The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-10-15


that he would address the democrats and old
line wings Of the city, at Odd Fellows hall,
last evening, we went to hear him. We felt
curious TO know how he would attempt to justi-
fy his treachery to those who sent him to the
senate, and to whig principles, at time when
the country demands that every wing, with
soul in him, should stand unfaltering by. his
colors, and shout, with the noble Lawrence,
."Don't give up the ship
The weather being remarkably fine, and
there being nothing to attract public attention
elsewhere, the spacious hall was crowded to
overlooking.
The meeting was regularly organised by the
appointment Of Mr.. Logan Mcknight as chair
man, with the usual appurtenances, etc. Mr..
Mcknight, in taking the chair, made few elo-
quent remarks, addressed to democrats and
introduced Mr.. Benjamin, who was received
with cheers and clapping of hands by those on
the platform, those directly in front of the plat
form, and few standing around the outside
of the room. zs z&
We exceedingly regret that we have not the
space to follow the recreant wing through the
course of his remarks. He evidently came pre-
pared, bringing along the Congressional Globe
to do his best; and he did exert all his power,
all his logic, all his subtlety, and we may add,
all the bitterness and zeal Of renegade. His
effort was a long why, sophistical special plea
his throwing himself body and soul into the
hands Of its hereditary and implcable foes,
those who abused its great leaders, Clay and
Webster, and pursued them with ferocity till
they had taken refuge in the grave!
It was the attorney pleading his own cause,
with some remnants OF a consciousness left that
he had not only bad case to manage, but an
exceedingly unpleasant and irkscme duty to
perform, nolens volens. The principal feature
in his address was defence of the south from
the cry of aggression upon the north put forth
by the abolitionists. We confess that we were
astonished that he should treat the abolition
lists with so much Difference and respect as to
devote so much attention to this silly accusa-
ton, an accusation that should be treated with
the contempt it merits by all gentlemen. Its
relevancy before his constituents to the ques-
ton Of his treachery to the wing party he pro-
badly saw. We confess that we could not; and
Judging by what we saw and heard around us,
we think that at least three -fourths of those
present will agree with us in this sentiment.
In his review of the Missouri compromise,
he said those who are opposing the democratic
party "don't know the history" Prodigious!
Upon what meat bath this our Caesar fed that
he hath grown so big?" Bates and Bell, and
Graham, and Crittenden, and Everett, and
Rives, and host of others with the southern
press, don't know the history of the country as
well as the hon. J. P. Benjamin, of Louisiana
All hail to the modern professor of history!
His next point was review of the know
nothing platform. AS this is none of our bust
ness, we leave it with those who choose to fol-
low him upon that subject.
We confess, however, to a feeling of indig
nation when he spoke of Willard Fillmore's
"degradlng himself, by any act which he would
ever perform. When we say that the audience,
three-fourths of whom were evidently Fillmore
men, listened to his bitter invectiye against the
man whom they and the whole country almost
ldolise, and restrained the indignation which
must have leaped into their threats, we pay
them the highest compliment we are capable OF.
That was worthy of Fillmore men. and it is just T
this magnimity and this patriotism that will |
carry that true and spotless statesman triumph
antly into the presidential chair, and hand his
name down to posterity as the preserser of this
Union, when his malignant calumniators shall
nave been forgotten, or remembered only as
he factionists who labored for their own ag-
,randisement at the expense of their country's
rood.
We cannot omit repelling gross insult which
'e heaped upon portion of the press and peo
lie of the south, BY asserting that they back the
barge of aggression made by the abolitionists !
+ the north against the south. So far as We
re concerned, We hurl back the charge into
is teeth. We profess to be as patriotic as be
); to be as true TO the south, and to repel with G
S much decision and indignation the assaults /
the black crew, wherever and when made, l
S he does, though we do not consider it at all t
ecessary to boast of the matter or make it the h
ubject Of public harange. +
En- PEASANT, Mr.. niamin declared that he e
lpported the whig party of 1859, because he {
onsldered their principles better calculated to e
ivance the prosperity of the country than t
lose of the democratic parry, and admired the ! F
anner in which Mr.. Fillmore administered the i
overnment during his administration. And d
IT, when those same wings have publicly en- d
orsed Mr.. Fillmore, in national convention as
mbled, and recommended him as worthy of
e sutrages of all wings, he, the hon. J. P. | {
enJamln, turns round and supports the very a
.nciples which he thought, four years ago, Il
1t calculated to advance the good of the coun- o
y. Does he pretend to be wiser, purer, more e
'trotlc than such men as Bates, Rives. COVER VI
u Hunt, Graham, Stanlv, Granger, Everett, Il
I'd Bell, and a score of other old line wings, a,
no have never faltered an instant in their de- f.
'tlon to whig principles. Oh
One extraordinary circumstance we cannot "a
i to mention: Mr.. Benjamin supports Mr.. f.
lchanan, and yet in his speech protesting to lie
stliy himself in doing SO against the man the az az
d line wings have endorsed, he said not one ~
ord about him or Mr.. Breckenridge neither! tn
ever mentioned their names once, and barely le.
ferred incidentally to the Cincinnati platform M
lie great question. the only practical question tpS
; have now before us in the present struggle IN
IN the black republicans the Union ba
preserved-he never mentioned at all! mt
He closed by referring to the five prominent re-
N at the north who are battling for the de- SO
ocratic party, Messrs. Bright, Stuart, Cass, "a.
'u5las, and Toucey. They are all strug- 60
ng, and all the democratic party too, for co
lthern rights. As he left out, no doubt I'M