The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-07-27
SOm of Henry Clay ON the Stump
againt Know NOTTINGHAM.


referring to the speech of Mr.. James B. Clay a
gainsr Know Nothingism, says:
Yesterday WAS great day in this city. 1t be.
ing court day, great many people from The coun.
try we're in the CITY. Ii had previously been an.
houncrd that Mr.. James B. Beck, one of the mos
distinguished and able lawyers IN city, and Mr..
James g. Clay, son of the Sage of Ashland, and
owner of The old family seat, wonId address the
people the political topics ol the day. There
was great anSiety to henr both genrl. men, and al
the appointed hour, the court house filled 10
OvrTfuwiug.
Mr. Beck spnke 6rs;. He has always been n
whig. though man Of independent thought and
action. He spoke for Two hours. and made one
of the most able and t'ficieHt argument against
know ihinsIsn that we have listened to during
the present contest.
His speech throughout was powerful, argumrn-
taliye, convincing conclu>ivc, and told with ire-
m'ndnus fleet upon his audience.
The nrxr gentleman who took the staad was
Mr.. Jamrs b. Clay, who. have already re-.
mark d. is the of The great statesman, and has
.uCcCcded in the paIeIna es!aic of Ashland.
Mr.. Clay >aId that this was his first effort at
public speech, and nothing less than the profound
interest hch he felt in The great questions nt is
sue. could induce hrm appear this occasion.
Nrvrr before had such extraordinary, such alarm
Iug. such novel QucsrluHs ocen presented fer the
His appr"hrusnnS we're arouse in view Of them.
rud he >unrlimUs lrru,hrd al tie tate of his cuun
ry. The idea that this government 10 BE-
I..hrn into the keeping nf secret. POLITICAL oath
b. uuG organizatl'n, which sci up unconstitutional
test uaihs mud the members of which were bound
!" each other by the most terrible nblrgali"ns,
IL ham mo~u alarming, ard should. in his judg-
m' nj, the aPPrt hrnsiou of every patriotic
man in the wh3lc country.
~ HN u. Il. {.
the late know.uolhing convention at PhiIadel pha,
The real platform of the party-pary did
call them, said he; no, they are not party in
any proper acctptatInn oi the term. Parties have
h'.rctulore hc' op"n public and above board but
this is ,crci, oath bound, political organization,
which is SEE king after the political power OF the
country, by ways and mems unknown TO the
Law, and in phIpabe disregard OF the long.esiab-
Iishrd usages o. the people and the history of the
government. II sought political power, not by
open and fair means, but by secret piOttings, hy
crbalistic pass words by signs and grips,
known t" The people AT large, and in P"Pable vio-
la'inn oi the government.
mo, said hr, the true platform Of This extraor-
dlnary organization IS To be found IN their oaihs
nnd ritual. There were 10 be found The things
nhch they were sworn to do aud 20 carry out
and l"ukIrg into these OnthS and the ritual. he
found that their objects to strike at the c-
countries, dsfrnnchise. degrade and disgrace
them, by depriving them not only Of the right TO
Amercanizo themselves, but by cutting them off
from the rights of hospitality and humanity
they also sought TO dISranchise and degrade
other class of our ctzen.. whether native. born
ar iurrgn, on account of their religious opinions
an plain violation OF the constitution OF the coun
sry, and regardless Of The plainest dictates OF
justice and humanity.
Mr.. Clay said that, rather than submit any ex-
'rndrd remarks of his on these subjects, he
had chosen to coIlate the express and authentic
opinions OF the old fathers of the republic; and he
Eead extensively from The writings of Washington
and JrffeEsOn, OF Madison, OF jackson, OF quincy
and others
lie concluded his happy eff"r. by saying that
though the old whig party, with which he had al.
ways acted. Sas broken and dispersed. yet ne aP.
peared there of the old rear guard OF that
once powerful and great party; and in that capa-
city he protested against This new secret organiza
lion, as iraught with danger to his country and
Rs liberties; and he called upon all The old liners
Of the wing party to join him in the protest.