The true Democrat., 1856-03-11
Washington County Democratic
 Convention.

Fl the court house, in Fayetteville. | On motion of J. M Tebbetts, esq.,, w. L
 Wilson, esq, was called to the chair, and l.. B Cunningham, esq., appointed secretary. The object of the convention was explained
 by Col. Tebbetts.
 On motion of Col. Tebbetts, the chairman
 appointed committee to prepare preamble
 and resolutions expressive of the sentiments and
 choice of this convention; names of said com
 mittee being as follows:
 J. NJ. Tebbetts, J. Oxford, H. Appleby, Col
 Wm. Wilson, Wm. Skelton, Jno. IEocomb
 Jno O'Neal, Wm. H. Holcomb Jno. Wilson
 Il. Smiley, c. Luper, Jno Quinton, w. Linn
 A. B. Colwell, Wm. J. Wilson, E. Freschlao E Wm. Thomas, Jno. Ruff, Thos. 3lakemore
 Wm. T. Neal, J. NJ. Sawyers, S. L. Marrs. Tbos
 Gray, A. c. Smith, Jas. s. West, Q. Hutcbins
 A. Crawford, Il. Johnson, Jesse Gilstrap, W @ P London, Robt Williams, Wm. H. Campbell P. Rudd, E. Ben Brooks, Geo. Strom. c. Ru
 therford, Wm. Cloar, Jesse NJ. Guire, W. D. Cunningham and w. D. Boyd.
 Whereupon said committee retired.
 During its absence, L. Gregg, esq, entertain ed the audience with speech in defence ol democratic principles against Know Nothing Bm."
 Committee returned and reported through their chairman, J. M. Tebbetts, the followino preamble and resolutions
 Full and open discussion, and interchanoe of political sentiment and opinion are conformablo to the belief and usage of the democratic party Since the days of the adoption of the constitn- ton ot the United States, has this usage prevail ed m open daylight among democrats. and the very spirit oi that great and glorious instrument supports the custom. The government of AmerIcanS resides m the people, and parties can not discuss, With view to change any measure ot national or state policy in secret oath bound assemblies without violation of true republi- cansm.
 It IS with pride that we know our State has always been foremost in her adherence to. and support oi democratic principles and in noblv battling for thelr maintenance. The democra- I tc party of Arkansas, has never yet shown its back to the foe, but openly, and to the front m ct all It's opponents, victory always perching upon ] its banner. We are confident the same rnsnlt will be achieved in the coming political contest We are certain it will if democrats are true to their faith, to the principles of their party which have ever been accounted sacred. worthy and : the most conducive to the prosperity of the American people, Our present position as the greatest and happiest nation of earth affords the strongest demonstration of the virtue and might of democracy, and a tried guarantee, that as long as Its sentiments are living and prevalent among Americans, so long shall the republic endure, grow vast, and liberty indeed be perne- tual.
 new-named party has arisen among us It plants lodges" by night, sows the seeIs of dis oord and proposes to reap the fruit of spells by hypocrltlcal outcry against the "wild hunt for office" It is a niglt saade party. whose in- tlucnce will be as deadly as the plant to the true genius of American liberty and institutions . if its genuine result is suffered to work out } Its direct tendency is the subversion of the de- . mocratic party. Its whole life is only war . fare against that party. It arrogates to itself . exclusively the title of "American," and casts . anlnsult upon tens of thousands of true born Americans, Tn whose breasts patriotism never . burned more brightly. It arragns and con- . demns the foreignerand Catholic be they never so good citizens, and speciously cries out against ther immigration hither, unftness for Ameri- . can privileges, and dangerous religious inhu. ence. In the north as we have had severe and evll-traught test in the late struggle for speaker of Congress, which has planted above that chair the portentous flag of ''back repub- llcanlsm," 1t attiliates with the freesoiler and abolluOmst. Possessing such points, principles and features, how can democrats, southern men, be mlsled? The issues of naturalization, reli. glous toleration, and the right of property in slaves, were all discussed, debated and reposed previous to the formation of the constitution of the United States. The wisdom of the fathers ot our country settled these vexatious ques- tons, and proclaimed to the world that sacred instrument as safeguard to succeeding genera tons. If we forsake it, then indeed is our country in danger. If democrats abiure their iath of which the constitution is the base, then indeed may we expect the ruin which has overwhelmed the republics of ancient and mo- dem days. The natural tendency of a loose construction of, and wandering from, tue con- Sttutlon IS to beget just such nj ght conclaves as the " Know Nothing" Our duty as democrats as republicans, as lovers of our race and coun- try, bids Us shun them, bids us cling the closer to democratic principles as the only perpetuation of our liberty, freedom of conscience and pros IO'Np' CNO NSSClG Iilc paul dllu all IIIC tN HIS ot anarchy may and will be entailed upon this great nation.
 The union of the democratic party in Arkan- sas will achieve vctory-its union is all that is requisite to so great and good an end It must unite or else surrender all the laurels of former fields, In view of this, and of the fact that the democratic party Is dared to the combat by foe at once arrogant and willy, therefore
 Be it resolveI by hts contention of the demo- crats of Washington county, That we earnestly recommend to every democrat in this county, district and State, an answering adherence to the principles of the democratic party; SUD- port in all cases of men whose principles are known to be sound and true and a determina- ton to maintain and defend them at the ballot box and elsewhere.
 ResolceR, also That the "platform" laid down by the democratic national convention, of Bal tmore, 1852, is the one which we recognize and the only one upon which we are willing and determined to stand; that the principle of non- Intervention expressed in the Kansas N ebraska 6ItI IS logical deduction from the constitution, and the only sentiment which democrats should possess regarding the question involved.
 Res0lUed, That we regard Franklin Pierce President of the United States, as a great and good patriot, sincere lover of his country; and that his late able, manly and eloquent message Is one of which all true Americans may well be proud and that while such men are at its helm no design or party can endanger our country's veal
 Resolved, That the commendation of their Constituents IS due our Senators and members of Congress for their stand as national states men and democrats; their frmness in defend lng every right of the south when assaed by northern fanaticism; their Zeal in behalf of de- mocratic measures, the rights of the south, and the interests of the State and the country at large
 Resolved, That the Hon. A. B. Greenwood. our present efficient member of Congress from this district, by his bold and noble stand in the recent contest for Speaker, has displayed to the world his unainchng devotion to the rights of the south and the interests of the whole coun- tFy;to his constituents, that he is a tried demo- crat and a faithful representative in whose hands thelT coournlvy and tD thp demo-