Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-05-07
COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Standard.
Sayings and Doings at Greensborough.

MESSRS. EDITOkS. SuppOSHS you anu yOui 'Sou-
ers would like to know something of the first Know
Nothing Convention ever held in this State, with
open doors, have concluded to give some account
Of the late meeting in Greensborough. In order 20
prevent wrong impression, will state, in the out
set, that do not propose to give iai account OF
all that was doke and said, nor do intend to state
everything in the order in which it occurred; but
while do not profess to tell the "whole truth" l
shall tell the truth, and nothing but The truth"
The Convention quite respectable in polrt OF
numbers and talent, though it is significant TACT,
obvious to all, tina: SO very few OF the prominent
men of the State were present a large proporl'oh
of the delegates appeared to be rather young men,
many of them boyish in appearance" Sans boys"
no doubt
In the first place desire to supply an important
omission in the published proceedings 1t is stated
that on Thursday evening, at was heeotced, that
the house be resolred tonight into committee OF
the whole" While this subject under consd-
Grafton some debate to the proper place for
the above resolution to be effected. Some OF the
speakers preferrng to hold the night meeting in the
Church, others desired to hold it in the Young Mems
Hall, which is on the third story. Mr.: Cameron, OF
Fayetteville, insisted going to the Hail. where as
he said they could be more private, and where the
wicked world could not look in on them. 1t was
finally agreed to in the church for the sake OF
comfort We hear nothing more from the Conven-
ton until Friday morning, when, as appears from
the record the platform was adopted without dis
cusson, and Mr.. Gilmer snug placed upon it mem
con.
Madame Rumor, however, says that the commit.
tee to prepare subject matter for the action OF the
Convention" actually reported to the committee of
the whole on Thursday night-the report eicitlng
quite sharp debate, as to whether the party should
have platform at ali some members thinking the
Philadelphia platform would bear them up better
than the rckety affair submitted by the committee.
Mr.. Caldwell, of Guilford, proposed some amend
ment in reference to the improvement of the bank
ing system of the State but aversc were they to
taking decided stand on either side of any ques-
ton, that his proposition did not meet with
respectful consideration and when he attempted to
speak in its favor members gave him to understand,
by coughing, that he was talking to Buncombe
Mr.. Gimer, Mr.. Davis Mr.. Guion, and perhaps
others were put in nomination. After several bal
lettings Mr.. Gllmer received majority. The Con-
vention-I beg pardon-the committee adjourned
some time after midnight
The above is given received from persons pres
ent and is believed to be entirely correct as far as
it goes For this however we have to rely altogeth-
er on the statement of the faithful, none Of the
"wicked world |" were present. request having
been made at the meeting of the Con-committee
for all persons unfendy to the election OF Fillmore
to leave, which accordingly done.
As the Convention met Thursday morning, and
adjourned late Friday afternoon-the committee
having transacted nearly all the business Thursday
night-no doubt you would like to know what the
Convention did, Most of the time was spent in
speaking for Buncombe. 1t is but just to remark
that some of the speaking was very good, and some
decidedly bad.
Mr.. NJ Q. Waddell, of Chatham, commenced
speech by solemn allusion to the Apostle Paul. and
closed with vulgar, obscene anecdote, unfit for the
pages of a newspaper, however appropriate it may
have been to the occasion.
In another speech he said he had consulted the
spiritual rappers, as to whether Mr.. Fillmore would
IL 1,l IL
them that he would, and that he would be elected.
He said he believed the Roman Catholics were the
cause of the extreme cold weather during the last
winter; and after repeating many other evils of diff
ferent kinds, which he thought they had produced,
he said he believed they were the cause of all the
evils that have ever happened to men, women, chill
dren, horses, COWS, hogs, and sheep. Of course 1
do not mention these things to make the impression
thakhe speaker expected everybody to believe him,
but merely part of the proceedings and to show
what sort of men we have to.depend for the pro-
lection of the Protestant religion
lie appeared to be the leading man in the Con-
vention His coarseness and vugarity were extreme.
ly disgusting to that portion of the wicked world"
which honored the Convention by "looking on
Some members of the Convention expressed them
selves in strong terms of dsapprobation of his
duct. 1t cannot, however, be denied that the above
nonsense was received by the Convention with the
most rapturous applause.
apology for him. He was called out expressly to
entertain the Convention, and he no doubt thought
it his duty to speak in style best suited to the
taste and capacity of his audience.
Mr.. Gilmer accepted the nomination in a speech
of some length delivered in his usual forcible and
energetic style. With one exception his speech was
such suited the occasion. Without any applica-
ton that could see he related the following
dote: "There was boy in school who was much
addicted to profane swearing. The teacher tried to
reform him by coaxing, hiring and whipping, all to
nopurpose. One day he told him to take the tongs,
and watch a certain hole where mouse was in the
habit of coming out and stand there till he killed
it. He took his stand and waited patiently till the
mouse appeared, when the whole school was aston
ished to hear the tongs come down on the mouse,
and the exclamation from the boy, if hav'nt got it
Cd damn me-"
Mr.. Foster, of Randolph made speech against
foreigners, in which he spoke of the odd Dutch"
All this took place within the sacred precints of a
church, and in the presence of venerable ministers
OF the gospel. Much was said by others against
foreigners and foreign influence Notwithstanding the
worthy pastor of the church, whose building the
Convention occupied, is foreigner "by BIRTH train
ing, and education he present to hear the
population who happen to have been born abroad.
The party having been forced to give up their
boasted platform of June last and as will be seen
not having taken issue on any State question, are
completely adrift, without any land marks by which
to steer their course
And this was evident to any one who listened to
the different speeches delivered in the Convention
There was scarcely any position taken by any speak
er that was not effectualy replied to by others 1
will give few instances in proof: Mr. Gilmer and
others spoke of the danger Of disunon, and of the
necessity of the American party to save the Union
DC. MIR. Barringer, in speech of much force and
beauty, said he did not think the Union in danger;
that he had great confidence in the macao Of tho
people; that they loved the Union, and BY them it
would be preserved. He said the cry about the
danger of disunion was raised by demagogues for
party purposes.