Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-04-23
.ANrI-K. N. coNvENIoN IN RUTHERFORD.

We are indebted to ashighly esteemed friend in
Rutherford for the following communication. From
our knowledge Of the people Of Rutherford Cleave-
land and Polk, and from the high character of the
gentlemen nominated, we have no doubt of the tr-
umph of the ticket DR.. Columbus Mills, the sem
atorial candidate, is known and esteemed through
out the State. Messrs. Davis and Toms, the candi.
dates for the Commons are men of high standing in
the community. Mr.. Davis has once represented
his county in the Legislature. He has always been
consistent and conservative Wing, but is opposed
to Know Nothingism, and is acting with the Only
national party in the country, against the sms and
factions so dangerous to our institutions and our
liberties. Mr.. Toms has ever been a staunch Dem
ocrat and even in the pamy days of the Wing party,
when his county gave about 1000 Wing majority,
he came within thirty votes of an election to the
House of Commons. Such men cannot and soiU not
be beaten now.
Thanking our friend for his communication we
proceed to give it
IAN anti Know Nothing meeting assembled in
this place Monday, the l4th inst, in pursuance
of resolution to that effect passed the occasion
of the last anti-Know Nothing demonstration in the
village of Rutherfordton.
1t has rarely been our good fortune to witness so
large respectable, and SO attentive concourse
as that which filed the Court House on this day.
Dr. Ladson Mills, of Rutherford, having been ap-
pointed Chairman, called the meeting to ord err and
the several delegations from Polk and Cleaveland
were introduced.
Mr. j. T. Gibson, of Rutherford, in obedience to a
call from the Chair, proceeded, in a speech most
ably impressive both in matter and manner, to de-
clare the principles of the anti-Know Nothing party
and the purposes for which the meeting was called
together. The speaker, after appealing to facts for
proof of the strict consistency Of the anti-K Know
Nothing party-which he designated most properly
as truly national in spirit-wcnt to show that the
Know Nothing organization, to whose secret and in.
sidious attacks upon the we-being of the country
the present opposition was owing, had ignored not
only the free principles of their orelathers but even
that sacred constitution, to establish which their
bood had been poured out water, and their bones
still bleached OH many distant aud nobly fought
battle field.
Tracing the course of this faction through the
mysteries of their assemblages, their dark Signals
and oath-bound watch words, up to the epoch when
the first faint ray of light admitted to their pro.
ceedings through the necessity of convention at
Philadelphia, Mr. Gibson demonstrated, from the
nature of their debates in that convention, and from
the secession of the Northern delegates upon the
sole article of their platform which took into consd
Grafton the interests of the South that the Southern
branch of the Know Nothing party was leagued with
the most hateful of Northern fanatics-the abolition.
list, the disunonist and the black republican.
He argued that since the Catholic Know Nothing
delegates from Louisiana were joyfully received by
the convention of Philadelphia. 1t plainly followed
that the heartless outcry Of last year against the
Catholic citizens of this republic might be para
phrascd as simple hatred of those Catholics who,
imbued with the genius Of liberty, might have cast
their lot and votes he scale against intolerance
and midnight cab b against those who advoca-
ted such practices in a land of liberty.
The deduction was equally clear that it were but
strain of courtesy to attribute any fixed principle
to party, which was ready at any moment, in bid
ding for votes, to repudiate what it had most
openly avowed as the permanent characteristic Of its
organization.
After mastery analysis of some of the remaining
Objectionable features of the Know Nothing creed,
the speaker in few but strong TERMS explained the
principles of his party; aud he appealed to Wings
and Democrats to choose those views, which, fearing
suspicious changes of policy, preferred to repose
amidst those fundamental doctrines Of freedom which
had stood the test of near hundred years. as writ
ten in every step OF progress and in every page Of
our history.
These views may be epitomsed as comprising an
unalterabe determination to stand by the constitu.
ton of the country, and not to waver, for moment
in opposition to all who seek, whether openly OF
nsidousy, to invade ia detestaton of all secret
political parties whatever, as being wicked in prin-
ciple dangerous to frecmen, and unknown to those
who made us free,-no religious no civil persecu-
a.
which advocates either
Mr.. Gold, of Cleaveland, followed in an admirable
speech The young orator criticised the plans OF
the K. N. order, and, making strong appeal to all
present, he invoked them, in view of the deep and
important crisis at hand, to support the anti-K N.
party, which was, and would be, true to the
constitution and to the rights of the South.
The Chairman, having named a committee of fif
teen, for the purpose of selecting candidate to rep
resent the counties of cleveland, Rutherford, and
Polk, in the Senate, during the next Legislature,
had scarcely withdrawn, ere through MIR. David
Miller, their chairman, it was announced that the
| unanimous voice of the committee was in favor Of
! DIR. Columbus Mills, of Polk county.
DIR. Mills accepted the nomination, and explained
in eloquent terms the principles which would guide
him in the event of his election to the Senate.
| The notice of DR.. Mills acceptaton was received
| with vociferous cheering by his numerous and en-
| thusastic friends
| MIR. Toliver Davis and Mr. Ed. Toms were nomi
mated as candidates for the Commons, by conf
mittee composed of SIXTEEN taken from, the counties
of Polk and Rutherford respectively, and appointed
by the Chair.
Mr.. Toms expressed his willingness to undertake
| the canvass, and returned thanks.
The spirit exhibited at this meeting has left ar
| impression among US fatal to plot and cabal, and
| truly encouraging to all who wish we'll to theil
country. Until the tyranny of clubpolticians shall
succeed, in the bitter days of the French revolu
tion in strangling the public voice. and in putting
down the power of discussion, the future of tnis
mighty Union, and the freedom of the world, which
is involved in its continuance, have nothing to fear
Rutherfordton, April IA, 1856.
RALEIGH-THE MnlrARY-One of the most pleas
ing incidents connected with the visit of the Demo
cratic delegates to Raleigh the military display
on Thursday, by the Oak City Guards, under Cap
tain Harrison. the Independent Guards, under Cap
tain DeGarteret, and the Raleigh Cadets, under Cap
tain Loveioy These fine companies turned out al