Newspaper Page Text
Cin its n5) Sentinel.
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA.”
TUESDAY MORNING, JUNE 5, 1855.
Congressional Convention, 2d District.
We suggest that the Democratic Congressional Conven
tioafor the Second District be held at Americus, on Wed-*
nesday, 11th July next. The Supreme Court will be in
session at that time in Arnericus. What say our Demo
eratic coteniporariea to this suggestion ? The time and
place ought to be agreed upon at once. wtwtd.
The Columbus Enquirer and the Democracy.
We are astonished to find the following paragraph
in the weekly Enquirer of the 29th inst., in an article
head Muscogee Democratic Contention :
The proceedings are represented as not having been
characterized by the usual Democratic unity and harmony,
there not being by any means a unanimous concurrence
upon the point of sustaining the National Administration.
Our readers will be surprised to learn that no refe
rence was made to the National Administration by
any one in the meeting and that all the resolutions
touching national questions were unanimously adopted.
Again the Enquirer says:
We understand a series of Resolutions were finally pars
ed, sustaining Genera! Pierce and his Administration, de
nouncing the Ksb.v Nothings, and adopting the 4th Res
olution of the Georgia Platform.
Will the Enquirer be good enough to point to the
resolution “sustaining Gen. Pierce and his administra
tion ?” There is no such resolution in the series.
We coll the attention of the public to these inacura
cies of the Enquirer in order that they may be on their
guard wlten th<y read that sheet. There arc many
things in President Pierce’s administration which the
Democracy approve. lie has confided in Southern
Statesmen and filled nearly all of his chief appointments
with Southern men. His vetoes of the French Spulia*
tion bill and of other corrupt appropriation bills are es
pecially pleasing to the Southern Democracy. The
Nebraska-Kansas act never could have been passed
without his active support. But he has uot conducted
our negotiations with Spain with energy; nor is his po
litic)!! towards Reeder well defined. Until farther light
is thrown upon these subjects, the Southern Democra -
cy are not prepared to sustain all the measures of Gen.
Pierce’s administration and therefore passed no resolu
tion on the subject.
In commenting upon the rejection of the report of the
minority of the committee (and it is well enough here
to state that that minority consisted of Maj. John 11.
Howard and Dr. S. A. Billing) the Enquirer indulges
in the following strain of lamentation :
This substitute, proposing to dissolve all connection be
tween Northern and Southern democracy, was voted
down unanimously , after the withdrawal otMr. Jones and
the friends of the measure proposed by him.
Thus it appears that the persons present at the said
meeting refused upon a solemn call—made to that effect —
to sever their alliance with the National Democratic party,
and to identify themselves with anew organization fort he
protection of the rights of the South. Whether his
course will meet with the concurrence of the great bodyjof
the Democracy, remains to be seen. We have our doubts
whether, in the estimation of the people at large, this
maintenance of party alliance with an effete Northern or- j
ganizution in preference to a Healthful communion with
tried friends at home, will be considered a step either well
or wisely taken. The responsibility of this momentous
step must rest somewhere, atid wo betide those recreant
ones who, preferring party to country, have endeavored
to maintain the one at the expense of the best interests of
the other.
Why does the Enquirer conceal from its readers the
fact that a resolution was adopted by the Democracy,
intended to secure Southern, union which was well con
sidered and is much more likely to effect that object
than the hasty and ill digested preamble and resolutions
of Mr. John A. Jones? Why does it also council the
fact that the author of the substitute is well known to
be in affiliation with the Know Nothings—a national
organization which embraces in its membership many
of the most infamous abolitionists in the United States ?
Has the Enquirer any assurances that the Know
Nothing councils in Georgia will dissolve as a prelimi
nary to Southern union? How did it obtain them?
We understand that it is a part of the oath taken by
every member of the order that he will never disclose
the fact of the existence of the order. How can he
then make known to thepublio thhut he has withdrawn
from it without violating bis obligation ? Such assu
rance was not, and, so far as we can see, could not be,
given by the Know Nothings who retired from the
meeting of the Democracy of Muscogoe. And yet
without such assurance, with what propriety could
they ask the Democracy to disband ? If the public
look with suspicion upon all propositions coming from
the Order, it is their own fault. For six months they
attempted to conceal from the public the existence of
the Order in Georgia. Supposing they had strength
enougli to carry the State, no doubt, they ventured
upon a State Council in Macon, and ascertained to
their surprise, we learn, that there were not quite 14,000
Know Nothings in Georgia. Never until then did we
hear one of them talk about Southern union.
Now, Southern union is an object dear to every
true Southern Democrat and they will make many sac
rifices to obtain it. But if the Know Nothings are no
tuated by a like spirit, they must and ought, if they
can, disband their Order, and we are confident that the
Democracy will meet them half way. But the De
mocracy cannot consent to affiliate with members of a
secret political party in the State which proscribes
Foreigners and catholics and denies, in effect, the sove
reignty of the people. If the Order will disband, w e
see no obstacle to Southern union. If the Muscogee
resolutions are adopted by the State Convention, of
which wo entertain no doubt, then the Whigs and
Democrats of Georgia will be on the same platform,
and nothing can keep them apart but* the personal an
tipathies of old party leaders. If, therefore, Southern
union shall prove to be impracticable, the fault will lie at
the door of the Know Nothings.
But what new outrage has aroused the fears of the
j Enquirer ? What does it propose to do incase it suc
ceeds in effecting Southern union l Is it alive to the
dangers that threaten us on the Kansas issue ? Is it
\ prepared to strike for Southern independence, it Con
gress refuses to admit Kansas into the Uuion, because of
slavery ? Or will it fuss and fume like it did in I>so,
and retreat when the drum beats to arms? In our
poor judgment, no man ought to urge the formation of
a Southern party who is not prepared to look disunion
in the face, in case the 4th resolution of the Georgia
Platform is disregarded by Congress. If this is the ob
ject of the Southern movement, our friends may count
us in. But if the object merely is to form anew corn- j
bination to secure the spoils, pray have us excused.
Our respects to the Savannah Republican.
In their zeal for Know Nothingism, the editors of
the Savannah Republican have been betrayed into a
very illiberal commentary upon the proceedings of the
meeting of the Democratic party of Muscogee county.
In order to convict “certain leaders and journalists” of
incincerity -in their professions of anxiety to unite
Southern men as one party, it gives prominence to the
resolutions rejected by the meeting, and omits ail men
tion of the 9th resolution adopted by the meeting,
though the object and design of that resolution is to
perfect Southern union. In a previous issue we have
fully set forth the motives which influenced the De
mocracy in pursuing the line of policy adopted by the
meeting in preference to that recommended by Maj.
.John 11. Howard. Until the Republican can show
the people that the oth resolution was not adopted in
good faith, it behoves it to be more chary of its denun
ciations. We are authoriz and, by the fact that it fore
bore all allusion to that resolution, to conclude that its
editors reviewed them with a set purpose to condemn.
The comments of the Republican upon the 3d or
union degree are singularly well timed, and w e append
them as are implied admission that our version of the
obligation is the true one , and as a defense of ourselves
against the charge, which some of our friends make,
that we are lukewarm in the defense of Southern
Rights:
From the Savannah Republican.
The Columbus Times affects tc have discovered a Gre
cian horse in the alleged third degree of the American par
ty. The fourth resolution of the Georgia FJatfoini de
clares that the people of Georgia ought to resist certain
enumerated wrongs even to a disruption of the Union ;
whereas those who take the third degree of the American
party, according to the Times, undertake “to uphold, main
tain and defend the Union ; to discountenance every attempt,
comiug from any and every quarter, which is designed or
calculated to destroy or subvert it, or to weaken its bonds.”
The Times contends that the obligationsol thecitizeo(N. N.)
losupj!tste s are incompatible with those to hispartv and is
£uilf? tire folly of indirectly charging the members of the
latter with “treason to the State of Georgia.” We had
given the editor of the Times credit for greater capacity
titan he displays in this matter. Supposing that the third
degree (a copy of which was stolen from a man's pocket
book) is correctly given, does not bur contemporary see
that the pledge to uphold the Union, and discountenance
all efforts to destroy it or weaken its hands L directed
against all such schemes as evil minded persons may start,
such as the aggressions ot the North upon the South, where
by the peace and harmony of the country are put in jeo
paidy? If we understand the English language, the obli
gation requres the Know’ Nothing to strive to remove all
eau-es and to oppose all measures which'can endanger the
Union. Should a cause arise, notwithstanding their efforts,
justifying the dissolution of the government, then Southern
Know Nothings at least, and the editor of the Times
knotes it, would cut loose from the Union as soon as he
w'ould. We opine, however, that he is still laboring lor the
separation of the States, and hence his desire to take posi
tion on the Georgia Platform, once a stench in his nostrils.
Should the North resist the admission of Kansas a- a Slav*
State, then he would hope to realize his long desired
dream, —the dissolution of the Union.
While w deny that we are “laboring for the sepa
ration of the States,” we boldly avow our purpose to
advocate a “dissolution of the Union,” “should the
North resist the admission of Kansas as a slave State.”
We Infer that the Republican would not, and are now
convinced that in the advocacy of the Georgia Platform
in 1850 it was practicing a trick upon the people of
Georgia, as charged at the time by the Southern
Rights party.
We have never allowed ourselves to doubt but that 1
the vilest eubrqissionist in thy South would “cut loose
from the Union” as soon as we would, should a cause
arise, justifying, in his opinion , the dissolution of the
Government. Such is not our complaint of the Know
Nothings of the Uniou Degree. We set forth that
the people of Georgia had, in solemn Convention, pledged
themselves to resist even to a disruption of the Union
certain actions of the General Government, among
which was the refusal of Congress to admit a Slate
into the Uuion because of slaveiy. We showed that
such an emergency would probably arise in the case of
Kansas within the two next years, and denounced j
the third or Uftion degree because the members ol that 1
degree took a solemn oath to “uphold, maintaia and
defend the Union: to discountenance every attempt,
coming from any and every quarter, to destroy or sub
vert it, or to weaken its bonds.’*
Instead of denying that we correctly published the
oath of the third degree, the Republican , like the Lou
isville Journal, justifies and defends the oath as emi
nently right and proper, and still has the hardihood to
assert that the Know Nothing of the Union Degree
“would cut loose from the Union as soon as we would,
should a ease arise, justifying the dissolution of the
Government.” Perhaps he would, but the brand of
purjury would blaze in his forehead like the mark
God set on Cain, for he swears to “uphold, maintain
and defend the Union ; to discountenance every attempt,
coming from any and every quarter , which is designed
or calculated to destroy oraubvert it, or weaken its
bonds.*’
We can very well understand that if all the aboli
tionists of the North were members of the Union De
gree and all the pro slavery men of the South were also
members of the Union Degree, that it w ould be per
fectly consistent for the Northern brethren to abolish I
slavery in the States, and for the Southern brethren to
submit, for the dread of dissolution would be removed
j from the Northern brethren by the oath of the Southern
brethren to “discountenance every attempt, corning
from any and every quarter, which is designed or cal
culated to destroy or subvert it or to weaken its bonds.*’
Cannot the Republican understand this position ?
Then, the editors, we will not say have less “capacity’*
than we gave them credit for, but are tighter bound by
the oaths of the Know Nothings thtn wo supposed.
Whether our capacity be greater or smaller is
matter of little consequence, so far as this issue is con- ;
corned. This we know, that this third degree is a 1
bombshell in the Order, aud that all Know Nothings in ■
this section, with whom we have conversed on the sub- j
ject, profess to abhor and spit upon it, and if it is forced j
upon them by their Savannah brethren will break the
order to pieces, and if Kansas is refused admission into
the Union, “because of slavery,” will join us in the ef
fort to “real zo (our) long desired dream—the dissolu
tion of the Union.’* See the proceedings of the meet
ing of citizens of this place on Saturday night last.
Three-fourths of those who participated in the meeting
were Know’ Nothing*.
One word to our Know Nothing Southern Rights
friends. It is not time to quit an organization which
inculcates the submission sentiments contained in the
above extract from the Savannah Republican. Is it ■
tolerable that one of your brother Know Nothings j
should taunt us with being a disunionists, because we !
counsel resistance, even to a dissolution of the Union, j
should Kansas be refused admittance to the Union be- !
cause of slavery ? Are we not all Disunionist in this j
sense ? If not, what was your meeting Saturday night j
but a cheat and a lio. “Put him out.”
The Meeting Saturday Night.
The Know Nothing Democrats, who retired from
the Democraie party on Wednesday previous, and |
others, called a meeting of all parties at Temperance j
Hall on Saturday night, 20th inst. The object of the
call, as w’c understand it, was to break down all the
old parties and to form anew Southern party for the
protection of the South against the encroachments of {
the North. The meeting was a very large one—in- ‘
deed the house was full to overflowing—-but not more ,
than a fourth of the audience seemed to participate
actively in the business or to join in the applause. The
meeting was called to order by Gen. James N. Bs
thunc, a known Disunionist. The President of j
the meeting was Col. William 11. Mitchell, and the
Secretary was 1). I*. Ellis, both of whom were ardent
Southern Rights Democrats. We, therefore, rea
sonably expected that the resolutions reported would
glow’ with sectional fire. We were quite surprised,
therefore, to find that they hardly came up to the fight- j
ing lino laid down in the recent Convention of the j
I Muscogee Democracy. We were still more astonished 1
I when the Hon. James Johnson, the Union leader of j
1850, arose to advocate the passage of the resolutions
and declared that he was not in favor of disunion, nor
was he opposed to affiliation with sound Northern men,
hut simply to old political organizations. It is, therefore,
evident that the new Southern party movement does
not go one step beyond the Democratic party either in
principle or purpose in the defense of Southern Rights,
and we are quite at a loss to find what particular charm j
it possesses over the Democratic party for Southern ;
Rights men. It seems to us that all the objects pro
posed could have been more certainly attained by means ;
of the Democratic party. It is a recognized political
organization in ptrty affiliation with, and possessing the
confidence of, all the sound men of the North, who ‘
certainly w ill not desert their old friends to joiu this
new party, especially as the leaders in the new party
are, many of them, Know Nothings, in affiliation with
men in the North who have just come out of a contest
in which they beat down nearly every Northern Demo- !
crat who voted for the Nebraska act.
Another singular feature in the proceedings of the
meeting was that while the Whig party and the Demo
cratic party were invited to disband, no such courtesy
was extended to the, so called, American party. One 1
of the speakers, Mr. .John A. Jones, suggested that the j
issues raised by that organization could be deferred to a
future day, and we infer from strict conversations with
a number of gentlemen supposed to be Know Nothings,
as well 8s others, who took part in the meeting, that it
is not the purpose of a large number of the new South
ern party to insist upon the breaking up of the Know
Nothing councils as a preliminary to Southern union.
This we think will be fatal to the success of the move
merit. Ia nearly all the primary meetings of the Demo
cracy, recently held in the State, opposition to the
Kuow Nothings is a very prominent feature, and we
are quite sure that an article will be inserted in the
platform of principles erected by the Democracy in
State Convention expressly repudiating the pi in triplet of
the American party.
We wish it however distinctly understood that the
Democracy of Muscogee county have duly considered
the importance of Southern union and had matured a
plan of effecting this object long before the 26th inst.,
which they will submit to and urge upon the Demo
cratic Convention shortly to assemble in Mil ledge ville.
This purpose was foreshadowed in the Dili resolution of
their late Convention. The same policy was urged
Bome time since in the Constitutionalist Republic,
and endorsed by the Atlanta Intelligencer. We
know too that it has been engaging the attention ol
the leading minds of the Democratic party for some
time past, and we firmly believe that such a policy will
be adopted by the Democratic State Convention as will
meet the cordial sanction of all men of all parties, ex
oept those few who are determined to rule or ruin, or
allow patty prejudice to stand in the way of duty. j
It is but justice for us to add that the proceedings of \
the meeting at Temperance Hall were characterized j
great moderation aud that nothing occurred to
wound the sensibilities of any of the spec ators, of whom
there was a large number present. It was especially =
gratifying to us to see so. many Union men present, 1
cordially re-endorsing the fourth resolution of the ;
Georgia Platform aud thereby pledging themselves to
disunion, as a last resort, if Kansas should be denied]
admission into the Union on account of slavery.— ]
It gives assurance that whatever * differences ofj
opinion there may be among Georgians upon domestic j
policy, we are, as it respects the paramount question of
the day, already one people and one parly.
P. S. Since the foregoing was in type wo have re- I
ceived the proceedings of the meeting. The commit
tee have requested the Know Nothings also to disband.
This is well, for until they do disband it would be as
profitable to sing psalms to a dead horse as to talk to the
Democracy about Southern uniou. We notice, how
ever, that the name of Col. Holt is not attached to the
request. What does this mean ?
Southern Union.
Gcd forbid that wo should prove a stumbling block In
the way of Southern union. Every movement, looking
to this end, we hail as an omen of good. Every man
who labors to break down party prejudice at the South,
we greet as a brother. If we recur to the subject often,
it is because we are profoundly convinced ol its impor
j tanee, and would see every obstacle in the way of its
consummation removed. That there are obstacles to
Southern union in the prejudices, party associations, il
liberal suspicions, and paltry ambition of Southern men,
lit were folly to deny. These obstacles, it is our duty
; to weigh and measure, before we attempt to remove
j them, else we may find them too heavy for the force
I we have at our command. We claim the parternity of
the movement and are unwilling to tee our bantling
strangled by careless nursing. Our proposition was
that a Convention of all the Southern States be ass-.m
bled before the next general election, in which every
party should bo represented ; that a platform of princi
ples be erected by said Convention, upon which the
whole South could stand: and that each and every party
at the South pledge itself to the oilier to support the
candidates of that national party for President and
Vice President which took position upon that platform.
This proposition we still urge upon the consideration of
the Southern people ns the only feasible one to secure
Southern union* It avoids every possible objection that
can bo urged to the other modes of procedure proposed.
While the movement is sectional in its incipiency, it is
national in its objects and purposes, and, if successful,
will preserve the Union, and protect the rights of the
South, h addresses itself to the patriotic cifizens of
ail parties in every part of the country and offers the
votes of the Southern States to that national party
which shall prove itself most worth of them, mid thus
make it the interest of ail parties to adhere to the con
stitution. It places the Southern Whig and the
Southern Democrat side by side in the movement ; and
gives neither the advantage cf the other, if tße Na
tional Whig party shall accept our propositions, the
Southern Democrat i* pledged to support the Whig
nominees for President and Vice President. If the
Democratic parly shall accept our proposition, the
Southern Whig is pledged to support the Democratic j
nominees. Neither has the advantage of the oilier. In
the inauguration of such a movement, the Legislatures j
of the Southern States should take the initiative by or
dering an election of delegates to attend the Conven
tion. This would give dignity as well as consistency to ;
1 the movement. To insure unanimity, the platform j
j erected should be bo moderate as that all men of all
j parties could stand upon it.
This is our proposition for Southern union, which we
made sonic months sine*', and supposed had been
strangled at its birth by the silence of the Democratic j
press and the scoffs and jeers of the opposition press.—
We find however that,,like seed cast upon the waters, j
it has sprung up after many days, and gives sonic pro
mise of an abundant harvest.
Our readers must not Confound our proposition with ;
that inaugurated at Temperance Hall, in the city of!
Columbus, on the 20th inst. That proposes the forma
tion of a Southern party, with Southern candidates for
President and Vice President, upon the destruction of all j
j existing parties. Our proposition is to make it the inte- j
rest of one or both of the national parties to do justice to !
• the South. In a subsequent issue we will give the
j argument in favor of our proposition and against that of
i the Temperance Hall meeting. Our design now is
merely to show that the two propositions are not iden
! tical.
1 The Muscogee Circular—A Sectional Party*
The response of the Georgia press to the Temper*
I mice liall movement will be road with interest in ibis
j section of the State. We shall publish extracts from
the leading journals as they come in. The first that
comes to hand is the Savannah News, an independent
paper. The News, in an article headed Neic South
ern Party , say a :
| “The democratic party of Georgia having also adopted
j the Convention plalfotm, the question presented to the
! people is whether it is better to maintain there principles
in a national or sectional organization. It is adinited by all
that there are some men at the North who are faithful to
the Constitution and the Union. Is it policy, then, for the
South to abandon those who have battled and are siilj
battling for constitutional principles, by renouncing all po
ntifical association with them ? It is indeed time that the
South should be thoroughly united in defence of her
rights, but while she contends lot* only her just lights, j
under the Constitution, may she not look for the co.ope- !
ratiou and support of the constitutional men of the j
j North ?”
The next in order i the Atlanta Intelligencer , a
Southern Rights Democratic paper, which in nu article
headed The Muscogee Circular, says :
“We confess to the weakness, if it be one, to loving the
South, the safety ol our social condition, more than we love
any party, any man or set of men. We would, ior this rea
son, accept any subsidies Irons any quarter, at home or
| abroad, that would likely aid us in the coming day ol need.
; But we can see no wisdom in incumbering any organiza*
i tion With recruits that bring into a general Southern alliance,
| other and higher obligations than they are willing to as
! sume for the cause and interests of that alliance.
Can a Know Nothing whose strongest political charac
teristic in his nationality , with the awful sanctions now
thrown around his party allegiance, be a Southern man to
j the death ? Can he, with that thundering oath of the 3d
degree in his throat, swear to stand by Georgia, “even to a
; disruption of the ties that bind her to this Union I” The
i thing is impossible, unless his grand lodges and his great
grand inquisitor generals give him a dispensation before tl e
I act, or unless they can give absolution from his oath after
wards. No ;if Democrats and Whigs proclaim an amnes
j ty and roll up their old flags and all Jail into the line of a
sacred band, fogettiug the past, forgetting everything but
the dreadful peril of their homes, it is asking a small thing
of a Georgia Know Nothing to demand that he too should
make these terms reciprocal, before we agree to act. with
him.
We say again that all we wish is to see the path Os duty
to the South iti the present conjuncture, plainly painted out,
and we will pursue it if we must do so by turning our backs
upon the dearest, political friends we have on earth. But
common sense teaches us that the basis of an amalgamation
ol all parties here, for the purpose of resisting the attacks
upon us from the anti-slave States, must be that of an un
selfish brotherhood that will take an equal chance in all
that is to be endured as well as in what may be enjoyed.”
The next in order is the Constitutionalist <J- Repub
lie, a Democratic organ having a larger circulation, per
haps, than any other Democratic paper in the State.—
In an article headed, A Sectional Party, this paper
says :
“The proceedings of a meeting of the c : tizens of Colum
bus, in which several leading Know Nothings of that place,
take a prominent part, held at Temperance Hall, on Sat
urday, 26th ult., have been sent us in a circular ; they have
also been published in the Columbus Enquirer. Our co
operation is atked in the movement therein proposed—
which, as we understand one of the Resolutions, proposes
to us to repudiate all fellowship and connection with the
present national organizations. This we respectfully de
cline to do. We shall adhere to the National Democratic
organization, as one sound in its principles, its aims and
Purposes. Upon it, and its action, and upon the conserva-
J iiveinfhV*’*'firit will rally to its support at the North where- j
j with to defeat and checkmate and Know I
I Nothing demagogueism, we base our hopes of its being able, *
j the South co operating, to preserve the Constitution and
j the Union. When we give up that hope and abandon that
| Northern oiganizatiou, the National Democracy of the
North, that has never abandoned usi,ahd resort to a merely
! sectional and Southern organization to defend the South,
| we see plainly that it mvu-t result in disunion. Tim result
] may commend it to so nip who participated in that Colmn
-1 bus meeting. We have no doubt it did. One at least
j among them, the gentleman who moved for the rij > point
| nient of’the committee"to draft and report suitable matter
j for the consideration of the meeting,” i>, avowedly, ami
perse a disunionist. We Jo not yet despair of the Union.”
The next in order is the Savannah Republican , a
! Whig and, probably, Know Nothing organ. The Re
publican says:
“The object of the meeting is most praiseworthy. If
the whole South could be brought to occupy the same
position, we might then bid defiance to our enemies.
But can this be doue? Is it practicable, even in Geor
gia? We must be permitted to doubt it. The reve
lations of the past two weeks lead us to the unpleasant
conclusion, that the*people of Georgia were never really
more devided than they are at this moment. The
letter of Mr. Stephens, the bitter denunciations of the
American party by the Johnson press, the proceedings
even of the Democratic meeting in Columbus, held only
a few days before that of which we are now speaking,all
satisfy us ihat the country is not yet prepared for the
political millennium so patriotically urgtd by our friends
in Columbus.”
The next in order is the Chornicle j- Sentinel , a |
| Union Repub! can, Whig organ, of large circulation,
] and supposed, by many, to reflect the sentiments of Mr.
j Stephens. The Chronicle if- Sentinel in an article
j headed National Party—Columbus Meeting, says :
j “Little did we imagine, when penning our article of
; yesterday, urging the importance of organizing a nation
al conservative party, that we should so soon receive
such a cordial response to our long cherished views, as j
the patriotic men of Columbus, composed of all parties,
have sent forth to the world iu the subjoined proceed
inga of a public meeting. The readers of ibis journal
need no assurance that this move meets our hearty c>
operation, and that we bid them God speed in the good
and patriotic work. We know many of lire actors in
this scene personally, have known sortie of them long
and intimately, aud it affords us sincere pleasure to see
them engaged in this work, because we know litem to
be good men and true —as devoted and sincere patriots
as live. They are American patriots of the right stamp,
sincerely aud earnestly devoted to the Constitution and
Union, and their highest purpose is to preserve both in
their purity—which will secure to every section of this :
broad land of liberty equal and strict justice, together
with all their rights.*’
The Savannah Republican.
In the daily issue of the Ist inst., the Republican
satisfactorily accounts for the omission of the 9th reso
lution of the Muscogee Democracy in its notice of the
meeting, and makes ample reparation by inserting it in
full. We, therefore, withdraw the charge that it re
viewed the proceedings “with a set purpose to eon*
demn.*’
We have a 1 ready said all that we deem necessary to
justify the Democracy of Muscogee in their denancia
| tion of the Know Nothing Orgauiztiion. There is
j nothing in the attack of the Republican upon the
[ course the .Muscogee Democracy fell it their duty to
j pursue, which has not been fully answered in preceding
I issues of our paper. We will not waste time by re
] pealing ourselves.
1 We are sorry that the Republican continues to de ,
j fend the oath of the third degree of the Order ns giv
en by u*. “It does not pledge the Know Nothings :
against a dissolution of the Union,” says the Republi j
can , “or bind him to maintain it under all circumstan
j ces ; it requires him only to discountenance whatever
j is intended to overthrow’ it or that is calculated tc ;
j bring about its subversion ?*’
Ve are sorry we cannot see the force of this sen- !
’ tence. If Georg’a resolves to “disrupt every tic that i
j binds her to the Union,*’ in the language of the fourth :
resolution of the Platform, will not such action be in
tended to overthrow the Union ? Is not such action
; “calculated to bring about its subversion ! ’
The concluding portion of tlio article under review j
! giv.s us unalloyed satifaction. Unlike our neighbor.of
; the Columbus Enquirer , the Sac aan ah Republican !
] boldly responds to our enquiries aud places itself on the
j fighting line upon the Kansas question. However,]
I much we may differ with the Republican on minor is- j
i sues, we lock shields with it on this paramount issue, i
and hope, when the time comes, to prove our valor by !
I our works. The Republican says :
] But that we may not be misunderstood, we now declare ‘
I for the information of the Times, that we, and so far as we
] know, the American party in Georgia, will stand by and
| maintain the Georgia Platform in its full integrity. Nay
j further, —should the North prevent the admission ol Kansas
j or any other territory into the Union as a slave State, we
| should feel that the time had arrived when the North and
j the South, like Abraham ami Lot, should take different
; paths, and thus believing, we should feel it to be our solemn
] duty to advocate a dissolution of the Union,
i Spoken like a man, brother Alexander, and, howev
• er much we may dt prtcate your Know Nothing here
r sfes, wo feel that with such sentiments and purp*>s<s
; as are avowed in the foregoing paragraph, you are not
i far from the kingdom of heaven.
The Savannah Republican is mistaken in the suppo
j sition that it was the purpose of the Muscogee’ Ifemoo
: racy to insult “a large and respectable portion of the i
| people of Georgia, known as the American Party.”— :
j Like good Christians they hated the sin bat loved the I
| sinner ; and hoped by an exposure of the heresies of j
the Order, to induce ail good and true men to abandon ‘
! h.
Want of room prevents us from republishing the c-c- j
i tire article of the Republican at length, as requested.
The Baltimore Catholic Council and the Pope
ot Rome.
The pastoral letter of the Archbishop of Baltimore
I and the bishops and prelates of the Catholic province of :
j Baltimore, which includes nearly half the United States
: east of the Mississippi river, is chiefly devoted to a learu- ,
ed exposition of the new dogma of the Immaculate
Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, which !
can certainly do no harm.
There is, however, a secondary branch of this pasto- j
rial letter which challenges our special attention. It re- 1
lates to that interesting and important political question J
of the extent of tire temporal power of the Pope over !
his flock in the United States. The Baltimore Arch- ‘
bishop and his subordinates expressly declare to the
faithful upon this subject, “that we have never exacted
of you, as we ourselves have never made, even to the
j highest ecclesiastical authority, any engagements incou
j sistent with the duties we owe to the country and its
: haws. On every opportune occasion we have avowed \
, thtse principles; and even in our communications to
| ihe late Pontiff we rejected as a calumny the imputation
; that we were, iu civil matters, subject to his authority.” I
| This is surely as emphatic as could be desired ; but, to
i it perfectly plain, they further say that “to the
I general and State governments you owe allegiance in
all that regards the civil order.” This is worthy the
ecclesiastical successor of the Catholic founders of Mary- j
land and is a point blanc refutation of the charge, so i
often made by the Know Nothings, that the Catholic ;
church lays claim to temporal power and ought, there- *
fore, to be opposed as a political organization. In har
mony with this declaration of the Archbishops, Bishops j
and Clergy of she province of Baltimore, was that of the !
late lamented Bishop England, of Charleston, S. C., j
that it the Prince of Rome, the Pope, were to declare
war against the United Statt-s, he would take up arms !
agaist the Pope. With such assurances from the high- ]
est dignitaries of the church of Rome, with whai eon sis- ;
tency can a portion of our fellow citizens make war
upon the members of the Catholic church.
Gocd News from Apalachicola for Columbus, via
Savannah.
M e noticed yesterday the arrival at this port of the
schooner Ralph Post, from Apalachicola, consigned to
F. J. Ogden, Esq. She has on board an assorted car
go of goods destined to Cplumbn*, in this State.— Sat
News , 31s/ ult.
Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius—On the morning of the
Ist. May there was a report from the summit of the
mountain as of a thousand cannon, immediately fellow
el by a discharge of red hot stones.
Virginia Election.
; It is with no ordinary feelings’ of gratitude that we
announce the election of Henry A. Wise as the Gov
ernor of Virginia, the election, in* all probability, df 12 out
of the. IT inyojbera of Congress, and that the? Legisla
ture f the State h* largely Democratic, which secure*
iht* election of a Democratic U. r l . Senator to Congress.
This ii the first contest in which the, so called, Amcri
can party lias locked horns with the Southern lfitu -o
racy and the result of tho fight has been to drive the
Northern hall to his native pastures beyond the Po
tomac.
We have reported majorities from sixty-three counties
which give Wise 3,255 over Flournoy, follows t
WISE’S MAJORITIES.
Greensville, ITO MudFon, - r V>5
Die of Wright, 5’J7 Oiango 33
Prince George, *2BO Prince William, il?
Southampton, SO Rappahannock 9
Sussex, -95 Spotsylvania, H
Caroline 40 Stafford .100
Chesterfield, sf>o Beikcley, 5
Gooehlaud, ISO Clarke, 31
Hanover, 200 Frederick 135
King William,. 280 Page 961
Louisa,... 150 Warren, *229
Brunswick/....;.. . .350 Rockingham, *2,2U>
Charlotte, 25 Shenandoah, 2,000
Dinwiddle, 252 Mai ion, -.701
Lunenburg, 200 T\br, 5)
Mackleuburg UK) Harrison, 100
Prince Edward, 77 Montgomery, 125
Appomattox, *2fi7 Roanoke, 292
Franklin, 150 Pulaski, 50
Halifax, 575 Wythe, 200
FLOURNOY’S MAJORITIES.
Williamsburg, 17 Alexandria,.. 491
Charles City 85 Culpeper,.. A 35
j Na05etn0nd,........ 150 Fairfax, H”
Norfolk Citv I*2o Fauquier, 9o %
Norfolk Co* *2i‘(> Lowd"U 1,323
Henrico, ‘2V2 Augusta 1.300
Richmond Citv,.. . .978 Pendle ton, MK)
Cumberland...’ *25 Brooke IT 4
Campbell fil'd MaHmll,- 500
Pittsylvania 350 Ohm, 70)
Albemarle, 11l Wood .000
Buckingham, 70
The results in irginiu.
One hundred and twenty two counties heard from.
Wise’s majority in these countit s, 10,017. This would
leave 20 counties to hear from, which gave President
Pierce a small majority.
The last returns, says the Richmond Enquirer of
the 29th, indicate the election of Lewis t<> Congress—
thus completing the return id’ all the old members.— j
The Senate and House of .Llegates will ontinue as !
strongly democratic, at least, as before. This will se- !
cure the election of a Democrat to the Senate <f the ]
United States. The victory if the Democracy is, ■
therefore, complete in the Old Dominion.”
Mcciiiig at Temperance Hall.
Saturday Evkm.vj, May 20. 1855.
! Agreeably to previous notice, an unusually large num
] f>-r of our fellow citizenp, irrespective ol all party con-id- j
i erations, met at Temperance Hall.
j On motion. Win. 11. Mitchell, Ehj. was called to the
| Chair, and Davenport P. Ellis, Esq. requested to act as
| Secretary. The object of the meeting being explained by
, ! the Chairman,
| On motion of Gen. Janies N. Bethune, the chairman ;
] appointed as a committee to draft and report suitable mu,- ;
j ject matter for the consideration of the meeting:,
| Col. John WoollbSk, Col. Scabom Jones,
Mai. S. A. Wales, Dr. S. A. Billing
] K. M.Gunby, Cos! Van Leonaid,
; Dr. Henry Lockhart, David J. Baihcr,
; | Wm. F Luckie, James G. Cook,
S. It. Andrews, Hon. limes licit,
! Wm. Dougherty, Esq. Alaj.Jno. H Howard,
■j B Y. Martin, Lbq. James A. Bradford,
R. L. Mott, Charles Clrghoni,
! Sam i Rutherford, Joseph B. Hill,
Thomas 0. Douglass.
I The Committee returned after a short absence, and re
I ported to the. meeting lor 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 tiling to lear al the hands ol tlie I
j political organizations of flu* Non Slaveheiding Slides, “
1 from .the spirit ol Abolitionism which, to a largo and lear* |
; ful extent, pervades and controls all ol them: Andfevhereas, |
j the action of these States upon the question of slavery eon- j
| clasively shows that a large majority of the people thereof |
: are actuated by one common scntime.nl of ho.-tility to the i
: institutions of the South: And whereas, the gallant band j
ot Patriots within those Slates who are friends to the South |
j and faithful to the Constitution, and whom we remember !
with gratitude, have been routed, disbanded and almost an- j
• nihilaled, we believe the exigency imperatively rt-qui es us !
to be one people and one paity. Therefore, lie it Kesolv- j
I ed—
i 1. That wo hold the American Union secondary in im
j portal,ce only to the rights and priueipfes.it was designed to
perpetuate. I hat past associations, present fruition, and
j future prospects, will bind us to it -<> long as it continues to
be the safeguard ol those rights and principles.
I 2. That the Slate of Georgia,in tlie judgment of this
meeting, will and ought to re.-ist, even (as a last result) to a
disruption o* every lits which binds her to tile Union, any
action of Congress upon the subject of Slavery !
iu the District of Columbia, or in places subject to I
the jurisdiction of Congre-s, incompatible with the safety,
domestic tranquility, the rights and honor of the slavehold
iug State?; or any act suppressing the slave trade between
the slaveholding States; or any relic al to admit as a
State any territory hereafter applying, because of the ex is
tence of slavery therein; or any act prohibiting the in
troduction ot slave? into ihe territories ol Utah and New
j Mexico; or any act repealing or materially modifying
i the laws in force ior the recoveiy ol fugitive slaves. )
: 3. That,in tho opinion ol this meeting, the time has ar* , !
i rived when our ielfow-citizens should cease from their dis- •
j s-nsions* tmd forget the differences which have separated
i them; and that a common danger and common enemy
i Should unite ns for our common defence aud safety.
| 4. ‘That wc hereby repudiate all fellowship and connec
tion with the present national political organizations, or
any that may be hereafter fonned, unless based upon tiie
I principles aud policy of resolutions; and re-
I commend to our fellow, citizen.- of each county of all
.! classes, whether native or naturalize J, without distinction
! of party, to assemble togetber ? and send delegates to Mil
1 fedgeville on the -lih of July next, for the purpose of nom
i mating a candidate for Governor, and Earning and pub
j l i-hing a basis of action upon which we may ail stand and
all co-operale.
! 5. That we hereby respectfully request the Democratic |
1 and whig parties to postpone a nomination lor Gorornor,
and to call upon the people of the .State, without di-tine ■ j
j tion of party, to meet together in Ih.-ir primary assemblies, j
; to select delegate’ to make a nomiu-iiion for Governor, j
Who shall be the candidate of the People and not of a j
Party
And he it further resolved, That the chairman appoint a
I committee of seven, to transmit a copy ol the prooeeediugs
| of this meeting to the several counties in this State.
Messrs. Thomas Ragland, James N. Bethune. A. S.
! Rutherford, John A. Jones,l*'. M. Brook-, James K. Redd,
j and John 1. Ridgeway, were appointed that committee.
The meeting was addressed by Hon. .fa nes Johnson,
, John A. Jones, Esq , and lion. Hinds Holt, with their usu
j al ab.lity and fairness, in support of the preamble jmd reso
lutions.
• ‘The preamble and resolutions were then voted upon bv
the meeting and heaitiiy adopted—there being but one dis
i seating voice.
It was further Resolved, That the proceedings of the
! meeting he signed by the Chairman and Secretary, and
copies be furnished to the editors of the city papers, with u
request to publish the same.
On motion, the meeting then adjourned.
W.M. if. MITCHLLL, Chairman.
D. P. Ellis, Secretary.
Maj. John 11. Howard, w .o was one of the committee
: to draft the above lesoiutions, and who being absent from
| home did not see them until after their adoption, suggest
to the committee lliat the Know Nothing-he also request
ed to make no nomination lor Governor: Whieh is eon
. curred in by the undersigned:
Satn’l Rutherford, Van Leonard,
‘ihos. O. Douglass, John Wool'olk, I
B. Y. Marlin, S. A. Wales,
Wm F. Luckie, D J. B.ubirl
R. M. Gunby, R. L. Mott.
J.C. Cook, Seaborn Jones,
j John H. Howard, J. A. Bradford.
! Charles Oleghoru, J. B. Dill,
S. R. Andrews, llcnrv Lockhait.
S. A. Billing,
I William Dougherty absent from the city.
Alabinat Matters.
There are four candidates for Congress in the Second j
j Congressioirol District. Col. E. S. Shorter is the most j
prominent candidate and will probably be elected, as
I both the Democratic, Southern Rights and anti-Know
; Nothing vote will probably center upon him. iI is op-
I poneuls are Alford, of Piko, Robinson, of Butler, and
; Crenshaw, of Conecuh.
Col Seth Mabry has probably been elected Major
Gener..l of the Southern division. lie resides in Bar
bour county. Ilis opponents were A. Seale, of Macon,
and M. C. Browder, of Barbour county.
Judge Sam F. Rice is mentioned in the Spirit of
the South as a suitable person to be run for the Senate
of the United States, lie is a man of decided ability.
llo.v. Geo. W. Williams has been elected Judge of I
Piobate in Henry county. A good selection.
More Rain— On Monday, 28th, we were again |
visited ly a shower of rain. The crops in this section j
are a little backward, but decidedly promising.
M. De LTluys, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, 1
has resigned, and Count WcUnski (?) has been appointed
in his place.
The Richmond Democracy.
We are pleased to find in the Constitutionalist <j*
Republic of the 29ih inst., the'proceed inga of the Cdn
vi n’ioh of the Richmond county Democracy. They
are in harmony with these of the Muscogee Democracy,
and aim alike’at the fusion of all the sound men of all
parties in the mainunauce of tluf tights of the States in
the Union and of the citizen in the State. Tho fust,
second and fourth resolutions are ;s follows:
1. lie it Resolved, That we have witnessed with pride
anJ pleasure the predominance of Democratic principles
and Democratic, niea>ures in ail leading questions ot Na
tional policy, involving the subject* of finance and taxation
and appropriation of money, and ot Constitutional power
in reference thereto.”
2. IL solved, That the policy of the country having be
come fixed and settled on these questions* the issues therein
i- volvrd, which formerly divided Southern Democrats and
Whigs, no longer afford ground tor continued separation
and conflict between them, and that now other questions ot
practical and paramount importance arc pressing upon the
Carnot attention of Southern men, and are of such a nature
a? require cordial and fraternal concert of action among all
who concur in sentiment upon those questions.
t. Resolved, That the National Democracy ol the Norm,
who have patriotically fought for the Kansas and Nebraska
Acts aud the maintenance ol the Fugitive Slave Law,
against the combined forces of Know Noihingism and
Abolitionism, which seek their repeal, and who stand
pledged to support the admission of Kansas into the Union
as a Slave. State, should she ask it, merit the heartfelt sym
pathies, thanks and encouragement of Southern men in j
their patriotic position.
The fifth, sixth and seventh arc denunciatory of the ;
! Know Nothings and urge upon Southern Whigs and j
| Southern Democrats to combine together in council j
j and in action to resist and defect them. Ihe eighth !
and ninth arenas fellow*:
8. Rcsohcd, That we recognize inthc following rc-olu- 1
tion, (the Uli) ot the State Convention ol Georgia, in 1650,
raid the follow ing joint resolution of the la-t General As- j
>emh!y of Georgia, passed unanimously, the only sale, bon- j
orable and consistent position bn our State, and that to ;
party concLve or organization, whether secret or oj-on in j
iis proceeding.-, that ignores the existence of these ?*imn j
declaration?*, or seeks to modify end to qualify them, i> |
worthy tire confidence of tlie people of Georgia.
* He it therefore resolved by fhepeople of Georgia in Cun j
edition met. iili.. That the State ot Georgia, in the judge j
incut of this Convention, will and ought, to resist even (a? a j
laM report) to a disruption of every tie which bind* her t i
the U tion. any action of Congress upon the subject of;
shivery in the I)!.-trict ofColuip.bia, or in places subject to !
the jurisdiction of Congress, incompatible with the safety, j
domeft.c tranquility, the rights and honor of the slavehold- j
ing States ; or iu any act suppressing the slave trade between j
the slave holding States, or in any refusal to admit as n |
State any Territory hereafter applying , because of the j
existence of slavery therein; or in any act prohibiting the. j
introduction of slaves into the Territory ot Utah or New !
1 Mexico ; nr in any n t repealing or materially modifying
j the laws now’ in fo;oe for the recovery of staves.”
j “Resulted by the General Assembly oj the State of ;
! Georgia, That opposition to the principles of the Nebraska ;
| Bill, iu relation t> the subject, of slaveiy. is regarded by the !
I people of Georgia, as hostility to file people ol ihe South, ‘
| and that all persons who partake in such opposition a e un- j
; fit to he recognized as component parts of any party or or- j
I ganizMion no! hostile to the South.”
9. Resolved, That no Georgian who r-Tifees h'n assent \
to the sentiments declared, and trie positions assumed in j
the resolutions above quoted, or who is bound by secret !
oaths or obligations to any organization incohsistonl there-1
with, is worthy the confidence or suppo it of the people of
j Georgia.
! Messrs. Jam s Gardner, J. J.. Martin, George Ro- ;
bertson, and George T. Barnes were appointed dele
gates to the Gubernatorial Convention.
Col. Holt’s Letter. —We invite the particular I
! attention of those of oar Democratic and Whig friends
l who took pa l l in the Temperance Hall meeting under
the impression that a dissolution of all partus was a
:• neeessory preliminary to the formation of a Southern j
Sectional Party, t> tlie letter of Col Hines Holt, which ;
we publish in another column. We infer from ;
Col Holt’s letter that, instead of being iu favor of a
’ dissolution of the Know Nothing Organization, lie has .
j hopes that the Know Nothings will erect a platform i
: upon which all true men in evoiy part of the Union !
i can stand. He is also opposed to the formation of a j
j Southern oigaiiization.These positions arc not in hnrmo j
j ny with w hat we supposi and to be the objects of the meet
j ing, though it is more than likely that wo misappre- |
bend what tlio.se objects were, Will our neighbors of j
j th • Columbus J inquirer and Corner Stone give a mo
j menl’s consideration to thi-- subject, and let the people
i know what the meeting was designed to accomplish
Dnntli ot Mr. John A. D Blois.
| This estimable citizen died in this city at 512 P. M, :
j on Wednesday, 30th inst., after an illness of only three i
j days. This sudden death of one of ur L ading rher
i chants liils-i ur entire community with profound sorrow, :
j In ll the relations of life, Mr. John A. Deßlois was a .
’ model man, and was justly regard and as one of the pil- !
j lars of the Episcopal church. He was a native of Bos
| ton, hut lias rtsided iu this city since 1637 and been
| actively engaged in the eommiss on business as a mem
; bor of the firm of Hall Deßlois, a firm which has
; contributed much to the prosperity of the city cf Co
lumbus by their extensive business relations with Nor
thern manufacturers. Honest and upright in his busi
ness relations, social in bis intercourse with his fellows
a model husband, f.liter and citizen, he dies without
leaving an enemy behind him, and hia loss is deplored
by community as a public calamity. See funeral notice :
j ‘i\ another column.
Mcssis. Toombs and Stephens in Augusta.
On Monday evening 28th inst., Mr. Stephens address
ed two thousand of his fellow citizens in Augusta, Ga ,
on the st*-ps of the City Ifall, there being no l oom in ;
the city large enough to contain his audience. He an
nounced himstlf as a candidate for Congress; reiterated
] hfe Lostiluy to the Know Nothings; denounced the;
! riiir.i degiov* as abolitionism in disguise; announced bis j
purpose of resistance if Kansas should be refused ad
mission into the Uuif.il because of slavery ; paid a glow
ing tribute to those Northern men who had stood by i
tiie South in her war with abolition (all Democrats by i
the way) and contended that our policy was not to join j
the Kumv Nothings, who were lighting these men, but
to stand by our friends there, and soon they would
rally again and strength. During the delivery of j
his up eoh he was frequently interrupted by thunders j
of applause.
| Mr. Robt. Toombs next took the stand and addressed
j the multitude in a very effective speech in which ho ;
j concurred in the general views of Mr. Stephens.
The Canvass Opened— lion. Marshall J. Wellborn
and Sam Hall recently addressed the Democracy of j
Albany. Messrs. Green and McCnne have done like
service ill Griffin. Hon. 11. Cobb has commenced the
canvass for Congress in bis district.
WithDitvval. —We are requested by Mr. Warren
U. Gibson, of EflerHie, Ga., to publish, that on the Bth
inst, he withdrew from the order known by outsiders
as the Kuow Nothings. He warns Southern men and,
particularly, Southern Rights men. to beware of the
organ z ition. lie says other members of the order have
since followed his example.
City Light Guards —At a iate meeting of the City j
Light Guard?; Capt. Colquitt, Private B. A. Thornton
was elected Ist Lieutenant, and W. T. Blackford 2d
Lieutenant.
Beautiful Flower. — We are indebted to Mrs. !
Cren-h.uv for a brilliant will flowering plant, which ;
would weil repay the trouble of cultivation. It U a |
j graceful shrub and is covered at the top with a profit i
j i’mn of brilliant scarlet flowers. It may be seen at our !
j office. What Is the name of it ?
Prohibition ox the Decline. —Messrs. George W.
j Tomlin and Elisha King, Prohibition candidates in Cass !
j county, have published a card in which they announce j
j ihat the times are not propitious for a temperance eam
! paigu. The issues pending between parties in Georgia
j are of so meritorious a character, in their opinion, as to I
| preclude “most other considerations,” and they, there- j
lore, think the Piohibition cause will be advanced by i
ft -‘withdrawal ol the Piohibition ticket from the canvass.
E.\ G< vernor McDonald. —We have received
horn the Georgia Telegraph an Extra containing a
vet y calm but able argument against the Know Noth- ■
ings from Charles J. McDonald. Wo hope to give it I
in full at an early date.
Atlanta Republican. —Dr. James It. Smith has I
retin and from the editorial chair of the Atlanta Repub- \
licun. r I he causes of his withdrawal arc not given.
It still advocates Overby for Governor.
Drought in the West. —The Arkansas river having ;
nearly dried up, the Little Rock Gazette says, there is ;
not, in that place, a barrel of flour, a bushel of meal, !
or a pound of coffee or sugar for sale. Flour would i
go off readily at £ls a barrel, and corn meal at $2 a
a bushel ; sugar and coffee would sell for any price.—•
There is the greatest scarcity of every article of pro
visions or family groceries.
(COM >’ UN! i’ A T F.P.)
, An Enquiry Answered*.
Capt Lomax— In comm*.uting upon the proceed -
tho meeting of (Saturday night, and upon tho action : l, •
Comrfiinea.sulf?equent!y, au. you ?ay,-"rcqne&tiog the K
Nothings also to disband,’’ you have discovered in t’ .
ter movement the ab.-once of my name, and are pfe.
enquire‘‘What docs ih sjneanU What it cfop? mean, i
apprehend, is a mallei of very little moment or infer.- :
you, aud, 1 know*, of much.lew ‘to the public— yet a
have enquired, I will answer.
Asa member of that Committee. I had concurred in the
Preamble and Resolutions offered to, and adopted by, tl _
meeting. When reported, my oJucfe ft* a committee- .<
ceased; and however much my judgment might have ap
proved subsequent alterations oi*suggestions, I riiould
have felt, and did not led at liberty, as a member . i *v.;J
Committee, to make thorn.
But leal thi-*, in my opinion sufficient reason, . h > ’ i
called technical, l have further to say, that the a !
uiy name from the subs; q sent action of i!i * Corm..:
mean?, that I was not ptepnred in its lan:ra.igo to *‘r< •;: •*:
the Know Nothings to make no nominatba for Governo!',”
or, in yours, “to disband.’’
| The “political organizations'*©F lb - non-davd. i-;i. ;
| State 3 ,” indeed of Ibe United State.-, have heed h -rH-i •
| Whig;and Democratic. With the fir?*, nationally, l i;.
! attempted affiliation until all confidence iu it's purity,
j reliance upon its adherence t*,or observance of, oSr bou t
j of union; all faith in its regard for the rights and iet -ievfe
I of the Souih is at end. My lifth in the IVes -craife h..d
; not commenced when it ceased i \ the Whig party, aud
| there has occurred nothing since to incre.'-e or build it up
Heni c I was willing,am willing, to r.. •••idinfo with few -
| parties, us national orginizaffeus, ’fell fellowship aud eu;--
I neetioh ” We have tried them and they h t.s Uc-m i'nv.-.-l
‘■ wanting. It is but too Luo, that “wv have nothing to hop.*
| but everything to fear, a: their hands.”
j These parties, alike, in my conviction, recreant to eu i y
! principle of justice to tiie South, were feuh moving to
• party nominations and t* keep up national on u . ..
linns, I would tain hope, upon our recomm end at ioa, lit .
| “will disband,” and that y.u, Cajun in,* will . - wifi:.;.
| atwl fully retire from the command of the one, a? J il
| lrom the rank- of rile other.
| Bui it is really true, or yo i and my fellow’ Commit:
| men imagine it to be true, that Un-re i- another p rfe f
! ing, called the “Know Nothings.” If it !>-.• -.'rit is ap .. .
; without antecedents. It mud, ot nec be r ~ip i
* of Whigs and Democrats, and based up- :, new eh m* t
j other principles and policy than have guided n i vontjoii
j ed tie- parties from which it-- members have r**tir-\l.
Il may or nny nit propo-e a iDmiuulio.i for G..,a
: Until it and jcs, the Whig and Democratic partie- b.-.
j done, it might be, at least, pienntare.to feque-t it red to
: If there be such a national org.ufi/.Uion formed or i .. >•
I iqgj it may “be based upon the principles and policy of fe •
Re ohuion.s” of Saturday night. Shoui.i ff-is he so, in
\ isink? of such n pany,no matter what its name, win ;:
; “Know Nothing,” American I’e.optc s party, the pe
! of Georgia will forget their di-s.uision.-4, and be s.’uivd : .
1 their “common <l‘fence and common sni. ; v ’ It v ill >
| he very party contemplated by the meuing of SV.md
! night. It will be the “iVopile’s I’aity,” : and i \
I Captain, joirnts standard, you will be 1 -fi i.i eo;im> ..
! a guard.”
But, allow me to add, from what l read, s.-e and near,
i meeting of Saturday night is construed to have been e ...:
i to form “a Southern party”—a ‘Vc’-c I party.” A . .
humble mouther of .-aid meeting, that U tiie very r
wbfoltJ .-ought to avoid. I raised my feebfo void* t
sectional fern four years ago, when you were It- ;.dvoc :
While them remains hope ol a national rgan. e .
j which will promise add perform regard io , and pi. v.
| to, the rights anti iuterpsrs of all sections, i r mys-Gi,;! wj .
not unite iu “Southern pa:tiei,” sectional “Southern Un.
: movements,” which proime no national morit—,-ave r
| tain defeat.
! Unless a national organization e.m lie .built up, wfe--'.:
i claims “No North, no South, no iliy, o \Y: ‘ ;■ :
1 whole Union for it field of opera , . .
! gardiul of the rights and iritere*!* of ail focti-us, and c:>-
; pecialiy observant of the principle: and policy of the -c.
i ond resolution ol tiie meeting of Saturday, nighty th n
! “Southern parties,“ “Southern Union.-,” -. fi .-ia! S .... .-
cm organizations, must be, will ! > form.-. 1, no* with hi.-
hope of national success or national influence, but to teach
! northern fanaticism “that wc hold the A:.:- : . t ui-m -
ondary in importance fe* the rights and pme h : ? i; v. .
j designed Jo perp ‘taatc;” that our safely a id prot .ii -n
i lies in our own strong amt*, seeking neither aid or
fort from our foe>. 1 have hop.-.-’ eb a national t ~m. .
/.at ion—to the standard and priucipi-*.- of whieh the ‘ r-..au
mid disbanded gallant band oi patriots” of rfe. North
well ns the whole people o|‘the South, ean rally tor :
i tional-fuccess.
am I prepared for the other much t j be regry.tbyl, ha: -
: cssary and unavoidable alternative.
Youre ;q irv lias nude tho oeca iou n y ari.mg m •
j of your space than 1 hari intended, or yon p.-rhap- vd!
low me. Give me room to ad 1. that I am, with wry feed
regard and respect, your obedient >< ;%ai!,
hikes holt.
TO Tin: KbITORM OK TIIR Ti.VUIS a\|> H.'NTiNr:L
Mnssas. Eoitors ; —Let me ask you b> publish :
1 law of Massachusetts, and throng!, th* nndium
your columns to ask lb * people of ffie Sum* ot Ge- r
! gi.-i, if they are uot now prepared to pass a law, tax;;:
! the products of the Sta‘o of Massacbus- us in ti : .- ]t 2;: t
of the retailers? and also to pass a i ;.\ refusing : .;j
of our Courts in the _ collection of their and iu
the protection of their persons and property.
Let not anyone deter you from this course bv fei’-
ing you that it is imcoiiJilitutioijal. Tho first law -
dearly not so. The other may be .doubtful—btu the o!d
adage to “fight the Devil with tire.” is ;i good ~ne. ii;
antis.lavery umi never enquire whether the law th. .
wish be unconstitutional. They will p.!-< it an 1
let the Court determine the Constitutional s io;;.
Elect your members of the next Legislature i.a- t
purpose. CLVIS.
NUI.LIFIGaTtOX f.AW OF MAS^ACJ!e’SiZTTS.
We clip the following sviiopjc ofihe main }u v.-i , -
the nullification law of Massachusetts fiom the 80.-:-.’ ;
‘[lines:
‘•Nullutcatiox in M assachusetts —The so ealh and t
j to protect the lights and liberties of the people of
chuselts,’ which lias been rcjxMUd to the senate ol th;;:
State, is ol the rankest nullification character. It p ; uvid
lint every alleged fugitive from service'shall be entitled to
the benefit of the writ of habeas corpus, which may be i: -a
ed by the supreme court,.court of common picas, nf.-i i
- or police court of any city <>r mwn ; oy any corn! •
record, judge of probate/ or !*v ;tt*y ju-tiee <>t tLc- j <
; even: provid'd such are known to he within
I five miles ol the place where the party is imprisoned. :\
j pelson holding any State office is allowed to issue run
warrant op grant any certificate? under the fi>oitive sl*vi
; law, under the penalty m lotieitiug his offieO and ht-hm
t merer ineligible to any office, of trust or eniolttisiciit un
iter the lairs of the Comiit tnwealth. Sheriffs. csfiast;ibfi*.-„
j police officers, and the volunteer militin. me ’forhidden : -
; aid in any way in carrying out the provision* .*1 the iugilive
Hav.* law ol ltfo'J, under penal: v „fa fine, of not bWilian
SI.tXHJ, nor more than B‘i.r-uu imprisonment in
State prison for a term oi from one m two years. A..•
IXtsoh wiit) .-)itll ad as counsel or htSi'i'ccv (• r any via.
j mailt of an aliened .fugitive shall bo deemed to h:’iv~ iV
aig.nd any commission be may hold from the State ami
j Hiall thereafter be incapacitated from appearing as
counsel or attorney in ami of the c uts of the Sta'.
No State jail, is to be u-ed as a place tor the detention
j an alleged fugitive.’’
Sol. Genet al, Eastern Circuit. —Tiumids T< ’
Long, Esq., h iving resigned the office of S fiieitor Gen
| era! of the Eastern Circuit, we learn that the vacancy
j has been filled by Gov. Johnson, by the appointment
|of George Gordon, Esq ,of this city. Mr. Gordon :s
ft gentleman oi high character, and n one who know .
hirn will (l’*ubt that his takn'.s and energies will !> •
j faithfully devoted to the discharge of the re>ponsib :
i duties thus imposed upon him. Journal *J> Connci
May Cl.
St, Marks Railroad. — The Tallahassee Floridian.
| states that the Directors of the St. Marks li. R. hav.
j completed the necessary arrangements for making the
I provisions of the general act applicable to their benefit.
The contract for the earth works has been fiveu to G**n.
R. A. Shine, who has left for N. Orleans with the vk
ot procuring the requisite labor, and contracts for the
cross ties, &c., are also being given out. It is expo*.*
ted that by the first of December, the entire riKid will
be completed and put in first rate order.
Bangor, May 28.
The announcement that Smnael C. Gage had been
nominated for governor of Maine, by the Know Noth
ings in a State Convention is a ho*x. No Convention
has yet been held.