The true Democrat., 1855-12-11
SUBSTANCE OF THE REMARKS Col. Thomas ( Hindman, Jr, IN THE DISCUSSION WITH HON. W. D. RICE,
 October IS. 1855.

October IS, 1855
 In commencing Col Hindman observed that his competitor had devoted considerable time to personal explanation, but, as for himself, he had none to offer. His audience did not ex- pect it of him, for his political consistency had not been assailed. He had always been a State rights democrat, and always would be. When federalism wore the robe of whggery, he had opposed it. When it appeared under the guise Of Know Nottingham, he still battled against f 1t. When the new mask shodld be laid aside T after the federal fashion, and another assumed he would then be found fighting in the good old democratic cause As Mr. Rice had ad- verted to his anteccdents and attempted to vim dlcate his title to consistent democracy he would enquire into his claims in that be- half
 At the last session of the Arkansas Legisla- turc, MT. Rice's colleague (Hon. Robt. B. Ma con) offered a series of resolutions on the subject of Know Nottingham. They are as fol- lows:
 WHEREAS, The constitution of the United States conters on Congress the power to estlb- fish an uniform rule of naturalization: And o0tereas, Foreigners who have been naturalized acc ording to law, have been th ,rcby vested with all the rights of American citizenship cx- cept as to holding the offices of President and Vice President; And eUhereas, The consttuti~ n, outside of the restrictions therein contained, in- tends that the only test as between candidates for office shall be political soundness and perso- nal merit and qualification, without regard to nativity or eligiou-therelore,
 lst. Be t resotued Jy tue General Assembly cf the State of Arhansas, That any and all at tempts to prescribe any class of citizens or to exclude them from offices to which they are eligible because of place of birth or religious belief, are unconstitutional in substance and in essence. are subversive of the established land. marks of civil and religious liberty, and should be condemned and sternly resisted by every true patriot.
 2d. Resolved, That the formation or existence of secret society, meeting clandestinely, with the view to accomplish political results, and with the intent to deprive American citizens, whether native or foreign born of that equa- ty of rights guaranteed by the constitution, is lnexpedlent and dangerous, IS opposed to the genius of our free institutions, and tends direct ly and certainly to their overthrow.
 Sd. Resolvea, That the foregoing objections to the secret and anti-republican order above referred to are of greater weight with southern men, by reason of the hostility of it's authors and northern members to the institution of sa- very, and their known and avowed alliance with the abolitonsts and freesoers of the northern States; and the establishment of said order, or of associations subordinate thereto, in any State of the south is beyond measure un- wise and reprehensible, involving either treason to southern rights, or an incredible degree of 1 ignorance as to the anteCedcntS of men and parties opposed to those rights"
 The ayes and noes were called on the pas sage of these resolutions. Among those who voted "aye' was the Hon. w. D. Rice, mem- Der from Phillips. By so voting he adopted and promulgated, as his own, every word, clause and sentence of each of the three re- solutions
 The Macon resolutions were adopted, al- though there was Know Nothing majority in the House of Representatives. At that date, Arkansas Know Nottingham moved in secrecy, and its members were sworn not to divulge their connection with the order. Whispering to each other that they fought against the Jesuits they acted on the alleged Jesuitcal maxim, that " the end justiieS the means" and deliberate ly resorted to deception in order to effect their purposes. Hence it came to pass that some Know Nothing representatives voted for the Macon resolutions, thus bitterly ccnsurng the | identical organization of which they were then members, and condemning the very dogmas they were sworn to maintain. At that time, they fancied that darkness would eternallv shroud their connection with the midnight plot tels, and hoped openly to be recognized as democrats, and privately to hail as Know No- 1 things.
 But there was "power behind the throne' that coerced them toa different course. When the secret records of the Little Rock council are exposed, 1t will appear that on the night of the 11th of January, 1855, a meeting was held in the old State bank, "a fit place for such cabal -when and where 1t was determined that the |" damned spor' of infamy branded | by Macon's resolutions on Arkansas Know No- thingism, should be ef1aced-that the lesolu- tions themselves should be expunged, and "b black lines' drawn around them on the jour- nal This was the decree of hidden and irresponsible juntO to the sworn legislators of Arkansas! The remorseless mandates of the Thugs of mdia or of the Holy Vehme' of the middle ages, were not more despotica- y announced or more blindy obeyed
 On the next day,-January 12th MI. Pat terson, of Jackson county, introduced his ex- punging resolutions. Under the spacious pre- text that honorable gentlemen had been placed in false positions, and that the charges against Know Nottingham were "gratuitous assump- tions," they were passed. Yet, of all the ho- norable gentlemen who voted for them, not one could be found to acknowledge that he was a Know Nothing. Without exception, they denied it when questioned! Such was the in- fuence of extra judicial oaths, and such the power of a secret organization over the repre- Sentatives of the people!
 But the Hon. w. D. Rice still adhered to his integrity. He had voted that Know Nothing | ism was " subversive of the established land marks of civil and religious lberty.' He had solemnly declared that 1t was Opposed to the genius of our free institutions, and tended, di. rectly and certainly, to their overthrow" He had affirmed that the constitution (outside of the restrictions therein contained,) intends that the only test, as between candidates for office, shall be political soundness and personal merit and qualification, without regard to nati- vity or religion" He had boldly asserted, as of his own knowledge, that northern Know Noth- ings were fanatics and aboltionists, and that southern Know Nottingham Involved either 1 treason to our rights, or an incredible degree of ignorance as to the antecedents of men and par ties opposed to those rights" With his eyes open, and full sense of the responsibilities as- sumed, he had taken these positions. It was not to be expected that he would abandon them He did not consider that a single one of them was "gratuitous assumpton.'' In his con- science he DeiieVeo that they expressed = the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth" Therefore, when the question came up he again endorsed them, and voted against ex- punging.
 The Patterson resolutions passed, and the Macon resolutions were stricken from the jour- nal. This stirred up all the wrath of the Hon. Mir. Rice. He dreamed dreams, and had vii sons. "Hobgoblins and chimeras dire" haunt ed him by day and by night He saw Catholics persecuted, ,-foreigners proscribed,-th con- stitution murdered,-the Union destroyed- many evils Grding his lons and strengthen. | ing his heart with fervid patriotism, he re- solved to strike yet one more blow at the mon- ster. Thus animated he affixed his signature to solemn protest against the expunging reso- lutions. In that instrument, he set forth at ] .l ( ]. Il