Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1855-06-13
MR.. BRANCH'S SPEECH.

MR. BRANCH'S SPEECH.
On Tuesday night last, pursuant to appointment.
L. OBJ. Branch, Esq, the Democratic candidate for
Congress in this District, addressed large audience
in the Court House in this City, public affairs
and especially with reference to the new orgdnza.
ton of the Know Nothings. He spoke for more
than two hours, and was listened to throughout
with marked attention. His facts and arguments
on the subjects of religious liberty, the naturalza-
ton of foreigners, and the objects, workings and
tendencies of the Know Nothing faction, evidently
produced profound impression upon his hearers
among whom we were glad to see number OF
Wings, who have not dishonored their flag and
lowered themselves by joining the dark-lanterns.-
Mr. Branch brings to his labors in the campaign
mind we'll disciplined and we'll stored with informa-
tion-good discrimination, sound judgment, and an
earnestness and force of delivery which at riv
els the attention of the people, and holds it. as on
Tuesday night with increasing interest to the close
of his remarks. The people Of the District, whose
representative Mr.. Branch will st certainly be,
by overwhelming majority, have just cause to be
proud of their candidate. The Convention at Frank
linton was fortunate, not only in selecting the most
acceptable man to the party generally, but in secu-
ring the time the services of not inferior
in ability to any one in the District. This is said,
certainly in spirit of fattery, but as simply due
to that Convention; and the people of the District,
wherever Mr.. Branch may address them, will enthu-
sastically confirm the opinion have expressed.
Mr. Branch will take his seat in the most important
Congress ever convened since the formation of the
government. His friends-and they are legon-are
well assured, from their knowledge of the man, that
he will acqut himself we'll in his position and
they anticipate for him long of usefulness
and honor.
After Mr. Branch had concluded his remarks, a
call was made for H. W. Miller, Esq, one of the
leaders of "Sam's' forlorn hope; and Mr.. Miller,
who is always ready with his pile of books his hits,
carefully rounded and preserved in good English
to say nothing of the remnants of his Norfolk
speech-took the stand and spoke in reply to Mr..
Branch until half past three o'clock in the morning
leaving Mr.. Branch no opportunity TO rejon. We
heard but portion of Mr. Mllers remarks, but we
learn from those who heard them all, that they were
any thing but a reply to Mr.. Branch. Indeed, Mr..
Miller must have felt that he could not possibly
meet the positions taken and the arguments advanc-
ed by Mr.. Branch; but speech was expected, and
was considered due to his new ally and friend. Mr..
Shepard, so bitterly opposed we may add, and so
much ridculed by Mr. NJ. at the time he, Mr.. S., was
struggling to "relieve the people,; and so speech
was made and not reply-a speech teeming with
onesided statements, with sophistry, with appeals
sprnging from spirit of persecution, intolerance,
and bigotry more artificial than rea and with doc.
tnes generally W hich the free and enlightened peo-
pie of this District can never approve. Mr.. Miller
We learn, improved as the lights waned-how many
candles he talked out we do not know; but as, un
der these circumstances, he got better the hour
arrived at which Know Nothing sentinels take theil
rounds with steathy tread and hat eyes for the
purpose posting their blank triangular bits of paper
what would he not have accomplished if cheered by
the beams of the darlxantern to which he is accus
toned? AS l. was, the "groundlings tick
led'-some of the boys" applauded and screechec
so that even he had to request them to be quiet
that he might be heard; but we have not learned
that single person convinced either of the
soundness, propriety, honesty of Sans principles
and movements.
We trust there will be full meeting of the Dem
ocracy and ti-Know-Nothings tonight (Friday) a
the Court House, for the purpose of forming an As
sociation, and of carrying forward the good worl
so enthusiastically begun on Tuesday night
WHO DID IT?-Who nominated Mr.. Shepard 70
Congress? So far as the public know, the conven
ton consisted of but seven men. So far as the pub
lie know these men trying to dictate to tn
people of seven Counties whom they shall vote for
Where did they meet?-was it in the day or in tn
night ht?-what proceedings were had ?-wbat is tn
nature of the platform adopted? Mr.. Shepards
committee" insinuatc that they sent him plat
lorm but he says nothing about it in his acceptance
10 the people desire to see that platform, or vii
they " go it blind ?"
We read of seven wise men that went to sea in
ooWl; here we have seven that have embarked OF
ule ocean of politics in dark lantern We thnl
'ne men OF the " bowl" decidedly the more sagacous
SOCIAL HALL."-Our thanks to Mr.. Ironmonge
Or another dish of that fine turtle soup. 1t wa