The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-08-31
FROM He O.JOfd IaeIcTuf'
The Speaking Last Tuesday.

According 70 appointment the Democratic
candidates for Governor and Auditor of Pub
lie Accounts, JOHN J. PETTUs and DR.. Z. R.
BURT, addressed the people of Lafayette at
the Court House.
The room was full to overlooking long be-
fore the speakers make their appearance, and
every one evineed an eager anxiety to hear
them. At IL o'clock Capt DELAY, from the
Judges stand, introduced DR.. BURT to the
audience, who was received with loud applause
He is fine looking man there is deep ex-
preston of intellect impressed upon his coun-
tenance; while his figure at once commandsthe
respect of every one
In a speech of more than an hours length,
characterized with vigor, force, fine rhetoric
and good language, he told the people his views
upon the political questions of the day. He
is true Southern man-one in whom we all
may place implicit confidence, and in his
speech he enunciated some of the best and
soundest views on the rights Of the South, and
the duties Of her citizens to secure those rights
we have heard from the stand in many days.
After Dr. Burt had taken his seat. JOHN J.
PETTUs was introduced. He is a mild, affa-
BILE looking gentleman, and appears to be about
thirty-fiye years of age but he has, however
an expression Of resolution and firmness which
are not to be mistaken. In appearance he is
true type Of the highbred Southerner-the
very man to make Governor for a chiyalric
people.
The first subject which Mr.. PETTUs dis
cussed was the Homestead Law he had al
ways, while member of the Legislature, adj
vocated a law which would not only protect
the widow and orphan in a certain amount of
property, butthe wife, daughter and son, also;
so that our children may receive enough edu-
cation to vote intelligently. High Protective
tariffs and Banks weTe machines of extortion
and the inventions of cupidity to make the
honest laborer pay tribute without receiving
benefit. He congratulated the people of Mis-
sissippi upon getting rid of Banks, aud would
ever oppose their introduction again into the
State. Tariffs were the ingenious tricks of
Yankees, invented to make the Southern pro-
ducer pay tribute to the northern manufacturer.
The greater portion Of Mr.. P.'s speech was
upon the slavery question. was the duty of
the South to thoroughly unite and man
fully contend for her rights under the Consti-
tuition. SEWARD had said that the great bar
rier before Black Republcanism was the Dem
ocratic party to dismiss that party from the
Federal Offices was their chief aim. The
Democratic party, then. was the only one ca
pablo OF maintaining the rights of the South,
and to keep up the organization was a sacred
duty deyolying upon us ALL He was opposed
70 any more compromises for the sake Of the
Union, when such compromises were secured
as they always are, at the expense of princi-
pie we had already conceded too much, and
to eoncede was only to invite aggression. He
was not m favor Of dissolving the Union with
out suficlent cause but in the event of the
election OF Black Republican to the Presi-
dency' the south ought to withdraw from the
Union before his Inauguration. Some would
favor waiting for an overt act, but he consid-
ed the election an overt act itself. The Elec-
tors from the Southern States, if they are in
the minority, ought to meet and Choose
President themselves So soon as the popular
election was over. He favored the thorough
reorganization Of the militia Of Mississippi,
and thought that the Volunteer Companies
ought TO be supplied with arms, and our State
Arsenel wen stocked with arms and amuni-
ton. The time may soon be upon US when
| they would be needed.
bis speech was nearly two hours long
tie IS refined orator, good scholar and
mad nne impression upon all who heard him.
Inc Democrauc Convention certainly selected
candidate TOR Governor, who, If elected (and
.nere Is NOT shadow Of doubt that he will
BED VIII prove himself the man for the times.
He VIII discharge the duties of Chief Magis-
trate with wisdom, firmness and patriotism.