desertion of
| whole squadrons in June when the conglomeration of
the debris of the old parties meet in Philadelphia to
form a national platform for the American Jacobins.—
If the Southern Democracy are true to the constitution,
I* true to the South and true to each other, there is no
danger from the secrect machinations of their secret
foes.
War among the Churches.
Tanteene animis coelistibus iras 7
Some time since an article appeared in the South
j Western Baptist, a religious paper published in Tus
; kegee, Ala., extracted from the Western Watchman ,
j charging the Methodist Episcopal Church with being
j inimical to Republican Government. The Methodists
| in the immediate vicinity felt grieved and intuited and
! through their Pastor. Rev. E. J. liumil, addressed a
J letter to Rev. Samuel Henderson, the Editor of the
i Baptist , complaining of the injustice don© to a large
| body of American Christians and seeking a disclaimer
i of the offensive charges extracted into his paper from
i the Watchman. Instead of the amende honorable , tho
’ Baptist Editor reaffirmed boldly the most objectionable
charges contained in the former article. This has
! aroused ths ire of the Rev. F. G. Ferguson, of the Ala
bama Conference, who in au article in a late number
j of the New Orleans Christian Advocate carries the
| war into Africa and ‘ boldly’’ charges that the Baptist
I Church is inimical to all government and has none of
| its own, and threatens, if the war is continued by his
Baptist brethren to giva them “one long, ioud, general
j thrashing.”
We take no part, of coarse, in the controversy. We j
j v-rlievo there always will be mure sinners in the world |
| than Christians of ai! creeds, sects and persuasions, and
i apprehend no danger to the public liberties from any
| of them, except that in their sectarian seal they will
forget to preach the gospel, ard that their clergy in-
I Blend of being pastors of the flock, will become ravening
j wolves. This controversy is another of the evils that
i have sprung from the senseless mummery of Know
j Notliingisin.
Trial oi the tnnnison Murderers— Xortnans Suspected
of Foul Flay.
WjtsHlttuTOS, May 81,1855.
All the facts and circumstances connected with the trial
j of the Indians charged with the murder oi Capt. Gunnison i
! and his party are now in the possession of the President of
■ the United States, and I leam that he not only attributor
: the escape of the murderers to Mormon intrigue, but suspects
the Mormons themselves of teing concerned in tho horrible
f massacre. This is the conclusion which wiil he arrived at
j from the official reports mado, and the result wil! be a very
positive Course towards tho “Latter Day Saints.” What
that course will be I have not exactly learned, but I under
! stand that immediate steps will be taken to prostrate t'.ie ia
i iiuence and power of Brigham Young, and to come to an I
; issue at once wiih these people.- This same thing has had i
j to be done bafote. Illinoie found it necessary to resort to j
: cho military arm of the State to lop off excrescences; and j
Missouri, too, drove the Mormons from her borders at the |
point of the bayonet. The issue with the people has to be j
; met, and die sooner the better for ail parties.
I Dead Heap Congressmin ooi.vo to Ecrofe.—A i
; Bidghampton paper says that the extraordinary end- t
i grntiou of Congressmen by the Collins steamer wil! sur
) prise no one who is aware that every oue of them voted !
for the Collins’ appropriation in the last Congreia.— j
‘ The implication, of course, is that they ara provided |
: with free tickets.
Capt. Ilcnry Coppee, Ist Artillery, Assistant Pro
; feasor of Ethics at the U. S. Military Academy, having
i accepted the appointment ot Froi'esaor of English Lite
| rature ai the University of Pennsylvania, vice Professor
) Henry Ueed, k>Bt in the Arctic, has tendered the resig
nation of his commission in the U. S Army.
j Third Congressional DisTaior.—We learn that
lion.” David J. Bailey was defeated in the District
| Convention which recently assembled in Forsyth, and
| that Mr. Smith, of Upson, was chosen, after several
| baiints, cs the candidate of tho Democratio parly for
j Congress. *
I Me. Buchanan —Letters have been received from Mr.
| Buchanan, in which he siys he shall leave his mission
about ihe last of Si ntember, and travel in Europe for some
imo before returning to the United States.
The Case of Colonel Kinney.
Philadelphia, May 21.
1 The cave of Col. Kinney came up before Judge Kane
| this morning. Mr. Dallas, his counsel, argued for a re
d Action'hf bail, and demanded a speedy iriat. He also
read a number of ;.flad|ivils —one, that of the owntr of
the steamer, which states that there was no armament
nor powder on board,nnd that the intended expedition was
for colonizing only ; also, stating that the steamer had
been ready for sea since; the 7th inst., and that the delay
renders t el. K. liable for $1,200 a day demurrage. Mr.
Dallas als ‘submitted an account of the hearing in New
Yo> k, and closed by repealing the demand lor an early
; trials!
Mr. Vandyke, the District Attorney, stated his inabil
ity to bring up tile case before two weeks, on account of
tho absence of the witnesses. Mr. Dallas said that the
delay would tie fata! to the expedition, and it might as
well be delayed two months as two weeks. After fur
ihsr conversation, the case was postponed until the next
term, two weeks hence, with the understanding that the j
sailing of tfle expedition need not bo delayed. The de
fendant renewed his bail in the same amount as previously
given.
Heavy Damages—Norwalk Bridge Catastrophe.
Boston, May 21.
Tile jury in the case of Dr. Browne against the New
Haven Railroad Company, have returned a verdict for
the plaintiff, assessing the damages in $ Id.ooo. Dr.
Browne was injured at Norwalk and sued for $20,000.
Humored Revolution on the Bio Grande.
New Orleans, May 21.
A revolution, it is reported, has broken out on the Rio
Grande, Mexico, and fifteen hundred men, headed by
Carvajal and others, had oroeaod the river.
For tho Times & Sintinei.
CoLC.uiiUs, May 26, 1855.
Gentlemen : —My attention has been called to that por
tion of your report of mv remarks made at the meeting on
Wednesday last, in which the names of Mr. John A. Jo. - -,
Wiley Williams and other Southern Democratic Know
Nothings were spoken of as associated with certain oi r. x~
ious Northern Abolitionists, in tha contemplate i Na ional
Convention,at Philadelphia, of tlie Know Noli,a g party if
tho United States. Understanding that an ii per
etruclion has been put upon the remarks made by me, i tai ■
the earliest occasion to say,that ! had no inL-nth.n to as
sert or intimate that these gentlemen were delegrtos to that
Convention—l have no knowledge or information as to
who are the delegates from Georgia or any other S’, a
that Convention.
The language and object of my remark w -inn !y to
show and dcpricate the vivty association into which Sooth*
ern Know Nothings would be brought with Northern Abo
litionists in that Convention by being r- pr ••.□ted in ir. 1
mentioned the names of the gentlemen ; :>d to. au ~
they had that day taken an active pirt in t! m, and
were generally recognized as members ofth-. Know Nothing
order in this city. No remark that I ifi. de on the or or
alluded to, wae intended tpeast any personal r k . r
imputations upon those gentlemen or any other pc: m.
Respectfully,
ALFRED IVERSON.
j Editors Times Sc Sentmol.
COMMUNICATED.
| lam surprised to find that the ‘‘Blind Team** called
I Know Nothings, make the expulsion of Catb.oii.-~ ir po.
I litical predicate in Georgia and Alabama, whore there -arc
I no Catholics, and dodge the same predic t in Louidana
j and California, where there are many Catholics Jn the
fanatical Free States, opposition to slavery is their ere-: i.
| and in the South slavery n their great darling. Can it \<?
| possible that this blind bridle can be put on tiu- Southeru
people? What is their conjectural strength in the ri-mh I
In haste, feYM.
From Washington.
Interesting Despatches from Spain —Lord Fainter•
ston’s views oa Cuba—The Virginia Election.
Washington, May 2*2.
Tho last steamer from Europe has brought incress-,
ed troubles to the government. Mr. Perry’t dsp
ee to the department represent repeated
the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the final samiffing
up is that Her Catholic Majesty’s government Yinft j
embarrassed a condition from her ink : ff. afifors, th *
further action on the demands cf tho l a ud S; : -
impossible for the present. The iujurous consequen t .
likely to follow this course of action was tip., iff/ • i
distinctly set forth by our acting Minister, hv.i without
effect, the invariable answer being that
tho United States, at this moment, w. • -.1 drive : m
power the Queen’s present adviser* who fov.. and -a a
redress called for by the United State -, ait : :aS I V-. a
government in its stead opposed to libera! principles a:
to the granting cf the smallest demand now cfo-. .and by
the Americatfogovvrunicnt. The tffiikmvni. m : -h i
some months since by the t nion, of a‘i ; and nd aaifefoe
tory settlement of the. Black Warrior i uvr, receive-’ i:s
contradiction by the lust arrival, aud ur and par. -
now informed that time will bo ; uuired ‘ • give th
ter a further consideration. The Ei Dorado a.;:-.;-
particulars of which the Madrid smvornin nt s h
months since acknowledg and receipt oi, ha ;dn t- :
referred, for fnither action and informatit , t; ti o
government of Cuba ; and the answer to S eretary
Marcy Vletter concerning the outrage upon our -s •!,
Mr. Thompson, is a cool promise that it wiil nice', v.'-.'.h
doe attention in its turn, aud that justice • foti! U: b -ti.
Tho exact wording of the despatches rveci•• \l. Id- v/.*,
prtend to give, but the accuracy of their me a*'ing
be found in the above. The effect up >n Secretary
Marcy,after their perusal, was sufficient iu c. :‘a rath
er violent departure of the papers from h ! -
the desk before him, accompanied with the xgstiff- nt
expression from him of—“ The tiama-iti so- Is,” stir.tifog
to the Spanish ministry.
Leaving Spain, a similar sy&tem of diplomacy
1 to prevail in her Cuban eoleny—Arnc-i lu ;i rctis
j ted, redress refused, and fresh oulray.:* form at dai-y
j committed upon American citizens and tho Amtr■ iu
| flag j and our government here, •!’ m ‘ ; ’ving r-j
almost innumerable wrongs an approval, its v < >ti
and weak policy is all that treacherous Spain requires
for a continuance of her present policy wiv tlu- Utiti ■
States. It id, however, possible lb at. c-ur . :--:unt
has, within a day or two past, deurmiii-4 up *r*a move
definite course of action towards Cuba. • *.r Navy
and War Departments arc more than usually b-M-y, ..nd
very large numbers of staval offers arriv-: -] fokiv
town from order:; received to report themselves at head
quarters without delay. Mr. Dobbin. I k-arn, was tel -
egraphed by the President his: •: , t • r ‘ immedi
ately, and Mr. Guthrie, it is pr-.-hubfo, b r- ati.u,.iy arri
ved, he being expected to-day. The yff?i - m
- j te’iigeuee received from Mr. Buchanr.fi. L ffo -
merston has strongly apserU-d ti ■.* t.% , the inten
tion of her Majesty's governmvLfc ic, ir-r- r:Vr?. in the
kaet with United States in the nettlc:n<.-E. ; , of L-: affi id’
with Spain, and warmly eonio < tJm “'jati- J • sa l
forbearing policy that has thus far character':/.; ! lbs
relations of the United States with Spain.”
Betting to-day fe largely in favor of \Vbis auc
tion i regarded as certain.—iV. V. Herald
Hon. A, K. Colquitt.
! TheC •
j that Mr. Colquitt feelrf himself obliged to decline a re-noaii
! nation by his party. We have for some time pas? i*. Girded
. &a and t
j in the way of his occupying the po-t. the pu.ity so much <ie-
I sired him to accept, wc have c one erred With our iVknd in
1 the propriety of the course ho has determined upon. M :
j Colquitt retires from active political service, r- v. r bavins
| cured as large a share of public ooiiiidcrico ami rt-o; a
j any man of his. age who ever served his State. In tin* first
j place, he evinced a tact,an industry and ability, in h;s hr-.
I canvass, that took the country by ’ surprise, and we beifeve
j we only repeat tho universal opinio-’ ot lower Georgia,
when we say that tne happy result* of our State eLcti-; : iu
J 1853, were, in 2 very eminent degree, altrihutuble to the
[efforts of Maj. Colquitt in tho 2d Con,r. srional />i ■ ic:.
His party, and his friends ofaii parti ::-, nr. abundantly >
fied with his stewardship while upon duty a* ; re; o - illa
tive of the State, ar.d while wo offer him our cor Jti-i
sympathy and condolence under hi? op| re-siw bcivaveiriei.?:,
we feel bound to say, that nothing but a strong sono<-
rained by his constituency of h s rcjit to the s.-o.ivd retire
ment to his home under present circumstances, induce* them
to relinquish their . hum upon him, especially at th:s itinc.—
Atlanta Intelligencer.
Ati Alliance—Offensive and Defensive.
A writer over the signature of “Anti Jacobin/* in ‘
Constitutionalist &. Republic, of Saturday lat the ri
ot an excellent article on the evil tim. -j upon which we
have fal'en, remarks as follow.^:
“A responsible duty rests upon th Democratic party of
this Slate. They should see to ic that Mr. Smphen*? h~: -e
----turned to Congress. ‘J he: e are no better Democratic prin
ciple-* than those contained in hri late l- tier. A series
question arises for the democratic pany to co- h rir Let
them look at it in all its bearing-, between the present time
and the sth day of June. On that day, lit tho !_> ■
party take tuch action as wil! seal a treaty f ath-mce, i
-and defensive, between it and tiff -rs. :-vpli ns and
Toombs, and the thousand of lion : Whff wh •
with them, against the secret order, which -vks to hold
iis midnight orgies in the State of ‘ti- v ; - -
Nullification in Massachusetts— It w'-'i be seen.by
a telegraphic message published ci-e-Ahere, that the Le
gislature of Massachusetts, having pas.-ed the “P. rsonal
L'berty bitl” and sent it to tho G v nor 1- v fegi.a j .
received it back yesterday vet ’ .1 : nd irnn.cdian ly, as
we expected, pasted it over the Governor's head hy ihe
requisite majority. This place.: jM:-s>;ehu*eiL< a: oikv ia
the foremost of the nullifying St.-*’ s. The hi!!—-or rmh< r
the net, for it is an act now—tvtr.pl-: !y imi iff ?. ti r .gi
tive Slavo law within the State of \ia . tiu-ettc', : :
a question which may place the Union in 1 - . . In
deed, should it remain on the statute b<>ok ri’ M -.v-hii.
setts, it seem® difficult to comprehend how Si.mherr*
States can continue to allow hti eii'z •• 1 use oi
their laws to protect their property. S-> for ;;s South*-? nr
slave owners are concerned, the pet :: :! fib.-rty few
amounte to a legalization of robff .y ; * n.; i y w un
just to the South as a Virginia law which ’.hit v. insur
mountable obstacles in the wav -*f the offu, w ?-• oiN-.rtii
*trn debts in that State— \ r . >. // raid ,
From Massachusetts.—The New Liquor Law—Prfpss
ed Meeting of Liquor Dealers, Etc.
Boston, May 10, 1655.
The new liquor law will go into t fleet to- mi*rtow. —
During yesterday and to-day the unusual activity of the
wholesale and retail trade in dosittitching.den-.ij* hns Mid
mysterious packages to all parts of the city and suburbs,
wiil probably prevent r serious liquor famine for a few
days. On Monday next the liquor dealers wiil hold a pub
lic meeting at Faneuil Hall.
The Legislature adjourned over to Monday, this after
noon, when they will probably adjourn sine die.
The Governor has not yet signed the Rersonal L'berfy*
bill—a nullification document—and the members threaten
to remain until he docs.
The weather this oveaffg is cloudy, Indicating r tin,