Daily national Democrat., 1861-03-03
Attack ON Another Lecturer.


here by the dissatisfaction expressed by few
certain parties, with reference to the lecture
on Washington by I. Starr King, the follow,
ing article from the Stockton Argus, alluding
to the dissatisfaction with another lecturer
below, on somewhat similar grounds, may be
of interest:
Through the efforts of the Odd Fellows
Library Association, our citizens are being
treated to course of lectures. The first
lecture was given by Nathan Porter, ESQ.
on Tuesday evening 26th inst. His subject
"Garibaldi,' was treated in a manner worthy
the hero, and it maintained the high reputa-
tion of the lecturer. After following the
various fortunes of Garibaldi until victory
wreathed its laurels around the hero's brow.
the speaker contrasted the position of Italy
with our own Union. The Union sentiment
he uttered was received with vociferous ap-
plause. But it appears that there were those
present, upon whose hearts sounds of reoic-
ing over such sentiments grated harshlv.
The Republican of yesterday morning, spoke
of it thus
1--WE heard but little of the lecture, the
part to which we were treated being the
buncombe at the close.
while delivering lecture before charitable
institute, where his audience is a politically
mixed one. to indulge in abuse of gentlemen
whose politics are opposed to his own, we
have no more to say The stale old piece of
accusation against Mr.. Buchanan, which
closed the lecture, might have done for the
San francisco Times, from which he doubt
less copied it, but there were plenty of hear
ers who did not wish to hear it retailed
there"
AS evidence that disunion sentiment
alone actuated the Republican to call the
close of Mr.. Porter's lecture "buncombe." we
publish it below. The sentiments there ex-
pressed met warm response from every pa
triot's heart. AS the Republican endeavors
to mix in politics in this matter, we would
state that Mr.. Porter has ever been an old
line Democrat, one of the hard shell sort.
He not only voted for Buchanan. but he
stumped the State several weeks, making
public speeches to secure his election. Being
ii Democrat is no reason why he should fear
to raise his voice for the Union, even at the
risk of his audience making the application
at the right quarter. Has it come TO this,
that the right of a man TO speak in glowing
language in favor of Union must be question
ed. lest a rebuke be applied to one who has
shruk from his duty to his country over the
welfare of which he has been called to pre-
side? But We will no longer keep our read
ers from this extract, that has been so shame
lessly denounced by the Republican, At
close of his lecture, Mr.. Porter said:
"To the eyes of Americans what picture
does Italy present to-day! And what les
son are we taught in her unhappy history
Like those of our country, her people were
ho,N Il 81 u ..I
sion came, and through long centuries. Italy
How many patriots have suffered-perish-
ed in the hope of regaining for Italy her
Union lost? And how many have died, des-
pairing in the belief that nothing short of
the sound of the trump in the day of udg-
ment would arouse her TO sense Of her
degradation q?
Is there, then, to-day a son of America
who contemplates Italy as she stands, BACKED
by the smoke, and wounded by the shock of
battles in her holy cause for Union, ready to
call down on the heads of his countrvmen
and on coming generations the miseries and
degradation of future centuries, such as Italy
has suffered in the past? 1t is too monstrous
for belief Are our posterity to look upon
what acds the united and happy country of
their ancestors, divided into different petty
States, Kingdoms and Principalities? ? Rent
aSunder by jealousies, ambition and conten-
sions changing ever yet never happy! Is
the history OF our country to be that of Italy,
and are centuries of disunion with its evils, to
follow upon the few years of our republican
prosperity, but which has sufficed to make
us the most favored nation on the globe ?
And in the distant future must it be neces-
sary for another Garibaldi to arise, to arouse
the suffering people of America to a sense of
blessings lost? ? To set like examples. make
like sacrifices, and exhibit like devotion to
regain what in our day with no just cause is
ruthlessly thrown away?
For one, | do not, and cannot contemplate
such results as possible. If it be so, then the
blood ofthe Revolution was shed in vain
and the world may truly say that the de-
generate sons of Patriot sires are unequal to
the enjoyments even, of blessings so dearly
earued and so dearly bequeathed them. No
The union of our States must be preserved
In this is the bond of our freedom and happi
ness. We have better destiny than disso-
luton, and the number of our States, instead
of becoming less, will be multiplied until
there shall be no more land upon our conti-
nent over which our laws may be extended,
and the Flag of our Union shall wave
And is not this, after all, our manifest des-
tiny? | believe it; although once in a cen
tury, perhaps, the voice of mistaken people
may call to the Executive chair, a Chief
Magistrate who may approvingly pat treason
on the back, and by his craven fears give i'm
pulse to rebellion.