Thibodaux minerva., 1855-09-01
Foreign Barbecue at Houma.

Not having been present at the great Antl-hnow
Nothing demonstration which came OFT in Houma'
parish of Telrebonne, on Saturday last, frleno,
and an earnest supporter of the American party,
has furnished us with a summary OF the proceed
iugs, from which we gather the following:
The number of persons present was between 400
and 500, including quite respectable delegation
of ladies, several of whom, we are sorry to say,
were forced to leave the barbecue grounds in conse
auence of the indecorous, if not obscene language
used by one of the speakers Early in the morning
the Antics were seen mounting their ordnance in
front of the Temple of Justice, (Courthouse) The
pieces thus mounted bore respectively the names
Bush, HEBRON, BEATTY, ROMAN, all being guns
of small calibre. All being now prepared, nothing
remained but to apply the match. No l, was the
first to which the gunner who by the by, was
distinguished member of the Houma bar, applied
the flaming torch. He belched forth in his usual
vehement style; the report might have been heard
for many miles around. During Mr.. Bush's speech
he only touched on two points--the Catholic ques-
ton and Cuba. He appealed to the native catho-
ii AAS'Si
become such for, in his opinion, their religion
would be persecuted on the other hand he ex-
horted those already of the American party to re-
pudiate their principles, they were, in his iudg
ment, anti-republican, and would soon clog the
great wheels of the American government. He is
extremely anxious to possess the Island OF Cuba,
and is afraid that such acquisition could not be
made if the American party should triumph 1t is
his opinion that large portion of the inhabitants
of that Island are Catholics, and would never re-
concile themselves under the principles of the
American Order
The next in order was No. 2, who was duly
touched off by the gunner, and made tremendous
report, fairly making the welkn ring. There was
about Mr.. Hewon's speech an atmosphere of trans
parent smoke, by some styled gas. He warmed up
the all-absorbing Catholic Question; and gave it as
his opinion, that the Know-Nothing party placed
the native born catholics in a position infinitely
than the negro population of the free States
of the North and West. He thinks the party un-
sound on Slavery, because the principles adopted
on that subject in the Philadelphia Convention,
were voted for by Southern democrats! /!
The next discharge come from No. 3, an old
piece of ordnance familiar to us all. There was no
inconsiderable quantity Of powder and bo'ci about
his speech, which was apparently well directed, but
having heard of none being killed or seriously
wounded, it is but natural to infer that not much
damage was sustained
The next, and last in order, was No. 4, an an
cient piece of artillery, probably six-pounder.
1t is thought that this piece had been charged for
some time, on the application of the match it
dragged, or made long fire, and, consequently, did
but little execution in the ranks of the enemy 1t
is the opinion of those who witnessed the manpu-
veaing of this gun that it should be remodeled, as
it requires time to put it in order for render
ing SERVICE than it does execution when once on
the field of battle.
Badinage part, the whole affair was rather
Quxotic. Our opponents battled against an ina
ginary foe {; and no one but the marksman could
see the target at which they discharged voley upon
voley; and the grand finale of it was that twenty-
three joined our glorious Order, band of freemen
cemented together for the preservation of our
glorious Union, in whom repose the last spark of
constitutional liberty.