Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1852-07-31
From the Memphis Whig.
Great Whig Meeting at Odd Fellows
Hall-Gav, Jones' Speech.

Hall-Gov, Jones' Speech.
The previous history Of our town can
not furnish an sccount of any such meet
ting, as assembled at Odd Fellows, Hal
upon Saturday night The vast room,
which will hold about fifteen hundred
closely packed, was filed to its utmost
capacities long before eight o'clock k--snd
hundreds went of, Unable to get a plaet
outside, within hearing distance. The
President of the Union 1Fhtg Club
Mr. SaHatans. introduced Gov. Jones Il
the audience In short and appropriate
speech, ne follows
| nv Fellow CirrzENs There is not g
man woman Of child present, who does
not know the purpose for which we have
assembled. It IL to listen to n distinguish
ed friend, felow.cti7en and Senator. nro,
the issues involved IN the coming Presi
dental election That friend, fellow .c'i
zen and Senator, IL The Hon. James G
jones. whom ! now have the pleasure oI
intfoduting to YOU +"
Gov. Jones then proceeded to address
the meeting, IN substance as follows
| can but feel gratifieJ--esceeJinal
gratified=~at meeting so rnauy of those
| friends and aoquaiusnces. with whom
have heen SO long and so intimately as.
sociated aud the only regret that now
| feel is that, ! may be unable fully to sat.
isfy the expectations Of those to whom
owe so much,
But it is a soutce of great pleasure, my
countrylnen, to witness the feeling that il
manifes'ng itself, not only here, but else-
where, Ia view ol the approaching Presi.
Dental election.
1t evidences that all is safe. That
there is nothing to be arprehended from
FACTION That the people of the Uui,e,l
States are jealous of their rights, and
watchful Of their liberties. IF the contest
ii which we are now engaged was mere.
ly scuhle between men, Tor posiiion--for
power--tor place. for one would feel no
interest in II whatever, and would not be
a participant therein, bnt being contest
for PRINCIPLE, the difference is very great.
80 far az tadtr,duajs are concerned, ii ia
matter of 10 importance TO me who
shall be elected but IN view of the pttn-
ttples which are al stake, it is a matter of
vital Importance to me. aud to YOU, which
party shall triumph We therefore, are
entering uron This contest for the main.
tenance Of our principles, and do trust
that it may be conducted in spirit of fair.
ness aud of caudor, and that IL may be
characterized by that utbanity, which, as
gentleman, will leave TIA nothing to regret
Nothing is to he gained ly vitupefation
and abuse. We are not batteing for men
we are battleiug ior p,tncspies-for
truth which il eternal l---and which despite
all dennnciation will ultimately pre- .al -
Let II. then, enter into this contest in
this epirit Of kindness and wood will -
Let every man hear, and examine for him.
self, and after such examination let him
discharge his duty ia such manner as
shall be acceptable TO himself--to his conn.
Try. aud to his God Our democratic
friends have presented their candidates to
the country, 1t Is not my duty. neither
ie Il my disposition. to assail them even
If ] knew they were personally assalable.
And take this occasion to say that never
have | assaied Gen, Pierce, neither will
do SO under any circumstances. But this
will say, that whenever and wherever
Gen. Pierce Ia presented 10 the country as
a military Chieitain, aud as one deserving
TO he elevated to high places because Of
his military deeds. that his claim upon the
American people cannot be maintained,
aud should not in all eandor be urged .---
But, as gentleman. | have nothing 10
say against Gen. Pierce---nor would |
willingly bur one single gem which gilt.
tets IN his chaplet of fame. But he is
not military hero. aud il IL wrong to
urge him upon the county as such. II,
however, amy of you want military man
you will have to come over 10 us. But,
my felIow.ctizens, Gen. SCOTS military
fame. Of itsey, forms no passport with me,
to the high office for which he is q caudi.
dade; but as au adjunct to great civil
qualifications II is proper and it 10 right
they should be considered.
But, as | said before, there are aues.
tons of vital interest there are Drs,act.
pies at stake. Questions Of policy may
change az circumstances and expedieney
may require, but principles necer. They
are ixed and immu,ibIe as the pillars of
our constitution, Aud there is one priuci-
pie which divides the parties OF the pre-.
sent day which is broad and distinctive,
aud which must remain MS long as parties
themselves exist mean that proper con.
servative principle Oh the one haud, aud
that wild. aggressive principle Of democfa.
cy on the other, which knows no limits,
aud whose existence depends entirely up.
on eXpediency, y" gt.
But, my feiow.ci,izens. I have no time
20 address you now upon the subject Of
the tariff, the distribution of the public
lands, and other issues which heretofore
have engaged your attention. My object
now is to render to you an account Of my
stewardship as your delegate to the recent
and to viudicate in part the
nominee of that body from some OF the
vile aud unmitigated SANDERS which have
been urged against him aud to tear from
the brow OF that veteran hero the wreath
OF hen1lock which has been placed there
by his enemies 8Asg III Al
1t has been published in almost every
paper in Tennessee. and neat
ly every democratic paper in the Union,
that | am accountable for the nomination
Of Gen. Scott! These gentlemen do me
t,,o much honor. Ii l was the instru.
ment no higher honor could / claim -
But, sirs, i was no, iu my power to pro.
duce this result. 1t was uot the work Of
any one man--or of any ASSOCIATION Of
men--hut it was the sovereign ullbousht