The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-10-20
AMERICAN MISS MEETING At
YERMJLIONHILhE.

vile, Parish Of lafayette. II was said to have been
lone'of The largest sssemblages that ever took place
Ia that Parish. Having always heard Of lafayette
az the Esbastopol Of AntisAmericanism, we were
sgreeably disappointed in hearing the bursts Of &C
that came from scores of Know Nothings
whenever our speakers excited their patriotism and
their enthusiasm. M y
The meeting was presided over BY Mr.. WIN. G.
Grow, assisted BY Henry Wilcoxon as Vice President.
Free discussion was granted. The debate was opened
by MI vcorhies in opposition to the principles Of
the American party At h econclusion Of his speech
the. Hon. Charles Derbigny, our candidate for Gov
ernor, WAS introduced BY the President TO the meet
Ing anidst roars of plandits. Nj. Derbigny, in his
eloquent remarks, displayed great moderation and !
mastery ability to handle his subject. As to the
question Of religious intolerance Of which the party
il accused, he satisfied every reasonable man that
this accusation was gotten up by; our enemies for
the purpose Of checking our progress. He himselfis
q catholic, his whole family are catholics, nor has he
ssyer instilled in the bosom Of his children any other
religious precepts than those that are inculcated by
the catholic church, : Had the party been anti-catho-
lie In Louisiana would he, a catholic, have been se-
ieeted TO the most important position on the Ameri-
can ticketi Besides, there are other catholics on
onr ticket who vouldlaye scorned nominationatth
~sacrifce Of their religion. MI. Derbisny showed that
three fourtbs Of the Creole population Of the State
were members Of the party, and that nearly every
Catholic Parish in the State would give q majority in
favor Of the American party. Such acspeations are 20
fimRy and ridiculous that no man Of sense will hesi.
Ftsfe to consider them as the vile inventions of office.
seekers. There are bigots and fanatics, it is true, in
every part, and fsw claiming to be nembers Of our
party have Attempted TO establish a religious test.
Eut, why make the great American party responsible
for. the acts of "a dozen or twenty men who have un.
fortunately enlsted Themselves in our mnks.i !
As to the subject of abolitionism, of which our
party Is accused, MI. Dsrbigny asked whether II was
reasonable TO suppose that he, who possessed more
slaves than all the candidates together, on the other
ticket, would give his sanction and his influence to .
party that would emancipate his slaves He showed
that the American party gave the best guarantee for
the preservation Of bis inatitntion. that every foreign
or by education and training was opposed to slavery,
that although q small number in the south become
slave-owners, still that the great mass of them I'M
willingt to compete with slays labor, lockedt to our new
territories and there planted the standard Of abolition
ism. Even the laboring foreigner that renains among
us, shows evidences Of hostility to slavery. In NewOr-
leans, on several occasions, the police have been
obligedt to interfere in order to prevent slaves from
being molested in the performance Of their labors, by
the Irish and the Dutch. Mr.. Derbigny treated elah
orately many other important points, which We have
not time to allude to. His remarks, which were de-
liyered IN, French, were received with immense ap.
| planee..
He We. followed BY our own favorite orator,
Adolphus Olivier, Esq, who spokei in both languages,
and again made one Of the most telling speeches Of
the campaign. 10 was responded to by Mr.. c. H.
Aouton, who made a mastery effort in support Of
anti American principles. We must give him the
| credit Of being one OF the best speakers we have yet
heard on that side Of the question. At the conclusion
OF MI. M0utOn's remarks, the meeting adjourned to
| partake of o barbecue prepared for the occasion.
Onthe reorganization Of the meeting, Mr.. Louis
Duvignaud addressed the audience in French, aud
ably and eloquently did he entertain them for the
space of mn hour upon the great principles Of the
American party. DIR. Duperier of st. Martin fol-
lowed on the same side of the question, who gave, in
aclear and lucid manner, his reasons for abandoning
the Democratic party and becoming a member Of
ours. He expatiated upon the corruption of the two
Old parties and showed conclusively that the Ameri-
can party was the only party that could insure to the
country order and prosperity. The Dr.. is q bold and
fearless speaker, and was frequently greeted, in the
From Al indications, the discussion of our princi-
pls6 on that day produced q most favorable impress.
sion, and Native Americanism will show itself in our
sister Parish, on thsljnrst Monday in November next,
to . degree that will astcsieh our adversariss.