Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1855-09-12
q b& Stan0ar0.
RALEIGH. SATURDAY. SEPT. 8. 1865.
MESSRS. RAYNER AND BARRINGER.

MESSRS RAYNER AND BARRINGER.
W e published in our last the letter of Mr.. Ray
ner to Mr. Barrngcr, and the reply of the latter,
the subject of the charge preferred by Mr.. Rayner
of corrupt bargain between the Democrats and the
Roman Catholic Church. We propose now briefly
to refer to this matter agan-to re-state the charge
and to sum up and expose the proofs offered by Mr..
Ravner in support of it-and to show how conclu-
svely it has been met and overset by Mr.. Barringer
himself, on whom Mr.. Rayncr relied when he pre-
ferred the charge
The charge made by Mr.. Rayner was as follows
That there corrupt bargain or understanding,
during the last Presidential campaign between lead
ing Democrats and the Roman Catholic Church, by
which the support of the latter was pledged and
carried in consideration of high political station to
be conferred on a member of that Church. And
for proof of this charge, Mr.. Rayner relied in the
campaign upon what he stated Mr.. Barringer had
told him-to w.t. that the Nuncio Or Minister of the
Pope at Madrid had said to him, Mr.. Barringer, be-
fore the news of the formation of Mr.. Pierces Cab
net had reached hin>, Or had reached Madrid that
he. the Nunco, could tell him of one man that
could be in the Cabinet-to w.t. Mr.. Campbell, Of
Pennsylvania" [See Mr.. Rayner's letter to Mr..
Ellis.] This is the charge, made by Mr. Rayner,
and this the proof offered by him to sustain it.
We have also the authority of our Weldon
respondent for the statement that Mr.. Rayrcr, in
his speech in that place the Goth July, declared
not only that Mr.. Barringer had told him that the
Nuncio informed him, Mr.. B., who "uouM be in
the Cabinet, meaning Mr.. Campbell, Roman Cath
olc-but that he read an extract from Mr.. Barring
ers letter of the 9th July, to the effect though
it is we'll known-that extract having been frequent
ly published that Mr.. Barrnger says therein "the
Auncio told Inc that Judge Campbell, of Pa. acas
appointed, and that he was a Catholic"!! Again
Mr.. Vespasian Ellis, of Washington City, who, ac-
cordng to Mr.. Rayner's admission in his Weldon
Speech received his information the subject from
him, declared in grafton delivered on the 4th of
July that the Popes Nuncio to Spain, before the
Cabinet of the President was known t., the public
here declared in Madrid, that the present Postmas-
ter General, Catholic, aeouM be member of the
Cabinet of Gen. PIERCE [See Weekly National In
te!ligencer, of July 7, 1851
Mr. Rayner says that Mr.. Barringer told him
that before he {" had received any information in
regard to Mr.. Pierces Cabinet, before it was known
In Madrid, and was matter Of doubt and coniec-
ture, he, the Nuncio, stated to :" him I" that Camp
bell, of Pennsylvania, Catholic, aoas member of
it, [See Mr.. Rayncr's letter to Mr. Barringer, of
August II
At one time, and during the campaign and that
too when Mr.. Rayner had Mr.. BIS letter of the 9th
July in his possession, correcting the i'm
preston, MIR. Rayner declared that corrupt bargain
had been made, and referred for proof, to the Nun
clos prediction that Mr.. Campbell "aoouM be" a
her of tho Toh op1 1ofo of
ter the election, Mr. Rayner admits that the sub
stance of the conversation with Mr.. Barringer was
that the Nuncio had told him that MIR. Campbell
" uas" appointed; and the fact that the Nuncio
heard of the appointment before Mr.sBarringer did,
was seized upon by Mr. Rayners organs here as dis
creditabe to the country and as proof of the bar
gain referred TO- These are facts, which Mr. Rayn-
er and his partizans will find it impossible to meet
Wherefore did Mr.. Rayner, if he did not fear ex-
posure by Mr.. Barringcr, shift his ground Why
did he, after having long and so confidently relied
upon the prediction of the Nuncio, fall back upon
the statement of existing fact?
Mr. Barringer, in his letter of August %, fully
meets the ingenious, and we must add "jesuiticap'
appeal to him by Mr. Rayner of the 7th lie is ev-
identity disposed to deal lightly, and even kindly
with Mr.. Rayncr He no doubt regrets that Mr..
Rayner has thus involved himself; and it is appa-
rent that he makes every effort in his letter of the
18th, which can be regarded by himself or by 9TH
ers as compatible with the truth of history and of
the facts he knows them to exist to relieve Mr..
hayner of his embarrassments, and to renstate him
IN the public judgment, as straightforward candid,
reliable public man. Speaking, for example, of his
conversation with the Nuncio, as detailed to Mr..
Aayner in Raleigh and in Baltimore, he says:
repeat, have never connected it in my own
nlhd or otherwise for the purpose of proving the
Snafge OF political corruption to which you refer
Ia' ior totally different object as just stated
,,1 ,na herein hes your great mistukebut one into
~nn math you, uiecs the subject Of that charge
H." @1thout the knoaeedqe of tile facts connectedacih
IN feGm1eersation fm aohich possess you gAt natural
TIa S1ov :. mentioned it for one purpose-you en-
f''' " ior another, without as think, any just