Newspaper Page Text
2-inws mtir Spiral.
columbus, Georgia!
TUESDAY MORNING, JUNITI2, 1855~
The Democratic State Convention.
We publish to-day the Platform of Principles adopted
by the State Convention of the Democrats party ts
Georgia at Milledgeville on Tuesday, sth Juno. We
invite all men of all parties to give them a culm delibt
rate and impartial perusal and defy the most search
ing criticism. They come up fairly and squarely to
every great question that now agitates the public mind
and dispose of it in the spirit of an enlarged patriotism
and of a sound and practical statesmanship. While a
cordial sympathy ia expressed for that great national
party which has, in the main, guided the ship of State
safely and propitiously through every storm that has
swept across her pathway, and for those Northern men
who have firmly and faithfully stood by the helm and
managed the sails, the first and foremost thought of the
Convention was the honor, security and constitutional
rights of the good old commonwealth of Georgia. To
this end the 4iii resolution of the Georgia Platform was
re-endorsed and the honor of the Democratic party
pledged to incorporate it as a fundamental article of the
creed of the national Democracy as a preliminary to
party affiliation, and in the event that object cannot bo
secured, then to unfuil a Southern sectional banner
and strike for independence. They were net willing at
present to give up the strong probability of securing the
admission of Kaunas as a slave holding State under the
lead and with the aid of that noble baud cf Northern
men who passed the Nebraska-Knnsas act in the face of
the opposition of every other Northern man and Nor
thern party.
The object and a m of the Convention in assuming
this position was to make the Democratic party the basis
of a Southern union movement by means of which all
Southern men might be united in one harmonious party
and at the same time preserve the connection of the
South with those gallant and patriotic Democrats at the
North who have stood by us in every emergency ana
will necessarily be crushed and overwhelmed unless
the united South gives them timely and efficient sup
port. To this end the Convention declares that there
is no longer any division at the South upon the old is
sues which formerly divided Whigs and Democrats.
The policy of the Government upon all questions of
finance, taxation and appropriations of money, and of
constitutional power in reference thereto, having become
fixed and settled in accordance with Democratic princi
ples, by theulmost unanimous voice of the people of the
Mhole Union, and the Southern Whigs having acqui
esced therein, it is folly and madness for Georgians to
continue a senseless war opou each other, especially at
this time when new and startling heresies have sprung
up, upon which they entertain a common creed. To
effect this union of Southern men, it was necessary for
some party to take the initiative aud hold out to the j
other the olive branch of peace. The Whig party was
in a state of disorganization aud a large number of its
membership had gone off into other and strange asso
ciation, and were engaged in a bitter contest with each
other. The Northern membership were admitted tc
be utterly unworthy oCconfiJtncs on the slavery ques
tion.They had not a single Senator or Representative in
.Congress who w3# not an abolitionist or freesoiler. It
was impossible, therefore, for the Whig party to insist
upon taking the lead in the movement. The South
had nothing to gain by following the lead of the Whig
party.
The other supposed organization, commonly called
Know Nothings, could not take the lead, as the mem
bership dare not avow the existence of their organization,
and keep their aims, objects and principles a profound
secret from the uninitiated. They are besides in party
affiliation with Northern abolilionista and freesoilere ;
and cannot point to n single Northern ally who is not j
tainted with fanaticism. This is n fetal objection to
the Columbus movement. Many of its leaders were
believed to be in good fellqfvship and in high standing
with the Know Nothings. This suspicion destroyed
confidence in the good faith of the movement. Even
John A. Jones, of Polk, the most ultra Southern Rights 1
man in Georgia, and who came to the Convention re j
solved to second the movement, abandoned it in disgust ;
on the perusal of Col. Holt's fetter giving his reasons j
for not joining in the request of his other co laborers to j
the Know Nothing organisation not to bring out a can- \
didate for Governor, and most cordially endorsed and !
approved the resolutions of the Convention.
It was, therefore, an absolute necessity for the i
Democratic party to take the lead in the noble design j
of effecting Southern union.
The Platform erected by the Convention is broad j
enough for every Southern man to stand upon. Read i
it, fellow citizens, and tell us, as honest men, if there is a
solitary resolution in the series that you can condemn ? ;
If there is not, why not give up your cliques and orders j
aud take position in solid column with your fellow citi- i
zens, and aid them in one more effort to save the Union i
and the rights of the South, by a warm and cordial at- ;
filiation with the true men of the North who are now
so bravely snuggling with our enemies in the defence
of Southern Rights. If tho etVort shall fail, the Geor
gia Democracy are pledged to go as far as the farthest
in the maintenance of Southern honor. Why keep up
divisions in Georg! ? Is tho lead dearer to you than
Southern union ? Then you show that you are not worthy
of the high position you aspire to. Self 6aoriltco is the
first doty of patriotism. But we must close this argu- j
rnent for the present.
The Convention was tho largest, mrst respectable,
most talented and most harmonious party Convention,
it is said by those who kuow, that has assembled in
Georgia in twenty years. Seventy-throe counties were
represented by one*hundred and seventy-four delegates,
and no one county had more than five delegates.—-
Many of tho most distinguished members of the Demo* ;
cratic party in the State were present. It would be j
invidious to designate them by name, but we cannot \
foibear to acknowledge our own gratitude to lion.
Ilowell Cobb for his able and efficient services in the j
construction of the Platform of Principles. Taking the !
resolutions adopted in Muscogee and Richmond, in pri- j
mary assemblies, as a sort of letters of instruction from j
the people of Georgia, he fitted up a platform which i
fully meets the exigencies of the times and must and ;
will challenge the admiration and defy tho criticism of’ j
the people of the whole Union and, we would fain hope,
commend itself to the judgments and hearts of the peo
pie of Georgia. If it fail to rttain this sanction, it w ill
fail to accomplish the great aim of the distinguished
gentleman who reported it,and also of the able and pa
triotic committee whose organ ho was, and of the Con
vention by which it was adopted. May the God of j
our fathers give it ready admittance into the heads and j
hearts of tho people of Georgia. Upon the cordial and |
healty adoption of the sentiments and views set forth i
in it. by tho people of the South, depends, in our poor J
judgment, the safety of the Union, and if that cannot j
he secured, the salvation of the South.
After the resolutions were adopted, the Convention |
listened to able, eloquent end telling speeches from |
Messrs. Cobb and Sales, followed by short and pointed j
addresses from Ward, Lamar, McGehee and Cowart.
Mr. Cobb was particularly h3ppy in his eloquent de- j
n uncial ions of the secret operations, and fatal associa- ;
lions of the, so called, American party, and in his pas ;
-triotio appeals to all good and true men of the Sooth to j
abandon the organiz ition and join him in aiding arid j
supporting those national Democrats who have alone j
stood by the rights of the South, and in building up the j
■only political organiz ition at the North that now exists j
or can be foraged, with which the South can consiatent
3’* co operate. The Address of Mr. Stiles was a mas*
terfy dissection of the form, principles and practices of
the new-order.’ lie showed that it was opposed to Pro
testant teaching, anti* republican, destructive of public
morals.unconstitutiona! in its objects,contrary to the ge
nius of our Government and the habivs ,td practices of
our fathers. His address was carefully prepared, chaste,
elegant and t & olive, and was delivered in the highest
stylo of the act of elocution. It told upon the audience,
and was responded to with long, loud and frequent
burets of eppiauso which shook the cwilsl to its foun
dations. . ,
At the close of these addresses, the audience caught
a glimpse of the nominee of the party for Governor, and
‘Johnson’ rung through the Hall of t!*J Representatives.
In response to tho unexpected call, Governor Johnson
advanced to the center cf thd Hall and after accepting
the nomination so honorably tendered to him by a vote
of 260 out of 285 votes, addressed tho Convention ft
fw wall timed remarks down tha little
opposition that existed to his nomination. The Con
vention then adjourned, in the highest spirits, determin
ed to conquer a victory only equaled by that recently
achieved by the gallant Wise in the Old Dominion.
The labors of the day were dosed with a re-union at
the Executive Mansion.
Ratification Meeting in Macon.
On the day succeeding, the people of Bibb met in
Mass meetingtto ratify the action of the Convention.—
Temperance Hall was crowded to its utmost capacity,
and still others pressed to find entrance. The exercises
were opened by calling Ilenry G. Lamar to the chair,
who successively introduced to the audience James
Milton Smith, Esq., Governor Johnson, lion. Howell
Cobb and lion. William 11. Stiles, all of whom address
ed the meeting in the most telling manner. Mr. Smith
is the nominee of the Democracy for Congress in the
3d District. lie is worthy of the high honor conferred
upon him by his fellow citizens. He is not as elegant
as Stiles, but he wields the club of Hercules. Success
to him. Governor Johnson made one of his happiest
efforts. The resolutions ottered by Mr. James A. Nis
bet ratifying the action of the Convention were adopted
with a will. The meeting was a most glorious one.—
The only fault we found with it w*j that the wild enthu
siasm of the audience interrupted the speakers. It
was like the swellings of Jordan. We have but to add
that if the spirit at work in Bibb county 3hall pervade
the State, the majority of Johnson will exceed 10 000
in October. We were pleased to see among the au
dience, as, indeed, there were in the Convention, eeve- *
ral excellent Whigs who had affiliated with the Democ- j
racy on account of their bold and manly opposition to
the latest and most hurtful ism of the day.
Responses to the Mnscogee Circular—Sectional j
Party,
We continue to publish the responses of the free* of j
Georgia to the Temperance Hall, or as the movers choose j
to call it, the vo party movement. But one favorable
response has yet reached us. It is from the Chronicle
J* Sentinel. On the part of that paper, it seems to be
r. desperate recourse to call back the stray sheep of the
Union Republican fold from the false Gods they have
erected in the council chambers of the Know Nothings.
The Know Nothing press have given it the go-by gene
rally. This is a bad omen. The movement was set on j
foot here by the members of the Order. The response ;
of their brethren in other parts of the State must convince ;
them, as well as the public that the sooner they leave j
the Order the better it will be for themselve* and the j
country. We are gratified at the courteous reception 1
the movement has received from the Democratic press, j
Every Democratic paper that has noticed the movement, j
has expressed an ardent desire for Southern union, and j
are only deterred from joining in the movement by
destrust of the Know Nothings and the hope that our
rights may be preserved by a closer and more genera!
affiliation of Souhern men with the sound elements of
j the Northern Democracy. If there fears and hopes
alike prove groundless, the South will be compelled to
cutoff all association with Northern men and Northern
parties, and strike for independence.
But here are the responses :
The next in order is from the Georgia Citizen , an
avowed Know’ Nothing organ. The Citizen very lusti
!y abuses the Democracy for not breaking down their
organizaion, but in the last sentence of a long aeticle,
refuses to commit itself to the cause of‘‘the union of all j
parties, South, for the South 71 until it knows more of
the considerations which have operated to eall this
new Union party into existence at this particular cri
sis. Why not allow i:s Democratic cotemporaries a
iike privilege, before denouncing them T
The Georgia Citizen , under the caption of A New
Movement , eays:
“Avery large and respectable meeting of the citi
j zens of Columbus, of oil parties and shades of political
j opinion, was held in that city, on Saturday evening last,
to take action in respect to the present state of political !
affair# of the country, and for the union of ail parties,
South, for the sake of the South. At least this seems
to have been the object, judging from the tone and
temper of the preamble and resolutions adopted by the
; meeting. The Ist resolution declares the American
; Union secondary in importance to the rights and prin
ciples it woe designed to perpetuate—and as binding j
| only so long as it continues tp be the safe guard of said ;
j rights aud principles. The 2d endorsee the disruption j
I Resolution of the Georgia Platform. The 3d expresses j
! the opinion that the time has arrived, when Southern
I men should cease front their dissensions, and unite for !
| the common defence and safety. Tb?sth repudiates all j
fellowship with present national political organizations j
; and recommend# that citizens of all classes unite in Bi nd- j
j ing Delegates to a Convention at Milledgeville on the !
j 4th day of July, for the purpose of nominating a can- !
! didate for Governor, &?. The sth request# other par- !
! ties not to nominate candidates, and the ‘Know ;
I Nothings 1 arc ineldued by the committee in this request, j
i “While we have no objection to the principles avow.
ed and the measures contemplated by these 700 citizens
of Muscogee. As far as we understand them, we are
free to S3y that we see no earthly prospect of any such
consummation. The bitterness of one class of partizans
against all who do not bow the knew to tho Baal of
their idolatry is too great to allow of the hope that they \
will unite with the people of Muscogee in this scheme
of reconciliation. They are now flushed with the ex* i
eitement of an imaginary triumph, and are in no temper
to listen to any terms which will place every body else
on an equal footing with them selves. After their defeat,
next October , we doubt not, they will feel in a better
spirit for compromise and reconciliation, preparatory to
the grand national Tournament , which comes otF in
i856. True, it may then be too late, but when did the
‘fierce democracy’ ever pause to consider the consequen
ces to the country, when their leaders’ nostrils were
j saluted with the oily fragrance which steam# up from
’ the flesh pot# of Egypt!
“Thus much we say, now, of this new and important
movement. With its known objects we sympathizo,
but we do not care to comit ourselves to its cause, un
| til we know more of the considerations which have
! operated to call this new Union Party into existence at
! this particular crisis.”
The next article in hand is from that excellent
j Democratic paper, the Savannah Journal <J- Courier.
| We particularly invite attention to it. It is a calm re
| view of the w hole argument on both sides and is con>
elusive as to the line of policy that ought to bo adopted
by all good and true men who really desire to 6ecure
Southern union and protect thereby the rights of the
South in the Union and without a resort to the doubtful
policy of separate Southern action.
The Journal Courier , under the caption of The
• Present Time, Bays:
j “To us, the present seems a timo of infinite import
j as regards the political destiny of Georgia. The break
i ing up the Whig party, the extinction of partitm feel
j ings in the minds of the Democrat#, the cheek given
j the Know Nothing movement by the demonstration of
i Messrs. Stephen end Toombs, followed by the result of
! the Virginia elections, the drawing together of all our i
{ political leader# and statesmen on the Georgia Piat
! form—all designate the present a# llio period when, if
! ever, the pcsple of Georgia, bound together by common
j interests, may be made to unite in a single political or
| ganiz ition.
S “The importance of such a union, few will question :
j — eV en those who despair of seeing it, admit its deeira
j bleness. How, if at all, can it be brought about? j
I “Two propositions are now before the people of the i
j State. One is to unite upon the basis of the Georgia !
j pUtform, without reference to parties in the North, or,
: rather, by dissolving all connexion with existing Nor
thern parties. This proposition, we should hope, how
ever, contemplates co operation with whatever there
may be cf real coneervutism and ts fidelity to the con
stitution in the North.
“We need not say how cheerfully we will unite with
and give our aid to the furtherance of this movement,
provided it shall seem best adapted to make of the peo
ple cf this and other Southern State#, ‘one people and
oao party.’ A Democrat since our entrance upon life—
something, too, of an enthusiast in devotion to our party
and its principles—there has yet been no time, for years, j
when we would not havj surrendered all interest in ;
that party ia favor of anotjker designed to unite the |
Sotiih with a promise of giving A more ettewiyal support
to the constitution and rights guaranteed to ftli by that
sacred instrument.
“The second proposition in, first having incorporated
the Georgia platform into that of the Democratic party,
to make it the party of the South, of the Constitution
i gev of *h JJaios, A f troop argument lo favor of this
course is that there are a respectable number of Nor* j
them Democrats of the school of Dickinson, Douglas, j
Cass, and Bright, already in communion with thi# party, j
from whom we should not disconnect ourselves. In i
other words It is asserted that after purifying the Nor- j
them Democracy of its freesoil and Van Bureti ele- !
ments, there will be still left au effective constitutional
party beyond the Potomac, numerous enough, wheu
combined with the undivided South, to obtain a victory
over the force# of abolitionism.
**We admit the force of these considerations. And
it does seem that the mere name of Democracy should
not deter men from a party, if that party wifi guaranty
the results which they desire. Still wo have our fears.
“To show to those who have looked to the Know
Nothing organization for the accomplishment of (he
great work of maintaining the Constitution and pros
trating Abolitionism, (as many good men have,) that
they are doomed to disappointment and should turn to
jjonie other resource, v;e may be permitted to quote the
following paragraph from a paper whose opinion they
must regard as worthy of the highest respect. Bays
the Journal of Commerce :
“‘With the single exception of the State of New
York, Know No! hi agism in tha Northern and North
western States has only Served as a watchword to unite
the auli-Democratic faction#; arid the compound ia
found to contain a more concentrated virtue of sectional
fanaticism than either of the simples of which it is com
posed. The State where Know Nothir.gism ha# most
i completely triumphed, is the State which has most dis
| graced itself by Abolition madness and rebellion. How
| nan it be expected that the Sooth will throw itself into the
t-mbrace of suoh 3 party ? We did at one time hope
that Know Nolhingism would pour nil upon the
| troubled waters of sectional strife —but tte hope eo
I no longer. It has shown its cloven feet too distinctly to
! ho any longer trusted. If the country is to be saved
| from the dangers which threaten it, the Democratic
party 6 doabtless the appointed medium. We are
therefore not sorry, but glad, to see old Virginia success
folly breasting the tide which has already swept over so
large a portion of the country.’
“Our space permit# us to say no more to day. Ere
long, we shall give further consideration of the question
of a unioii of tha South for the preservation cf the
OnioUfr
To Democratic Know Nothing?!.
This is a singular combination of words, yet it des
cribes accurately a large class of very respectable gen
tlemen. This by the way.
We desire to address a few words to you and hope
you will hear us with patience and extend to us your
confidence. We take it for granted that the Know
Nothing organization is dissolved. We presume the
work was done by jour delegates to the Philadelphia
Convention which met on the stli inst. If it was not
dissolved, you cannet remain in affiliation with it, unless
it pledges its membership to the Nebraska Kansas act ■
aa ito the execution of the Fugitive Slave law. Wc i
apeak to you as Southern men. You cannot affiliate ;
with the Northern membership of the Order even
though the Philadelphia Convention ignores the subject :
of slavery. Such conduct would be misprision of trea
son to your native land. Taking it for granted, then, j
that the Councils of the Order at the Sou.h will be dis
solved, or, at least, that jou will bo compelled to sever
your connection with the Otqjer, the next question that !
arises will be that propounded by Daniel Webster on :
a very interesting occasion —where shall Igo ? That ]
enquiry wo propose to answer. We are aware that
very hot words have passed between you and us during !
the last six months, and that personal hostility has pro
bably been engendered in some case#. Admit for the
Bake of the argument that Democrat#, opposed to the ,
Order, have indulged in unauthorized denunciations of j
you, what then 1 They are but men and no eauae ,
ought to be prejudiced by the faults of its representative*, i
The great fundamental principles of the Democratic tailh
remain the same, tnd, unless you have lost confidence j
iu them, you are not authorized by any law of moral* I
to place yourself in antagonism to them because* you
hate some men by whom they are advocated. Such
conduct would be a# dishonest as it would be *i!ly.—
Great effort# will be made, no doubt, to widen the
breach that separates you from the Democratic party.
If you yield to your passions and join the opposition
party, call it by what name you will, Southern, Sec
tional, Union Republican, or National, you may gain n
personal revenge, but this will be a poor reward fer the j
abandonment of your cherished principles and the
overthrow of the organization which alone has or can
sustain them. We speak advisedly. A parly opposed
I to the Democratic party must, in the nature of things,
I oppose Democratic principles. This was most unhop
! pily illustrated in the history of tha connection formed
! by the States Right# party of Georg a. with the Whig
! party in 1840. In. ten years, of opposition to the Demo
; cralic party, they ceased to be States Right# men, and
| ruthlessly trampled under foot as heresy and treason
every principle they had been taught to revere, As it
has been, to it will be. Wo warn you, therefore, :
against attaching yourselves to a party opposed to the
Democratic party, no matter by what specious claptrap
it may be commended to your acceptance. The Demo
cratic party now occupies every available position that
a Southern man can occupy during the present eventful
crisis in our affaire. The opposition parly cannot hope
|to live upon the same ground. It must either go be
yond them and form a Disunion party, or fall behind
them and form a Union party. Either course is full
of danger. You are in no danger, at present, ot the
Union mania. We, therefore, pas# that by. But you
are in danger of being rallied under & Disunion ban
ner. D sunion, you are aware, has no terrors for us if
it is forced upon us. But neither you nor we would
risk tha peril# of disunion from choice. We look w ith
reverence upon the “bannered 6tars 7 ’ —the emblem of j
our union at home, and the evidence of our power to j
the ends of the earth. Every new star that bExcs !
upon our flag sends a thrill of joy to the oppressed o! j
every land, and a pang of fearful foreboding to every \
oppressor. We had rather Bee that bright constellation *
in the political sky, under which we have risen to go
much renown, increased in numbers and brightness sn
hundred fold, than to see it “broken up, and gink,
star af’tr star, into obscurity and right.” If it
tffiall be converted into an engine of oppression,
we would rend it to atoms, but we would vail our eyes
before we struck the fatal blow. But what new cause
has arisen since 1850 that the Union savers of that day
should become the Union breaker# of the present hour 1
Has not the odious res*fictions placed upon the srpead
of Southern institutions by the Missouri Compromise;
repealed ? Is not slavery planted in Kansas ns j
firmly as her granite hills ? Is there not every preba
b.lity that, with the aid of the Northern Democracy,
who enabled us to pass the Nebraska-Kansas act, we
can consummate the work so auspiciously begun and
admit Kansas as a slaveholding State? Why risk this
chance, nay, almost certainty, by deserting our Nor
thern alius ia the hour cf their sorest need and thereby
give the Free Sutlers an eav triumph over an ad
i ministration which, say what wc will of it. is the present
grand point of attack of the infamous hosts of Northern
fanaticism ? It ie sheer nonsense to t3lk of other com
bination# with the sound elements at the North, than
that which now exists in the Democratic party. There
are no other sound element# than those embraced in
this association, and if they ever will be able to roll
back the tide.* of Northern fanaticism it must be in their
present organization. The Democratic party has r
prestige, acquired by a long succession of victories and
by a suectssful administration us the Government wnich
attaches to no other party that every existed in the |
United States. Why sacrifice this vantage ground ?
But there is no need to pursue the argument. The
Southern Democracy having resolved not to di#bid,
every other party formed a*, the South must bo in an
tagonism to it r*nd. per force, in antagonism to the Nor
thern Democrats who voted for the Nebraska bill, or,
in other words, the onlv men at tfio North who are
friendly to the South,
But, say you, we are proscribed by the Democracy.
You arc vastly mistaken, my Know Nothing friend.
The principles of the Know Nothin*# aro proscribed,
not the men who have been gulled by specious stories
into Know Nothing Lodges. We know all about your
secret detestation of the principles and praotices of the
j Order. We know how you were persuaded to enter
the secret conclaves by pretended friends, bnt real ene
mies. IVs have no prejudices against you. We
Byrnpath ze with your position. We know and feel ite
embarrassments. Bnt show yourselves men. Come
cst at once. Return to your father's hoaeo. Wo ten
der yep the fatted calf aci • wdiol welcome# Y©
• • f , t
| know nil this fear of Foreigner# and Catholics is Com
| foolery, u.-d that there ie no sort of use for a secret
i political order to put them under foot. American# al
! way? have and always will rule America. The only
! question worthy of consideration is whether the Araeri
i can chv&cp to rule America are sound and reliable
men on the paramount issue# pending between the
North and the South. On these questions you and we
agree. Let us shake hands, forget the past, and devote
ourselves to the service of our country.
A Friendly address to Sam—That Same Old
Coon Exposed*
Well, Sam, we said a good many hard things about
you when you rode in State through the land aud the
applause of the million rung in your ears and turned your
old fool'/? pate. Some of your boys got very mad at
u# and threatened to ride up on a rail if we did not treat
you with more respect. We took no heed of their
threats, and continued to show up in what wo thought
were your true color?. We really thought you wero
some Napoleon the Great, or some other mighty war
rior and tyrant, who was about to invade the Southern
States and make slaves of the people, proscribe the
Catholics, massacre the Irish, and play the d—l. Fat
don our mistake, old gentleman. If you had not con- j
cealed yourself, and worn eo many disguises, we never j
should have rai&ed eueh a muss over you. Why, you ]
old sinner, a bight of ouc ring of your tail would have i
! put us ia a good humor. How did you hate the heart
to fool u# poor simple Democrats so badly, you conning
old Coon. Wc beg your pardon most sincerely, you
old hard cider drinking scoundrel. Since Wise etript
your lion’s 6kin off of you, and showed us your grin
ning coony phiz, wo are perfectly - willing to make
friends. But then, we insist that you do not fool those
honest, well meaning democrats you took in with vo&r
tomfoolery any longer. Rt-lease the boy# from their
•oaths, and let them come hack to their o id friends.'——
That Southern Rights dodge you made in Temperance
Hall on the 2fith uit., was right clever, but Col. Holt
has let the cat out of the bag and its no use to play that
j hand. You will be bound to lose if you bet strong on
I it. It is a shame to practice such a trick on General
j Bethune and Major Howard. They are entirely too
: clever and honest to be used in that way. And let
us give you a friendly piece of advice. If you let them
associate with the buys much longer and they gel their
confidence, the first thing you know they will have all
the young SamivilU prizing the Union asunder, and,
we all know, that is no; a favorite scheme of yours.—
Try some less haairdous trick and let edged tools alone.
Sumo subjects are too grave for je*t. If once the
breach is made, and the old fabric begins to toller, it
will be impossible for us to hold back our bloody fire
eating Democrats. Tiny will all fly to the help of the
General and of the Major, and then what will become
of you ? it your particular friends, the Yankees, catch
you, they will not leave a ring on your tail.
Manuscript Illustrations.
We aro indebted to the editor of the Mobile Regis
j ter for some admirable manuscript illustrations of the
; last phase of Federal Whiggery. One of them is wor
; thy of special notice. In the baekgiound is an eld
j “Log Cabin,” beside the door of which lies a barrel of
| “Hard Cider. 1 * The smoke still curls from the chiin
; ney to indicate that the venerable mansion is not yet
! deserted by the inhabitants. In the foreground is the
head cf the family. His front view would Indicate tha*.
• lie ia a veritable Young American—but on closer in*
j spection you find that he wears a mark labelled Sam f
I and a side glance convinces you that he is the same old
j Coon bo well known by the American people—there
; is no mistaking the rings on hi* tail which, however, he
; attempts to hide with the American flag. He tramples
i the Cross, the Constitution, and the bird of Liberty
> under his feet, to indicate, we presume, the religious
I intolerance, unconstitutional aims, and inexorable tyr
anny which characterizes the Order. The illustration
j was very accurate at the time it was made, but needs ;
{ some additions. Since the i ketch was gotten op, the ;
! old varmint ha# added to his other disguises a flaming !
sword on which is ineciibed Southern Rights in large j
capitals, and has reasoi# to congratulate himself upon j
the success of this last dodge. Look sharp, you poor |
pincy woods Democrat, or he will deceive you. If you ;
aro content with a front view you are gone, lie is i
fierce as a fire eater and utters great swelling words ,
to iuke in the #>ft ones. But just turn hi flank and ;
get a sido view and the jug is up—there is no doubt j
1 about that tail —it belongs to that same old Coon i
Oid Federalism never kept the same clothes on more !
than eight years at a lime. Its most hopeful progeny,
Federal Whiggery, puts on anew suit every four years 1
and changes his name every two ; but “them rings- y
—there is no mistaking them.
Mr. Toombs* Letter.
We publish, in another column, a strong letter from
Senator Toombs sgainst the Know Nothings, which
we commend to the notice of our readers. The letter
referred to by him has never come to hand. It was,
! doubtless stolen out of the Post Office. It was mailed
at Milledgeville about the 10th ulfc. The bags are open
ed but once, and then at Macon, between Milledgeville
and Columbus. We hope the efficient Font Masters at i
the three offices will investigate the matter. Wo en
tirely agree with the distinguished Senator in his views
as to the importauoa of the union of the Southern State#
“for the preservation of their rights, the Constitution,
and the Union,” and we especial y cominendthat touching
appeal to Southern men to uphold and support “that
noble baud of patriots, at the North, who have stood for
the Constitution and the right against the tempest of t'a
naticism, folly and treason which has assailed them. 1 ’
They are all Democrats. It is a remarkable fact in the
history of the Senator, that though he is the Whig of
Whigs, he has never uttered the first syllable in hi# place !
j in the Senate against the President or nis udministra- .
j tion. The reason why he ha# not done eo is, as he has
! often stated, that Fierce and his administ* alien are the
i present points of attack of Northern fanaticism and
| ought to be upheld by Southern men. We commend
I the course f the Senator to the study and imitation of
those of his followers in Georgia who are eo
very much outraged because the Democracy in Con
vention have * pec i ally commend those specific act? of
his administration which the Abolitionists condemn.
The views of Senator Toombs upon the subject of
of Know Nolhingism have lost much of their interest j
and value, as it is generally understood that the Order
i# in a dying condition from wounds inflicted by Henry j
A. Wise in n recent struggle he had with it in the j
Old Dominion. We give them, however, a# part of i
; the history of the times.
Watermelon# tn June.
On our return from Milledgeville on the 7th in#;.,
we were gratified to find upon our table as a testimonial
of remembrance from our kind friends Messrs. Moses
and Lee, of this vicinity, a large and luscious water* {
melon. I; was raised with Guana and no other kind j
ol maoure. What says Mr. Peabody now to the im* j
possibility of raising early watermelons with Guano ? j
A t iste of the article, convinces us that this manure is !
riot fully appreciated by Southern Horticulturists. We :
judge the tree by it# fruits.
Columbus is a fast place in horticulture as well a# j
polities. Who can beat Messrs. Moses and in f3ie
iug watermelons t
It never Rains cut it Pours —Ou the 7th inst., we
acknowled the receipt of a fine watermelon from Messrs.
Moses Sz Lee of this vicinity. The next day Mr. Chas.
A. Peabody brought into our office another on#, a lit*
tie larger, perhaps, than that of his competitors. It was
i raised with compost manure. Under the circumstan
ces, we are unable to say whether guano or oompoat if
the most efficient manure in garden culture.
The Stewart Meeting.
We have received a very graphic account of the
bogus meeting in Stewart county. We will give it in
our next. We look for fun on the 10;h.
Cats in thk Meal Tub.—We are informed, by re
liable authority, that the Know Nothings in this place
have initiated fifty members into the secrets of the Or
der since the meeting of the 26th uit., when they pro
posed to disband all political organizations for the pur
pose of forming one people and one party. What does
|hi# mean ?
More Withdrawals from the Know Nothings
W# call particular attention to the communication of
Mr. A. 11. McGehee, of Harris county, giving hi# rea
sons for withdrawing from the Know Nothings. We
learn that about fifty persons have withdrawn from the
Order la Karri* county within a short time past,
v
Reported Expressly for the Times £ Sentinel.
PROCEEDINGS
OF TiiS
DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION.
Millitdgsville, Jane 5, 1855.
The Convention assembled in the Hall of the House
of Representative? at IQ v’clcck, A. M , ou Tuesday,
sth inst.
On motion of 11. Green, E*q.,of Pike, Hon. Jo
seph Day, of Jones, was called to the Chair, and
Messrs. E. D. Tracy, of Bibb, and L. 11. Briscel, of
Walton, were requested to act as Secretaries for the
purpose of organization.
On motion of Nathan Bass, of Bibb, the roll of the
Counties was called and the following delegates ap- i
peered ana their names were enrolled &e members of
the Convention :
Baker —L. G. Rowell.
Baldwin —Wm. L. McKinley, M. D. McComb, D. P.
Brown.
Bibb— N. Bass, P. Tracy, F. L. Strohacker, L. Q. C. La
mar, W. K. DcGraffenried.
Burke—r. Sapp, ii. J. .Schley, E. L. Anthony.
Butts—E. Varner, J. R. Lyons, B. W. Collier.
Calhoun—W. E. Griffia.
Cass—J.A. Crawford.
Chatham—J. E. Ward,W. H. Stiles, T. Puree,G. A. Gor*
I don, Phillip, J. Punch,
i Carrol!—W. I’. Johnson.
Catoosa—M. Dixon.
] Chattooga—J. A. Glcuu. M
! Cherokee —M. J Camden,-L. Fields.
; Clarke—Howell Cobb, Wm. L. Mitchell, C. S. Oliver.
| Cobb—W. Phillip?, W. T. Skelton, S. Lawrence.
; Coweta—J. P. Shropshire,}W. U. Andaieon.
Columbia—T. E. Beall, 1. M. VYstaon.
j Crawford—W.C. Cieaveland, L. F. Hicks.
Dade—Ber.j. Easley.
I)ecatur—.*i. A. Alien.
Do Kalb—D. Johnson, J. Crockett.
Dooly—J. D. Letter, Sr., Elijah Butt#, J. B. Coldiug, J.C.
Mouhgor.
Dougherty—D. H. Sander?, G. M. Lawton.
Early—W.C. Cook.
Faye te—G C. King, P. Fitzpatrick, WA. Redding.
Fjoyd—W. A. Waters,O. A. Myers, ?d. H. iiaynie.
Forsyth—Hardy Strickland.
Franklin—W. Turk, J. F. Turk.
Fulton—A. Nelson, L. J. Glenn. T. C. Howard,
F. Fain, Robert B. Yonng.
Gwinnett—H. P. Thoma, J.C. Whitworth, K. T. Terrell.
I. M. Young.
Habersham—George D. Phillips.
Hall—John A. Deaden.
Hancock—F. H. Sanford, R. M. Johnston, A. J. Lane,
Wm. B. Fraley and H.T. Fraley.
Henry—ll. Tomlinson and R. M. Stell.
Irwin—George Wilcox,
Jackson—M. A. Pattman and Wm. J. Miller.
Jasper-J. W. Burney, Flemming Jordan,W.C. Lovejoy
and A. J Watters.
Jones —Rob’t Brown, W. L. FlemLster, W. A. Lane and
Joseph Day.
Kinchafoonee— D. B. Harrall.
Lee—Leonidas B. Mercer.
Lincoln—J. E. Wilks, Wm. Dallas'and O.T. Teny.
Macon— F T. Snead and Samuel Hail.
Madison—l?. A. Nixon and Wm. J. Pittman.
Mclnto.-h—Charles Spalding and N. R. Johnston. ,
Marion—ll. M. Jeter and James M. Hall.
Mon roe—J n me# S. St ric k i and.
Morgan—JamesS. Reid, D. B. Lane and W. Woods.
Murray-'Jarne# Edmondson, James Morris and S. L.
Stowe.
Muscogee—J F. Bozeman, G. J. Fitts, James Hamilton,
P. H. Colquitt and Tennant Lomax.
Newton—J. P. Henderson, Thomas F. Jones and J. M.
Lamar.
Paulding—W. J Chs£lain.
j Pike—Hartford Green and James Eppinger.
I Polk—John A. Jone3 ami 1 homo# C. Bonner,
j Pulaski—George YV. Jordan.
! Putnam—Junius Wingfield, Daniel Slade, J. C. Denham,
J. D. Diomatiiri and J. A. Turner.
j Randolph— M. G. Stamper, James L. Ross ami George S.
| Robinson.
| Richmond—James Gardner, Jr., George T. Barnes, J v J.
Martin and George Robertson.
: Spalding—William Cline, R. W. McCune, G. J. Greene,
J.G. Lindsey and J H. Maugham.
| Scriven —represented by Chatham.
* Stewart— C,. J Walker, JotlF. Porter, Banjamin May and
j Burrwell K Hanson.
: Sumter —R. H. D. Sorreil and A. R. Lamar.
Talbot—Je>ae Carter, \V. A. Daniel and Levi B. Smith.
Taylor—David P. M. Brand.
Teltair—JohnC. Daniel, John D. Wilcox and J. M. Jones.
Troup—J. M. Flowers, Thos 1). Harm and J. M. Speer.
Twiggs—John G. Coleman, J. F. Shine and Jarne# Balk
corn.
Union—J. P. Wellborn.
Upson—C. W. Moore.
Walton—Sam’l G. Loeklin, G. J. Hurst, Willis Kilgore
! and W. W. Nowell.
| Washington—Sam’l Robinson, Oliver H. Prince and Steph*
j e Mills.
! Whitfield—Owon H. Kenan and William Gordon.
! Wilkinson—B. W. Finney, D. Hudson, James Pierce and)
William O. Beall.
; Worth—A. J. Shine.
\ On motion of William K. DeGraffeortid, a commit- ]
; tee of three from each Congressional District was ap- •
! pointed to select permanent officers for the Convention, j
j who retired, and, after an absent**? of a few moments, I
returned end reported a follows : President, James :
i Gardner, jr., of Richmond : Vic© Presidents, Geo. 1)
i Phillips of Habersham, M. J. Camden, of Cherokee, j
| W. L. Mitchell, of Clarke, Fleming Jordan of Jasper,
i 3nd Geo. Wilcox cf Irwin : Secretaries retained.
On motion of W. K, DeGraffVnried, a committee
! wai appointed to conduct th# President to the Chair,
; who, upon taking his seat, tendered hi# thanks for the
i honor conferred upon him, and iu a few pertinent re
j murks explained tha objects of the assembling, nod
1 passed in rapid review the singular sad anomalous con
dition in which the Convention found the country. “Ail
! the great measures for which the Democratic party have
contended,” said ho, “have been introduced into prae
■ tical operation, and are uow the settled policy of the
j country. Our old enemies, the Whigs, have been me!
j on an open neid and vanquished in a fair fight. In
j stead of finding in the State of Georgia one people and
one party, anew organization has started up in our
midst, originating we know no! where, and purposing
w knox not what,which has arrayed itself in opposition
to the Democratic party. 1 * lie urged the Democratic
party tea firm adherence to their time honored flag and
glorious principles and SKsuied them of a victory no!
less complete and crushing than that recently achieved
in the Old Dominion by thu Virginia Democracy and
their 10,00® sYhig allies. A similar combination in
Georgia would, he believed, achieve a similar result
After calling upon the members cf the Con*
vention to attribute any errors he might commit t want
■ of experience in a position alike honorable ss it was
complimentary, the President took his seat amid the
loud applause of hie auditory.
On motiou of Howell Cobb, of Clarke, a commit
tee of throe from each Congressional District, to report
business tor the action of the Convention was appointed
by the President as follows : —Messrs Howell Cobb,
Hardy Strickland, John A. Ileaden, John K. Ward,
| Chas. Spalding. Win. 11. Stiles, Jamee Hamilton, Geo.
i S. Robinson, L. B. Mercer, R. W. McCune, 1.. Q. C.
; Lamar, Nathan Bass, T. C. Howard, L. J. Glenn, S
! Lawrence, O. 11. Kenan, Robt. B. Young, John A.
j Jones, Joseph A. Turner, Wm McKinley, A. J. Lane,
| E. Leßoy Anthony, J. J. Martin and TUoe Beal!.
The Convention then took a recess until 3 o’clock,
r. M.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Milleduevills, Jane 5, 1555, 3 P. M.
The Committee made the following report through
their chairman^:
Resolved , That the Convention do first proceed to ballot
for the nominee of the Democratic party oH Georgia fyr
Governor, in the approaching canvas# —which was unani
j moody eatriod.
| Before proceeding to ballot, ou motion cf Mr. Bass,
I of Bibb, it wo* agreed, that in the selection of a Can
i didate, the basi* of representation in the Convention of •
\ 1349, be adopted, ia the number of votes to which
j each county is entitUd.
i AL° it was agreed, on motion of D. B. Harrell, of ]
Kinohafonec, that ia tho balloting about to be had for
i Governor, two thirds shall be necessary to a choice.
The Convention then proceeded to ballot with the
following result:
11. V. Johnson, 200 Wm. £!. Stile#, 3
John E. Ward, 3 Hiram Warner, l
Joseph Day, 3 John W. Lewis, 16
It was then announced by the Chair that Ilerschell j
V. Johnson, of Baldwin, having received more than j
two thirds of the ballots ;*a#t, was duly nominated as the !
candidate of the Democratic party for Governor of Geor- {
gia at the next election.
The committee further reported the following j
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS*
Democratic principles and Democratic measures on all
. leading questions of national pol cy, involving the subject#
of finance and taxation, and appropriations of money, and
of constitutional power in reference thereto, have become
the fixed and settled policy of the country. The issues
therein involved, which formerly divided Southern Demo
crats and Whigs, no longer afford ground for continu
ed separation and conflict among them. Now, other
question# nt practical and paramount importance are press
ing upon the earnest Attention of Southern men, and are of
such a nature as require cordial and fraternal concert of
action among all who eouncur in sentiment upon those
questions.
In viow of these obvious truths, and to secure this con
cert of action, the Democratic party of Georgia in Con
vention assembled, submit to their fellow citizens the fol
lowing platform of principles, and cordially and earnestly
invite the co operation of all citizens ot Georgia, regard
less of ail party distinctions, who desire to see them estab
lished as the true basis of the constitutional And just action
a f thie govern monk
Ist “Resolved, In the language of the Georgia Conven
tion of 1850, that we hold the American Union, secondary
in importance only to the rights and principles it was de*
signed to i erpetuate; that past associations, present frui
tion, andJuture pro peels, will bind us to it so long as it
co tin ties to be the3ateguard of those rights and principles.
Si, Resolved, That we hereby declare our lull and un
qualified adhesion to the following resolution of the Geor
gia Convention of 1860, and our unalterable determination
to maintain it m its letter and spirit.
4ih Resolution—Georgia Platform.
That the Stale of Georgia, in the judgment of this
convention, will aud ought to resist, even fas a lar-t resort) to
a disruption o! every lie which bind# her Ut the Union, any
action of Congress upon the subject of 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 slavehcdd
i ing States; or any act suppressing the slave trade between
the fdaveholding Slates; or any refu al to admit as a
State any territory hereafter applying, because of the oxis
tence of slavery therein; or any act prohibiting the in
troduction oi slave# into the territories of Utah and New
Mexico; or any act repealing or materially modifying
the laws in force for the recovery of iugitive staves.
21. Resolved, That we approve and endorse the action
of our last Congress in the passage of the Nebraska* Kan
sas act.and the principles therein established: and in con
formity with these principles, the people of Kansas have
the right, when the number of flier population justifies it, to
form a Republican State Constitution with or without sla
very as they may determine, and be admitted into the Un
ion upon an equal footing with the other States, and that
her rejection Dy Congress, on account of slavery, would be
a just cause for the disruption of all the ties that bind the
State of Georgia to the Union.
4th. Resolved, That we adopt as our own, the foliow
ing resolution passed unanimously by the last Legislature
of Georgia.
*•Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of
Georgia,’ Hist opposition to tho principles of the Nebraska
Bill, in relation to the subject of slavery, is regarded by the
people of Georgia, a* hostility to the. people of the South,
and that all persona who partake in eueh opposition arc un
lit to be recognized r.s component parts of any party or or
ganization not hostile to the South.”
sth. Res itted, Thai in accordance with the above reso
lution, whilst we are willing to act in party association
with ail sound and reliable men in every section of the Un
ion, wo are not willing to affiliate with any parly that shall
not recognize,approve and carry out the principles and
provisions of the Nebraska- Kansas act, —and that the De
mocratic party of Georgia will cut off all party connection
with every man and party at the North or elsewhere, that
does not come up fully and fairly to this line of action.
6. Resolved, That the National Democracy of the North,
who have patriotically fought for the Kansas and Nebraska
Acts and the maintenance of the Fugitive Slave Law,
against the combined forces of Know Nothingism ami
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 h artfelt sym
pathies, thunk* and encouragement of Southern meu in
their patriotic position.
Resolved, That in the National Democratic party
of the North alone, have been found those patriotic men
w ho have tnus :-tood by the rights of the South, and judging
the future by the past, that party ie the only organization at
the North that now exists or can be formed, with which
c-e Souih can consistently eo operate.
Bth. Resolved, Thai we sympathize with the friends of
the slavery c-au. e in Kansas, m their manly effort* to main
tain their rights and the rights and interests of the Southern
people and that we rejoice at their recent victories over the
paid adventurers and je-uitical hordes ot northern abolition
ism. 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 pro. er, and
that it i# their right and duty to extend to their Southern
brethren in that Territory every legitimate and honorable
sympathy and support.
vth. Resolved, That we are uncompromisingly opposed
to the political organization commonly called the Know
Nothing Order, or Ante.iean Fariy. having no sympathy
with their secresy, their oaths, their unconstitutional de
signs, their religious intolerance, their political proscription,
or their abolition associations Rt the North.
10th. Resolved. That wc hail with delight the late sig
nal triumph Virginia of the Democratic party, and of
the patriotic Whigs, who co operated in achieving that result
over the Know Nothing organization, as conclusive evi
dence, that in the great practical questions involved in that
contort, Southern men may honorably and successfully
combine, without regard to past political distinctions, to
save the constitution from desecration, and the South from
being prostiated before the power of Northern fanaticism
aud misrule.
11th. Resolved, That political necessity and the e nbar*
rassmems constantly arising from our commercial relations
with Spain, alike dictate the policy of the annexation of
Cuba to this country, at the earliest period, compatible
with our national honor and treaty obligations.
12th. Resolved, 1 hat the democratic and national prin
ciples declared and vet forth in the inaugural ‘address and
annual message#of President Pierce, meet our cordial ap
proval, and that he is entitled to the thanks of the country,
for his enforcement of tho-e principle-*, in the signature and
approval oi the Nebraska-Kanejn bill, hie faithful execu
tion of the Fugitive Slave Jaw, hi.i various vetoes, ana oth
er measures of administrative policy in conformity to those
principles.
j 13th. Resolved, That the* administration of Gov. John*
j son meets our decided approval, and we confidently re
commend him to the people of Georgia for re-election to
| the office he has so ably and faithfully filled.
] John A. Jones,of Polke, moved to strike out the 13th
j resolution, and, iho same being seconded, he proceeded
! to address the Convention a; aoipe length iu support of
| bis motion. lie did not, ho sniu, approve the man
• ngement of the State Road under Governor Johnson’s
j administration, and, therefore, oould cot approve his ad-
I mim*tißtion. Ho proceeded, at some length, to make
■ specifications of mismanagement, and contended that
though tho Superintendent was primarily liable, the
Governor shared the responsibility if he did not remove
him. The question was then taken on the motion of
Mr. Jones and was lost, only three votes being given in
favor of it.
A. Nelson, of Fulton, moved to add the following to
the report of the committee;
Resolved, That in view of the action of Massachusetts
and the threatened action of other Northern States, no pro
tection either of porson or property shall be extended to the
citizens of any State that refuses to recognize the const! tu
tional rights of the Southern States, and that it is duty ol
| the Southern States so to shape their legislation as to ren
’ der thi# Resolution effective—and wo hereby pledge our
selves to use our efforts to effect tha same.
The vote was taken viva voce ; and, judging from
tha sound, & small majority appeared to be given in favor
of the resolution, but before the decision of the chair
was given, T. Lomax, cf Muscogee, arose and said there
was merit in the resolution. The “action of Masba
ebuHet’s* 1 referred toby the resolution of the gentleman
from Fulton, was the act of her last Legislature making
it a penal offence for any officer or citizen of the Slate
to aid in the execution of the Fugitive Slave Jaw. Such
treason to the constitution demanded retaliatory legis
lation or the part of every Southern Slate. . He w*uid.
ha said, advocate such legislation by the next Legisla
ture as was consistent with our const’llutional obligations.
He was not prepared, however, to withdraw the pro*
lection of our laws from the persons of citizen* of Mas
sachusetts, and unless the resolution was amended so as
to make it harmonize with this view, he would be com
pelled reluctantly to vote against it.
L B. Mercer, of Lee, said the questions involved in
thie resoiuton were of too grave a nature to be properly
considered at this late hour and moved to lay the reso
lution on the table.
A. Nelson, of Fulton, claimed that he had the floor
when the gentlom.ie from Lee offered hi# resolution, and
being sustained by the chair, proceeded to advocate the
passage of tho resolution. We had, he said, long
enough fought the North with paper bullet#. Tho time
was coine for action. lie had off.-red the resolution a# a
teet of the sincerity of the Convention. If it was lost,
he would regard all their high sounding resolve# as a
blind and a cheat. It was an outrage that such a reso
lution was opposed bv any member of the Convention.
T. C. Howard, ol Fulton, followed on the same side.—
Four years ago, he had piopo?ed a similar measure on the
floor of the House, and if his movement had been follow
ed up, the aggressions of abolition fanaticism would long
since have been stayed, instead of threatening to over
whelm us as at this day. Men were but too willing to
j threaten the North on paper, but when any practical meas
• ura of redress was proposed, they became tender footed. —
j He spoke much more in the same etraio with much eio
t quer.ee and force.
Howell Cobb, of Clarke, was in favor cf retaliating up
on those Northern States which had practically repealed
the fugitive slave law and nullified a plain prevision of the
Constitution. Ho would go as far as any mania this hae
of redress. The law's of Massachasetts and Vermont, ra
ferred to by the resolution of the gentleman from Fulton,
were a gross assault upon the Constitutional rights of the
j South, and should be resisted by every legitimate mode of
| redress. There was no objection to the resolution except
| that pointed out by the gentleman from Muscogee, and he
| therefore proposed the following substitute for the resolution
] of the gentleman from Fulton:
j Resolved , T hat in view of the action of the Legislature#
| ol Massachusetts and Vermont, and the threatened action
ot other Northern State#, virtually repealing the fugitive
slave law, and denying to the citizens of the South their
constitutional rights, we recommend to our next legisla
ture the adoption of such retaliatory measures as their wis
dom may suggest, and fchr.ll be in conformity with consti
tutional obligations.
The substitute was accepted by A. Nelson, of Fulton,
and unanimously adopted by the Convention.
The resolutions of the Committee, ae thus amended,
were, on motion, unanimously passed.
Mr. Smith, of Talbot,then moved for the appointment
ol a committee by the chair, to wait on Hon. Herschell V.
Johnson, notify him ol his nomination, and request hi#ac
ceptance thereof. The following are that committee: Le
vi B. Smith, John E. Ward, E. J, McGehee, Flemming
Jordan and R, H, D.
On motion of Mr. Green, ol Pike,
Resolved, That the thanks of the Convention be tender
ed to Mr. Gardner lor tha able and courteous manner in
which he ha 9 presided over the deliberations of the Conve
ntion, and lo the Secretaries, for the laith.ul dirchargeof
their duties*.
The Hon. Howell Cobb, being called on, sddressedthe
Convention in an eloquent and convincing speech, and wa9
followed by the Hon. Wm. H. Stiles, lion. John E.
Ward,Hon.L.Q. C.Lamar R-J.Cowart, Esq , and Dr.
McGe!;ee, who also addressed the. Convention in an anima
ted and appropriate manner.
Gov. Johnson, being in the Hall, was loudly called for,
came forward and addressed the Colveii tion in a brief but
eloquent response.
Upon motion of P. 11. Colquitt, Esq , of Muscogee,
Resolved, That the Democratic -papers of the State he
requested to publish tho proceedings ol the Convention.
On motion, the Convention then adjourned eino die.
JAMES GARDNER, Jr. President.
L H. Briscoe, ) c •
E. D. Tjucy, ( Secretaries.
Letter from Hon. Robert Toombs on Kuour
Nolhingism.
ILsto*, Mas?., June 6th, 1855.
Dear Sir: —More than three weeks ago, in compliance
with my promise, l wrote to you, giving my opinion# of the
new political organization, commonly kuown as **Know
Nothings,” or the American party. 1 d.d not learn unt-l I
reached Augusta, on inay here, that you had not receive l
it. Jt it should yet come to hand, l wish you to publish it,
?u it was much lulier and more carefully prepared exposi
tion of my opinions than this letter can be. I shall emnark
to-day Liverpool, an J, for want of time, must confine
myseii to a very briel statement, rather than an argument
on the subject.
My first objection to the New Party is one independent
of its principles iam opposed to it because it is a secret
political society. Society has a right to know the rneo,
and the principles, and the policy ot the men, who seek to
direct ils aflair# and couuol its destiny. Publicity is the.
life blood oi a representative Republic. Witnout it, public
liberty must soon perish, and no necessity, feho.t of that
which would justify revolution, c m justify the surrender of
this great security ot popular government. All party asso
ciations are constantly liable to bo used by the cunning, the
unprincipled and enterprising members lor the promotion
o personal object# rather than the public inteo-ts, and it
needs no argument to prove that secrecy greatly iuciease#
this tendency and facilitates the accomplishment ot such
unworthy end#. {Secrecy is the natural covering of fraud,
the natural ally oi error and tho enemy of truth- The pa*
triots who framed our constitution gave it a fat tl blow, by
provision# which secure the ireeuom of speech and the
liberty of the press.
This objection to the New Par iy derives additional force
from tho obligation .which is said to be imposed upon n.e
applicant for admission, that he will carryout its decree#
whether hi# judgment approves them or .ot. If this be teue,
it is & suirender of the dearest right# ol freemen, and is a
crime against society.
My next objection to the American party is, that it pro
poses, in some way, to invade he right* of conscience, or
to call men in question for the free exercise thereof.—
1 am opposed to ail religious le ts of every sort and
lor every purpose. Our constitution protect# u# against
the putting ol such tests upon tho siatuet book, but
the principle is founded dn truth and justice, and ought to
be the rule ol the individual action, a# well as of the public
conduct ot every citizen. Centuries of unavailing persecu
tion taught our lathers tho lolly, a# well a3 the wickedness,
ofaltempling to control men’* conscience# by pena! statute*,
or civil disabilities; they, therefore, put the sting of
disability into the temptation to disgrace our statuet book
with thus sort of legislation. Wo will defeat their noble
objects, in part at least,Jay enacting a diffeient ru!o in the
exercise of our political rights.
It is charged that the Roman Catholic polity is cruel,
intolerant and despotic. The charge is not wholly un
founded. If it be true, it i< greatly t.• be condemned and
dcplo.eti, and, above all things, we should avoid imitating
their vices, and thereby jiHtiy subjecting ourselves to tms
groat condemnation. VVe can neither conquer nor eradi
cate the vices of Romanism, whatever they may t>e, by im
itating them, or by persecution. The world has tried these
remedies lor centuries past, and tried them in vain Let us
rather oppose her cruelty with kindne-*, her intolerance
with tree toleration, lm substance a# well a# form) her des
potism with freedom, aud then we may reasonably look
lor different and better results. Tha moment that the sim
ple, vet sublime truth, g.A itself acknowledged by o ir gov
ernment, that :lis citizen is responsible to the State for hi#
civil conduct, but to God only for his religious fitiih, ti,a
unholy bond# which unite the church to the State were
broken.persecution for conscience sake became impo sible
here, and religious toleration entered upon its career of uni
versal dominion. If* tir-t great trumph wai to strike th>
fetters from tho consciences of Irith Roma i Catholics. Jt
ha<? begun a similar goed work for the Protestant? in Spain
and Sardinia, and for the Greek in Turkey, and it “hi noon
‘‘conquering and to conquer,” until the Demon of persecu
tion—blind, deaf and. stupid—shall have ho more abiding
place upon the face of the earth.
The Natu.alization law# are greatly complained of bv tho
American Party. I think them founded on just principles
and are, in tho main, wise and good law#. To naturalize
an intelligent foreigner of good moral character, and at
tached to free government, and the principles of our consti
tution, and who has resided among us long enough to te:t
these qualifications is a great benefit to tho >?ate, a# well a#
to tho individual wfio receives the high privilege. These
arc the conditions and safe guard# which our laws seek to
throw around the right of citizenship. These Jaw# are, no
doubt, frequently violated; they are, doubtless, imperfect,
and do not fully effect the objects intended by them. Let
a Improper additions and amendments, neeewary to carry out
the.'© objects, be made, and then let the law be laifhiulJv
administered, and these things can be done without the aid
of secret societi s.
There ia another objection to thi# party, which should put
it under the ban of Southern opinion. We have had a great
struggle, for the last six years, upon an intensely exciting
sectional issue. This issue has b:’*en settled by the wisdom
of the representatives of the people. This issue found its
solution in the legislation of 1850 (and 1851. The peace
and safety of the Republic demand that this legislation
should not only be undisturbed, but vigorously upheld by the
nation. Iho American Party, in the north, whenever it
hfcs had power, shown the most vigorous hostility to
this legislation. The Know Nothing* oi Massachusetts
have attempted to nullify it, and have shown a total disie-*
Sard of their public oaths, and therefore, are wholly incapa
ble of giving any pledge, open or secret, that a man of
honesly ought to accept. Polific3! asocia loa with the-e
men is moral complicity with their crimes.
Tho true policy ofthe south is to unite ; ?o lay a-ide all
party divisions; Whig*, Demociat# and Know No hing#
should come together, and combine for their common saf -
ty. It v.v are wise enough to do this, so present one un
broken column of fifteen States united i- *r the preservation
of their own rights, the constitution and the Unio i,
uphold and support that noble hand nl pi*i rote, at the North,
who have for the constitution and the right-* against
the tempest of fanaticism, folly and treason which ha# as
sailed them, we shall succeed. We shall then have con
quered a peace which will be enduring, and ty mean#
which will not invite further aggression.
I am, very respectfully,
Your ob't servant.
K TOOMBS.
Col. T.,Lomax,
Editor Time# Sc Sentinel,
Columbus, Georgia.
Howell Cobs'# Response to thk Colpmsus Move
ment.— We find in the Southern Banner n powerful re
ply to the so called, Columbus movement. It reached us
too latt for our present issue.VVe will give it in full with
our next. Before Democrats cocnect themselves to
the movement they would do well to read the able letter
Mr. Cobb.
Gov. Rseder not to bo Rotnrned—Hear the
Other Side.
We do frankly confess, say a the Atlanta Intelli
gencer, that in the case of Gov. Reeder we thought
there was serious cause of offence against Gen. Pierce,
*o far as his Southern supporters were concerned, in that
functionary’a official conduct. Wo never b lieved that
in the mere fact of Reeder’s appointment a# Governor
of Kansas we had solid ground of objections, but in hi#
being allowed to return to the territory after his clearly
expressed partiality for the Frcesoil party there, wo
thought we had the gravest provocation against Gen.
Pierce. Our readers have no doubt seen the fl>ing
rumor# of the newspaper# to the effect that Gov. Reeder
had been returned to hi# post by the President, but
after a refusal on the part of the Administration to back
him with military support.
We can now stato upon the highest authority—that
of ti distinguished functionary of the Gkovernmvn*,
(Sec. Davis) that Reeder has not been s nt back to hi#
post, a# Governor of Kansas, nor would he be under
any circumstances. This is gratifying intelligence to
us, for we admit, that had Gen. Pierce have given wav
in this particular case, to the rage of the Abolition party,
excited by the lots of Kansas to the fanatical crew, wa
should have lost much of our regard for his indepen
dence, and have had our confidence in the uprightness
of hi# purposes, in a great degree destroyed.
The ! irginia Election. —The South Side Democrat
publisher returns from 13S counties, which foot up a
majority of 10,159 fi*r \\ iso. Six counties to hear
from, which gave General Pierce 90 majority.
Tub Sumter Murder.—The negro boy, recently
burned in Sumter County, Ala., by tho excited efibt na
of the place, was guil.v of tho murder of hi# young
miatroe# under very aggravating circumstance#.
Alabama News Item*.
* Convict# in the Newspapers.—Tho Wet ample*
Dispatch eay# there are 212 convicts in the Alabama
Penitentiary. 21 more are expected soon from Mobile.
There will then be 25 more convicts in tho Penitentia
ry than there are cells. There are more criminals in
Alabama than the Legislature made provision for en
tertaining. This by the way. The Dispatch ray# that
an cx convict has been allowed to profcr grave, but un
founded, charge# against the officers in charge of tho
Slate prison through the solemn# of the Riba Dsme*
er*t.