Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-04-06
DEMOCRATIC MEETING IN JOHNSTON.

DEMOCRATIC MEETING IN JOHNSTON
At large and highly respectable meeting of the
Democratic party of Johnston county, held at the
Court-h in Smithfeld on Wednesday the Both !
March, 1859,
On motion of Mr.. Tomlinson, Capt Henry B. /
Watson was called to the Chair, and Edward D. |
Snced appointed Secretary. I
The Chairman stated the object Of the meeting to !
be the appointment of delegates to the District Con-
venton. He believed that there was but opin- !
ion in the county upon the nominee. He supposed
That all in favor of the denomination of the
present able incumbent, Hon. L. OBJ Branch.
On motion of Mr.. Tomlinson the Chair appointed
B. H. Tomnson, Raiford Williamson and Elijah
Woodward, committee to draft resolutions for the |
action of the meeting.
On motion of E. S. Parker, a committee was ap- !
pointed to wait upon the Hon. L. OBJ. Branch and |
request him to address the meeting
During the absence of the committee, at the re- |
quest of the Chairman, Henry r. Bryan, of Raleigh,
being introduced to the meeting, addressed the peo
pie in an eloquent and spirited manner urging them
to the maintenance of Den o:ratic organization and
principles and appealed to them to sustain the
in the future as they had in past times. Mr.. Bry
an was frequently applauded during his remarks,
and was Immediately followed by Mr.. Branch, who
gave rapid sketch of the history of Congress du
ring his term, and of the part he had taken therein
as their Representative. He said he was now en-
gagged in going round his District in accordance with
good old republican practice, which required a
repre- sentative to give an account OF his service.
He thanked them for the opportunity to face his
constituents in this meeting. He was glad to see so
many of them present. He stood before them to
be questioned and examined concerning his political
acts, and would be glad to hear that all were sais
fled He felt that he had done his duty, not with
the ability perhaps he could have wished, but with
honesty and fidelity
Mr.. Branch said that upon the question of the
public lands, he had assured the people that if the
Democratic party should be in power, the public
lands would not be squandered. The Congress just
adjourned was Democratic, and not acre had been
squanGered. That pledge had been redeemed-the
Democracy was always true to their faith and pedg
es-they never deceived the people.
Mr.. B. explained the details of the Agricultural
College bill, vetoed by Mr.. Buchanan. This bill
pretended to be equal in its provisions, but in fact
it bore not the semblancc of equality The
new States got land, the old States warrants to To-
cate land only. 1t was fraud and cheat. Mr.
Buchanan had vetoed it. Not an acre of the public
lands had been given away to rogues and plumber
ers all had been sold that was disposed of at ALL
and the money put in the treasury to reduce the
taxes upon the agricultural interest
Mr. Branch explained the provisions and policy
of his bill for the acquisition of Cuba. He was OPP
posed always to the stealing and at this time to the
forcble seizure of the island. He was in favor of
its being acquired by fair, honest and upright
means-by treaty and by purchase He entered at
some length into the history of territorial acquisi-
lions. All had been done by the Democracy. Who
would now repeal their actone Who would dare
suggest the surrender of Louisiana, OF of Florida
What would you take for Texas to-day? No money
could buy it. and yet you rccollect that the opposi
ton predicted that it would be the ruin of the
try. Upon the subject of the proposed appropria-
IF fho of H,,ho %Io
thing had been done under the administration of Mr..
Polk. He had purchased California. California had
already more than paid for herself He estimated
the amount of gold she had exported at $500, 00O,-
000 and Cuba might be reasonably expected to fur
nsh equal equivalent for the cost of her purchase
His bill contained nothing orig inal or new. He
merely followed Democratic precedents. He thought
it would be always safe to do so. Somebody had
said he wanted to put this money in the Presidents
hands to be fooled away as hi pleased" That was
not true; the object of the bill fully stated not
cent was to be withdrawn until Spain had signed
treaty. AS for Mr.. Buchanan he was willing to
trust to his honesty and integrity, but there
occasion for that; the money was to be drawn only
in the event treaty of sale made; of course if
treaty was made with Spain, there could be no
war with Spain. As for England and France he
trusted that present prepared to hesitate
to adopt any policy demanded by the public inter-
csts because they were opposed to it. The gentle
man who presided haG borne the flag of his country
and knew that this people had grown out of the fear
of England and France but the annexation of Cuba
was entirely in accordance.wth the interests of both
these governments, and had his bill passed, the ne
gotiation would have very probably been conducted
with the assistance of those governments. Mr..
Branch repeated that he was opposed to stealing
Cuba he was in favor of acquiring it fairly, openly
and honorably. Nine millions of dollars per annum
would be saved in the articles of sugar and molasses.
The island yielded now an annual revenue of twenty
four millions. Under government the resource
of the island would be vastly developed and increas
ed The abolitionists were opposed to Cuba. If it
was acquired it would restore southern equality to
the Union, and settle the question of slavery.
The time allowed by the Judge, being about to
elapse, Mr. Branch brought his remarks to close,
regretting that he could not continue. If again a
candidate he should address them further.
Mr.. Tomlinson from the committee on resolutions,
| reported as follows:
Resolred, That we approve the holding conven
ton for nominating a candidate to represent this
District in the next Congress of the United States
| and that we recommend Hillsboro' as suitable
place to hold said convention, and the 9th of April
| as the right time to meet
Resolred That the Chairman of this meeting ap
point twenty-five delegate to represent this county
| in said convention.
Resolced, That we cordially approve the course
pursued in the Congress of the United States, by
our Representative, the Hon. L. OBJ. Branch, ant
that we do recommend him for denomination.
And the question being thereon, Mr.. Woodward
moved that the 1st resolution be amended by strlk
ing out Hillsborough" and inserting Franklin
ton" Mr.. Williamson moved to insert Raleigh.
Mr. Eldridge was in favor Of Raleigh" 1t wa
the seat of the State and the centre OF tn
District. The resolution was amended as proposed
by Mr.. Williamson, and the resolution, SO amended
passed unanimously together with the Others
On motion of Mr. Woodward the proceeding
were ordered to be published in the North Carolin
Standard, and the Chairman and Secretary asked t.
attend the convention as delegates.
The Chairman, in accordance with the End reso
luton, appointed the following gentlemen as dele
gates to the convention:
W. H. Tomlinson, Benz Goodwin, Y. ]. Lee, Jr.
R. D. Lunsford, J. A. Vinson, W. II. Cullom, A
G. Heath, A. Mitchiner, H. H. Hobbs, T. W. Whit