The true Democrat., 1856-05-06

Journeo slne dae. SAM LESLIE, Ch'm.
 c. A. McCARN, Seey
 
 The Democracy of Scott Township in the
 Field.
 A democratic meeting convened pursuant te previous notice, at the store house of the Hon John Milligan, in Scott township Lawrence county, Arkansas, on Saturday. April the 18th 1856, for the purpose of appointing delegates to county convention, to be held at Smithville on Saturday, May 10th 1856, to nominate can didates for the different county offices, and fol members of our next State legislature
 The meeting organized by calling Dr. E Sofeby to the chair, and Dr. John R. Ashby was chosen secretary.
 The object of the meeting was explained by the chairman, who, on motion, appointed g committee ofsfive to draft preamble and re- solutions expressive of the sense of this meet ing; the committee after short absence re- ported as follows:
 WHEREAS, A crisis in the management of the affairs Of our government has arrived, which calls loudly for prompt and decided action on oAO PaiV oi dti u uO uulIllICLlllS SuppofJerS of the constitution and friends of the Union; and whereas, recent astounding developments fully show that the fell spirit of civil pro- scription and religious intolerance as being propogated in our midst. A wouldbe secret com bination has been organized for nefarous ends and purposes, bound together by anti-con- stitutional, aati-social, and anti christian oaths, meeting together in midnight conclave to illuminate principles conflicting with the con- stitution of the United States and of Arkan- sas, at war with the most sacred rights of the people. The liberty of conscience is by them lnfrnged, the liberty of the press also, if in opposition, they endeavor to curtal by order in council; they grasp at the monopoly of trade by endeavOrlng to cOnine 1t to themselves; they under solemn oath declare the religion man protesses to be qualification or dsqualifca- ton for all places of honor trust or profit; and all persons who will not submit to be their sworn adherents they prescribe in the affairs of the Lation; they prescribe foreigners for the un- avoidable accident of birth, and they prescribe the native born citizen from the rights of of- flee If he fails to bow before their unhallowed altars Of intolerance, there to be manacled by oath-blnding chains Such is short outline of the workings of the Know Nothing combna- ton lately ushered into existence, arrogating undeservedly the name of the Ameacan par ty. Already has this clanship spread its devas- tating wings all over the Union; their noctur- nal lights, we have reason to believe, have blazed in every city, town, village and hamlet throughout the length and breath of the na- tion; thousands have surrounded their couacil fires, and tens of thousands have been fettered with oath bound chains, rveted by the ties of bigotry and of prejudice: truly gallng chains bound thereby to immolate their country's freedom, and in its stead to institute the secret whitening, blasting, reign of oligarchy, reign of sworn despotsm, whose career has been al ready marked with fraud, treachery, and blood shed. Surely crisis has arrived, time has come that swellS with the destiny of America, time pregnant with great events for veal or for woe. As yet all power is vested in the sover- elgn people-as yet the glorious democracy stands upright in all the noble dignity of it's power and greatness, stationed high on the watch towers of the nation bravely defending the constitution, the Union, the honor and glo- ry of America and all the sacred rights for which the ever to be renowned patriots of the revolution fought and bled and sacrificed their lives and property to achieve and main tain. glorious victory crowned their efforts through many bloodstained field, and they have transferred to our keeping that blood bought purchase. Most faithfully have the de- mocaacy, the sovereign people, held that sacred trust against the many assaults of the many ephemeral factions who have lived out their day and passed into degraded oblivion. The so- veregn people are victorious; under their su- premacy agriculture, manufactures, and com merce are most osperous-unelualled i'll the annals of nations. A vast continent has been converted from a wilderness to produce all the necessaries of life in abundance, and an exten- sve home market creates industry. Our ships of commerce are waited before the wind in every sea and ocean. Our flag triumphantly waves in the breaze in every port in the known world. Our armies, composed of the people, have won mperishable fame; in battle, fierce as the lion or tigar, and bold as the eagle that ho- vers around our coast. Our political system is the admiration of mankind, and the princ- pies of civil, social, and religious freedom, as developed by our institutions, has to some ex- tent put in jeopardy the pretentions of despots who claim to rule by divine right-who rule the people in chains, with the iron rod of into- erance and proScri ption, as dark lantern Bunt- finite despots would feign rule America. Con trast our greatness with the nations of the earth, and judge by comparison, based on facts. See the poverty of the masses in Europe, their wretchedness and misery stares the people in the very face, pressed and trodden down by tyranny to the very dust;gnorance and superstition have been the furnaces where the letters were forged, prepared and riveted on by despots who grow big and fat on the productions of the people, who are doomed to be meniel slaves. Asia is overburdoned with Bamboo despotism, and retrogradning. Africa is sunk in barbarism Our southern continent is under military rule, n+ A1,, ed are the people of these nations to their un- happy fate. Happy, happy, thrice happy America, your people are in the ascendant, ton. Religion fourishes under the benign in- vcreign people rule themselves.
 May we not reterate with grateful hearts that no country has been so much favored as ours. We should acknowledge with deep reve- rance the manifestations of divine providence in the prosperity of our national greatness; ve- rv all praise is due to the Ruler of our destiny, under whose suspicious guidance we enjoy the blessings of liberty, equality and justice. The success of our present admirable system of go- vernment is a conclusive refutation of the theo- res of those of other countries who maintain that favored few are born to rule, and that the masses of mankind must be governed by force. Should not our present greatness under the rule of the sovereign people, forever settle the assumed claim of the Know Nothing par ty, who assert under the sanction of an oath, that virtually none but third degree members of their party is qualified to rule America Strange logic-what theory? Three anti. con- stitutional, anti-socia, anti. christian oaths qua lfes the blasphemous taker to rule America; but we live in mysterious age, an age of won- der; fanaticism has undoubtedly run mad. At times like the present it behooves the sovereign people to proclaim their will. Never before was it so essentially necessary for them to flock around the citadel of their freedom, and as Leonidas with his noble band of Spartans at Thermophyle, met their country's foes on the tbrashold of their nation. Like these brave de- lenders the soverign people should guard every mass around the constitution and the Union, and bravely meet the secret foeman, armed with the sword of justice to conform to the golden
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