Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-08-06

MED. then told them to take my name off. and
understand it has not been done. Therefore l take
this method of Withdrawing my name from that
desperate darkantern order, called the North York
council, in Granville Co.
Granville, July 80, 1856.
For the Standard.
MEssRs EDITORS Gen. Alfred Dockery is the
candidate of the Ozark Lanterns" in this Senate.
rial District, composed of the counties of Richmond
and Robson; Col. Steele is his opponent, in the
shape of an "Old line Wing"
Gen. Dockery addressed portion of the citizens
of this county at election precinct not long since,
and among other subterfuges, resorted to the low,
mean, and utterly false charge, which has been 60
ing the rounds Of the "Know Nothing press from
Maine to California, that James Buchanan advocat-
ed measure in the United States Senate, the effect
of which would reduce the pay of the laboring man
to "ten cents day."
This shift of the General is low, mean and con-
temptble. For in the first place it is utterly alse,
and it is strange, at least that Gen. Dockery,
with his "strength of intellect and firmness of pur-
pose" and his opportunities to be better informed,
should be so behind the times to be totally igno
rant of what Mr. Buchanan did say and mean on
that occasion.
This imputation grew out of the remarks made
by Mr.. Buchanan in the United States Senate on
the 22d day of January, 1S4, in favor of the Inde
pendent Treasury Bill in reply to a speech made
by Mr.. Clay against it. Amongst others who un-
dertook to reply to the arguments of Mr. Buchanan
was the Hon. John Davis of Massachusetts-he that
was usually known "honest John Davis" He
assumed in his argument that Mr.. Buchanan had
advocated the Independent Treasury, on the ground
that it would establish an exclusive metallic curren-
CIV. Starting with this erroneous assumption, he
argued to show that it would bring down the wages
of labor to the standard prices in countries where
the currency is exclusively metallic To this speech
of Mr.. Davis, when published, was added an appen-
dix, in which he introduced table, showing that
in some of the exclusively metallic countries in Eu-
rope laborers only received ten cents day.
Putting the speech and the appendix together
the hint was taken, and camor was raised that
the Democrats desired to reduce the pay of labor
in men to ten cents day.
Subsequently, in speech made the Sd of March,
1910, Mr.. Buchanan denounced the charge against
him in the strongest and most pointed terms, say
ing, Selfrespect, as we'll as the respect I to
the Senate restraints me from giving such contra
diction to this allegation it deserves. 1t would
surely not be deemed improper, however. in me if
were to turn to the Senator and apply the epithet
which he himself has applied to the proposition
he imputes to me, and were to declare that such
imputation was fagticus" misrepresentation of
my remarks"
Mr. Buchanan argued that his policy would not
injure the aboriug man but materially benefit him,
by preventing the runous contractions and expan-
sions to which currency was incident and by
judicious bank reform to place it settled basis
Establish uniform currency, "mot purely metal
&c eusrency," but mixed currency, the paper por-
ton always convertible into gold and silver, and
subject to as little fuctuaton in amount the reg
uar business of the country would admit for of all
the reforms this is what the laboring man ought
most to desire. After long argument going to
show that Mr. Buchanan never intended or desired
to reduce the wages of any class of the American
people, he closed by saying that this plain and
simple exposition of my views has been seized upon
hryth L. ia AL ,k@e
their perverson and it has been represented far and
wide that it was my desire to reduce wages down to
the prices received by the miserable sers and labor
ers of European despotsms."
Mr. Buchanan had no DESIRE as his whole course
of public life plainly shows, to throw single feath-
er in the way of that most respectable and useful
class of our countrymen denominated mechanics
and laboring men.
The question very naturally recurs. has the Inde-
pendent Treasury, which has been in active opera
ton now some sixteen years. produced such disas-
trous consequences as its enemies predicted In or
der to determine this matter let go back to 1910
and see what labor was then worth, and then COM
pare it with the price of labor now. In 1910 the
best hands among our negro population could be
hired for from 500 to $40 year. and many for
much less; and now in 1856 from $l35 to 5000 are
the ruling prices and the prices of laborng white
men. in q corresponding proportion.
These comparisons plainly show that the predic-
tons of the enemies of Mr.. Buchanan and the De.
mocTatic party have fallen very far short of reality
What is passing strange is, that such men as Gen.
Dockery, and all the cross-road politicians and clark
lantern papers throughout the country should re-
sort to such low, false, mean and contemplate
means at this late day to try to render Mr. Buchan
unpopular with that most respectable class of our
fellow citizens called "laboring men," when the
same time they know that when this imputation was
made, Mr.. Buchanan in his place in the U. S. Sem
ate repeled the charge. 1t shows concusively that
his unspotted public and private life affords them
nothing which they ruthfully seize upon out of
which to make political capital This truly verifies
the old adage that "drowning men will catch at
straws." And, Messrs. Editors, these men are
drowning, and tell you straws wont save them
They must continue to SINK as sink they WILL until
they reach the bottom of their degradation.
Every means, fair and foul has been resorted to
by the enemies of the Democratic party (which is
the only national party in the country to put
it down; but trust shall never see the day when
the Democracy of our (ought to beg happy America
will be overcome by such men and measures as are
now arrayed for its overthrow.
From all can learn Gov. Bragg, who has made
us most excellent Chief Magistrate, will be tri.
umphantly reelected and if my hopes and antici-
pations are realized the sworn enemies to the De-
mocracy in the Old North State will fall SO low that
they will have to assume another name before they
can again rally for fight. So mote it be.
RICHMOND.
July l9, 1885, -.
For the Standard.
MEssRs. EDITORS: The students of the Franklinton
institute, assembled this morning as usual and al.
ter testimonials of regard for deceased friend by
our teachers with the announcement that the exer-