Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-04-07
Hon. John M Patton.

ms distinguished EentlaHlan auuTtssed NJ
immense concourse of the citizens of Richmond
Tuesday night, in a speech which, as we Learn
from the Wing. "enchnined their attention io'
more than TIVE hours and was one of the ables
and most interesting ever heard by the editors OF
that paper. The speech was taken down ana
will shortly appear in print. Nean~hlIe we SUD
Join the Wings sketch;
Mr.. Patton commenced ny saying that he had
expected to remain silent during the progress OF
the canvass having no wish IN leave The sphere
of his professional duties AMI enter the heId OF
no,;t;cai controversy. But he had not been per-
ni,,ed thus to consult his feelings and his idea OF
nronrietv He bad been assailed with hereeness'
a y{frulenee a cnarscness Of invective-hls chhr-
.c,er had been iraduced-his motives lmpcnched
"a seeking after and love of office imputed to
him. and he was there TO yindicate himself rather
than for any other purpose. And his Nindica.
,ion, it must be admitted by all who heard HIM,
was triumphant and complete, lie showed that
he had not in any manner sought the candidacy
for the office of Attorney General; aud 1t was not
until after his nomination had been made and
communicable him by the Winchester Conyon-
ton tina, he had any inferiuotion Of eirpurpose
to confer that honor upon him. Aud when the
fact of his nomination was then communicated
10 him. he replied that he was willing Ia accept
the office in question, if the people 81 virginia
Thought proper 10 bestow il upon him As for
the office Of Governor, he declared cmphaileally
that he would not have IL though every man in
the State should vote him into 81. But the office
of Attorney General was in the line of ms pro.
fessinp. and entirely disconnected from political
controversies and he was therefore not unwll-
ing TO accept it, if the people chose 10 give II 10
him.
Mr.. Patton stated that he wos not member of
the Know Nothing organization, and consequent
ly not entirely familiar with its mode OF action IN
every particular nor would he say that lac CON
Cured with il in all its length and breadth. But
he had read its Basis Of Principles, and with one
or two exceptions. lie could properly and con
sisfently endorse IT, On account of his peculiar
notions and ways of thinking, he had never con
neoted himself with any secret political assoeia-
tiop; but he condemned no mnn whose ideas of
these things were different from bis own, for uni
ting himself with them lie said he saw no harm
in the feature of secresy in the Know Nothing
organization. and that all the fuss which had
been made about it was the merest stuff in the
world That tree should be judged by its fruits,
and when he saw an association composed of fifty
or sixty Thousand geptlemen-includlng twenty
thousand Demoorats-of the highest respeota-
biity intelligence, patriotism, and honor, uniting
themselves together in secret or open political
association for the purpose of carrying out their
principles and objects it was not for him, it was
and traitors to the country. The Know Moth
ings. he said had been denounced with unparal-
leled ferceness and fury-as no other party or
association of men had ever before been do
nounced. He world not do it, and III this con
nexion he paid high and deserved compliment.
to Ex- Gov. Smith, because of the frmnoss man
illness and gallantry he had displayed in scouting
and defying the terrorism of party, and resist
ing the attempted doiation of the party leaders.
Mr. Bnffnu ppmplptply exnpsQu md RENTED
the ridiculous idea that Know Nothiugism medi-
tated any violation of the Constitution i'll any
respect or any infringement upon the rights of
any man in the land, either foreigner native;
and showed that Know Nothingism originated
with the great lights and fathers of the Republi-
can Church of Virginia, and Incorporated in the
statute book before eighteen hundred, and retain
ed there in part by Mr.. Wise himself and the
the very elite of tho Virginia Democracy,
who were members of the late reform Convention.
According TO the vote of these gentlemen no
foreigner was eligible TO the office either OF Gov
ernor or Lieutenant Governor; and If the rights
of foreigners had been invaded, they had been
invaded by the men who were londest in denun-
citation of the Know \ othings, who had simply
borrowed the idea from them.
Nor did he understand that the Know \ othings
contemplated any war upon the religion of the
Catholics, but only upon Catholic interference IN
the political concerns of our Government. some
Catholics asserted the right of the Pope to inter
fere, and others denied that he claimed or wished
to exercise such right But if such right was
asserted by his Catholic Majesty. he, for one,
should resist it. md considered it the duty of all
good citizens in this country 10 do the same; but
he would resist the assertion of such right just rs
promptly, if made by either one OF the Protestant
churches.
AS to the Nebraska Bin, about which some
curiosity bad been manifested to learn his opin
ions, he said he had never read that bill, ant
couldn't exactly see what it had to do with the
office of Attorney General of Virginia. Bu
seeing that the Southern people with some eX
ceptons, desired its passage, and understanding
that it proposed the repeal of the Missouri res
friction, which WAS unconstitutional, he, too, felt
an earnest and decided anxiety that it should
pass.
Mr.. Patton touched upon many other points
with great clearness and ability, as the reader
will see when his speech is published. In wha'
we have said of his position above, we have not
aimed TO give his language, nor, we fear, have
we been able to give accurately his idea, To-
our position. while he was speaking was suci
that il was impossible TO hear him correctly
And what errors we may have committed in TIM
hastily written sketch will find their correction
in the report of his speech, which we hay
promised should be forthcoming in day or two
Mr.. Patton having concluded his able address
resumed his seat amid the most yoclherous ap
plause.
Mr. Wise and the Democracy.