Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-06-13
THE KNOW NOTHING CONVENTION.


THE KNOW NOTHING CONVENTION.
This body, composed of delegates from the differ
ent States is still in session at Philadelphia TWAS
sitting with closed doors, and consequently what
is known of its deliberations is the result of
stealth perjury. The New York Herald contains
what purports be full and reliable accounts of its
proceedings We learn, from that paper, that the
abolition delegates admitted to seats; and that
though the main contest on slavery was still to be
fought the impression gaining ground that the
Council would lay down no principles on the sub
ject, but leave all portions of the Order to say and
do as they please! If this should be the result, it
will be because the delegates totally unable to
agree on a common Platform and then shall
have Mr.. Rayner, Mr.. Miller. Mr.. Reade, Mr.. Shep-
ard, Col Paine and others of this State promulga-
ting pro-slavery doctrines while their brothers in
the free States will be reving the South and preach
ing abolitionsm.
The Heralds Correspondent puts down the fol-
lowing gentlemen in attendance from North Caro-
lima: Kenneth Rayner, Jas. Il. Littlejohn, E. c.
Davidson D. G. Carter, R. w. Wharton and John
H. Haughton. One of the Herald's Correspondents
says of Mr. Rayner that he "seems to have lost
caste with the Southern delegates. They see that
in his anxiety to make capital, with the fororn
hope that he will be the candidate of the Council for
jeopardise the interests Of the South" "The con-
summate vanity of Rayner," continues this Cores
pendent, in surprising that he has the remotest
chance of being the nominee for the Presidency, is
ridiculed by all his Southern colleagues" On the
other hand, another Correspondent of the Herald
praises Mr.. Rayner in warm terms and speaks of his
"selfsacrifcng, lofty, and magnanimous bearing"
limiting at the same time that he may obtain the
nomination for the Vice Presidency.
On the 7th, grand banquet given to the
delegates, which Mayor Conrad presided
This in public, of course. I'VE are grieved to
perceive do by the bill of fare, that the dele
gates under the necessity of imbibing for
eign" wines. Imported wines and brandies-
"Scotch ale and London stout only think of it!
Likewise "olives and coftee" We trust Mr.. Shep-
ard will hurry up those large crops of Coffee to be
raised in of Southern States, as soon as
Cuba shall have been Aficanized let US have the
natire article at as early day as possible.] Mr.
Rayner first called up to speak to a toast
about the Union; whereupon he made a fourth of
July, Bunker Hill Grafton of the most decided mag
ntude. We have carefully read his speech and find
it to contain the word Union" just thirty times,
with but little about the Constitution and no refer
ence at all to the peculiar rights and vital interests
of his section He concluded his remarks with the
following and very appropriate quotation
'sThe Star-spangIed Banner forever shall wave
Ger the land of the free and the home of the brave
He 'then resumed his seat amidst enthusiastic
demonstrations of applause" Gov Colby, an.
abolitionist from New Hampshire also spoke
and was quite as warm in his laudatons of the
Union as Mr. Rayner He advocated the Missou-
ri line as to slavery, and said " he should look
with contempt upon the first who talked to hin.
OH oIution Of he Union Mr. Of Mas
sachusetts also spoke and said the old hills of Ber
shire and the sands Of Cape Cod shall sink into the
eternal deep as soon the heart of Massachusetts
ceases to throb for the Union"-"but," he added,
'you will recollect, gentlemen, that when those who
govern us, and who hold places of honor at Wash
ington convert Massachusetts, into hunting ground
for the purpose of exasperating her people, she has
a right to be erasperated, and to resist it," What
Union-sarer Mr.. Ely is how he torres the Union
A Mr.. Ford, of Ohio also spoke. He hooted at the
idea of dssolyng the Union; and speaking of slave
ry he said et go at it and rid ourselves of the
curse NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. he was applauded.
Of course all these gentlemen are good " Union de-
gree members.
Mr. John H. Haughton of Chatham, also raised
his voice on the occasion. HIS spoke of the tar,
pitch and turpentine of his native State-but not
one word did he utter about the coal ofDeep River
He said he felt thankful for the scene he had wit
messed and that the only hope for the Union was to
be found in the ''Native American party" Here
he grew pious, and prayed God, with tongue not at
all thickened by any of the foreign liquors. which
had been disposed Of that the "Union of these States
and the Native American party" might be preserved
forever Mr.. Haughton assumed to speak for North
Carolina Who authorized him to do that? He
will soon learn that the decisions of darkantern
lodges, swear they never much, have no power
to commit or to bind the free people of this State
More of this Convention hereafter.
We understand Mr. Rayner declared here, before
leaving for Philadelphia, that if Wilson, of Massa-
chusetts, after taking his seat in the Know Nothing