The Feliciana Democrat., 1855-09-01
The Know Nothing Speeches delivered at the
Barhacue. ON The 25th ult.


on Saturday last, near Esq j. l.. Dclee's, and
listened with respectful attention to the speak
ers. The dinner was excellent, and every one
present, both ladies and gentlemen, enjoyed it
to their hearts content. tN
The first speaker was Col. w. j. A. Rob
erts His speech was rc-hosh of the one he
delivered in the Court house, about three weeks
ago. He was peculiarly savage upon the Fe-
lciana Democrat, and four or five democrats,
who conduct that paper, and who, he was pleas
ed to style, demagogues, that ruled and gov
erned the democratic party of East Feliciana
If endeavoring to enlighten the public mind,
by fair reasoning, and argument on the vari-
Gus isms that are now undergoing investigation
throughout the length and breadth Of our
country, then do we plead guilty. 1t is our
aim to discuss know nothingism in all its pha-
ses and to expose it in oil its bearings, in fair,
open, and respectful language. This may make
us demagogues in the eyes of Col. w. j. A.
Roberts Be it so. We glory in it. The
speaker paid but very poor compliment to
the intelligence, and firmness Of the democracy
Of this parish, when he asserts that they are
under the rule Of any one, much less a set Of
demagogues. If Col. Roberts was as clear Of
the charge of being dcmagogue, as the gen.
tlemen to whom he referred, it would probably
have some effect. But he is known too well in
East Feliciana. His speech as mental effort,
was very fair, but his arguments and facts, we
demur to throughout. As the other speakers
made the same points, we shall pass on to
them.
Col. Beale, X. n nominee for Secretary of
State was next introduced to the AUDIENCE
He gave history of his own conduct in rela-
ton to hepast, and his present connection with
the know nothing party, which, doubtless was
satisfactory to him, but was not so to many, if
not most Of his hearers He, and Col. Rob
erts, both charged the old whg and democrat
ic parties, with being so corrupt, that the
country was fast sinking into the worst kind of
Il dcspotism, and that this new American par
ty had been established by the good, the hon
est, and sound thinking men of both the old
parties. All this corruption grew out Of pan
dering to the foreign influence, since the ques-
tons Of national interest that once divided
these parties had been settled Col Bcalc for.
got to tell the audience that these questions
had all been settled in favor of the democratic
party, and he and Col. Roberts, both forgot
to tell them that they labored in 1852, to con-
vince the people that the democratic party was
right, and the only true national party then in
the country. They were then no doubt as
said, for the last twenty-five or thirty years
those things had been so. Then why did they
act with party they knew to be corrupt
Strange things will happen, and so it is witt
these two gentlemen. Being renegades from
the democratic party, in order to justify theil
own conduct, they seek to defame, and denouncc
the party to which they formerly belonged
This has ever been the case in days that arr
past, it will be so to the end Of time. Thos'
that forsake the democratic party, lay all TIN
blame at the door of the party. They ncyc
err themselves They are too pure for that.
: The last and ablest speaker was Col. Christ,
t of New Orleans. He spoke after dinner. w
thought it bad policy on the part Of the man
ayers to put their best speaker off to the last
! when every body was tired, and the day lkel
$ to be rainy. But Of this, we have no right t.
= complain, yet, as matter of courtesy, strau
gers should have been first served Such j
= our judgment.
!. The Col. told the audience that he had NO
c come there to convince those who were aread
8 on his side, but he came to instruct and pei
: suade those who were upon the fence II
: said he had been native American for tn
8, last forty years. That he was an old soldit
y in the cause, and could speak from the bool
He was President of the first native America
y organization that had ever been formed in I'll
l. United States. He seemed to speak as by OF
pi having authority.
e. After the eXordium, he branched out again
~ the nominees of the Democratic narty II