New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-11-02
DEMOCRATIC RATIFICATION MASS MEETING
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Fun and FlZzIe Oh Canal Street,

The call for a grand ratification mass meeting of
the Democracy on Canal street, last night, was but
SHINY responded to. The American flag was prop
erly stretched out in front of the platform; can
non banged away at the foot Of Canal street !;
torches blazed and rockets fixed and popped and
brass band on the platform did up the national
airs and variety of other stimulating tunes.
AS it was the first public demonstration for along
time of the old ronsides Buchanan and Slidel
Democracy, it certainly deserved large attend
ance but it did not receive that honor. Why, we
do not know, and it is no business of ours. The
crowd on and around the stand did not number
over a thousand, (bovs ncluded) whilst the spec
tators who remained on the banqIcttes to view the
thing as an entertainment, did not number more
than five hundred more. The benefit of Miss Julia
Gould, at the Amphitheater, must have been the
chief cause of the slim attendance on Canal street.
1t was some time after the cannon had ceased to
bang, the rockets to pop, and the music to enthuse
before the meeting organized. Mr.. Avegno called
it to order, and nominated Robert J. Ward for
President, and long list of gentlemen of the four
Districts for Viee-Presidents, with proper COM
plenent of Secretaries. Nobody said yes; nobody
said no; so the meeting stood organized.
When We saw Robert j. Ward the good old
Kentucky gentleman, and the true old Demo-
crat, swhom everybody respects, come forward
to take the Chair, we had strong feeling of
sympathy for him. The meeting, SO far as the De-
mocracy was concerned, was not worthy of him.
He looked out of place, and was out Of place.
Nevertheless, he made brief speech and in lien
of any extended remarks, he submitted to the
meeting, through Judge Walker. who read them
by request, the following resolutions, as emboJy-
ing the sense of the meeting:
Resotred, That the National Democracy of the
State Of Louisiana have presented candidates for
all the State Offices alike distinguished for honor
and patriotism, and for whom every man who loves
the Union and reveres the Constitution ought to
vote, no matter with what party he may have
acted heretofore.
Rcsolred, That the Democracy of New Orleans
have presented ticket for Senators and Represent
atlves composed of her best and most worthy citi-
zens-men who will go to Baton Rouge with IA firm
purpose to correct the abuses that exist in our
municipal AFFAIRS and to do all else that will pro-
mote the honor, happiness and prosperity of the
people of this city and we earnestly call on all
who are taxed either directly indirectly, whether
laborers, mechanics, merchants, professional men
or property holders, to go to the polls and vote
for il.
ResoEced, That the National Democracy of Louis
lana have unlimited confidence in the honor talents
and patriotism of the Hon. John Sldell--a man for
more than thirty years true and faithful TO the
Union and the constitutional man ever ready to
sacrifice life or fortune in defense of these bles-
sngs-a man always true, whether in a maj jority
or minorityin good or adverse fortune, true gen
tleinan in all senses of that word Because he has
been such, the Opposition hate and persecute him.
Had he been willing to sell his principles for
mess of pottage, he would have been honored with
their applause instead of their bitterest curses.
Resotced, That the time has arrived when the
States of the South should speak in plain, emphatic
and truthful language to the States of the North
The attempt recently made to deprive lis of our
rights in the Territories-the declaration of that,
artch-trator Seward, the leader of the Northern
party, that the time has arrived when all must be
free or all must be slave States, and the recent at
tempt at insurrection and revolution at Harper's
Ferry, show that the great crisis is at hand To
the true Democracy Of the North, and true national
men of every party, we say we are your brothers
lnherltors of that glorious Union from our common
fathers The rise, progress, happiness and power of
the United States show the wisdom of our ances-
tors who devised it. We have Constitution cement
ing it and making it holy guaranteeing to you and
to us the rights and blessings it confers, You like
ourselves, are sworn to support it. When you vio-
late this sacred instrument and trample it under
foot, we are no longer free, and we must look for
that liberty, for which fathers fought in separ-
atlon But so long as you acknowledge the equal
lty of the rights secured by the Constitution the
Democracy of the South pledge their lives and
fortunes in defense of our happy and glorious
Union.
These resolutions were not greeted with any par.
ticular hurrah nobody objected; nobody ap-
Before the resolution business was through. the
published invitation to the Independent party and
to "all those favorable to the cause of reform in
our city and parish atfairs,' was responded to by
small crowd of well-dressed gentlemen behind a
band of music and new banner who crcled around
and finally added themselves to the crowd. II twas a
welcome, but not very remarkably powerful acces-
sion to the ranks of the faithful and the unterried.
The banner pictured lion couchant; over was
the title, Independent American Club Second
District" under was the motto, Loath to attack,
but prepared to defend!'' This banner created
much alarm among the outsiders, who had visited
Canal street for want of room in the Amphtheater
The published call announced that Hons. Thos.
Green Davidson, L. Warren Noise, Cen w. r.
Miles, Judge J. N. Lea and other distinguished ora
tors would address the meeting. When the Inde-
pendents had subsidized, and after Mr. Wards reso-
lutions had been received with silent approval
calls were made for the different orators above
named. The calls were not loud, but long and
oft repeated. Not one of the said gentlemen ap.
peared; and what was worse, one offered to
apologize for them, or to state that they were
sick or out of town. The very lamentablc state of
the case, the perfect fzzle, was in this made ap-
parent to the assembled sovereigns who from that
time remained under an impulse of morbid curl
osity more than anything else
Curiosity gratitied, and a lively entertain
ment followed. Henry c. Miller, U. S. District
Attorney, was introduced as the first speaker He
spoke of national issues, North and South, etc.
eulogised the Buchanan Administration and con-
cluded with some strong remarks about local poll.
tics and the necessity of all Democrats voting on
Monday.
After second blast of long and frutless calls
for the different officially announced speakers, Mr.
John F. Claiborne appeared as the next successor
to Mr. Miller. He pleaded indispostion, but spoke
long enough to defend the Administration Democ-
racy, us the really patriotic and Union saving
party, and to lament the present bloody and dcgra-
ded state Of New Orleans, and to set forth the ne
cessty of everybody voting on Monday
third blast of long and fruitless calls for the
publicly announced speakers, brought forth Col
Postmaster Sam. Marks. He was in a happy
humor, and opened the real fun of the meeting
Coming forward whilst the crowd were callinc for
everybody but him, he leaned over the rail and
sad, "Who do you want?' This brought silence:
but no one cheered him, for none of the crowd in
front appeared to know who he was At last
small boy in the crowd yelled out, ''What's vour
nameo Col NJ. Immediately answered, ..Marks. !,
The laughter was prodigious and what was bet
fer the Colonel kent nm tha f,u H.