Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-05-28

s= ltls & ~ 4 ) =
- So ssdpusLfl lanssY ssassh3 ~
b REMARKS Oh FEM WILSON.
MILDRED gort4hsSS d County Democratic Clu1}
~ ~ g ,a's tiss q sss'sasag q t1s lsfe
GENTLEMEN: The committee previously appointed
to report permanent officers for the government of
this club having performed their duty, it only re-
mains for me to vacate the chair to which your par
tiality cailedme during the preliminariesof ergani
zaton; and in retiring from my position beg leave
to submit a few remarks for your consld
At the meeting over which first called to pre-
side, it was reported by some Know. Nothing cor.
respondent Of the Register, that was shaved ana
dressed for the OCCASION" With the usual instinct
of Know Nothingism, that correspondent stated
what was not so but about next August he will
find himself and his party the cleanest shdped and
the most ,etlu dressed set OF men that aspred
to either glory or notoriety. If he chooses to re-
port that have come here tonight prepared for
the occasion" them Notwithstanding he is Know
Nothing he will tell the truth-something, by the
bye, seldom told by his confreres because it is in
opposition to their principles. But will save him
the trouble and will myself state that hGoe come
prepared for the occasion that came on pur-
pose; and if he can, he may report me reToattm et
literatim, at (which he showed hmselfquite an adept
on previous occasion. But oismisSing any Iur-
Their preface, proceed. .. -, :. mr.. .,4...,.:.,
When the history of Know Nothingism shall have
been written and wien.i shallhave been viewed
by an impartial and enlightened posterity, the sud-
den rise of that order will show the restless DISPOSE
ton of our people, its rapid progress will prove how
easily they may be duped and misled, and its
swift decline will alone redeem their character for
honesty and integrity. AS the overshadowing ism
of the day-as a wild MANIA begotten partly by IA
naticism, partly by corruption, and partly by
thoughtlessne it will stand as dark blot upon
the enlightenment of the age, and rs stain upon
the boosted freedom and berality of our laws and
snck,t Ac nj
the human heart to bigotry and intolerance it will
be unanswerable; and as proof of the degeneracy
of the purity of Republic, it will be conclusive.
Let US hope that the degeneracy is but temporary.
and that our people, with mighty reaction, will
not only regain their losses but learn such lesson
as will prevent them from again being dupcd and
made the plant tools Of reckless politicians, anati-
cal relieionists and rasca!ly abolitionists.
As an attempt to belle the creed of our patriot
fathers who framed our government, and who de-
clared that ours was land where the oppressed
might find an asylum, and where religious intoler-
ance should be unknown this order deserves and
will receive the execration of the liberal, fair mind
ed and patriotic of all ages and countries. Even
our children will view their fathers as We we now
view the witch burners Quaker-hangers and Bap-
tist-whippers of old colonial New England. They will
look back upon us as under cloud-as a deluded
generation and in charity will attribute it to ourig-
norance rather than to our depravity.
The sanguine republican of the present day, who
NAV have come to the conclusion that the problem
of mans capabity for selfgovernment has been
solved and that capabty established, may well be-
gin to doubt the correctness of his judgment as he
views the rise and progress of this dark and ntol-
Grant spirit; and only in the rapdty with which it
is Fastening to decay can he find a reinsurance.
Clay and Webster and other giant intellccts built
up ana for many years sustained a mighty party
The principles Of that party were plain and well de-
fined They were broad and deep; and the banner
Al I'D, Co.
to the breeze. Under it rallied numerous host,
proud of their leaders, proud oftheir principles, and
honest in their convictions. None doubted that their
country's good was their chief aim They sought
not to entrap men in the dark and bind them to
their measures by illegal oaths. They appealed not
to the evil passions, prcjudces and 6igotry OF men
to win them to their cause, They relied not upon the
ignorance the heedessness or the corrupt motives Of
men to attach them to their party. They went forth
in the light of day, and proclaimed their principles
and presented their measures. They sought the ia
vor of men by proclaiming what they believed to be
great truths. They appealed 10 the intelligence of
men for support. They relied upon the soundness
of their cause for its success. They never thought
of conceament and hypocrisy.
But one by one the principles and measures OF
this party were repudiated by the American peo-
ple In 1852 the great leaders were set aside, the
great principles abandoned and with one last strug
gle to triumph through the agency of military re-
survive its fall. They saw its doom impending and
knew that doom was deserved This knowledge was
doubtless among the keenest pangs with which their
great hearts ever throbbed
For time there was comparative Stiffness kind
OF restless, nosless commotlon-a seeking for some.
thing on which to settle down.. Political chaos brood.
ed over the fragments of the once great party of
Henry Clay The brilliant lights of that party had
been extingushed, and the lesser luminaries looked
about them in vain for leader. They were at sea
without helm or rudder; and the calmness around
them-the ca'mness Of magnanimous victors, that
would not insult them with exultations-was more
than storms and tempests
Presently it began to be rumored that new par.
ty was springing up in the country. Clouds and
darkness surrounded it. and mystery was it's pavil.
llon All at once strange and unexpected results of
elections occurred in the abolition towns of the Nor
them States. Men went TO the polls and deposited
their tickets, and when the votes were counted, it
was found that some individual was elected whose
name had not even been publicly mentioned in con.
nectlon with the office. Wonder seized the unini.
tiated. The initiated kept dark as they were sworn
to do, or with significant wink intmated that "Sam'
was about, operating by some mysterious agency
Hitherto it had been the boast of all political par
ties in our country that they openly declared and
boldly advocated the principles they professed They
met their opponents in open field and fought brave
ly, and like men conscious that their cause was good
ANY other course would have been considered dis
honorable and personally and politically degrading.
But now there seemed to be secret organization,
midnight conclave, banded together by some means
for the accomplishment of something; but what it
was, none could tell. Bound by God forbidden oaths,
the initiated would not reveal the secret Fairness
holiness, honesty and independence were buried
under the wicked oaths and disgusting ceremonies
Of schemng, intriguing, dishonorable and hypo-
critical combination Of desperate political asprants
and disappointed ofice-seekers. They plotted po-
litca assassination and gloried in the success of
their plots. DECEPTION was the handspring of their