The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-07-27
For the Nashville True Wing.
Col. Matt Martin and James q. Thomas, Esq, at
Mt. Harmon
BEDFORD COUNTY, July 81, 1855

BEDFORD COUNTY, July 81, 1855
Mr.. EDIToR:-On Thursday the 10th of July, 1
had the pleasure of attending discussion at Mt
Harmon, near the Bedford and Lincoln line. be.
tween Hon. James H. Thomas of Maury, and Col.
NJ. Martin of Bedford. 1t was Mr.. Thomass appoint
ment, but in arranging the discussion Col NJ. was
required to lead. There was a large crowd-a
goodly number from each of the counties.
Col. Martin led off in speech of two hours, gal
lsntly and eoquently upholding the American stand
ard His arguments were SO impregnable, and o;
such authentic character, that Mr.. Thomas, in bis
reply, although he stood upon the topmost round OF
Jacobs ladder, unable to soil them with his gas
of sophistry.
1t would be impossible to give even sketch OF
Col Ms able and convincing speech in the space
usually allotted TO a communication.
He surveyed the whole ground, and at every step
made strong points and impregnabe argument sub.
stantiated by proofs unanswerabIe by Mr.. Thomas
or by any other speaker. He showed the danger OF
.Oreign influence and the rapdity with which that
influence has been increasing in the country. He
dwelt upon the designs and Vaccinations of the
ROmish Hierarchy upon this country, and showed
that the true policy for the people of this REPUBLIC
is to frown down any attempts from such source,
however insidious they may be--to effect union
of Church and State.
Mr.. Thomas we take it, is a courteous gentle.
man, but in debate, we have before stated he is
full of sophstry and accomplishes but little in the
way of argument. lie addressed the people for
two hours, and the whole that can be said of his
speech is, that it was lengthy and elaborate de.
tense of Romanism, and praise of foreigners, and
indirect charges upon Professionalism, referring in
censorious terms to Protestant prosecutions which
be saw fit to charge upon them.
Col. Martin arose to reply amid the vociferous
applause of the people, and we have never heard
more pointed and complete victory over an oppo-
nent in debate, than Col NJ achieved over Mr..
Thomas. when, for twenty minutes, he reviewed the
positions Of the ex.Congressman in favor of the for
eigner and Romanists, and against Americans and
Protestants. He was exceedingly happy in bis
Illustrations, and charged that no one could utter
such sentiments of praise and eulogy OF Romsnism
and Foreignism, as Mr. Thomas had done, unless
in this section were not expecting such an issue to
be made as was done by Mr.. Thomas-viz: Ro.
manism against Professionalism and they will be
slow TO record their in favor Of party whose
public speakers are the defenders and advocates Of
Romanism and the opposers Of Professionalism and
Americansm. This is the issue that is now being
made by the anti.American speakers on almost ev-
cry stump, and it is time for American Protestants
to awake. The speaking at Mt. Harmon was at
tended with good results for the American cause.
Many felt that it good to be there. Sans boys
we're revived and encouraged, and to our knowl-
edge, several expressed their determination to
abandon the opposition, and vote for those whose
motto is Americans shall rule America" A few
more appointments by Mr.. Thomas and other anti.
American missionaries, attended with like results,
Is greatly desired by the friends of the American
cause.
The Col. is at home, and holds himself in readi.
ness to meet any Of the anti .American speakers
who come, whenever the opportunity is offered
and on all such occasions does efficient and able
service for the American cause.
AMERICAN.