Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-07-27
Mr.. Smiths Leading Champion.

Mr. Rayner presided over the WintOn Convention
which nominated Mr. Smith; and Mr.. Rayner we
observe, has been invited to address, and is expected
to address the people of the First District in favor of
Mr.. Smith. Under these circumstances it is proper
that the people of that District should be reminded
who and what Mr. Rayner is as a politician.
MIR. Rayner was one of the first Know Nothings
IN this State Soon after that pestilent ism was i'm
ported from the Northern States he attached himself
to it. took all its oaths, administered the oaths to
Others and became the most prominent advocate
and eulogist of "Sam" Mr. Smith, it is said han
kered after "Sam," but would not exactly embrace
him. Mr.. Smith, it is said would not take the oaths,
but he showed willingness to take the offices at
SANS" hands, Like the jackal he followed the
camp, Joined in the chase at long distances pulled
down no game himself but claimed his share when
it was pulled down. In this respect Mr.. Rayner,
Objectionable as is his record has the advantage of
MIR. Smith. We know no terms by which to de-
scribe the politician who, from selfish motives or af
fected scrupcs of conscience, declines to work for
his party side by side with his fellows but who af
ter the spoils have been won attempts to slip in for
his share. Such is the difference between Mr. Ray
ner and Mr. Smith. Mr.. Rayner works in full har
ness, like a very Vulcan, with "Sam's" livery a.!
over him, and gets nothing; Mr.. Smith works very
moderately and very conservatvely as Wing, to'e-
rates the Know Nothings, and gets all he desires
His conscience, or his ideas of proprety would not
permit him to join the Know Nothngs; yet he is
willing to receive fvors and honors at their hands,
But our purpose is to remind the people of the
First District of Mr. Rayners course in 1856. Mr..
Rayner did not wish to incur the fatigucs of
paign for the House of Representatives. r. is
looking higher; and so he seeks to elect Mr. Smith
to carry out his views. Who is Mr.. Rayner politi-
cay? 1t is we'll known that in 1856 he went to
Philadelphia and made speeches urging the North
ern Know Nothings, all of whom are anti-slavcry
men, to unite or fuse with the black Republicans,
all of whom abotionsts in order to defeat James
Buchanan. Mr. Rayner did not advocate Col. FIRE.
mont's election, but he advocated a fusion of the
Fremont and fillmore parties with view of depri-
wing Mr.. Buchanan of the vote of Pennsy lvania the
arrangement being to give the State to Fillmore or
Fremont against Buchanan, or rather to give
portion of the vote to Fillmore and portion to Ere
mont The true national Fillmore men opposed Mr.
|
him. Suppose Mr. Rayner had succeeded with his
fusion movement-what would have been the result !?
Why Mr.. Buchanan would have been defeated Col
Fremont would have been elected, and tile Union
touM hire been dissolced! That would have been
the end of it, rather the beginning of the end of
| unimaginabe distractions and caamities.
Mr.. Rayner is Mr. Smiths right hand man in this
| contest If Mr. Smith is elected and fakes his scat
in the House, he will have to vote either with the
! national Democracy with the opposition" If
he votes with 1.-The opposition he will be untrue
to his constituents if he votes with the Democracy
the question will at once be asked, why not DIR.
| Shaw returned DIR Shaw who knows what Dem
ocracy is who has always been faithful, and whose
votes and whose services would be so much more
valuable in the House than Mr. Smiths Mr.. Ray
ncr, We repeat is Mr.. Smiths right hand man.
That Mr.. Smith would largely reflect Mr.. Rayner's
views in Congress is, we think, quite certain; and
the fact that Mr.. Smith sympathizes with Mr.. Ray.
in his fusion notions is apparent in his refusal
to indicate his choice for President or the party
with which he will act in 1860. He is dumb on the
subject of the Presidency. With the Raleigh Reg
ister, we have no doubt that as between national
Democrat and black Republican he aoouId make nj
choice Would the rig hits Of NorthCarolina be saft
in his hands? Will the Albemarle country confde
in such politician? Will the people of the FRS
District reject tried and true man for one who
has never been tried in the national councils, ant
who will make no promise that he will be true by
opposing the black Republicans and the Know Moth
ings combined in 1860? Let them answer at thu
polls on the 4th day of next month.