The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-12-11
POLlTIOAR.
HON. JOHN KERR.

The Raleigh Standard gives the follow
ing sketch of the speech of the Hon. John
Kerr, at the Democratic mass meeting at
Henderson, few days ago:
Mr.. Edwards having concluded, the Hon.
John Kerr, of Caswell, was introduced to
the audience, and spoke for more than an
hour on the subjects of Know n Notbingism,
slavery, the Nebraska bill, and kindred
topics. He said he found himself in what
might be considered strange company but
he askedand looked for his old Wing friends,
and found many of them in dark corner,
concealed from the light of day. He asked
them what they were doing-the answer
was, II don't kn0tc." Where had they
Of Wing principles ~ don't kno,o." He
said that, as Wing, he had met the Demo-
cracy in the open day, had contended with
them openly before the people, and there
were no oaths, no concealments, no mys-
terious grips on either side. Both parties
had labored for the good of the country,
and the means they employed were honest,
abovebOard, and known and read of all
men. The man who held that virtue was
confined to any particular party or sect,
was a bigot and a fool. He had found true
men in both parties, and honest and right
intent in the masses of the people generally;
and he deeply regretted that so many of
his old friends had gone astray into the dark
labyrinths of Know Nothingism. For him
self, he was still Wing on all the old
issues; but those issues had either been
settled, or had been abandoned by his former
associates, and new ones had been present
ed. As against the pestilent isms of the
Know-NOthings, and on the great questions
of slavery, the Constitution, and the Union,
he was with the Democratic party; he was
with that party, because he was for his
country and for the perpetuation of the
Union according to the Constitution; and
that party, in his humble judgment, was tho
only one which at this time could admins
ter the government on national principles,
and give reasonable assurance that our in
stitutions would be preserved. He spoke
from personal observation anL experience
while in Congress. He had seen, with re-
gret, the great body of the Wings of tho
free States maintaining grounds of hostility
to the South and he had seen, also, and
had proclaimed the fact every where, as
due to common Justice even, that the Demo-
Gratis of the same region, as n party, and as
,ka4 in, (tnnornGs dignDlQ6.
and had shown readiness by their votes, to
respect the Constitutional rights of tho
South, and to aid in securing those rights
to our people as involved in the slavery
| question. He spoke in terms of high COM
| mendation of such Democrats as Douglas,
Cass, and Toucey, and of such Wings as
| Choate, Everett, and Farley. He did not
pause to ask, i'll contest like this, what
the true men were called-he looked to acts,
not names-to deeds, not professions, and
shaped his course accordingly. The K. Ms
could offer no reasonable assurance that tho
Union would be safe in their hands. They
were not national-they were sectional on
the great question which so vitality concerns
us all, and were, therefore, powerless for
good in this respect in the very beginning
of their movements. In addition to this,
they were intoIerant and proscriptive, and
as such should and must be overthrown
before the progress of enlightened public
opinion. lie spoke at some length and in
commanding eloquence in support of the
principles of religious liberty, and in oppo-
sition to the narrow and exclusive policy
of the X. Ms. in relation to foreign emf
grafton.