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

ouence. and on conclusion, was loudly applauded
Mr.. Blount is ayoung man of fine promise,-a beau
tiful writer, and an elegant declamer. We predict
for him future of much usefulness and honor.
w.
THE DISCUSSION AT HALIFAX.
Gov Bragg, proposed to discuss the various is
sues OF State and National policy existing between
the Democratic and the American" Or as original.
ly designated, the Know-Nothing party, appealing
to reason and not to prejudice In regard to State
policy he begged to refer to one or two matters !:
list, Free Suffrage in regard to which he occupied
the same grounds in the last canvass. It had al
ready been passed by three-6fths vote in both
Houses. 1t remained for the next legislature to give
it thirds vote for, if submitted to the people,
it would certainly be ratified. His competitor talked
about a convention, but that was useless In 1854
friends got only Is votes in the Senate and 80 in
the House. being something like two-thirds against
it instead of for it. Mr. Gilmer talks for Free Suf
rage on the stump, but votes against it in the Leg
slature In 1852 it was defeated by one vote, and
Mr.. Gilmer voted against it !; and then his party
turned round and tried to throw the responsibility
of its defeat upon the Democratic party, through
Mr.. Weldon N. Edwards, who did not vote at all.
No, Mr.. Gilmer must substitute convention, which
everybody knew was just the thing to kill off Free
Suffrage But subsequently, in 1854 and since, Mr..
Gilmer had found another objection and started
had not thought in 1850 or 1852 In the event of
Free Suffrage passing-says Mr.. Glmer-the land
holders might be oppressively taxed by means of
the owners of negro property, who are protected
by the constitution from having any extra capita
ton tax levied upon their slaves. Mr.. Gllmer want
ed to accompany Free Suffrage by another amend
ment, according to which every negro slave, over
ID years and above SO, as well under it, should
be rated for taxation on par with $500 worth of
land, and when the land paid Is cents the negro
was to pay 20, and SO on in proportion. This was
to be the poll tax generally, being ten per cent.
higher on negroes than lands. The objection was
invalid, for the reason that the Senators and Com
required by law to be land.holders, and
the great majority in both houses were and would
be large land -hoders, were there no law
the subject that, ifjustcc did not restrain them,
interest would, and if not sefnterest, then politi
cal sefpreservation, for no Senator or Commoner
could do anything to Cypress so dominant an inter.
est and expect to be sent back to the Legisla
ture, or elected to any office.
During the canvass in the West, said Gov. Bragg.
Mr.. Glmer has limited inde6nity and mysteriousiy
around and about some banking project, which is
not only to- afford State currency, but to pay
State debts etc., and to be based on State stocks
Railroad stocks, etc. Mr.. Gilmer in,erposing
didn't say anything about Railroad stock."] Well,
continued Gov. Bragg with all due respect to Mr..
Gimer, he certainly was so understood in the West.
He certainly spoke of the South Carolina Bank and
dimlY and vaguely Swallowed forth some monster
State institution that to issue small notes. make
great profits, and in which the State to take
much stock. Why did not Mr.. Gilmer bring this
thing forward during the last session of the Legs.
lature-he had voted for works mourning debt
Why did he not bringforward his remedyg The
whole banking system Of the State was before that
session. Gov Bragg expressed the opinion that
such monster banks connected with the State were
liable to be prevented into terrible political engines
In Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee they had
burst up ruined the currency and injured the credit
of the State 1t cheaper fthe State builds works.
to say at once that money borrowed must be paid
by the people of the State, SO that in going into
debt they may know how to make their calculations
To say anything else would be to hold out false
hopes. He was for looking things the face 1t would
be cheaper to pay the sheriff his taxes than to have
the State in connection with private stockholders
turned into big Banking firm and the money work
ed out of the people doubly, although indirectly.
ed know nothing ORDER began to be feit-to attract
attention at the North in 1854, and along there.
Certain men seemed mysterousy to understand
each other, and certain other men were mysterious
ly run into Office, and the explanation was that
"Sam" did it. The thing swept the North, and
like Hale, Wilson and Banks. Having accomplished
this work at the North, "Sam" entered the South,
like thief in the night, with dark lantern in his
hand and mask on his face. The timd were scared
by being assured that " Sam" would carry every
thing and if they didn't join the order, they would
be left high and dry. The ambitious went in with
the hope of preferment the curious went in to 'see
Sam" but many thousands having seen him once
didn't care to see him again. What was the whole
thing but a cunning scheme to change our govern
ment in fact if not in name-to substitute the rule
of the secret conclave for that of the constituted
authorities? The State councils had the right to
control and direct the State legislators what to DO
and who to vote for. In Raleigh during the session
of the last legislature, while the State legislature
met in the Capitol another legislature, that of the
know nothing State council, met secretly at house
in Fayetteville street, to impose upon the know
nothing members its paramount obligations"
which the said legislators were bound to obey under
penalty.
Gov. Bragg had in his hand the official pamphlets
of the order containing the State and national
situations, the ritual of the several degrees, the
oaths, signs ETC., the genuineness of which not
disputed by Mr.. Gilmer From these he showed
up the tendencies of the order, its obligation of con-
cealment, leading to evasion and equivocation-i
merger of all private judgment in the will of ma
iority, and this by an oath and under penalty of
being denounced as wilful traitor and perjurer,
and published such in every council in the State,
with description of his person. like he was runa-
way Niger But they say now that all this secrecy
and so forth is done away with. 1t may be some
what 80 in North Carolina, but only to limited ex-
tent. The national council which is supreme in
tional politics, has not abandoned it, but, on the
contrary held meeting lately to discuss the pro-
ORDER they consisted of attacks upon catholics and
foreigners. The matter about catholics was plain
humbug They had shown that they did not care
a copper about it to catch votes. They had
first rejected catholics and then admitted them, as
in the case of Maryland and Louisiana The intro.
duction of religion into politics tended to the degra-
dation of religion and the injury Of politics.
How had the order appeared in Congress? All