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£*|(KTH 0F JCLY CBLEBHiTIOXi !
The Democratic Rj*Wxaa party, m fora- j
3E .-n with nsnv others, met Cnge4ier in the
tutvn of Lumpkin oa tlie 4th July, 1840, to |
c del'rate the sixty fourth Anniversary of]
American ludepeadesce. After ac Oration|
Ic/ Uriah a- Mitchell, Edq. they rep fired to !
a sumptuous dinner prepared fur lie occasion, J
and ail partook with more titan ordinary firs-!
tivity on J good under. The cloth having been 1
retaoved.lhe following Regular and Volunteer:
Toasts were successive?v drunk
REGULAR TOASTS.
1. The day we celebrate. May each an
nual return of our National Anniversary’ find
us in the enjoyment of health, peace and
prosperity. 8 cheers.
2. Our Country. First in the affections of
every true American; may her rulers ever:
prove true to tlie trust reposed in tliena by a
donfiJing and patriotic people. 13 cheers.
3. The Heroes of 1776. Though (he most
of them have been gathered to their Fathers,
their services and hardships are fresh in our
memory; may we, their descendants, ever
appreciate their tiial9 and sufferings, and
never basely surrender our blood-bought lib
erty. 20 cheers.
4. The Literary Institutions of our Coun
<. /; may they deserve and receive the coun
tenance and support of every enlightened and
magnanimous freeman of our free and happy
conn cry.
5. ’Hie State of Georgia. Sound to the
core; she will never ctunpromit Iter lofty
bearing by elevating to die highest office in
the gift of a free people, a man who, through
a long life, has ever beeu opposed to her best
anti dearest interests. 12 cheers.
6. Andrew Jackson, the wise Statesman,
the great Commander, the bold Patriot.
(Drank in silence standing.)
7. The Sub Treasury, the constitutional
scheme of collecting and disbursing the pub
lic funds; its wise and salutary provisions will
insure far it the cordial approbation and sup
port of tin; Democratic Republican party
throughout (he United States. 18 cheers.
8. Messrs. Colquitt, Cooper and Black.
Distinguished for their patriotism and admir
ed lor their virtues; their independent course
in the councils of the nation has brought upon
them the anathemas of the Harrison party in
Georgia, and will insure to them the cordial
support of the Democratic Republican party.
9. The Constitution of the United States
and the Constitutions of the several Slates;
may the former never be frittered away by
Federal construction, nor the latter assume
an untenable position. 13 cheers.
10. Marlin Van Bunen. The honest, un
biassed ruler of his country. 16 cheers.
11. The Army and Navy. Bulwarks of
defence in times of danger; may they never
become engines in the hands of ambitious
men to destroy our liberty and subjugate our
persons. 12 cheers.
12. The Democratic Republican party.
Knit together by the three-fir Id cord of Com
mon dangers, common sufferings, and com
mon victories; may they remain together
and show to the world that the people are
capable of self-government, and that no plot
to subvert this fair fabric of constitutional
liberty, can ever succeed. 9 cheers.
13. The ladies, fiver remarkable for their
independence in tapes which try men’s souls;
may their smiles encourage us to double our
exertions in defending our homes and our
institutions, as their looks teach us that
“ A gtanco sfnda volumes to the kart,
While words, impnxtioiir.d, die. 11
VOLUNTEER TOASTS.
By S. Weslon, President of the Day. In
pemlence; may we and our jiosterity enjoy
at all times, in all places, situations and cir
nstances. 12 cheers.
By 51. Slade, Vice President. Our guest,
.nes P. H. Campbell, Esq., the able ex
under of the Democratic principles; his
valuable services are indelibly siamped upon
. ; e memory of the Democrats of Georgia.
6 cheers.
Mr. Campbell being loudly called for, rose
and addressed the people in a long and
appropriate maimer, ending amidst shouts of
applause.
By Uriah G. Milcbell, Orator of the day.
mocracy; its wings embrace the earth, its
a sovereign cure for all corruption, its
wa the deadly foe to all drones or oppo
its in guarding the broad temple of Con
lilutionai liberty. 12 cheers.
Sentiment received from the Hon. Walter
-. Colquitt, by mai’:
Harrison and Reform. The fust is the
veiled tool of juggling politicians, by which
the honest are to be humbugged ; the last ia
t b e nickname for a United States Bank, by
which industry and labor are to be robbed. *
15 cheers.
Sentiment sent by the Hon. Edward J.
Black, by mail:
Georgia. She will never be arrayed in
in support of a man who has declared that
he took *no part in the contest’ betweeu
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.
15 cheers.
Sentiment sent by the Hon. Mark A.
Cooper, by mail:
A strict construction of the Constitution.
Without it you are annually liable to be rob
bed of your money ami the ptodnets of your
fields, and may, sooner or later, be driven to
abandon your negroes. 15 cheers.
By J. J. Kendrick, an invited guest. Mar
tin Van Buren, the able and consistent States
man, (be Hero of Democracy, the Executive
of neither tlie South nor the North, but of
the whole country, will exclude Wm. H.
Harrison, the tenant of the Log Cabin and
exclusive lord of North Bend, ami still repose
ia the While House at Washington.
10 cheers.
By J. P. H. Campbell, an invited guest.
The American Constitution, created by the
wisdom of sages, cemented by the blood of
Patriots; ‘it must be preserved.’ IS cheers.
By Mr. Cady, an invited guest. Harri
sonism, germed in Toryism, reared in Feder
alism, fostered and cherished in Anti Repub
licanism, and supported by Abolitionism.
10 cheers.
By A. L. Heine, an invited guest. The
* Log Cabin’ erected in this place on Thurs
day last, to be exhibited this day, tvas yester
day entirely demolished. May the current
f'ilard Cider’ upon which General Harri
>n erpects to ride into tha Presidential chair,
ind him, like his * cabin,’ upon the shores of
political destruction. 6 cheers.
By N. Holliday. The Reader of the De
laration of Independence, John W /l'homp
n. The clear and lucid manner in which
read that instrument deserves from us our
ititude and esteem. 6 cheers.
By Robert Reives. The manly and inde
cent course of Messrs. Colquitt, Cooper,
Black, will command for them the confi
.ce and respect of all parties. 7 cheers.
By William C. Spier. William Henry
rrison ; the feeble toy in the hands of the
sy, reddest rabble, to subscribe Amen to
. nerican tyranny. 7 cheers.
By Dr. S. Catching. How to reform our
. overnment. —Let every Republican of the
ffersonian School go to the polls next No
uber with one mind and the same resolve,
t. they will vote down the old Federalist,
ler;i Whig and Abolitionist. 10 cheers.
5y A. tt. Durham. The Whig Patty,
all your respectable leaders have deserted
you resemble a ship at sea without a
6 cheers.
■ J. S, Lunsford. The Orator of the
a yoifth in years, but a giant in mind.
6 cheers.
•j which the Orator responded iu a few
•?nt remaiks.]
G. B. Ball. The American Constiiu
ivith all the boast of History the records
race may be searched in vain for such
bulwaik o 1 Constitutional liberty.
10 cheers.
!Uy J. J. Cranberry. Northern Abolition
ists and modern Whigs; twin brothers of
i Federalists, -clothed in tie habiliments of war,
iaed wielding the sword of destruction against
ike -South. God fin bid that southern men j
should id them in Uieir nefarious designs.
)6 cheers, j
By E. F. Kiiksey. The Democratic Re-j
publican party. The principles which have j
] preserved us as a nation iur more than a ;
! century, cannot be prostrated by the expiring .
struggles of a disaffected and dangerous:
party. 10 cheers.
Sentiment sent by Mrs. E. Catching.—
The Han. Walter T. Colquitt, Mark A.
Cooper and Edward J. Black, elected for
their honesty, and proscribed for their hones- 1
ty. Will not tl people of Georgia re-elect
them lor their consistency? 10 cheers.
Bv M. A. Chisholm, an invited guest. In
dustry and economy; tlie only remedy for
hard times. 7 cheers.
By C. Terry. Freedom of speech, free
dom of thought, and freedom of (lie press;
He who refuses to speak, is not entitled to our
confidence. 10 cheers.
By Wm. W. H. Hawes. The freemen of
Stewart county; too honest to be driven
from their principles by false shows of log
cabins and hard cider. 8 cheers.
By Elijah Pearce. Party spirit; may its;
days be numbered, and the time speedily
come when its {jernicious effects cease to be
a bar to justice. 10 cheers.
By Wm. Wynn. With deep regret I
mourn the fall of the log cabin recently erect
ed i tlie town of Lumpkin, as Mr. Harrison
may want to live in it, if lie should fail to
occupy that fiae building al tlie city of Wash
ingtun. 7 cheers.
By Dr. A. B. Pope. The Whig parly is
in labor and wants granny Harrison to deliver
it. 10 cheers.
By J. J. Granberry. The Orator of trie
Day; though young, he has discharged his
duty in a maimer that would reflect honor
u(Kin the most experienced orator. May he
receive a liberal patronage from a generous
public. 7 cheers.
By G. H. Croxton. Wish the fond desire
that Colquitt, Cooper and Black may long
elierish tlie principles which they now espouse,
and that the waves of ambition which are
beating against the rocks ofour freedom may
hush their reckless struggle and cease forever.
7 cheers.
Senl by J. M. Cain, (a StategßighU man.)
America ; tlie asylum of the persecuted and
oppressed. May her Institutions, based as
they arc upon the immutable principles of
equal justice, ever remain unshaken, may she
continue to maintain tlie proud pre-eminence
which she holds amongst the nations of the
earth, and her sons the character of being
amongst the bravest or the brave as they are
the freest of the tree. 6 cheers.
By W. A. May. Principle; the Demo
cratic party of Georgia will sup; orl measures
and not men. ‘ 10 cheers.
By J. Kimbrel. Success to Democracy,
success to Martiu Van Buren, success to ma
trimony. 2 cheers.
By Jesse Stallings. Friends of (his Re
public, be ready at all limes to battle with its
enemies. 6 cheers.
By J. W. Andrews. Long will Mr. Van
Buren sustain a high and honorable station
amongst the friends of the south, when his
opponent will be lost in the vortex of an ob
scure log cabin. 5 cheers.
By William Porter. Short shoes and long
corns to the enemies ofSouthern Rights.
4 cheers.
By Samuel Tompkins. Messrs-. Colquitt,
Coojier and Black. Though forsaken by a
portion of their former associates, they are
honest men, pure patriots, good republicans.
They will now be supported by those who
profess that which is good, and who always
act in accordance with what they profess.
6 cheers.
By J. W. Tompkins. The Sub-Treasury,
the Central Bank of Georgia ; they are op
posed by the old black-cockade Federalists
and their descendants—the United States
Bank, Internal Improvement, the protective
Tariff parties and the lalitudinarian construe
tiohists of the Federal Constitution.
10 cheers.
By Charles Chesnut. W. H. Harrison;
the granny of the West. May freemen never
suffer an abortion of their liberty by his fin
gering. 4 cheers.
By J. J. Durham. The Fair , they chain
su by their charms, and charm us by their
chains. 3 cheers.
By W. B. Pieces. Principles and not men;
the doctrine of tlie Democratic Republican
party of the United States. 10 cheers.
By E. Sharp. Party spirit; may the time
shortly come when we will all agree in politics
By W. R. Kimbrel. Here is wishing that
Mr. Van Buren may retain the Presidential
chair, and W. H. Harrison continue to drink
‘ hard cider’ in a ‘log cabin.’ 6 cheers.
By W. C. Spier. The Fair of Stewart
county ; for beauty and intelligence they stand
altogether unrivalled.
By B. Jarvis. Our forefathers; they were
dear to ’76, they are remembered by 1840,
and vvill claim a notice when time is approach
ing to no more. 6 cheers.
By J. S. C. Durham. Martin Van Buren;
tlie Republican and Statesman * may his ad
ministration be approbated by his re-election.
4 cheers.
By J. S. Porter. May General W. H.
Harrison be defeated and Martin Van Buren
be continued the Chief Magistrate of these
United States. 7 cheers.
By IL Gibson. We have tried Mr. Van
Buien nearly four years, and we are willing to
try him four years more, and wifi dh it in
spile of the ‘ Tippecanoe clubs.’ 6 cheers.
By John S. Yarbrough. The States of
the Union ; so long as they continue united,
this government will continue to be the admi
ration of the world ; but sever them, and they
become foot-balls lor tyrants.
By Wilson R. Boswell. General W. H.
Harrison; a soldier by profession. lle re
signed bis command when his country stood
in the greatest r.eed of military men.
By John Obier. Martin Van Buren ; our
ruler. He has done what lie promised; let
us tell him, by our votes, he has done well;
we are highly pleased.
Bv Matthew Sharp. May American vir
tue continue to shine when every other light
shall have been blown out. Jackson and his
administration for ever. 7 cheers.
By Henry Anderson. Log Cabin and ,
Hard Cider, iools lor manufacturing t
Whig President; fit instruments for working
soft metal. S cheers.
By Juba! Smith. The Democratic party;
its eternal success the sure down-fall of Aboli
tionism and ail other corruption and misrule.
4 cheers.
By Mark M. Flemming. Here goes for
the Van Buren party, with a plenty of the
needful to pay their debts. 7 cheers.
By Dr. H. F. Rose. The Constitution ol
ur country; a strict construction secures 1
liberty. A latirudinarian construction des
troys even the hope of liberty. 10 cheers.
By John W. Thompson, Reader of the
Declaration of Independence. The Ameri
can Flag;
‘ Oh tong may it wave
O’er the lain! of the free, and the hoffte of the
bra-ve.* 6 cherrs.
By A. Roby. ‘Log Cabin’ an i ‘Hard
Cider;’ they will not do, because log Cabir.s
will leak, and hard-cider cives the he'llv ache.
STEPHEN WESTON,
Pres’t of the Day.
E. T. Beall, ) c .
W. C. Srtlß, 5 Secretaries.
Lumpkin, July 14, IS4O.
Uriah G. Mitchell,
Sir — The committee of arrangement pre
sent you their warmest respect*, and Jequesi!
of voti a copy of your Ith of Jdy O;a! on. 1
delivered la this place, for publication. Tour;
compliance will confer a special favor oa a
large circle of your friends as well as this
committee. Yours respectfully,
TOMLINSON FORT,
Cr. B. BALL,
G. H. CROXTON,
i JESSE STALLINGS,
W. A. MAY,
A. BURNS,
ELIJAH PEARCE,
M. WRIGHT,
E. S. BEALL.
A. B. FOPE,
M. M. FLEMING,
Committee of Arrai gements.
Lumpkin, July 14th, IS4O.
Tomlinson Fort, et. al. Committee ,
Geatlemen —Your polite note of date,
l-lih July, 1840, was this morning received,
expressing your approbation in the kindest
terms of an Oration delivered by myself in
this place, on the 4th July, and requesting a
copy for publication, iam happy thus to be
assured by the Committee and the citizens
whom they represent, that I have thus satis
factorily discharged the task imposed upon
me on that occasion, and receive it as a loken
of their estimable gratitude. A copy of the
I speech is at your service; not written to
charm the eyes of the literary or critic, but
as eongniai with the yeomanry around whose
firesides tt has been my lot to be raised. Let
me assure tlie Committee and the citizens
whom they represent, of my kindest feelings
of gratitude for the sentiments in note ex
pressed, Your obedient servant,
URIAH G. MITCHELL.
AN ORATION
DELIVERED *v URIAH G. MITCHELL, Esq
TO THE CITIZENS OF STEWART OOVNI V, OS HIE
4th of julv, 1840, at lum'pkix, oa.
Friends and Fellow-Citizen* :—
Today we meet to celebrate the
sixty-fourth anniversary of Ameri
can Independence, which has for
more than half a century gained the
attention of the world in common.
It has been usual, on such occasions,
to recite the daring deeds, and
bloody toils of our revolutionary
fathers, and apportion to each tlie
honor lie holds in his country’s his
tory, and to view with pity the few
remaining sires fast tottering to the
tomb. This is truly pleasing, and
serves full well to teach us the fate
of arms. Ilut I shall beg leave on
the present occasion to deviate some
what from this common course, and
ask your kind attention to some few
remarks in answer to these three
general questions : Ist* What has
been the condition of our country ?
2d. What is its present condition ?
and 3d and last, What should be
the future course of its citizens ?
Let us go back and look at the
original state of the western world,
and see it clad in woods and wilds
and shady dales, where no iiand had
marked, no foot had trampled and
no voice had changed the melan
choly of the forest. When nature
stood in all her grandeur, untuned
to art, to trouble or anxiety, wan
tonly musing in the bosom of sweet
repose. The air breathed liberty,
the streams invited peace, the
mountains sought converse with
heaven, and the whole face gave
signs of comfort and tranquilly.—
She saw the wrongs of eastern
countries, pitied the oppressed of
every nation, hallowed the sanctity
of pure religion, and told the pil
grims ‘ Come ye hither !’ Leaving
the enemies they could not conquer,
the God they could not worship, the
wrongs they could not suffer , they
came. Though famine, death, pes
tilence and a host of ills stood thick
around them, they felt happy and
secure, free from the grasp of un
christian misrule* They faltered,
stopped, and almost fell In the bo
som of despair and hopelessness.
But with perseverance their motto,
and religion their hand companion,
like a star in the distant cloud, they
rose from glimmering to brightness
and splendor, attracting the gaze
and admiration of the philanthro
pic world. But, alas ! this quiet,
this peace, was but of short dura
tion. Their success in arms, their
pleasant hills, their extensive farms,
their growing wealth, their wide and
fertile domain, their kind hospitali
ty, and the number of poor, weary
worn outcasts, fast seeking refuge
in the bosom of their homes, raised
the envy and jealousy of their un
grateful mother. She wronged, and
they patiently endured it ; she
wronged, and their fire-sides were
bathed in tears ; she wronged, and
they weekly petitioned her ; she
wronged , and the woods, wilds,
mountains and rocks, as if torn from
their sockets, and the yells of a
thousand patriots panting for free
dom, made the universal echo, —
‘Liberty or Death!’ On this dav
sixty-four years ago, resolving that
the worst had come, and having no
hopes for the future, in general coun
cil assembled, they declared them
selves free and independent, and
entitled ‘ by uature’ to ‘ equal privi
leges’ with all the human family.
Glorious resolve it has proved to be.
Time cannot efface it from the me
mory of mam Then came thick
around them war, trials, and un
numbered convulsions, all for liber
ty. The results of which ore too
well known to you, and too volumin
ous for me here to repeat. An aged
grandsire has oft, while ploughing’
j his old stubble field, sat under the
j shade of some valentine mulberry
or persimmon, and told in tears to
! his youthful son the times of the
revolution, and exhorted him to
love his country. An aged mother
has oft whispered in the ear of her
infant babe upon her lap, the dan
gers she had witnessed, the piiva
j lions she had conquered, and told it
to rise to manhood in defence of its
I country. Suffice it to say they were;
ivictorious, and acknowledged to be;
free. Then for many succeeding
years they met together on the 4th
day oi July, and with voices ns uni
ted as the bridal angels of heaven, |
have awaked to heaven the joys of
their happiness. Every man called
his neighbor brother, and the game
of the forest broiled in equal shares
upon the homely fires of all sur
rounding. We had a Constitution
the most liberal, lire most wise, and
the most republican ever drafted by
the pen of man, or guiding the ties-:
tinies of any nation; guaranteeing to !
all, freedom of speech, freedom of
the press, freedom in suffrage, and :
freedom in religion. In short, em
bracing every requisite, and expung
ing every obstacle to make us a free
and happy people. Our wealth was
sufficient to answer every necessity. !
Our character in the field, our wis
dom in our councils, the fertility of
our soil, the variety of our climate,
our hospitality to the needy, our
kindness to the oppressed, and our
love for justice and equal rights, en
sured us the dread of our foes, the |
respect of our enemies, and the I
warmth of our friends. Our bosom !
was an open invitation to the op- j
pressed of all nations, and thousands j
of foreigners, shunning the wrongs
of eastern potentates, planted their
feet upon our lively shore. They
were received with open hands and
gladsome hearts, and shared full
well the hostage of their new friends.
They heard from North to South;
shouts of praises to their adopted
country, and with great avidity re
lated to their friends behind the paf
adistic state of their new-found
home ; where ran in mental torrents
milk, honey, wine and oil, and where
the poor, the rich, the alien, the na
tive, and all honest men enjoyed the
like free privileges ; and where vir
tue, honesty, intelligence , and patri
otism were the stepping-stones to
office ami honor, and no umbrage
paid to wealth, to aristocracy, or to
birth. Suffice thus much fora sketch
of our past history, and let us exam
ine next in order the present con
dition of our country.
We now’ have a country wider in
extent, more fertile in production,
and greater facilities for tilling it;
raising every variety of fruit, as de
licious as the manna of the desert,
as sweet scented as the spices of
Ceylon. We have a climate ac
commodated to every vegetable, to
every constitution. We have rivers,
lakes, and rivulets running from
every hole, quenching all thirst, wa
tering every family. We have
mountains the most magnificent
known to the world, and what most
adds to their supremacy, they are
based upon a land of freedom, and
their summits are wafted by the
breezes oj liberty. We have mines,
falls and cataracts, and every thing
known to the universal or geograph
ical world. We have a navy already
powerful, fast growing omnipotent.
We are at peace with all nations,
and claim most of them friends.
We have the same old Constitution
unchanged, (and I would hope to
say unchangeable.) We have equal
laws and equal privileges, a redress
for our wrongs, a remedy for our
rights. We are out of debt, and
have ample funds to support our
government. We have hedlth and
peace, and are growing in prosperi
ty, though fora time short crops,
droughts, speculations, over-bank
issues and many petty ills have re
tarded our progress. We have good
rulers, and wise councils, and all
nature bespeaks better times. But
why this confusion in our internal
policy ? We hear the cries of many
through the country, down with the
government, and hurra for
Why all this ? Have we approached
to a monarchy ? No. Have we
blotted out the Constitution ? No.
Has each man and each State a
voice in our Congress ? Yes. Has
our territory, lands or laws been
taken from us ? No. Have we lost
our character abroad or our strength
at home? No. Have we rulers in
office opposed to our interests or
planning our destruction? No. Have
we any great monopolizing engine,
bestowing lam els on the few and
thorns on the many ? No. Have we
not a sound, healthy, sure, constitu
tional ami republican circulation for
our Government ? Yes. Are our
taxes enormous and too heavy to be
borne, or are our funds raised from
our taxes appropriated to Internal
Improvements of limited benefit, or;
used in paying the debts of other J
States or individuals ? No. Have!
we not a standard veto upon any!
act touching the free use and enjoy
ment of our property? Yes. In
short, have we not, in our Constitu
tion, laics and legislations the same
old, plain, simple, seventy-six repub
lican government ? Yes. Then
why this clangor, wrangling and
j confusion about parties and politics?
It is the demagogues and office-!
- ... c A’ . . i
seekers, gulling the honest plough
man from his path of duty and
quietude. One says I go this way
because my parly goes so ; another j
says a very smart man says it is j
right; a third admits the present;
right, and the promises for the fu- ;
ture consistent with the good of Iris J
country, hut he don’t want himself!
and his friends to remain privates
iu the battle after honor, and they,
j had rather he corporals, captains,;
or majors in the camp of monarchy, j
[anarchy and misrule than to remain
‘humble frtc privates i|i the land of
equal rights. You can hear every
where a cry that {*arty differences
ought not to make neighbors fall
’ out, or make any personal distinc
tions in society; but you see but
few practice it. Trading is less
common, visits are fewer and short
er, want of confidence has ciept
among the people, and almost the
whole clranuels of social and neigh
borly intercourse is blocked up bv
some unhallowed obstacle. This
day is consecrated to party strata
gem, party broils, and street diffi
culties. The foreigner is not greet
ed with that kind hospitality as for
merly ; and nearly one half of the
western world seems maddened and
phrenzied. Let us leave this dull
! chapter, and permit me feebly to
advise our future course.
fn this, our private, relative, domestic nr
rangements are of as much importance as
our public duties. Individuals form commu
nities, communities Slates, and Stares our
governments. Hence the spirit of the people
must be the character of our country. The
j broad plan of economy laid out by the peo
! pie for their guidance is pleasing and praise
j worthy. r I he merchants bring less goods,
.and the farmers make fewer purchases. All
| seem working for good. Let this course
| continue and be your daily motto. Receive
enemies with more respect, strangers with
more kindness, friends with more warmth.
Let this day which once resounded through
out with shouts and praises to our govern
ment and liberty, be consecrated to the wor
s ip o; our Father, or in reminding
us ot the love we owe our country. Don’t be
sapped in your parties or politics by the in
fugues of Harrisburg, New York, or Boston.
\ou were born true native Americans, nurs
ed Upon the lap of one of its daughters, and
led to manhood by the hand of one of its
noblest sons. You tealk upon the same soil,
breathe the same air , drink the same tvater,
have the same free birth and live under the
same glorious Constitution. You are entitled
as much by nature, birth, education and in
tellect to your own opinions as the wisest of
the North or the most eloquent of the South.
When they tell you the present is good, but
they are seeking for a better; tell them you
prefer a sure continued good to a better,
founded only in hope and ‘ humbug,’ and like
the good old patriotic Kolia of old, tell them
we seek no change; and least of all such a
change as they would bring us. Hon’t tell
them that you and all your family belonged
to the old Clark Party, the old Troup Party.
the Union or State Rights Party. Tell them
that you are reasonable beings ; that you were
born in this land of freedom ; that it protects
you in the enjoyment cl peace and your sa
cred rights, an 1 that you owe your allegiance
to it. Tell them you consider your obliga
tions to your country, in the same light as
your duties to your family- If you have
been planting cotton, and are convinced that
it is better for yourself and family to raise
corn, wheat, oats, fat hogs arid horses, then
change your practices. If you have been
mistaken in yoi.tr politics, abandon your
wrongs, amend your errors, and have moral
courage enough, even at the ‘ eleventh hour,’
to enter upon the path of duty and the path
of conscience. Practice well the good old
saying, ‘ honesty is the best policy.’ Tell
them that \ou are called upon by the tears
of your mothers, the blood of your fathers,
the command of heaven, and all you hold
sacred in conscience, honor and purse, to go
for the good of your county; the preserving
its perpetuity. Tell them to show you that,
and there your vote is cast; and at ail haz
ards turn thy friends or turn thy foes, stick
close to your resolution. We are united in
Government, united in interest, united in
birth, united in education, uniled in feeling,
and why not let us be united in practice.
Let us this day 1 burn the tomahawk,’ ‘ bury
the axe of schisms, divisions and party
strifes, and rush forward in one united
phalanx, to the protection of our institutions,
the continuance of our free government,
without a change of Constitution, without a
change of rulers. Let it once more be shout
ed in voices of thunder ‘ from the centre all
round to the sea;’ ‘Our Country, right or
wrong.’
From ihe U. S. Stales Catholic Miscellany.
liE'i KACTION.
To the Editor of the U. S. States Catholic Miscellany.
Slit—l have within the last week received letters
from some of the friends of Mr. Van Buren in Penn
sylvauia, calling upon me to explain to the Catholics
of tnat place a charge made against that gentleman in
the Miscellany of December 14ih, 1833.
I have also received letUes from the Iriehds es Gen.
Harrison in Ohio, calling upon me to furnish some
thing on Ihe same subject, arm to give my opinions re
specting the present political contest for the Presiden
cy-
That I have my opinions clearly and decidedly
formed as to v\hat 1 think best for the country, I will
not deny: but I must be excused from entering into
any political inquisiton or giving any other expression
to my sentiments or opinions, save what 1 may at the
ballot box.
My object is now, to do an act of justiec which I
ought perhaps long since have done, but which I can
not at present in honor or in conscience defer,’ and 1
do so without any 1 Terence to the qualifications of
either candidate lor the Presidency, and not seeking
to promote the views of either of the two great par
ties in this contest.
The article in the Miscellany, and which is now
going ihe rounds of the press is the following:—
‘lt is now along time since Mr. Van Buren, at
the commencement of his political career, sought to
exclude Francis Hooper, the first Catholic selected
by the citizens of New York to their legislature from
his seat, because Mr. Cooper refuseu to take oaths
incompatible with his conscientious conviction: for
New York then had a test-oath as a qualification for
office, but the legislators of ttiat state in the ca-e of
Cooper, left the pres< nt Vice Pres dent in a very
slender minority ; snd the offices in that state, as well
as the seats in her assembly have since ihen, been
open to Catholics.”
The above is a paragraph from an article treating of
the injustice formerly done to Catholics in some of our
Suites, which article, 1 find upon examination, was
written by me—and if Mr. Van Burh has not been
guilty ol the misconduct there described and denounced,
i have done him great injustice.
1 need net inform you that when I wrote the article,
I did believe him guilty, and upon what I considered
excellent grounds.
My authority was the Rev. Michael Hurley of Phi
ladelphia, now dead, but formerly a clergyman doing
duty in New York, and I believe at the time that Mr.
Cooper was elected, and after a hard struggle admitted
to Ins seat in the legisature. Mr. Hurley gave me
the information in the year 1821. 1 also conversed
with Mr. Cooper who is still living, and be confirmed
to me Mr. Hurley’s account. 1 wrote the article in
December, 1833.
Soma time afterwards. 1 wa3 conversing on the sub
ject with a friend of mine, a supporter of General
Jackson’s administratien, Mr. Robert Barry of Balti
more, since dead, who expressed his astonishmant at
the charge, and I mentioned to him my authority. He
knew Mr. Hurley intimately, and frequently met him
and remarked that my authority was good if there was
no mistake, and further added ihe expression of his
astonishment that Mi. Hurley never spoke of it to
him.- In two or three days afterwards Mr. Barry,
met Mr Van Buren, artda skedfor an explanation. He
then stated to me the result was his conviction that
there must be a mi take, for that Mr. Van Boren was
not at the time in public life and did not enter the ns
semb’y of New York until more than a vear after Mr.
Cooper’s admission, and that Mr. Van Sureri had also
assured him, that Ire had never opposed any man for
his religion, Catholic or Protestant. Pie told me that
he w’ould see Mr. Hurley on the subject. However,
I had an opportunity of seeing him before Mr. Barry
had, and reminded him of what h had told me more
than thirteen years previously. Mr. H. told me that
: my statement was perfectly correct in every particu
! lar, except the name: he said that Mr. Van Buren w as
j not at the time iu the legislature, but that Mr.
Van (it is unnecessary for me to give the
| name of a dead man) led the opposition to Mr. Coop
er, and that he was supported by two other Vans, but
that Mr. Van Buren v.as altogether innocent of the
bigotry; but that from the similarity of names I must
have beeu led to a mistake and had done the “Vice
President an injustice. I saw Mr. Cooper in a short
time afterwards, who upon my asking him whether it
was nat Mr. Van Buren that led the •ppouitirw to his
taking be* . y-rdd, f*t it teas ■:!. nr Ifr Vftf Bit
ren was i*A then m the house, and that he believed
him incapable of any such misconduct. He ave me
the names that Mr. Hurley did. °
I may now be asked, why, when I was convinced of
my mistake. I did not puhiictv correct it. Mv an
swer is: that I thought the statement had passed Awav
from the minds of those who read it, and I felt a -treat
reluctance to come before the public wi:h what I con
j *‘dered a valueless certificate in a political contest,
jAt present the case is very different. I find that my
I mistake is used sot the purpose of influencing a !are
j body of voters in different states, and 1 therefore feel
i ‘fat I would be wanting in honor and justice, were I
to seek prelection to rav private feelings by permitting
tlie injury of a high pubiia officer, and that of a large
j body of my fellow-citizens, who identify their feelings
with his policy, and who consider that the loss of las
election would be a great national calamity. Ido no
injustice to General Harrison, bv stating that Mr. Van
Buren has not been guilty of the bigotry w ith which 1
wrongly charged him under the itfluehce of a serious
mistake. And which every oandidate may be the ob
ject of my proference. it would be to me a source of
deep regret that Mr. Van Buren should lose a single j
vote by reason of misrepresentation originating through j
me. And I trust the friends of his opponent, are too
honorable, and too just to desire success by means of
delusion and fraud , and that if any of the papers that
seek his elevation, have given currency to my charge
againstfMr. Van Puren they will have the sense of jus
tice Cos state also that, upon proof of its want of truth,
it his been retracted.
I am, dear sir. your obvd’t. humble servant,
f JOHN, Bishop of Charleston,
Charleston, July 16th, 1840.
SENTINEL & HERALD.
COLUMBUS, JULY ; lb, IS4O.
“ This Institution is one of the most deadly hostility
existing against the principles and form of our Consti
tution. The nation is, at this lime, so strong and united
in Us sentiments, that it cannot be shaken at this mo
ment. But suppose a series of untoward events should
occur , sufficient to bring into doubt the competency of a
Republican Government to meet a crisis of great dan
ger. or to Unhinge the confidence of the people in the \
public functionaries; an institution like this penetrating J
by its branches every part of the union, acting by com- j
ntfind and in phalanx, may in a critical moment, upstt :
the government. I deem no government safe, which is
under the vassalage of any self constituted authorities,
or any other authority than that of the nation, or its reg
ular functionaries. IVhat an obstruction could • t this
Bunk of the United States, with all its branch banks,
be in time of war / It might dictate to us the peace we
should accept, or withdraw its aid. Ought we then to
give further growth to an institution so powerful, so
hostile ?— Tjioiias Jefferson.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN TICKET.
FOR PRESIDENT,
MARTIN van buren.
FOR VICE-PRESIDENT,
JOHN FORSYTH.
FOR ELECTORS OF PRESIDENT AND
VICE-PRESIDENT.
WILLIAM B. BULLOCII, of Chatham.
JOHN BATES, of Murray.
MILNER ECHOLS, of Walton.
SAMUEL BEALL, of Wilkinson.
WILLIAM B. WOFFORD, of Habersham.
JOHN ROBINSON, of Jasper.
SAMUEL GROVES, of Madison.
THOjVIAS WOOTTEN, of Wilkes.
SEABORN JONES, of Muscogee.
EDWARD HARDEN, of Clark.
JAMES ANDERSON, of Brake.
FOR CONGRESS.
ROBERT W. POOLER,
D. C. CAMPBELL,
A. IVERSON,
JUNIUS HILLYER,
JOSIAH S. PATTERSON,
JOHN H. LUMPKIN,
E. J. BLACK,
WALTER T. COLQUITT,
M. A. COOPER.
The Riglu Reverend Bishop England ar
rived in our city yesterday, and will remain
vvitli us until Tuesday; when he will leave for
Athens, via Macon.
LIEUT. HOOE AND FREE NEGRO TEB-’
TIMONY.
From the many misrepresentations and
from the suppression of the lacts in the case
of the trial of Lieut. Hooe, the uninformed
portion of the community are led to believe
that the President, Mr. Tan Buren, has com
mitted a wanton outrage, or has permitted it
to be done On the person of a valuable offi
cer in the navy, unu that the rules of evidence
have been enlarged and changed by his sanc
tion and authority, so as to admiffree negroes
to testify against free white persons. That
the Federal presses and Hie leading propaga
tors of this false charge against the President
are better informed, and are attempting to
prejudice the public mind by such contempti
ble resorts; none who, when informed of the
facts, can, for a moment, entertain a single
doubt, that there are many of them who are
daily engaged, wilfully and willingly, in mak
ing those statements against the President
vVhifch they know to be false as false can be*
Therefore that the matter may be fully un
derstood, the following brief history ot the
case is submitted.
Before Mr. Van Buren’s administration,
the officers of the navy exercised the right of
taking up any seaman and inflicting such
corporal punishment as they might fancy they
deserved, and the consequence was that the
condition of our seamen, when under the
control of some brutes who were clothed with
office, was far worse than that of any of
our slaves. For the protection of this por
tion of our feilow citizens, those who contri
bute to the spreading to the breeze orrr glorious
Star Spangled Banner on every sea and in
every clime, the President, by bis order di
rected that no corporal punishent should fce
ii.fi cfed on any person in the service without
sentence of a Court Martial, when that is
required b'y law, or the written order of
the commanding officer of the vessel specify
ing the offence, See., and which should be
entered in the log book, and a return of the
same made to the Secretary of the navy.
Lieut. Hooe, not an officer in comrhand,
was tried on three charges, to wit: ‘ Treat
ing with Contempt his superior officer in the
execution of his duty f ‘ uttering mutinous
and seditious words;’ and for ‘disobedience
of orders’—which last involved the additionaj
charge of cruelty:
First. In directing John Dennis, seaman
on board the Vandalia, to be flogged with
eighteen lashes, contrary to the internal reg
ulations of the ship, and in direct violation of
the third article of the act for the better go
vernment of the navy.
Secondly. Inflicting on Calvin Morgan, a
boy between twelve and thirteen years of age,
in a cruel and scandalous manner, on bis bare
skin, between Gtty and sixty lashes with four
parts of a three yarn nettle; and at another
time, eighty seven er more lashes, in like
manner.
Thirdly. Flogging Daniel Waters, the
Commander’s cook.
Fourthly. Directing William O’Brien, Ma
rine, to receive twelve lashes.
All these, contrary to the internal regula
tions .of the ship, and all, with the exception
of the tatter, m direct violation of the third
article of the act for the better government
of the navy.
On these charges, Lieutenant Ilooe was
*ully convicted, with the qualification that the
beating of Calvin Morgan was not ‘ in a sru
-I and sc-ajrjalo'H m*rujw ; uul for thn-e and j
other offences fully proved by testimony (not
free negroes) to which he offered no objection,
and by his own confession, he was sentenced to
be dismissed from the West India squadron,
and to be reprimanded by the Secretary of
the Navy.
Now will any man, who is a father or a
! brother, say that so cruel and inhuman a mon
ster as this, who, because lie was clothed with
a little offictal power, could take up a poor
boy who had no protector but the law, and
inflict a punishment that no humane master,
for an offence of the worst character, would
inflict on his grown slave, should be retain
ed in the service of his country ? Would
jhe not more likely say with the President that
lie saw no cause for his interference ? If the
President had have arrested this case and
suffered this monster to go unpunished, he
would have deserved the merited censure of
every freeman. And because, by the laws
of the land Which the President did not make
and which he lias no power to abrogate, two
free negroes were sWorn, but whose testimony
was wholly unnecessary, as this inhuman
wretch admitted the truth of the charges.
The enemies of the President are now urging
that he ought to have interfered and prevent
ed the operation of one of the most just sen
tences ever decreed by a Court Martial. One
other fact and we are done.
This Court was composed of five members
: who are opposed to the President, and who
I are slaveholders, and two others who were
jfroin non slaveholding States; and if the tes
timooy had not been admissible, ihe Court,
a majority being slaveholders, no doubt would
have repelled it. When Mr. Bolts, the Fed
eral member, brought the subject before
Congress, the friends of the President, for
the purpose of changing the law, wished to
have it referred to the Judiciary Committee,
which effort was opposed by every Fedeial
Harrisonian of the North, and by J. Gar
land, Rese Garland, Hill of Virginia, and
other Federalists of the South. And since
that Committee has had it under their consid
eration, a majority of them being Federalists
and in favor of Harrison, they have refused
to report any bill changing the law, although
Urged so to do by the Republican members
on the Committee. The biters in this matter
have got bitten. They expected, by misrep
resentation, to turn it Jto political account,
but the Democracy, always right, proposed
at once to change the law, but the friends of
old Tip would not so far offend their abolition
friends in the North; and therefore the law
will still remain as it before existed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Monday. June 13, 1840.
After the journal had been read,
Mr. CI-IAFMAN, (a ddnocrat) of Alabama,
askrd leave to offer ihe following resolution:
Resolved, Thai the Committee on the Judiciary, tc
which was ri feried the case o! Lieutenant Hoot, be
required to report forthwith to ibis House who are le
gal witnesses under the < xisting taws, before courts
martial in Ihe navy of the Unhcd Slates; and further
to report who shall hcretftei be examined as witness
es in trials before such courts.
Mr. MITCHELL, (a federal whig) olj’ Ctcdf
whereon
Mr. CHAPMAN, moved a suspension of the rules,
and demanded the yeas and mi's, lie was deter
mined to press the matter home now it was b< cun,
and was determined to bring oilier gentlemen up lu
the “bullring ’*
[Mr. C. here bad reference to the language of Mr
Butts, when that member commenced opcrauori.i on
this unfortunate subject ]
There being but a lew members present,
Mr. CHAPMAN moved a.cul! cl the House, and
on thatmotin demanded tli \< a • and nays; which
were ordered, and being taacn, were—yeas 73 na)S
35.
So the call was ordered, and the roll called, when’
171 members answered to their names.
On motion of Mr. HOPKINS, all further proceed
ings in the call were then suspended.
The question then recurring on the motion to sus
perd the rules for the purpose of submitting ihe reso
lution, it was decided by yeas and najs, as follows
—veas 100, r.avs 61:
YEAS—Messrs. Judson Allen, Hugh J. Ander
son, Atherton, Banks, Beatty, Beiinv, Biddle, Biai k
well, Boyd, Aa: oh V. Brown, Burke, Wil iam O.
Butler, Carr, Casey, Chapman, Clifford, Control,
Mark A. Cooper, William R. Cooper, Cratib, Crary,
Cross, Dana, John W. Davis, Dickerson, Di let, Doan.
Doig, Droingoole, Karl, Eastman, Ely, Fine, Fletch
er, Floyd, Galbraith, J. Garlaud, Goggin, Grabau ,
Griffin, HJtmtnond, Hand, Join Hastings, Hawkins,
Hill, of Virginia, Hill ol’North Carolina, IJillen, Heck,
Hopkins, Jackson, Jameson, Jenifer, Joseph Johnson,
Oeve Johnsen, Nrtlianiel Jones, John VV. Jones,
Keim, Kemble, Kiile, Iviog, Leet, Lucas, NcClelhan,
McKay, Merchand, Metiill, Miller, JViontauya, S.
W. Morris, Newhard, Nisbet, Parrish, Painienter,
Paynter, Pttrikin, Pickens, Prentiss, Ramsey, Kay
ner, Reynolds, Khett, Rives, Robinson, E. Rogers,
Ryall, Samuels, Shaw, Shepard, John Smith, Staik
weather, Thomas Smith, Steenrood, Strong, Sumpter,
Swearingen, Sweeney, Philip V. ‘1 homas, Trumbull,
Turney, Vanderpoel, Vroori, David D. Wagner,
Warren, Watterson, Weller, Wick, Jared W. Will
iams, Henry Williams, L. Williams, end Worthing
ton, John Davis—loo.
NAYS—Messrs. Adam°. J. W. Allen, Andrews,
Baker, Barnard, Bell, BUTTS, Briggs, Brockway,
Calhoun, W. B; Campbell. Carter, Chinn,Chittenden;
Clark, Janies Cooper, Cranston, Crockett, Edward
Davies, Garret Davk, Edwards, Evere t, Evans,
Fillmore, Gates, Sentry, Gidding=, Granger, Graves,
Green, W. S. Hasiings. Hawes, Hunt, James,
Charles Johnston, Kempshall, Lincoln, Marvin, Ma
son, Naylor, Osborne, Paien, Pope, Pioftit, Randall,
Randolph, Rariden, liidgwav, Russell, Sergeant, Si
monton, Stanley, Stuart, Taliaferro, Waddy Thomp
son, Tiilinghast, Toland. Triplett, P- J. Wagner, J.
White, Thomas W. Williams, Joseph L. Williams,
Christopher H. Williams, ana Wise—6l.
So, there not being two thirds, the rules were not
suspended.
Thus, it will he seen, that sixty-one Harri
son Federalists voted against the resolution. —
:\Vlio are the advocates of negro testimony
—the Democrat, or the Harrison Feder
alist?
WORTHY OF IMITATION.
tVe Call the attention of our readers to the
retraction of the Rev. Bishop England in out*
columns today. Through a misapprehen
sion ol the facts he published an article in
1833, which had a tendency to injure Mr.
Van Buren amongst the Catholics particular
ly. But so soon as this worthy prelate learns
the error is doing injury, in the spirit of
the Christian he comes forward and admits he
is w’rong, and makes the correction. Dare
some of our oiroNEATS who stand in high
places do likewise ?
The Hon. Dixon H. Lewis will address
his constituents at Irvvinton, Barbour county,
Alabama, on Saturday, the Ist day o! Au
gust next, aod at Clayton, in the same coun
ty, on Monday, the 3d day of the same
month. _
REASONS IN FAVOR OF OLD TIP. AND
FOR OPPOSING MR. VAN BUREN.
It i3 truly amazing to hear ol some of the
reasons given for the support of Gen. Harri
son. One individual of our acquaintance is
opposed to'Mr. Van Buren because he is
a poor judge of a race horse, and when once
on a visit to his stable, in company with
Gen. Jackson, did not know the pedigree of
any of the running horses of the day. An
other is in favor of Gen. Harrison because
his name ends with ‘oh,’ as did Washington,
Jeflerson, Madison and Jackson. Another
opposes Mr. Van Buren because he ha3 a
great disrelish for the Finn, as he knew a man
hung whose name berran with Fan; and a
late ex-judge of our town obj.-cted to him in
a speech the other day at Salem, on the oilier
skit of the Chattahqochie, because bis father,
hf said; made a fortime by selling cabtwrges,