Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1856-12-17
REPORTED FOR THE STANDARD.
Meeting Of Know NOthings in the Comm


Hall---Mr. Rayner's Speech.
A meeting was held in tho Commons Hall, on
Monday night sth 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 agains, those political Jews who
after him as the Jews were after Paul. But he de-
fed them. He would not shelter himself behind
public meeting, but would thus boldly declare his
views and reterate his charges. What cared he
for Jail birds"-cross road hucksters, bull dogs,
bloodhounds, cuteared 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 epthets 10 thase who had
assailed and prosecuted him. He gloried in the hon
or thus conferred upon him of singing him out
Napoleon proud when he thought that it took
all the Kings of Europe to dethrone him; and he
gloried that ali the artillery of the Democratic press
had been directed to crush him. These attacks COM
meuced eighteen months ago, when he began to ad-
vocate great American" principles For these prin-
cipes he had labored and suffered, and was 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 Pronetheus, chain
ed to a rock while Democratic vuitures tore his
liver.
| He denied the charge of abolition. 1t false.
Though willing, now that the excitement Was over
| to forgive what has passed; yet If any man men
charged him with aboitonlsm treason to the
| South, he would defy them and defend his charac-
ter and honor to the death. He might have acted
wrong lie appealed to his Christian friends though
| not much of Christian himseif-to remember what
| he had suifered-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 all undign-
| 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 garbed 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 "unon' and "fuson "-decared he was
ready to adopt any measures to defeat buchanan,
| but denied any wish for Fremonts success lie ad-
ded nothing new, either of fact COMMENT to what
is already before the public. His vndication of his
| conduct in Philadelphia was 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
subducd tone Towards the close he reused the
spirit of his party by fierce attack upon the DEM
ocrats and the straight" Fillmore men of Phadel-
phia. He said gentleman of his acquaintance was
approached by an emssary 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 the one
supported by Mr.. Sanderson, chairman of the Fill
more committee; man who, it was well known,
had not heard the jingle of dollar for many a
month yet since the election, he has been able to
purchase house worth $2O,u0O.
Mr. R., in his concluding remarks, made the usu-
al charges against the Democrats of being actuated
! by the love of public punder. He was ready, if
his party cashiered him captain, to carry mus.
ket as a private in the war upon Democracy. lie
made ptfu appeal 10 his hearers not TO judge him
by what he had said and done. He did not ask them
! to "endorse his sentiments" but he mplol ed them
to bear witness to the "purity OF his intentions.
He took his seat amid some applause but he appear
ed i'll at ease and dissatisfied with his effort and the
| effect of it.
Mr. Outlaw, of Bertie being called upon, COM
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-
tonisrn. He said Gen. Harrison, Mr.. Clay, Gems.
Scott and Taylor had been called abolitionists; and
how conld 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