The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1855-07-28
SPEECH OF THE HON. SAMUEL BARD.

e,,,o Superintendent of Public Schools, addressed
n small audience, convened on short notice, In the
Court house on Saturday last.
Mr.. Bard commenced by stating his position as the
democratic nominee, and declaring himself demo-
crat from his youth to the present time, ana that ne
eypectcd to die in the same political faith
The speaker elaborated ut some length upon SOUTH
ern education; expressed himself in favor OF south
ern schools. and southern teachers. He had no OBJ
iections 10 educated northera men who came among
ms TO make the the south their permanent home, ana
who bv their acts, showed themselves SUCH He
wanted to see them buy property marry, and settle
in the country. But there was class of northern
men. who came amongst us, simply to make money
and leave and who were imbued with abolition ten
denotes, that he was opposed to. lie spoke of Gem
tenary College In very commcndable terms, said 1t
was an honor to the state, and taking high rank
among the Institutions of learning In the SOUTH and
viepp with much older institutions In other parts
of the country. lie was in favor Of keeping our
young men at home, and giving them southern ed
ucation, and condemned in strong terms, sending
them TO the north, where abolition sentiments were
instled into their young minds, by northern men,
and northern school books. Southern men were
doing themselves great injustice by such n course,
holding states Referred to Mr.. Calhoun, as high
authority in support of his views, who says; young
men that intended to live in the south should be cd
ucated in the SOUTH" His sentiments on southern
education were sound, and we doubt not met a hear
ty response from all who heard him.
Mr.. Bard then gave his reason why he was DEM
ocrat ever had BEEN and ever would be. Its nation
lily and its sound political doctrines, commended
themselves to the support of oil who duly appreci-
ated and properly understood their influence. From
the inauguration of Mr.. Jefferson, to the present
time, the government had been in the hands of dem
ocratic men, and administered upon democratic prn-
ciples except about ten years of that time. That
our present greatness and prosperity was owing to
that fact and to that party now alone could've look
for salvation from dissolution of the Union, so
strongly threatened by the powerful efforts of bo-
ltionism free-soilism, and know nothingism north,
to carry out their aggressive policy against the in
stitution of slavery. After giving his reasons for
being democrat, he then took up the subject Of
know nothingism, and gave his why he could
not be /" know nothing"
He presented his objections with great force and
power, at the same time, that he was respectful to
the individual members Of the party. He discussed
the subject upon principle, and proved clearly and
cogently, that it wrong in principle in violation
Of the spirit and letter Of the constitution. and
would lead to dangerous results If not put down.
!, lie commented with great severity upon the many
, platforms of the order, that their name was lc
gion showed the way that in all the northern states
know nothingsm was synonymous with abolitiOnism
and proved by reference to facts, that all the cleo
tions that had taken place in those states know
nothingsm, had elevated abotionsts into Office
lie judged the tree by its fruits and was forced to
conclude it to be of abolition origin and tendency
) north of Mason and Dixon's line. lie spoke of il
south, had no doubt many good wings and demo
Gratis had been induced to join the know nothings
thinking they were doing right. Such he wanted tc
come out and act with the democrats, as their onl,
chance of doing their country service. Those rem
egade wings and democrats, that had Joined the
der with the hope of getting Office, he wanted t.
h stay in, rs we could do better without than will
4 them. GA
c His remarks relative to the Louisiana platform
/ were amusing, especially when he referred to tina
one, that says the office should seek the man. AM
n not the man the office. He acknowledged that h
G was seeking the Office, and had sought the nomna
ton for the purpose of addressing his fellow citizen
l. on the great isms, agitating tho country iron
one extreme to the other. He compared the thir'
and sixth article of the platform, and showed the
were antpodal to each other. What was good i
the PLATFORM had been taken from the Georgia, an
e Louisiana democratic platform and was democrati
I. thunder ..zru I'D a
n He spoke Of the recent election for Chief Justice
p and mentioned Judge Merrck's name in datterin
terms. Had no doubt from what his friends said
t, him, he would fill the station with honor But d.
carcd at the same time the result was not test
Il the strength Of the democracy in this state Tha
l. the democrats had candidate in the field and tina
G! many democrats had voted for Judge Merrick /
y preference to Mr. Elgec, who had been known to b
it an uncompromising whig and had said more har
lie things against the democrats than any man in til
Is state. lie gave it as his opinion, the democrac
&c would carry their ticket in the fall, by at least v
re thousand majority. He said he had been told tina
on account of his sound southern views on cducs
ton, he would be elected If the rest of the tickle
GO were defeated. He wanted no such result in hi
O. favor. If the rest of the ticket were defeated,
IN wanted to be defeated with them. Like the cont
II, mental Congress, he wanted, "lve or die, sink
of swim, survive or perish" all to go together.
ie His remarks were intersperscd with some yer