Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-08-22
SIGNS OF DEGENERACY.

+ SIGNS OF DEGENERACY
One of the signs of the degeneracy of the times,
is the bidding and bargaining now going on among
| the Know Nothing leaders for the Presidency; and
the fact that such persons as George Law, Kenneth
| Rayner, and Henry Wilson are spoken of for that
| great Office.
George Law is rich man, and has amassed his
dollars partly by labor and partly by speculation.
His information in political affairs is say the most
for him, crude and superficial and besides, he has
done literally nothing, out of the walks of ordinary
personal industry and successful speculation to at
tract to himself the coniden and support of thir-
| ty-one sovereign States. There are men who have
! made their way from the workshop and from daily
al toll, to high political distinction and who
if called to the Presidency would acquit themselves
well-and among them we may mention Stephen
A. Douglas, the cabinet-maker, William Bigler, the
printer, and Andrew johnson, the tailor; but George
Law is not of this stamp. Even if fitted otherwise
for the Office, the fact that his mind has played, and
played only for the last thirty years within the Cir
indifference of dollar, would of itself chill and de-
stroy his pretensons in the public mind. The Pres
idency is yet up for sale, to be hidden in by the
richest man; have the people yet quite concud-
ed to confer their chief honors who would
be obscure and unknown, but for his specuations
and his cash.
Kenneth Rayner made good beginning in one
respect, twenty years ago. when in the State Con-
venton he uttered his fervid and eloquent appeal in
favor of religious liberty 1t then that the great
CASTOR, Catholic, wept at his words, and blessed
him /; but the cloud of promise, which glowed so
brightly in the early morn has wandered on through
the weary day, to gather in blackness and to end
unproftaby in storm and tempest.
In 1893 Mr.. Rayner leaving his State rights Drin.
eiples behind him, identified himself with the Fed
eral party-a party which, strange TO say, was then
coming into power in this State by professions of
exclusive devotion to Southern rights. We remem-
Der we'll expression in Gov. Dudley's letter of ac
ceptance in 1856" that the spirit of abolitionsm
overriding the land and cutting asunder the
cords of the Confederacy." We remember also,
that Mr.. Stany, Mr. Rayner, Col. Long, and others,
took issue with DR.. Montgomery for having voted
for the Anterior Resolutions, so called which en-
bodied in the main the true doctrine the ques-
ton of slavery and that Mr.. Rayner himself an
neunceG his willingness believe during his first
term of service in the House, to clay his bones to
bleach, if needs be, in defence of Southern rights
" on the hills of South Carolina" Now how chang
ed In 1910 Mr. Rayner active Tippecanoe
partzan and offered for sale if are not mis-:
taken, under Gen. Harrison's celebrated law for
parsonage than his present Know Nothing confsd-
crate, Thomas Loringl This was unkind-it was
personal; and old friend, L. L., should not have
done so. In 1874 Mr.. Rayner supported Mr.. Clay;
and in 1s45, he has recently stated in speech in
Washington City, he abandoned public life on &C
count of the corrupons which prevailed in politics!
No doubt his Washington City hearers were edited
to learn the reason why he left public life; but in
1916 we find him again the boards, as Com
moner from the County of Hartford. 1t was that
session that in disregard of all precedent and in
the face ofustice and right he brought forwar his
celebrated proposition to re-arrange the Congress
sional Districts and he carried it. of course through
a Wing Assembly, thereby practically legislatiaeg |
such men James G. Dobbin and David S. Reid |
out of their seats in Congress In 1856, just ten |
years having elapsed, he doubt calculates to be |
again in the Legislature from the same County-for |
the Raleigh Register, of his organs, has long |
since, it is well known, taken the ground that the
British practice of eecting prominent public to
Office for places in which they do not reside is COM
mendable and ought to be adopted and if the Know
Nothings should carry the next Legislature, may
look for another Encouragement Of tile C0ngression-
al Districts The Register has already given the cue
see that paper of August 8, 1856. In 1s4s Mr..
Rayner became exceedingly mo-partyish and sup
porIeu Ueh' 1ayior, InouSn he gave up MT clay
with many tears; and in 1852 he talked among his
friends against Gen. Scott, and at last voted fer him.
in the face of the fact that Gen. Scott in favor
of admitting to all the rights of citizenship all for
eigners who should serve year in the army or
navyl In 1s4s, also, in the Wing State Conven-
ton, he was mainly instrumental in defeating the
nomination of Edward Stanly for Governor-a re-
suit to which many Whihs attribute, in no small de-
gree, the present Democratic ascendency in the
State. In 1852 he candidate for the United
States Senate, land defeated, is believed, by
some of Mr. Stanlys friends, acting in concert with
those Of H. W. Miller, Esq, and for this Mr. Miller
believed, in 1853, that Mr.. Rayner said of him
though Mr.. R. would not confess t-that he Mr. M.
" had hunted him with personal malgnity unpar-
alleed" and threatened that all such should receive
It his hands therefor due and appropriate punish