Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-07-21
COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Standard
The .sBig Potatoe'' peeled again!

% NRssps Enrrops. With other Democrats from
Raleigh attended nnnSs mceung OF the hno"
Nothinr nartv held at Frankinton on the 10th inst
Never having listened to one of these X. N. orators
nv curiosity was little more than TusSe@ at the
thouoht of listening to the Hon. Kenneth Rayner
The hin oun as we'll as the Big POtGt0e of the par
tv Mr. Rayner mounted the stand about II o.
clock and proceeded, first and foremost, to deny
and refute the charge that temperancc-tsn haa run
into K. N ism, by practical argument the mixing
of a good stiff todIy in the presence OF the crowd
assembled and by calling their attention to the Jdct
Mr.. r. next took occasion to say that nc hao oeeh
invited there and that he had COME not 10 advocate
the election of any one-not TO enter mo
ties with any one but to defend himself against the
charges which had been preferred against him by
partizans-aut perhaps he sald by partlzan papers;
He alluded to the republication OF his celebrated
Convention speech of 1885, to the injustice which
had heen done him by the writer of the preface.
He thought he had been treated unkindy-very
badly! perhaps more so than any other Know Moth
ing about this City and he was glad of hss oppor'
tn6itv to defend himself After this preliminary
harangue the Honorable gentleman smote himself
on the left breast with his right hand, looked up
tocards Heaven, and thanked God that he was
native born American citizen lie gloried IN It
(iaIst as zee Democrats do -but he didn't believe
there was foreign born citizen ms eQu@t unless IL
was in a moral point. Intellectually and for coun-
try-oving, the Big Potatoe suddenly grew to the
size of huge pumpkin! At this point MIR. Ray
ner commenced his stereotyped speech against Ro-
man Catholics, against the Administration, and, as
usual used those beautiful, those classic words,
ed war against the Foreign and Catholic party-De-
mocrats-drew his frightful picture of Nunneries
and Convents-spoke of the corruption of Catholic
preates, and in every conceivable way besmeared
the Democratic party with filthy jargon for daring
to speak out like and patriots for 'the Consti-
tuition as it is" In this strain for three hours did
he speak, making point aiming at nothing, but
to prejudces the people, and perchanee,
get I'D little feeling on the occasion. How far he
succeeded will be found out in few moments.
1t certainly would afford me no pleasure to misre
present Mr. Rayner's remarks-if err in any par
ticulal / am free to make the proper retraXt
understood the gentleman to say that he for
foreigners remaining in this country for at least
taoentyone years before being allowed the right of
franchise; that boys at sixteen were better in
formed that age than full grown foreigner, who,
with all the privileges of history, and the advanta
ges of liberal education, could be, after they had
been here five years. l understood the gentle
man to say in speaking of a6sOtution by the Cath
lie Priests, that this system was so convenient that
it was dangerous 10 trust of them oath, be-
cause after swearing it was only necessary to go to
Priest and get discharge from the obligations. In
view of this it was common in Catholic countries
for Post Masters violate their oaths by intercept
ing, breaking open, and reading letters that
passing through the mails and, he had doubt
but that this done in this country where lead
ing politician suspected OF writing letters. [
understood him to say, in substance that the daugh
tiers and wives of Catholics were corrupted by the
priests understood him to say, also, that friend
in Baltimore had told HIM that he had taken the
liberty of asking Judge fancy how it happened that
he, the Judge with his intelligence and kindness,
could be Catholic, and that III reply, Judge L.
! said, 80, never trouble myself about that, my
priest takes of my conscience" Here
enough charges against American citizens to sink,
they true, this country to the depth of perdi
tion-and he knew when he made them that they
were not true! and at the risk of being kicked out
ofhis presence, tell him, tell smaller potatoes,
that this Know Nothing maneuvre is nothing but
the dying struggle of certain old Wing hacks who
desire to regain the ascendency. What inconss-
TO- iccla Ear n1iUOr1c
ton, and in the next breath eternal hostility
to every man, foreign born or native, who worshps
God according to the Catholic faith! am no apol-
ogist of the Catholics; but | defender of
the rights of the citizens of my country, whether
they be native naturaliZed. After Mr. Rayner
concluded DR.. Prtchard came forward to reply. lie
took the positon-the proud, the patriotic position
of Democrat. He truly and faithfully repealed
the attacks, iiberal they were, made by the Her
ford Senator against the Foreign and Catholic par
ty. He detorted with severity upon the gentlemans
filthy throws at the Presinent and his Cabinet. DIR.
P. dwet at length upon the State Constitution of
this midnight, dark lantern ORDER and fully exhib-
tied to friends the danger of connecting them
selves with such manacled, oath-bound clan. No
bly, did the gallant DR.. dispense, like mists before
the morning sun, the faacous of the dis
tinguished gentleman. Cheered on by the applause
and smiles of the Democracy present, DR.. Prtchard
poured out his whole soul for his country and his
countrys cause. He made the most patriotic and
eloquent speech that have heard during the cam
pagn, and my word for it. it will tell at the ballot
box in August next
AS evidence that Mr.. Rayners' speech had its
influence DIR. Pritchard stated that he was author
lied to say that since the speech of Mr. Rayners
three members of the K. N Order had declared their
intention of Withdrawing forthwith from that body
To sum up the whole, / think Mr.. Rayner made
5000 converts thcreabouts; and that his ascer-
tanned loss before the smoke ofthe battle had blown
away amounted to three. Go on, Mr.. Rayner! you
doing good service to the Democratic cause, by
your abuse of that party whose measures have Civ
en- us the national glory enjoy. Tell the
people, every where you go, you did at franklin
ton that the Wing party is dead! That it became
abolitionzed before it died Tell the people, asyou
did in Franklinton, that an attempt is now being
made to bring the Wing party to life again, but
that you will never join them again! But for the
sake of TRUTH don't tell the people that you have no
love for the old dead coon for they won't believe
you SO long as they believe that the present Know
Nothing organization is Indian dressed in the
skin of hog. They'll shoot YOU politically, when
ever you affect to grunt!
Messrs Editors, have spun my communication
out quite too long, am aware, yet am sensible
that have not given half in substance of what
Mr.. r. did say. l told that he delivered the
same sermon in Richmond and in Raleigh-if So
you posted. Nor give YOU anv thing like
faint conception of what DIR. Pritchard said If
repeated applause is evidence that his speech was
listened to, understood, and appreciated then am
fully satisfied, friend of the Dr., with this his
master effort. In conclusion allow assure YOU
that the Democracy is fully aroused Mr.. Shepard
will be badly defeated, and consigned the dusty
shelf of the dead politician for another twelve years
ALAMANCE.