Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-07-28
COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Standard.
messrs. Branch and Shepard in Nash.

MEssRS. EDITORS :-MeSSrS. Branch ana onepaTd
one the Democratic the other the Know Nothing
nGdae 70, Congress in this District, addressed the
citizens of Nash county, on w ednesday, the 18TH
inst at Nashville, and at Hilliardston, on the next
day Mr.. Shepard opened the discussion at Nasn-
vile, and after few preliminary remarks COM
menced his speech by an onslaught on the EDITORS
of the IN. C.. Standard" complaining that these
arrogant editors had the audacty to charge him with
being Wing in disguise and denounced the senior
editor of the Standard" very bad guide for
the Democracy, and nincompoop setting NM
self up dictator to the Democratic party. ne
said Judge Saunders, Mr.. Holden, ana every ieau-
ing Democrat about Raleigh, except himself, Games
B. Shepard) had long since deserted the principles
of the Democratic party. Well Isuppose MIR Shep-
ard got very lonesome, so he went over to the hnow
Nothngs, and that, fear will be the last OF MN:
"What shadows we are! what shadows we pursued!
Mr. Shepard next took up the land question, spoke
in favor Of distribution, and advocated the ing
doctrine on that subject; and in connection with
this subject he endeavored to throw the blame for
the State debt revenue law, and all the schemes OF
improvement which were unpopular, upon the Shout
ders of the Democratic party, and harped upon the
overwhelming Democratic majority OF the last Leg
islature which was so extravaeant and wasteful OF
the peoples money whilst his remarks were calcu-
lated to leave the impression that the Wings were
opposed to the Revenue and Railroad bills, when, III
fact, of the warmest friends OF Internal Inn
provements in the Legislature, were found IN tho
ranks of the Wings
Mr. Shepard said he had always voted with the
Democracy of Nash, and challenged his competitor
to prove that he was not Democrat now-that be-
longing, as he did, to the American party, made him
3 better Democrat than ever. And as the Demo
Gratis of Nash had sustained him when their candi-
date for Governor in 1916, nc did not see how they
could consistently desert him now, merely because
a houndish, believing editor said he Wing
He said he would not admit MIR. Branch to be the
Democratic candidate, simply because he was nomi-
mated by the twothirds rule at the Franklnton
Convention
Mr. S. then took up the question of Know Moth
moi hn
it, and entered into lengthy argument to show the
dangers from Foreign and Catholic influence in this
country; and on the subject of paupers and crlml-
nails said that he had converted Mr.. Branch to one
of the principles of the American party. He de-
clared that this great country was even now gov
erncd by foreigners they had the balance pow
er, opposed to submitting to it any longer,
and desired that Americans should rule America.
He said that the Roman Ponttf not only issued his
bulls Of communication against individuals but
whole nations at time-that the Roman Catholic
religion hostile TO the institutions of this coun
try-that the Pope claimed civil and religious ale
glance from Catholics in the United States accord
ing to Brownson's testimony that he did not wish
to interfere with their religions rights, but was OPP
posed topromoting Catholics to otice-that foreign
ers should remain here Il years before being natu-
ralized and that secresy was beautiful feature in
Know Nothngism, and referred to Masonry to justi
fly it. Mr.. Shepard thought the Philadelphia Know
Nothing platform the soundest he had ever seen,
and he had before said. both the old parties were
dead. was surprised to hear him recognize, and
advise the old Democratic party, if they would not
join in the American movement, to hold ConVen-
ton, the Know Nothngs have DONE and purify
ITSELF by ejecting all the unsound members And
more astonished when | heard him declare that
the Know Nothngs at the North were sounder than
either of the old parties.
have endeavored to give correct sketch Of
Mr.. Shepards remarks possible, Oh the most inn
portant points of his speech and If have miscon-
strued him in any particular, it unntentional.
Mr.. S. evidently spoke under disadvantages, as he
must have and felt that his hearers almost
unanimously opposed to his new and strange doc
trines. He is undoubtedly gentleman of talents
and ability that would grace a. better cause; and
when he concluded his speech at Hilardston a
gentleman who had patiently listened to his speech,
was heard to say, "what pity! that talents of so
high an order should be so perverted"
Mr. Branch, on rising to reply, was most cheer
fully and enthusiastically received by the Nash DEM
ocracy evinced by the smiles and cheers with
which he was greeted. He corr" fnced his speech
by announcing that he was the democratic candi-
date for Congress in this District-that the nominal
ton had been rendered to him by the Franklnton
Convention without any solicitation his part, and
that he was not the peculiar friend of either of the
distinguished gentlemen whose names were before
that Convention, but the friend of them all
Mr.. Branch stated that it, had been circulated in
juring his prospects ihgk the Hon. 4. ". Venable
was opposed to his e96 ion but that he was graft
fed on this occasion1 esNable to say upon author
ity, (what he hao 2,sapnt of himself all the
time,) that Mr.. Yer ut and out opposed to
Know Nothngism, support him in the
coming election le could not imagine
how Mr.. Shepard c be the Democratic
candidate, when he ,ssAd and accepted the
nomination from the b - .TNothing party, which
was the btterest and -. lentess foe the Democ-
racy had to contend with. He said further that
to be Know Nothing to be enemy to the
Democratic party; and as Mr.. Shepard was the cam
didate of the enemy .6ecould not expect the Demo.
Gratis of Nash, to " mhe had appealed to-day, to
support him noXs ey did in 1916, when he was
the candidate r" (rty. MIR. B. regretted that
his opponent h Cd into this canvass the ques-
ton of internal ements and other State issues
which were efft1 irrelevant, and to which he
should not alludeadrth than necessary to de-
fend himself AND the Democratic party. He said
the people of Nash county had almost unanimously
sustained Gcterhors Reid and Bragg, and that his
opinions AMI tsrS identical the sr1lient of
internal .mproVenents-that the States debt had
been 'ntPacted to pay for improvements which had
been ed for by both Wings and Democrats and
that the stlegisature compelled to pass rev.
enue bill. repudiate; and he confident
Democrat in Nash county was in favor of repudia-
ting the debts of North Carolina. Mr.. B. further
more stated that internal improvements had been
1mmenced in this State and the most extravagant
/ ;hemes advocated by that very party in whose
ranks MIR. Shepard finds the most of his supporters.
Mr. Branch ably replied to the remarks of Mr.. S. on
the land question, exposing the fallacy of the Wing
doctrine on that subject.
Mr.. Branch next took up the question of Know
Nothingism, the main issue between him and his OPP
ponent, in this canvass, and in most able and elo-
quent manner did he expose the corruptions and
dangers of this new party-completely unmasking
Its mysteries and holding up its intoerant, proscrp
tive and putrid carcass to the gaze of all present.
rpof nr0TIat, and Feel