The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-08-09
Major Herron's Speech.

The Democratic Mass Meeting was address
ed by Hon. A. s. HEBRON, in one Of his
usually eloquent, and powerful speeches.
He commenced by complimentiug the de-
mocracy Of East Feliciana for the gallant
manner i'll which they had won the victory in
the last contest, when it was known that our
Know Nothing friends had decided majority
Of sixty or seventy votes. He felt always like
he was at home, when he was among his
friends in East Feliciana. He then took
rapid glance at the state Of parties, ard the
threatening aspect Of the Black Republican
party at the North, not doubling that South
ern audience agreed with him in the picture
lie had drawn, he proceeded at once to take
up the different candidates and the platforms,
and contrasted the merits of each with the
other, and in the most convincing and unan-
swerablc manner, demonstrated that the De-
mocratic was the only truly national party
now known in the country-that the Black Re-
publican party is sectional at the North and
the American or Fillmore party, is sectional
at the South.
He said that the friends Of Mr.. Fillmore,
not content with making out their favorite a
second Washington, had nssailrd the charac-
ter of Mr. Buchanan, with the most bitter
and opprobrous terms. He felt it his duty to
his party, his candidate and his country, moi
only to defend Mr. Buchanan, but to look in
to the record Of Mr.. Fillmore, and show that,
SO far from being the man his friends repre-.
sented he had, during the whole course of
his public career down to the end Of his Con
gressional term, invariably taken sides and
voted against the South on all questions where
slavery was concerned; and delied the friends
of Fillmore, if there were any present, to point
out single instance of the kind, and he would
take b ok what he had said. He only asked
for one
| Mai. Heron examined the claim set up for
credit to Mr.. Fillmore for signing the fugitive
slave law Showed, that according to the po.
stion of the old Wing party, and the accept
ance Of Gen. Taylor, that the veto was not to
be used, except to prevent VIGOROUSLY uncon-
stitutional measure, or manifest hasty legisa-
ton, he could not have done otherwise He
showed that Mr. Fillmore himself had said
rhat he signed it with reluctance, and not till
he had taken the opinion of the Attorney
General, assuring him that it was consttu-
tional.
He then took up the record of Mr.. Blu.
chanan, on the same question, and Showed most
conclusively and triumphanty, that he never
in a single instance, failed to support the
rights Of the South, both by his speeches and
his votes, during the whole Of his long and
brilliant career in the two houses of Congress,
and defed the briends of Mr.. Fillmore to
show a single instance wherein he had opposed
the interests of the South. He asked for but
one. He referred to his offer to buy Cuba
his vote for the admission of Texas, and the
admission of Arkansas, among other addition
al evidence Of his perfect soundness on the
subject Of slavery, SO far as the Sodth was
concerned He said nothing against Mr. Fill.
more, aud made no charge against him, that
the record did not Justify, but would let Mr.
F.llmore's own friends speak on the OCCASION
The person he should introduce on that occa-
sion, he thought had right to speak, as by
authority, for it was no less parsonage than
ANDREW JACKSON DosELsoN, the second on
the American Ticket, beside Mr.. Fillmore him
self. The speaker then read an extract writ
ten by Mr.. Donelson, and published in the
Union, about the close of Fillmores admins
tration, in which the latter was spoken of as
"a bitter pill-a very bitterpill- to the South
in lSiS"-that his administration had been
" one long, sad, tedious failure and blnnder, ."
putting his last hand to his "ruin at the South
by bringing out anew, and with justification
his DID, and for time. dormant aboltionism."
He next reverted to Mr.. Fillmores Newburg
and Albany speeches, and Showed that upon
the Kansas Nebraska bill, and Missouri Com
promise, Mr. Fillmore and Mr.. Fremont, oc-
cnpy precisely the same ground, and in apow.
erful and elonupnt anneal asked his a,ldence