Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-06-08
From the Carolinian
Discussion at LumbertOn.


district addressed the people of Robson County in
Lumberton, on Tuesday last. very large audience
was in attendance, and gave both the speakers pa
tient and impartial hearing.
| Mr.. Reid made the opening speech. and am IN
formed BY gentlemen who heard him in other places
in the district that this effort was as good if not
little better than his previous efforts He evidently
showed that if his cause was bad one he was too
well skilled as lawyer and politician not to make
the best of it, He complained that the press in the
district was against him-that he msrepresented
by it, and if those of his fellow citizens who had
never enjoyed the pleasure of seeing him would onl y
believe what was said about him, they would think
he either wild beast or at least anything but
human being. He complained of various charges
that had been made against him, such that his love
of Office was greater than his love of country-that
he was spurious democrat-that he was whig-
and last, but worst of all, that he know w-no-
thing In TO the first, that he loved office, he
stated that he had never been lucky enough to get
one-that he desired Gas every member of the bar
would be pleased to do) 10 be elected OF the
Judges of our Superior Court but that the President
of the United States has Office within his gift that
he would accept He referred to editorial in the
North Carolinian in which he was charged with
beng a spurious democrat, in whom you had never
placed any confdence-that you never had supported
him, and that you would; and stated that
when you were nothing but boy setting up type in
the Carolinian efce, that he was fighting the great
battles of the democratic party in the county of Cum
berand which county he rep esented in the Leglsla
lures of 1885, 40 and 42-that whether you sup
ported him not, the democratic party did He
denied that he had been whg, but charged that
his Hon. competitor had been; and to the last
charge that he know nothing, he denied it to
the bitter end declaring that what the principles Of
the know nothings were, he knew not, and appealed
TO every know nothing within the sound of his
to gay if he was not right But when he came TO
speak of that celebrated Union or thd degree, that
he loved so much, that well calculated to
unite the North and South upon that great platform
of American nationality" and - Protestant ciyza-
ton," upon which he was determined to stand he
forgot his recent denial, and sail that what the
know nothings or American party proposed to do
The remainder of his speech in opposition to
Foreigners and Catholics.
Mr.. Winsow replied to Mr.. Reid in an able, eo.
quent and forcible The audience gave un-
msakabe evidence that they felt the force of the po
sltlons he assumed by the frequent and hearty pau-
dts by which they cheered him He convinced their
judgments while he reused their feelings and warmed
their hearts He carried them TO the plains of Sa-
vannah, to the plains of Camden where rests the re-
mains of Pulaski and De Kalb-to the heights of
Quebec, whose soil is fattening with the blood of
Montgomery; from Brandywine to Yorktown he
followed the ilustrous Lafayette whose portrait still
graces the Hall of or Representatives and when he
pointed TO the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers Ply
mouth Rock, of the Hugenots and hest of Colonists
fleeing from relg gous and political persecution to find
an asylum in this hitherto happy land, where they
might worship God according to the dictates of their
own consciences with none to molest or make them
afraid, and appealed to his audience to extend that
relig gous federation to others which they prized so
much themselves, by refusing to yield, with base in
gratitude, obedience to senseess fanatcism against
foreigners and Roman Catholics, he touched a chord
in the hearts of all who heard him. He called the
attention of his audience 10 the zeal with which Mr.
Reid denounced the Roman Catholic religion aud re-
commended to him that if he was serious In his pro-
tessions it would be much better for him to connect
himself with some Christian Church. if he had not
already done so, and show by consistent walk and
conversation that his was the true reigion-conend
ed that that work belonged exclusively to ministers
of the Gospel and not to disappointed office. seekers
and hacknied cross road politicans-tha as long as
we have the Bible in hands, and look to God as
our guide, we need not fear the attacks of forty thou
sand Popes from Rome Oh anywhere else He stated
that he would not trust any denomination with su-
preme power although the Catholic had burned
the Protestant for his religion the Protestant in his
turn had burned the Catholic and others in their turn
had carried both tN the stake He contended that in
stead of lnquiring 1cho shall rule America it would
be much better for 10 know ho1C America shall be
ruled-that it makes but little difference who rules
provided it is we'll done
| Mr.. Winslow answered the charge made against
him by Mr.. Reid that he had been whig by saying
that the first vote he gave was for Gen Jack
son; that he was Calhoun democrat, and that he
followed him and refused 10 vote for Mr.. VanBuren,
although he was the candidate of his party. and
perlence has proven that he was ght and his party
Was wrong. He ntmated that Mr. Reid had swerv.
ed little from his political integrity BY connecting
himself with the know nothings and opposing the
democratic party--that although he (N1r. Reid) had
joined this secret organization before the meeting of
the last Legislature, that he called on Mr.. Faison,
the Senator from Sampson, Mr.. Houston from Du
plin, and himself, and asked them TO urge his claims
on the democratic party for the appointment of Judge
OF the Superior Court-that they urged his claims
but were met with the charge that Mr. Reid was a
know nothing-that MIR. Houston Immediately wrote
to Mr.. Reid informing him of the charge and asking
for information and in reply received letter deny
ing the charge; and afterwards while in Raleigh, in
presence OF several members of the Legislature stood
by and allowed them contradict the charg. of his
being member of the secret order without correct
! ing them; and that as late the County Court OF
! Sampson county, and since MIR. Reid has declared
himself candidate for Congress, that he solicited q
gentleman of that county to join the order-told Mr.,
Reid who he referred to- and asked him if it OF
so Mr. Reid replied that the letter referred 10 was
a confidential communication and should not have
leen referred to by Mr.. Winslow-that the gentle
man alluded 10 in Sampson a connection of his
and that he had right to advise him not to oppose
the American party without being held responsible
for it before the public. Mr. Winslow commented
with severity upon the secret organization and the
influence must r upon all the relations of life
social political and religious, and showed conclusive
ly that if its end and ann The public good there
is necessity for secrecy; but if gentlemen do con
meet themselves with IT they should not equlvocae
| deny it.
do not attempt to do anything more than give h'
outlines of the discussion. The faint efforts to ap
! pIaud MI. Reid compared with the hearty cheer
given 10 Mr.. Winsow, shows conc usivey that Sam
was in the minority on that occasion, very low
} spirited Cd Robson will be found right side up
in August for the faithful standard bearer of the de
pocracy. 5.
1--WE suppose when MIR. Reid complained that 9Th
press in The District against him, he meant tn
,, democratic press We defy him to show one instane