Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-06-20
COMMUNICATION.
For the Standard.
DISCUSSION IN NORTHAMPTON.

1888 DISCUSSION IN NORTHAMPTON.
Col Paine addressed the people of Northampton
on Monday of our June Court, and Dr. Shaw' ms
competitor, not being present, Mr. Ed Conisamu ..
Halifax replied As a very partial ana lmproPer re-
port of the discussion has been publlshco III tue
Murfreesboro' Gazette, it is but just to- Mr. u, anu
the Democrats of this county, that another report
should be made. We desire to do justice 10 "o'i'
sneakers, and report the following, as emoodyhg
substantially what said on both SIDES ;.Oo Ic
Paine opened the discussion by announcing hh'seii
the candidate of the American Party, ior Cohgess.
Spoke at length of the unparalleled success VI l
party against all other parties in the country, ana
made up the remainder of his speech against for
eigners and Catholics. He quoted from ms ooc c
rnents (which far as we could see, consSIeo U.
small bundle of newspapers) e!aborately the op'n-
ions of Washington and Jefferson against forelgn-
ers and sundry acts of the Catholic Church, against
Catholics He warned the people of the d@nger OF
foreign influence and migration, and the despottSn
of the Catholic Church, and argued the necessity Vi
political interference.
At the conclusion of Col. P.'s speech, Mr.. COM
gland was loudly called for by the Democrats to re-
ply. He felt delicacy in doing So being ootn a
nauralized citizen and Catholic but with noble pear
ing respondedto the call. He commenced by saying
that he was Irishman by birth, and Catholic IN
religion, but that he not ashamed OF the land
of his BIRTH and could give reason for the faith
that was in him. He said however, he had made
this the land of his adoption-had married and set
tied his home, and his interests being in every way
identified with the interests OF the country ne $1,000
ready at all times to defend and protect it as good
citizen should do. Mr.. c. is reported in the Gazette
as having said that he an Irishman by birth,
but was proud to say that he was a Roman Catholic
We deny the report and appeal to the justice OF all
present to contradict it.
With the preliminary remarks above, Mr.. Conf
gland took up the points made by Col Paine in
order. He commented earnestly upon the Colonels
claim of for his party and alluded eloquent
", and most happily, to the brilliant Democratic
victory in Virginia as set off, which, by the way,
fha III silence.
able argument in defence of the rights OF natural
lied citizens, and quoted from authentic 1e0rks the
opinions of Washington and Jefferson, to show that
they did not entertain the opinions imputed to them
by the Colonel; that they were opposed to foreign
influence, and foreigners ntermedlng with the al
fairs and people Of our country, but not opposed to
migration and naturalization; thus showing that
these great men never had any sympathy or OpIn-
ions in common with the KNOW Nothings" of this
day. Mr.. c. is reported farther in the Gazette, as
having "entered into regular defence of the Ro-
Catholic religion, at the same time charging on
the Protestant cause" This is not correct. lie
declared emphatically that he did not desire to
gage in religious discussion, and after simply an
nouncing this tath he entered irto defence of
the Catholics, as citizens and not as reigionlsts
and made farther "charge" upon Protestants,
than simply to challenge a contrast between the
loyalty of Catholic and Protestant citizens. In this
connection he made beautiful and pathetic allusion
TO Judge CASTOR. In reply to charge of Colonel
Pane's, that the Catholic church was associated
with despotism, Mr.. G. drawing a contrast be-
tween some of the despotic governments of Europe,
which are Protestants, and some governments which
are Catholic, when he was interrupted and closed
the debate. 1t is reported that Mr.. c. "exci-
ted, =" while Col. P "md," and that Col. P, in
his rejonder, made the ''fur fly" Now ali we have
say to this is, that Mr. c. is gentleman of fine
talents and temperament, and he always
speaks with warmth any subject. We challenge
any of COL Pane's friends, to say that he conduc-
ted himself otherwise than with proprety; and
we hesitate not to say that if he could have been
permitted to reply to Col P's. reoinder, he would
have gone more than fur" or skin deep into the
Colonel. Democracy every where may be proud of
such men as Edward Conigand.
JUSTICE.