Newspaper Page Text
(Zxmts attil %£X(tivid.
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA. ~
WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUG, 8.
FOR GOVERNOR. „ mT
HERSCIIEL, V. JOHSfcOW.
for congress*
let Dißtrict-JaniPs L. Seward, of Thomas.
2,1 4< itl. J- Crawford, of !?Incogee,
31. 44 Jam-* 01- Smith, of Ipsoii.
4.‘ h 4. iiirain Warner, of Meriwether.
iith “ Jno. H Lumpkin, of Floyd.
44 Howell Cobb, oI Clarke.
7 f I, 4. l.iiiron S ephehß, of Hancock.
gib << A. 11. Stephens, of Taliaferro.
Garnett Andrews’ Letter of Acceptance—Loy
alty to the Union.
However inconsistent the charge of want of loyally
to the Union may be in the mouth of a candidate who
affects to he a Columbus movement man, Garnett An
drews docs not stop to enquire, but boldly prefers it
against the Georgia Democracy in the following para
graph :
The inference from all such criticisms ia, that Kansas
may be rejected and the Union dissolved, unless we can
obtain votes on a principle we know is impossible, and to
us immaterial. A party which thus cavils on “the ninth
part of a hair,” may possibly desire the admission of Kan*
sas, but that desire must be very weak that is weighed
against a quibble. It looks significant oi the small value
they place upon the Union
This charge is simply ridiculous*. If the Democracy
of Georgia err at all it is in their extravigant estimate of
tho value of the Union. They submitted to be exclud
ed from all Territory of the United States lying north
of 3G deg. 30 inin., rather than dissolve the Union ;
they submitted to be excluded from the Pacific coast,
rather than dissolve the Union ; they submitted to daily
violations of that provision of the constitution providing
for the surrender of fugitive slaves, rather tliar. dissolve
tha Union ; nay, so tame has been our conduct under
the insults and wrongs heaped upon us by the North,
that Northern orators habitually assert that we cannot
bo kicked out of the Union. Yet Garnett Andrews
charges that we set “small value upon the Union.”
Shame on hirn for such a charge. And upon what data
is this charge founded : why, they oppose the Know
Nothings ! Well, that is true and we candidly confess
that we believe the Georgia Know Nothings are better
Union men than the Georgia Democracy. The dif
ference between them, however, only is that the Know
Nothings will, in our opinion, submit to any and every
wrong rather than dissolve the Union ; and the Demo
cracy say they will dissolve, as a last resort ,if Con
gress shall violate the four points of the Georgia Plat
form.
But which party has the best prospect of saving the
Union ? This query is predicted upon the idea that the
Union will be dissolved if Kansas is refused admission
into the Uunion “because of slavery.” In order to
prevent this catastrophe it is necessary to elect men to
Congress who are advocates and supporters of the Ne
braska Kansas bill. Now how do the two parties stand
on this question. First, at the South : Upon the passage
of the bill in the Senate, there were but two Southern
votes cast against the bill, (Houston, of Texas, and Bell,
of Tennesre,) and they are both Know Nothings. In
the passage of the bill in the House, there were nine
Southern votes cast against it—seven of whom are
Know Nothings. Second, at the North: on the pas
sage of the bill in the Senate there were sixteen Northern
Pemoorats for the bill and sonly two against it,
and not one Northern Know Nothing for the bill, hut
all against it. So on the passage of the bill in the
House there were forty-four Northern Democrats in
favor of the bill and not one solitary Know Nothing.
Now if the people of Georgia are anxious to secure
the admission of Kansas and thereby prevent a disrup
tion of tlu Union, which party ought they to elevate to
power? Clearly, the Democracy; for among them
alone, at the North, has the South any friends. Yet
Garnett Andrews charges that the Georgia Democracy
“place small value upon the Union” because they will
not aid in putting down our only friends at the North—
the Democracy—and putting in their stead our sworn
enemies—the Know Nothings. The charge is pre
posterous and the reasoning by which it is supported
contemptible.
But if the Georgia Democracy fail to procure the
ndmissiou of Kansas into the Uniou, they are pledged to
a measure that will either guarantee our rights in the Un
ion, or secure them out of it. If grass will not bring
the boy out of the apple tree, they are pledged to try
what virtue there is in stones. Unlike Garnett An
drews, who has no hope of Southern safety from South
ern union, the Georgia Democracy believe that when
the South stands firmly upon the Georgia Platform,
and demands her constitutional rights under a stern
threat of disunion, that she will be able to command the
whole Northern vote in Congress for the admission of
Kansas into the Uniciff, or for any other proposition she
may deem essential to her safety.
We, therefore, make bold to assert that the Georgia
Democracy are the only true friends of the Union in
the State. We do not mean that wo love the Union
better than Garnett Andrews does, or would make
greater sacrifices to maintain it. We place Garnett
Andrews in the front rank of submissionists. But we
hold that patience under injury is not the best way to
preserve our rights from the assaults of an insolent foe.
Tlie tide of Northern fanaticism can only be rolled back
by a calm, but fearless resistance. Unless this is done
we can enjoy neither Union nor liberty. This must
be apparent to every rejecting mind. This resistance
the Georgia Democracy propose to make and in that
purpose they show not only their devotion to Southern
Rights but to the Union of the States under the con*
• • • •
stiiution, without which there can be no Union but a
consolidation of the States.
Democratic Nominations.
Charlton County. —For Senator, Tiiotnas Ililliand ;
for Representative, James Thompson.
Chattahoociiek County. — Wo are phased to learn
that the Democracy of Chattahoochee are fully alive to
the great issues now pending before the American peo
ple. The district meeting at Pine Knot on the 21st u!t.,
was well attended, and Messrs James Cook, Andrew
M. Shepherd, Green B. Morgan, Caleb Ga'lups and
11. J. Williams were appointed delegates to the county
convention to select candidates for the Legislature.
The district convention which assembled at Halioca
was also a good one. Messrs. John F. Daniel, Jacob
II Clark, Sr., A. Williams, M. 1). Wall and K C. Pal
lergon, were appointed delegates to the county Conven
tion. Messrs. Paterson, Ueufroe, Cade and Webb, ad
dressed the meetiug iu stiring speeches.
It rejoices us to record the proceedings of such
gatherings of the people. The honest farmers of the
country aro the only hope of tho country. They look
all great issues straight in the face and decide them ac
cording to truth and justice. It is not always so in
town* and cities. OftLo blinds nun’s judgments often
Line*.
Alabama Election.
RUSSELL COUNTY.
~.zH “ j a ;zi | FT”
i ® § -g - -o -:c 55
! I 3 ijg ~ c I C -Si
! a £ , a .c3 a ; a m . £
G-rard, 33.n : 37t>-i 37m! 1 5 i in
Crawlord, 125 61 ilo2 119 ]57 75 >lls 68
Salem, 182 90 160 186 104 74 ! 172 01
Opelika, 122 66 98 |97 j 52 !72 195 71
W. Valley; 21m 71 75 58 56 2m
Himes, .67 jl7 60 ,63 .16 jl9 40 jl3
Uehee, j ;
Olivet.’ j ! . i !
Sand Fort,; 24 j 65 23 i22 74 72 11 iB7
Oswichee, 29 j 7 i25 29 ! 8 : 7 26 12
Villula, 108 47 111 99 36 33 87 |7B
Total. 1 | ‘ ii i T
Macon County.—Eight of the principal precincts
heard from including Auburn, Tuskegee and Warrior
Stand. Watt’s majority as far as heard fromjs only 180.
Chambers County.—Dowdcl.’s majority at LaFayette,
is 305; at Opelika 30. Watts carried Rough and Ready
by one vote. Oak Bowery is a stand off. Dowdell’s
majority is not less than 400 in Chambers. It is reported
that the whole Anti-Know Nothing ticket is elected.
Montgomery County. —ln the eily precinct Watt’s
majority is 28*2, at Mt Meigs 14. Dowdell carried llig*
ler’s Mills by 00 majority.
Dowdell, Dem., is certainly elected.
Barbour County. —The Kufaula box gave Shorter,
Dcm., a majority of 154. Glennville gave Alford K. N.
a majority of 35 votes. No doubt of Shorter’s election to
Congress in the 9d District.
Special Despatch.
Montgomery, Ala., Aug. 7, 1 19, r. m.
In Montgomery county, Shortridges’ majority is re*
dueed, by full returns, to 130 : Watt's majority to 230.
Dallas gives Shortridge a majority of 350, Autauga is
Democratic. Winston is certainly elected Governor.
BY TELEGRAPH.
TENNESSEE ELECTIONS.
Knoxville, August 3.
Gentry 1800 majority in Knox county—net gain of 400.
Nashville, August 3.
Davison, Maury, Bedford, Fayette, Memphis, William
son, Monterey, Wilson and Stewart counties give Gentry
a gain of 5,420. Several counties give Johnson a gain of
500. Gentry’s net gain so far is 2,042.
Nothing definite from North Carolina.
[ln the counties named above for Gentry, (including the
whole vote of Shelby county) Henry (Whig) in 1853, had
14,542 votes, and Johnson (Democrat—the present candi
date,) 11,524, showing a loss to Gentry, by the official vote
of that year, of 318 votes. —Eds. Con. & Rep.)
The Very Latest by Telegraph.
Macon, August 6, 2 f. m.
Forty-four counties heard from and Johnson, Dem.,
is three thousand ahead.
Macon, August 7, 4 29 f. m.
Nothing further from Tennessee. The Nashville
Banner, Know Nothing, gives up the election and says
Gentry's defeat is inevitable.
North Carolina Eleotion.
> Baltimore, August 3.
The Richmond Despatch has a few words in regard to
the Noi-th Carolina Election, namely, that the vote of
Gaston, up to noon, was—Shaw, Dem., for Congress, in
the Ist distiict, 64; Paine, Know Nothing, 14.
Richmond, August 3.
The Ist district, North Carolina, Halifax county, gives
Shaw, Dem., a majority of 6 over Paine, K. N.
In the 2d district, Edgecombe and Wayne counties give
2,000 majority for Ruffin, Dem., over Latham, Know
N< thing.
The 3d district, as far as heard from, has given Wins
low, Dem., a large majority over Reid, K. N.
In the 4th district Granville comity gives 650, Franklin
county 350, Warren county 700, and Wake county 450
majority for Branch, Dem.
The impression is, that the Democrats have r .elected a
majority of the Congressmen. There is a Democratic
gain everywhere.
Glorions News from North Carolina !
KNOW NOTHINGISM WHIPPED OUT!
We aro indebted to the Richmond Dispatch for the fol
lowing :
First District. —ln Halifax county, Shaw (D.) beats
Paine (K. N.) 6 votes ; and 213 in Northampton.
Second District. —Edgeeomb and Wayne are reported
to have gived nearly 2000 majority for Ruffin, (D.) over
Latham, (K N )
In the Third District, as far as beard from, Warren
Winslow (D.) runs largely ahead of Reid, (K. N.)
Fourth Distrl t. —Granville is reported as giving 650,
Franklin 350, Warren 700, and Wake 450 majority for
L. O. Branch, (D.) over James B. Sheppard, (K. N.) —
Branch supposed to be elected by about 2000 majority in
tho District.
In the Fifth District, E. G. Reid (Iv. N.) beats Kerr
(D ) by 1550 majority in Guilford county.
The impression is, that the State lias gone Democratic.
Mecklenburg all right.— We learn that by a private
letter, (says the Sputh Carolinian ot the 4th inst.) that the
lion. Buiion S. f raig, the I democratic candidate, is ahead
of the Know Nothing nominee 238 votes. He is con*
sidered elected.^A good beginning, and in the right dis
trict.
Horrible Death of David Wright.
On Saturday night last David W’right, under tho sen
tenr.eof death, for the murder of Deputy Sheriff Robinson,
met with a horrid death in the county Prison. About 12
o’clock at night, he raised the cry of fire in his cell. No
attention, however, was f paid to it by the jailor as such
noises in the night were not at all ‘uncommon. Some
hour afterwards eoais fell through the floor of Wright’s
cell, into the room below, occupied by ’a servant of the
jailor, who immediately aroused the inmates and gave the
alarm of “fire.” Upon entering Wrights room, it w; s
discovered that the flames had not only burnt a hole
through the floor, but had caught the ‘ceiling, and that
the air of the room was intensely hot. Wright was
stone dead ; his skin slipped from the flesh ; he had been
strangled by the smoke and then baked to a crisp by a
fire of his own kindling. It was a most awful and ap
palling death,
It is believed,’having sawed his irons_nearly oft’, he set
fire to his room in the hope that the jailor would rush
heedlessly to his rescue, when he could /master him and
make his escape, or sell his life in a hand to had engage”
ment. He was dreadfully mistakenjin his calculations, and
iias paid the penalty of his crimes.
Sentenced to be Hunt;.
Tho Seperior Court of Muscogee county assembled on
Monday, 6ih inst., Judge Worrill presidium
John T. Boyd, convicted as principal iu the first degree
of the murder of Deputy Sheriff Robinson, was sentenced
to be hung on the ?th September. He read a paper to the
Court asseverating his innocence and charging one of the
witnesses with swearing falsely.
BJI, a slave of Pitts and Hatcher, convicted of the mur
der of a fellow eetvaot, was sentenced'to be bung on the
same day.
Court adjourned until the neat regular ter.-n.
Second Congressional District.
Hon. Martin J. Crawford, the gallant and incorrup
tible standard bearer of the Democracy in the second
Congressional District opened the balHtt Ilawkinaville,
Pulaski county, on Saturday, 4th inst. 11c received a
most cordial welcome 3nd sustained his positions in a
speech of over two hours which was characterized by
great force, power and eloqutnee, and was receirtd
with rapturous applause by a large, attentive, and de*
lighted audience. Pulaski is safe for the Democracy
by 100 majority.
We have the most cheering news from other parts of
the district In Baker, Calhoun, Chattahoochee, Dooly,
Dougherty, Early, Pulaski, Randolph and Stewart
counties, our friends are confident of triumph by in
creased majorities ; while in other counties the great
body of the Democracy stand firm and more than
make up tbeir losses by acscssions from the old Whig
party, many of whom stand by their old and well tried
servants, Toombs, Stephens and Jenkins, in their waa
on Know Nothingism. This is particularly the case in
Decatur, where, wo learn, many Whigs have left the
order. The victory will be certain and crowning in the
district, if the friends of civil and religious liberty will
do their duty. There is nothing in Know Nothingism
that commends it to the hearts and consciences of the
people of Georgia. It is repulsive to their ideas of
right to proscribe a man on account of his religion or
birth place. It does‘not accord with their notions of
manhood to be bound by oaths to support the candi
dates of a secret caucus for all offices in the gift of the
people no matter whether he is a good or a bad man,
a sound or an unbound politician. All that they need
is light. Show them Knew Nothingism as it is and
they will throttle it at the first eleotion. Let every
Democrat and Whig in the district who desires to
preserve our glorious inheritance of freedom as it was
bequeathed to us by our noble fathers, buckle on his ar
mour and fight a good fight. One victory gives us the
battle. Love of office is the main spring of Know
Nothing strength. The incongruous elements that
compose this motley organization are held together
solely by the cohesive power of publio plunder. The
old defeated hacks of party have nealy all gone into the
order. Beat them soundly one time, and we will hear
no more of either Catholio or foreigner.
Muscogee Building and Loan Association.
An examination of the first annual report, which we
publish in another column, will show that the first year’s
business of the Association has resulted in a net profit
of $30,258 28, which divided among £OOO shares, makes
the value of each share $27.12 for sl2 paid in, or a
net profit of $15.13 per share. The average rate of
premium at which loans have bean taken, is 55 I*2
per cent. It is the opinion of the Directors, that the
Association will be weund up in seven years, possibly
in six years. At the average rate of premium, for the
.first twelve months, it would require only live years and
six months to wind up, but it is not reasonable to sup
pose that the present high rate of pr .nium will prevail
and uring its whole existence. At an average rate of premium
of 40 per cent, it will require just seven years to enable
the Association to divide S2OO to the share, when it
will close. The 2000 shares of stock are divided among
187 stockholders, a fraction less than 11 shares to
each stockholder.
The Columbus Building and Loan Association is do
ing quite as well as the Muscogee Association.
For the Times & Sentinel.
Coal Fields of Georgia.
Castle Rock, Dade Cos. Ga July 31, 1855.
Messrs. Editors: —ln a former communication I allud
ed to some of the advantages of this portion of our State,
and, among other things, adverted to its coal fields. Allow
mo to enlarge. Although coal is found therein great a
bundance, its value depends very much on its accessibility
and the facility with which it may be conveyed to the rail
road. As it is an article of great bulk and weight and the
country ia mountainous, the cost of transporting it to the
road is oue of the heaviest ? items of expense connected
with the business; consequently the beds near a line of rail
road, possess a decided advantage over those that are more
distant. The Castle Rock Mining Company, when they
build their railroad, (which can be done lor a small amount
of money) will be able to deliver coal on the Nashville &
Chattanooga road at a comparatively Trifling cost. The
process of extracting this valuable mineral is cheap and
simple. The miner equipped with a steel pick, which lie
can easily wield with one hand, two or three iron wedges
and a sledge hammer, is prepared to commence operations.
A tunnel is opened ten or fifteen feet in width. By digging
two or three feet in a horizontal direction and removing
the slate, and then cutting chambers in’a perpendicular direc
tion, the coal is easily detached by driving wedges above,
and tumbles down in large’masses. There is a stratum
of slate above and below the coal which must be separa
ted from the pure article or it will injure the sale. In some
mines prop-timbers are necessary to prevent the superin
cumbent mass of slate and earth from falling and endan
gering the life of the miner. At this place the coal is ov
erlaid with rock, making a strong and substantial roof
which needs no props to support it. A good collier can,
with moderate work, dig one hundred bushels per day, de
pending on the thickness of the bed. The principal mar
kets for the coal of this region are Nashviile, Tennessee,
Huntsville, Ala., Atlanta, Macon sand Augusta of this
State, and if freights, will justify it, it may be sent to your
city. The consumption of it in this State is rapidly in
creasing and will probably continue to increase. 1 have
been informed that Major Mark A. Cooper uses 400 bush
els per day at his Iron Works on the E*owah, and as Iron
is found in this county, it is'not improbable that, at some
future day, iron works may be established near the coal re-
gion.
The developments of these great elements of the wealth
; of our State should enlist the pride and interest of ev
ery Georgian. Although agriculture is the main source of
our wealth and the leading pursuit of our people, a diver
sion of a portion of our capital and labor into other chan
nels of industry, would, it is believed, result in individual
profit and the general good. What would Pennsylvania
be without her coal and her iron? Notwithstanding the
fertility of hersoil, the abundance of her pro
ductions, her coal and her iron control a large portion of
her wealth, and contribute iu no small degree to give her j
that commanding position which she enjoys among the
States of this great confederacy. Perhaps no State iu the
Union is richer in minerals or is more favorably located
for mining purposes than our own. Gold, copper and coal
are all found within our borders, and these valuable mine
rals, when properly developed, will greatly .increase our
property and independence. The capacity of a mining
country to produce the leading aricles of food necessary to i
the maintenance of those engaged iu mining operations is {
an advantage of no small importance. We have in this
section thisladvantage in ao eminent ‘degree. All the ce
reals growmere ia Egyptian abundance, and clover and
the grassesfwould, I have no doubt, flourish well- It is a
fine regiopTor raising ttock of si! kinds. Cattle require
iu wirier', but mjfre tcmmei setrioa thr. j
f W *
keep fat on the range and yield an abuudauce of rich milk.
Though 1 cannot say with Job that “I have washed my
steps with butter,” I cao say that I have cevcr seen it-n
greater quantity, nor ot better quality than I have found on
this mouutain. Georgia has in her toil, climate and pro
ductions, (agricultural and mineral) all the elements of
wealth, independence and happiness?, and if we rightly
improve the blessings which a beuiticout Providence has
bestowed upon us, we may not only continue to be the
empire State of the South, but wej may rival the empire
State of the Union. U.
[FOR Till! TIMES AND SENTINEL.]
.Misstatements Corrected—Messrs. Hawkins &
Nisbet;
Alcssis. Editors: —Having attended the Know Nothing
meeting and barbecue on Saturday 4th, and heard a poi
tion of the speeches of Messrs. Willis A. Hawkins ard
Eugonius A. Nisbet, I must ask a place in your paper to
expose the utter untruthluluess of two’ or three statements
made by those gentlemen. In thus noticing them it is ro
pleasure to me, as I am personally acquainted with both
speakers,and have esteemed them as gentlemen and friends.
Judge Nisbet I have known long and esteemed very high
ly, and although an anti-Know Nothing, I went to the
meeting hoping to hear from him a close, logical, and able
argument, in chaste and beautiful language, in behalf of his
cause, without any of the bold and reckless assertions and
abuse of others, so common with the'small and recklesss
politician. lam sorry to say I was most egregiously dis
appointed. Know Nothingism, it seems, has worked a
wonderful change in the smooth and amiable and accom
plished Nisbet. Descending from the high position of the
urbane and gentle Christian and accomplished gentleman,
he has got down among the rough and tumble .politicians,
ready to say whatever will benefit his party, without being
very careful to ascertain the truth of what he speaks of,and
indulging in personal abuse of his absent political oppo
nents. But I will not say more lest I may be charged with
a disposition to do injustice to Judge Nisbet. 1 ’will only
state what he said, disprove two or three of his statements,
and leave the audience that heard him and theipublic to
judge him. As to Mr. Hawkins, I think him more excu
sable for thejeason that ho is a tolerably good Know No
thing and has not the same faculty of learning the truth at
all times as Judge„Nisbet. Still I think that when gentle
men set out to‘enlighten the people upon'the political
questions of the day, they ought jdirst to enlighten them
selves, else the many may judge „ them harshly or some
kind friend, like myself, may apply the‘‘rod of correction.’
But to these’statements.
In alluding to the Know Nothing Philadelphia National
Platform, Mr. Hawkins said that the.American Know No
thing State Convention of Pennsylvania had adopted the
Philadelphia Platform upon the slavery question! Judge
Nisbet in his speech did not say this L or go so far, but he
said over half or of the Pennsylvania Know
Nothings were in favor of the Philadelphia National Plat
form! Now let us see how utterly untrue a. plain state:
ment of facts and an exhibition ol the Pennsylvania Plat-,
form, will show both of these statements to be. The Phil
adelphia National Convention assembled on the sth June
continued several days, and adopted their Platform in rela
tion to the slavery question.
The Pennsylvania State Convention of Know Noth
ings met on the7?/t July, and did they adopt the so called
National Platform? No! On the contrary they “spit up
on” and repudiated it, and adopted the following in lieu of
it by a vote of 145 to 53.
Resolved, That the question of slavery should not bo
introduced into the platform of the American party, being
convinced that no such issue was intended to be embraced
within its principles and objects. That we believe in, and
shall ever defend the right of freedom of opinion and dis
cussion on that and every other subject cot intended to be
embraced within the designs of our organization. But in-
Hamueli as the subject has been forced upon us, wo regard
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise as an infraction of
the plighted faith of the nation, and that it should be re
stored, and if efforts to that end should fail, Congress should
refuse to admit any state tolerating slavery which shall be
foimed out of any portion of the territory from which that
institution was excluded by that Compromise.
It will be seen that the Pennsylvania Know Nothings
demand the restoration of the Missouri Line, and if this is
not conceded, they demand that t Congress shall refuse to
admit any State into the Union formed out of said territo
ry, whose constitution shall ftolerate slavery. L this the
“Philadelphia Platform” that Messrs. Hawkins and Nisbet
advocated on Saturday last, and which Mr. Hawkins de
clared “ better than the .Georgia Platform?” This is the
one adopted by the Pennsylvania Know Nothing State
Convention. But thisj is not all. After adopting this
Resolution, upon a proposition Jo secede from the Convene
tion and adopt the Philadelphia„National Platform, only
ten out of the one hundred and ninety six delegates, sece
ded and adopted the Philadelphia Platform!
Then where is there any authority whatever for thestate
ments of Messrs. Hawkins and Nisbet ? So far from there
being one half or two thirds in favor of what is called the ,
Philadelphia National Platform; only about one twentieth
of the Pennsylvania Know Nothing Delegates adopted it. |
Mr.Hawkins, by way of showing that some of the Nor
thern States were in favor of the so-called Philadelphia j
National Platform, claimed New Jersey as being in fa
vor of it. This he had.no authority to do. The N. J. State
Conyention of Know’ Nothings did not meet until the Ist
August, when they adopted the following Platform on the
slavery question :
NEW JERSEY K. N. PLATFORM.
Whereas, Many of the sentiments of the 12th section
j of the P]atlorm of the National Convention are inconsis
| tent with the previous portion thereol, particularly the Ith
j section, tliereibre —
Resolved, That we adopt with the warmest and most
hearty approval, as the best and noblest and most patriotic
; declaration of political principles ever presented to this or
any nation, the platform of the National Council, protest
ing
State or subordinate councils, or the individual members ol
the Order; and asserting the right of Congressional inde
pendence upon the subject of ot Slavery, as well as upon
the subjects of currency, commerce, internal improvements,
and such other issues as are aside from these which are tho
avowed and distinctive principles oftneorder.
Resolved, as the opinion of this State Council, That the
Missouri Compromise was a salutary act of statesmanship,
devi.-ed by patriotic and wise men to meet an extraordina
ry and threatening exigency; and that by the consent of
the country lor more tuan thirty years, it had come to be
i considered in the light of a compact, and as such the eet
} tied national policy, binding the faith of the nation; that
; the repeal ot this wise act of statesmanship was an incon
! siderale outrage upon good faith, and infamous because it
| unsettled the peace and quiet of the country, and has
plunged it into a condition of excitement dangerous to the
Union, for the paltry motive of the personal political ag- ,
grandizement of its originators.
Does Mr. Hawkins think this a letter platform than the i
Georgia Platform? New York is now the only remaining
Northern or Western State they pretend to claim. Even
were the New York Know Nothings to adopt it,it would
be of no etiect, for they only claim about 180,000 members
out 0f600,000 voters in the State,and they have no power
there. But t think, on the 11th September when their
State Convention meets, they too, w i'l bo found chirking, l
repudiating or saying nothing about this so-called Pnila
delpkia National Platform, which only four of their dele
gates voted for in the Philadelphia Convention. But we
shall see.
Again. Both Messrs. Haw-kins and Nfebet asserted that j
if was an nridenitblf fact—Judge Nisbet said it vvre “how
bittory”—that I/r/orcf President Pierce was inaugurated, it
was kn iwn in Madrid, Spain, by the Pope’s .Nuncio, that
M Campbell, the Postmaster Genoral, a Catholic, would
ba aSmember of the Cabinet,and they went on to assert or
argue that Mr. Pierce had bargained that ollice to the C;v
tholice. This story, every one knows, got its start trem
Kenneth Raynor of North Carolina, who stated that Mr.
Barringo;, our Minister to Spain, so informed him. Upon
this statement appearing in the newspapers, Mr. Barringer
forthwith wrote to Rajner, denying its truth, and makes
tle following statement, which is of an entirely differcut
character. 1 take it from the Savannah Republican, a
rabid Know Nothing paper. Here is Mr. Barringer’s own
language:
“ Before ] had any authentic and ceituin uews of the
formation o* the Cabinet, and while it was still a subject
of conjecture at the Loiut of Madrid, lie (the Pope’s Nun
cio) told me iiiai.Judge Campbell,ot ireunsyivama, was ap
pointed, and that lie was a Cathode; which was the hist
information 1 lrad,either of his appointment or of Ins reli
gion.”
And tliis extract of Mr. Barringer’s letter to Rayner is
published in the Savannah’ Republican, Augusta Chronicle
Sentinel and other papers, seveial days belore Messrs.
Hawkins and j Nisbet delivered their speeches here, and
soil both of them had the hardihood, before an intelligent
audience, to make the charges above alluded to. Mr
Barringer, who was removed by Gen. Pierce, no doubt
tried to make the ease appear as much as he could against
the President, but still he could not but admit that he had
heard about the appointments before he had the conversa
tion with the Pope’s Nuncio, butthat they were not consid
ered “authentic” and “certain.” And merely because some
time after Mr. Pierce’s inauguration, the Pope’s Nuncio
happened to mention to Mr. Barringer, the “unauthentie”
and “uncertain” news at Madrid, (which afterwards turned
out to be true) and stated that Mr. Campbell was a Catho
lic, Rayner of N. N., trumps up the falsehood. And even
after a true version of the matter is given by Mr. Barringer
himself, Messrs. Hawkins and Nisbet unblushingly relate
this story of Rayner of N. C., to the people of Muscogee,
as‘undeniable’ and as “now history,’ &c. How hard
must honorable men bo pushed, when they resort to such
means to help their cause.
Again Judge Nesbit asserted that the Know Noth
ings did not proscribe or were not bound to vole against
Roman Catholics tor office—that they were only sw'orn
to vote against those who acknowledged the supremacy
of the Pope in temporal and secular affairs.
To this assertion of Judge Nisbet, I will sim
ply oppose the oaths taken by members of the Know
Nothing Order, and now acknowledged by them to be
true.anil genuine. The following is a'part of the oath of
the-Ist degret members :
y“ln the presence of the Almighty God, and these wit
; ndrses, you do solemnly promise and swear, that you
| will not vote nor give your influence fur any inau lor
any office iu the gilt ol the people, unless lie* he an Ame
rican born citizen, in favor of Americans ruling America,
nor if he be a Rowan Catholic ; that you will, in all
i political matters, to far as this Orrit r is concerned, com
i pW with the will of the majority, though ii may conflict
: With your personal preference,” j-c.
i 1 ’**
And a part of the oath of the second degree members
sis in the following language :
i.
if “That you will support in all political matters, for all
political offices, members of this Order in preference to
other pel sons; that it it may be done legally, you
will w hen elected or appointed to any cfficial station con
ferring on you the power to do so, remove all foreign al
iens or Roman Catholics from office or place, and” that
you W'ili, in tw case appoint such to any office or place in
| your gift.”
I Now, as these oaths are plain and uomistakeable, and
! as lain one of those who cannot he made to believe that
i my friends, and other members of the Older, w ill swear
falsely, I must be permitted to doubt the correctness of
this statement of Judge Nisbet. As, in seine instances,
the oaths arc not required of big men men, while all tho
little ones are required to sw ear, perhaps Judge N. has
not taken the oaths and has been misinformed iu relation
to them.
Both, Messrs. Hawkins .and Neslit endorsed tho
Federal construction placed upon the Philadelphia Plat
; form, wlu-rc it % says that the Supreme Court of the Uni
! ted States is the only “legal” tribunal to decide “disputed
j points” ai to government undvr the Constitution. Mr.
1
Hawkins, w hilst maintaining the supremacy of the Su
preme Court, said that in case the Supreme Court ot
the United States decided against- Georg a, he was for
revolution ; that that was our only remedy against its
decision. This position of Messrs. Nisbet and Hawkins,
however, reminds me of what I heard of Judge Nisbet
about fourteen years ago, and it was, that although ho
went into Congress as a States Rights Republican, after
his service ha returned home an acknowledged Feder
alist. Judge N. knows best whether it be so or not—let
him answer- He said the Whig Party, meaning the
Georgia Whig Party was “ dead dead,” and that he was
“glad of it I suppose that party was not Federal
enough for him; he wanted one “a little more so.” He
has the l ight one now.
Judge Nifibet d.d not spare some of his absent political
opponents ; and towards the lion. A. 11. Stephens he
, WIS especially denunciatory, so much so that he may very
properly be termed a “hydiuphobist” towards him.—
In Ins hot zeal to denounce and say hard things about Mr.
S., Judge Nisbet at one time “forgot himself,” and viola.
j
ted the usual courtesies of life,by denouncing Mr.S. as be„
ins faithless to the interests of the South in voting for
i the Kansas Nebraska bill, wtide Capt. Abercrombie a po
litical associate and friend who voted with Mr. Stephens
in Congress, for the same bill, sat on the stand with ,
and in a Jew feet of him I At the time he denounced
Mr. S., he in fleet denounced Capt. Abercrombie, too.
He denounced Mr. Stephens for voting for the Nebraska*
Kansas bill, because the bill had a clause in it, authorizing
foreign born persons who had taken the oath of intention
to become citizens of the United States, to vote in those
Territories. x\.ud this right, I learn, is already exteneded
to them in some of the Northern and Western States.
The people of Georgia, and of the South, bad better
watch well these Know Nothings, who thus insiduovshj
attack the lvinsas-Nebroska hill. ‘This objection of
Judge Nisbet s is no objection at all when compared
with the great principle in relation to slaveiy gained by
the South, in the passage of this bill. Are not these at
tacks upon this bill put out ns “ feelers” by these Know
Nothings, preparatory to yielding up some of our rights
winch we clam in the Georgia Platform l 7‘his attack
upon Mr. Stephens for voting for the K -nsas Nebraska
bill, and Mr. Hawkins* declaration that the “Philadelphia
Platform is better than the Georgia Platform,” looks
much like there is a ‘‘Jcob's blade'* among them some
where. But we shall see. one of tb-se days.
•Julgf X,. in another part of bn? #ddrif** tq m- o Mr.