Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-12-13

3
banks, or of establishing new Ones has to be acted
upon"
REPORTED FOR THE STANDARD
Meeting of Know Nothings i'm the Commons
Hall...Mr. Rayner's Speech.
meeting was held in the Commons Hall, on
Monday night 9Th December Gen. Alfred Docke
ry was called to the Chair, and w. H. Harrison Of
Wake, and Mr.. Mann of Pasquotank, were appoint
ed Secretaries
Mr.. Kenneth Rayner being called upon, came for
ward and addressed the meeting. He said he stood
before them Paul stood before Agrippa, to speak
of those things which he knew, and, like Paul, to
defend himself against those political Jews who were
after him as the Jews were after Paul. But he de-
fed them. He would not shelter himself behind a
public meeting, but would thus boldly declare his
views and rciterate his charges. What cared he
for " Jail birds"-cross road hucksters, bull dogs
bloodhounds, cut-eared flee, &C. Of course he did
not mean to say all Democrats were so. Oh no-he
knew honorable men among them, whom he respec-
ted but he applied those epithets to those who had
assailed and prosecuted him. He glored in the hon.
or thus conferred upon him of singing him OUT
Napoleon was proud when he thought that it took
all the Kings Of Europe to dethrone him; and he
gloried that all the artillery of the Democratic press
had been directed to crush him. These attacks COM
menced eighteen months ago, when he began to ad-
vocate great American principles. For these prn-
ciples he had labored and suffered, and prepar
ed to suffer more Such was the fate of all great
beings who were in advance of their age. The Sa-
viour of the world thus suffered; and why should
he complain, though he was, like Pro1etheus, chain
ed to rock while Democratic vultures tore his
liver
He denied the charge of abolition. 1t was false.
Though willing, now that the excitement Was over,
to forgive what has passed; yet if any man or men
charged him with aboltionism or treason to the
South he would defy them and defend his charac-
ter and honor to the DEATH He might have acted
wrong He appealed to his Christian friends though
not much of Christian himself-to remember what
he had suffered-the hours of agony he had passed,
writhing under the attacks of his prosecutors. 1t
was under the influence of those feelings that he
had pursued what he confessed to be an "undigni-
fed course in the streets of Raleigh"
Mr.. r. then entered upon statement of his course
previous to going to Philadelphia. He read extracts
from HE letters and speeches, and said they had
been garbled by the Democratic press. The extracts
read had all been published, and were familiar to all
present any way conversant with public affairs. He
made no attempt to show how where they had
been wrested from their true meaning.
| He then entered upon a labored defence Of his
course He endeavored to show the difference be-
tween "union" and "fusion declared he was
ready to adopt any measures to defeat Buchanan,
ded nothing new, either of fact comment, to what
is already before the public. His vindcatiOn of his
conduct in Philadelphia received in silence
not the slightest evidence of appreciation, though
the hall was crowded with members of his
own party. He evidently felt that his defence had
failed, for the remainder Of his speech was in more
subdued tone. Towards the close he reused the
spirit of his party by fierce attack upon the Dem
ocrats and the "straght" Fillmore of Philadel-
phia He said gentleman of his acquaintance was
approached by an emissary from Forney, who told
him if he would exert himself not for the Democrat
ic party, but for the straight Fillmore ticket, $780,,
600 would be placed to his credit in any Bank he
might select. Mr.. Rayner told his audience to re-
collect that the straight Fillmore ticket was the one
supported by Mr.. Sanderson, chairman of the Full
more committee; man who it was well known,
had not heard the jingle of dollar for many
month yet since the election he has been able to
purchase house worth $20,O0O.
| Mr. K, in his concluding remarks, made the usu-
al charges against the Democrats of being actuated
by the love of public plumber. He ready, if
his party cashered him captain, to carry mus
| ket as private in the war upon Democracy. He
made ptfu appeal to his hearers not to judge him
by what he had said and done. He did not ask them
to "endorse his sentiments" but he implored them
to bear witness to the "purty of his mentions
He took his seat amid applause but he appear.
ed i'll at ease and dissatisfied with his effort and the
| effect of it.
Mr. Outlaw. of BERTHE, being called upon, COM
planned that his name had been used in connection
with this meeting, without his consent He would
not speak, but would bear testimony to the trust
worthiness of Mr. Rayner, whom he had known for
twenty years.
Mr.. Miller, of Raleigh, then spoke: He defended
the "American" party against the charge of aboli-
tionism He said Gen. Harrison, Mr.. Clay, Gems.
Scott and Taylor had been called abolitionists; and
how could Mr. Rayner hope to escape, &C., &c. Mr..
Miller then branched off into denunciations of Gov.
Adams attempt to revive the slave trade-when we
left the meeting.