The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-08-30
American BarbccsSc at ~fAIexahdria ON the
4-t 10Th INST. tf1 81

VII, lOf tut NpllilOdu! l 5r
Amesicsn Harsserse at S~A1sxahdria ON III.
10Th inst. &iS 4
According to previous notice, the America
Party Of Rapides gave ., Barbecue at this
place on the 10th inst. In the morning about
10 o'clock, crowds Of persons might be seer
coming in from all directions. They came and
still they came in groups Of ten, fifteen and
twenty, till the cann~on'sRiboom told it was
eleven o'clock and time the musings were
cleared for action. The multitude then thronged
around the speakers stand in the Court-house
Square, and waited inabreathless silence for the
announcement " that all Is ready" The Presi.
dent, Col GA. TnoKNroN, after the lapse Of
q few minutes, arose and in q brief, eloquent
and patriotic manner explained the object oi
the meeting. M oa s&od ,3aa4 e0s
He told us we had assembled here to-day to
discuss the political issues of the present can
vass-that the American party had previously
invited Free Disclssion on this OCCASION, and
that it was still invited and solicited. "a.
To this announcement the Antics were mum,
not for the want Of speakers present, because
several of their champions, at the time, could
be seen about,th ~environs Of the Courthouse
Square. Speakers, too, who were able and
eloquent, as much SO as any Of their party-it
was q back out--a surrender at discretion.
The Americans having things all their own
way. Capt. A. N. OGDEN, Jr., was introduced
to the assembly, who gave us an eloquent and
soul-stirring speech for about three quarters of
an hour.
Col. WIN. B. LEWIS, Of st. Landry, was then
presented, who, with his wonted elegance of
diction and force of reason feasted the crowd
for an hour and a half. During the course Of
his argument, he demonstrated clearly the fact
that Mr.. Buchanan favors the doctrine of
."Squatter Sovereignty" that the Democratic
Platform sets forth the same principle which
in its operation is pernicious to the interests Of
the South and destructive to slavery in the
Territories. He proved, too, the great danger
to be unprecedented from certain provisions Of
the Kansas-N Nebraska bill, and the unconstitu-
t~ionality of allowing unnaturalized foreigners
and non-residents to vote in q territory, which
principle is established by this act. He elab-
GRATED the subject OF foreign voting and inlmi-
grafton, with great force and strength. We
have neither time nor space to say more of this
almost inimitable argument of Col. LEWIS.
We pass on to Il. NoRrII CulloM, ESQ,
of Avoyelles. Truly may we say he gave us u
least Of reason and a flow Of soul" Every
sentence was a mastery stroke, and u we'll di-
rected blow to the enemies chieftain and their
platform, as he spoke, he lowered to the ut
most height Of eloquencc and warmth Of feeling
in expressing his love and admiration Of Nil.
LARD FIlLMoRE, the Immortal patriot and
statesman. o
After Mr.. CuLLoM had concluded his lengthy,
able and fascinating speech, loud calls were
made for Hon. j. Ii. DAWSON, sub-elector for
this Parish, to which he readily responded in a
pointed and most telling speech. He gave a
graphic description Of the working Of our State
Legislature at itsa last session. He said, he1
went into that body as q representative of the
people of Rapides, that there he expected to
find " honor, honesty and fair dealing all round
the board, but to his surprise, the political
pack had been stocked, that the Democratic
Central Committee Of NewOrleans, had sworn
in their wrath and love Of spoils, before the
meeting OF the Legislature, that certain Ameri-
can members Of the Senate and House, should
be ousted fromstheir seats, which was accord
ingly done by Anti members without examin-
ing the evidence in favor Of those who held the
contested seat. He told us too, of the Dutch
Companies, who were extravagantly paid out
Of the State Treasury to come from NewOr-
leans to Baton Rouge with their horns to blow
aov. W1ckIIrrE into Office, and finally, lie
gave in detail the stupendous Cat Island fraud
md OF the Governors favorite measures.
During Col. DAWSON speech, he was frequent
y interrupted by vociferous applause and
shouts of DAWSON g for ever
After the speaking had concluded, dinner
announced, of which all partook freely and
The meats were very fine and we'll
'ooked--we judge some well skilled in gus
must have prepared them. We are
slad we can say there was no drunkenness or
during the whole day, aud everything
'assed OFT as merry as q marriage bcll,"
which is generally the case with those who are
natives and to tho manor born" We can say
o the adjacent Parishes take care of yourselves
nd not be concerned about us, for Old Rapides
will do her duty on the 4th day of November
y rolling up majority of one hundred and
Jty votes for FILLMORE and DoSmsoS. [Al-
xandria American.
Considering the hot weather, our readers
'il no doubt thank lis for the information
Ireland, Of the Eagle Hotel, Washington,