The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-08-04

Alcibiade Deblanc and Edouard Simon, Jr,l
of St. Martin, 1.-THE latter gentleman's name,
for reasons unknown to us, was withdrawn,
and that Of Mr.. Hardy substituted and chal-
lenged Free Discussion. Cheerfully, and with
out hesitation, was free discussion granted, and
the result was q Waterloo defeat to the Anti
Know-Nothing, Foreign party. Elm
At IL o'clock the meeting was called to|
order by @. L. Swayze, Esq, who announced
the following officers, to wit sa
President-CYPR1EN DupRR. 9' 5e5
Vice Observation-Disclosures ROBIN, Dr.. DIV.
MARTIN, FRANCOIS C. DEvILLIERs, Dr. LEWIS A.
WEBB, ALPHoEsE DEBAILLON,M n. REMISSION
Observation-Disclosures DEJEAN, LOUIS Stage.
The meeting being organized, the President
briefly explained its objects, and proclaimed
the following Order of Debate: g
L.. ApoLpHus OLIVIER, Esq, in advocacy Of the
principles Of the Native American Party;
O.. Messrs. DEBLANC and SIMON, Jr., in opposition
to said principles;
STD be closed by THOMAS H. LEWIS, ESQ.,, in
response to the last two gentlemen. '
When the President called the name of Oil
vier, a burst Of enthusiasm and applause was
sent forth by the assemblage, such as was
never before heard within the walls Of our
Courthouse. 1t was the first time that we
have had the pleasure Of hearing him in our
midst. 1t is true, his reputation as an orator,
and as a stanch and bold defender of the great
principles Of our party, had long since pre-
coded his arrival among US. But we must
confess that our most sanguine anticipations of
his talents as an orator were more than real
lied. For an hour and o half-the time that
he spoke--such o strain Of eloquence and argu-
ment flowed from his true American heart that
the whole audience remained enraptured, and
foes themselves gave vent to their admiration
by hearty participations in the frequent bursts
Of applause with which he was again and again
enthusiastically greeted. We shall forbear
giving here a synopsis of his speech, as Mr..
Olivier has consented, in compliance with the
request of a special committee of the Order, to
furnish us a copy for publication.
He was followed by Mr.. Deblanc, of St.
Martin, who spoke in French, and by P. D..
Hardy, Esq. We shall not attempt to give
a sketch of the speeches Of either Of these gen
tlemen. Suffice it to say that we were highly
pleased with that Of Mr.. Deblanc, which was
characterized by q auency of language and a
beauty Of diction which were, indeed, worthy
of a better cause. We listened to him through
out with pleasure and admiration and, sum-
ming up the whole, we came to the conclusion
that he had made as good a Native American
speech as we would wish to listen to, although
he pronounced himself against the party.
At this stage of the proceedings, Thomas Fl.
Lewis, Esq, was vociferously called for, who
assembled the platform amid deafening applause,
and proceeded to address the assemblagc in
French in answer to Mr.. Deblanc. 1t was one
of the most telling speeches of the day, and
made the heart Of every American throb with
feelings Of the %loftiest patriotism. The "Old
Native American as be is well known, al
though for many years q stranger to the arena
Of politics, felt suddenly inspired with a glow
of patriotic sentiment in treating this great
theme, to the principles of which he has proved
himself consistent from his earliest manhood.
The discussion was closed by Mr.. Olivier,
who was again called up unanimously by the
assembly. He answered Mr.. Hardy in a brief,
pithy and ezcoriating manner, read and COM
mented upon the resolutions lately adopted by
the Anti-Kno Nothing Democratic Conven-
ton at Abbeville, in relation to a ritual of the
order which they alledge accidentally fell into
their hands, and pronounced said resolutions
most basely, maliciously and wickedly false.
He defed any one, who had withdrawn from
the party, to say, under oath, that the order in
Louisiana was anti Catholic, or that its prin-
ciples had changed since he had become asso-
ciated with it. He closed his remarks amid
the yociferous acclamations Of the auditory.
The meeting thereupon adjourned.
Never before wasgwitnessed in Old St. Lam
dry so numerous and intelligent a political
assemblage. The ladies, who also in large
numbers graced the occasion with their pre-
sence, gave evidence, by their smiles and enthu-
siastic expressions Of countenance, that they,
too, were good Native Americans-that they,
too, were good Known othings.
We have before, in the course Of our politi-
cal life, heard warm and animated discussions
between members of opposite political parties,
in support of their respective principles. But
never before have we seen a party so COM
pletely worsted as was the Anti Know N 9TH
ing-Foreign party on Tuesday last. Every
Know-Nothing retired with feelings of pride
and exultation pervading his bosom at the
triumphant vindication of the great and noble
principles of the American party, while the
Ants looked gloomy, respondent and subdued.
They insisted upon Free Discussion: we con-
sented. Bear, then, gentlemen, the conse-