The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-10-02
PLEASANT RIDGE, GREESE Co, ALA.
August I'D, 1850.

would know exactly how 10 weigh Mr.. Birds |
statements as against theirs.
PLEASANT RIDGE, GREESE Co, ALA.,t
August 25d, 1850.
THos. W. COLEMAN, ESQ ;--Bnar sir--In reply 10
your request Of the 9Dth inst We the undersgiled
parties who were in position 10 see and hear ", s.
Bid, during his speech at this place. On or about
The 10th day Of July last would most respectfully
state that W Bird did make what he Is pleased 10
nall Republican speech al this place al that time
There was present. at the time some Atty on sixfy
blacks, most Of whom we suppose 70 be Republican,
The crowd" OF white Democrats, spoken OF IN his
letter dld not consist Of more than eight or ten souls
some OF whom were probably whiting sticks There
positively was not a stick among the whites that
person would have used In an atfray had he two
minutes 70 look up weapon lie was frequently
Interrupted because, in the opinion Of the whites
present. he was continually using language eaculat.
ed % excite and iniame the passions and preudces
OF the most ignorant Of our c0lored friends and
He did state that II was not his desire 10
array one race against another
There was no one connected with the "Eutaw
Mirror present. We do not regard the Mirror as
being IN position " express an opinion about the
matter.
As TO any one "curslng his lit,le scyen.year old
boy who stood dumb with fright before them . we
believe there is not shadow Oi foundation for such
a statement
To the best Of our judgment his speech was about
two hours long and was closed In a regular manner
He made the statement the stand that he did not
have time To say as much a. he wished Us he had 10
go home Us niles and II was getting late thereupon
he was invited by Mr.. William HortOn--a white
Democrat-to finish his speech and spend the night
with MN. Amer his speech was closed ho engaged
IN an alteration Of words with some young men
Mr. Horton requested them tbOth partio 10 desst es
D. NJ MONTGOMERY
WILLIAM HORTON
II, A. HoRroN
J. q. LOVE,
G. A. HoKroE,
W. T. ARCHIBALD,
JNo. BK0wRLEE fcolOrcd D
WILLIS LEoSAED, q
MILES IEONAup ~
The maxim-"ialse in one false in allii-
applies.
The fact is, Bird, knowing how often the
waving Of the bloody shirt had proven a sue.
cess at the North and West, thought he would
experiment down here. He forgot that this
was the country where the blood was to come
from, and when he attempted TO excite the
passions OF the eolored voters, aRd point to
the blood on the shirt, they could not see it.
assure you, when these Republican lead.
ers and speakers finished with Mr.. Bird. no
was as poor in the wealth Of plumage as Job
turkey.
have given you simple statement Of some
OF the facts and causes, which entered into
the late canvass, and which contributed IA
the disastrous defeat Of Mr.. Birds judicial
aspirations. He has no following among the
whites and does not possess the confidence OF
the lea4ilg coored people, in our Judgment.
Oh free North can such a thing as he
write ar icles for you which receive hearing
without our special wonder
''Sir, we are to-day existing under a des.
potism more dreadful than the Russian auto
cracy so writes Bird. A Southern man
hardly knows whether to become angry. or
indulge feeling of contempt, for one born
amongst US, and who would write such a state.
ment to arouse sectional prejudice against
us. Our county was never more law abiding,
and save the little evil influence he was able
to exert, was never more peaceful. Has any
one heard such a sentiment from our Circuit
Judge, the Hon. L. X. SMITH Heis a North.
ern man by birth, and was n Federal officer
IN the late war has been Republican, open
and ayowediy; has presided over our Courts,
in this and adjoining counties for twelve years
past and is now the Judge. He has many ac.
quaintances among the readers Of the New
York "Timesn in the Northern and Western
States. He is well known throughout West
Alabama, and know he is invited to aud all
ways welcome guest among the best people
OF our county. know he is a f-equent guest
at the hospitable residence OF Mr.. William
Horton, mentioned in Mr.. Birds letter. He
could not doubt anything Mr.. Horton would
say, and as between Mr.. Birds and Mr.. Hor
tons statement, we are willing for Judge
smith to decide. Judge Smith has done his
duty as judge, has never attempted TO stir
up strife in our midst, has acted impartially
as judge, and to-day has the confidence and
respect OF the people of this county. Mr..
Bird has not. Let the free North saw wheth
er u IS not difference in the men.
Mr.. Editor, we comprehend our situation
down here. We know the greatest local nerii
TO our institutions arises from the fact that
we have large voting class who are without
education, and whose prejudces are easily
excited against those who once owned them
They are continually narrowed by bad men
with the fear Of the loss of their freedom.
They do not comprehend that the Constitn.
ton, the Slpreme law of the land, endoraed
by the whole people now, has made them If.
revocably free indeed. We have demaeo9nea
here, bad men who want office, and when they
fail before the intelligent class of voters. thess
men 'srevolt," suddenly become the friend az
the colored, uneducated masses---prey upon
their fears-appeAl to their preiudices, and
run for Office. lfelected, all goes smoothly
on until the next election. Ifdefeated. thev
either write letter Of repentance and crawl
back to the party Of virtue and intelligence.
or if they think they have too grossly insulted
their own people, then they raise the cry Of
become correspondents of North.
ern newspapers, and help 70 swell the chapter
Of Southern outrage.
We know our sure safety lies in elevatine
and educating these uneducated people IN ossr
midst, and We are doing our bestto pfomola
This end. We know when they are able n
read and TO think intelligently, and apprec;afe
The boon Of free suffrage and self goyerntnen,.
his source OF agitation and evil will be dried
up and the occupation Of the meaner class ~
political demagogues and ofiice-seekers will
be gone. M
The colored people are rapidly becoming
owners, are taking greater interest |
n the affairs OF government, and are more |
houghtfnl, law-abiding citizens. Thev have |
rot forgotten the deception pracfised mnon
hem, and the miserable false appeals maae |
o their prejudices aud passions duriuc M \
en- years Of Republican carpst-bae rule. Wa,
Who passed through that time, cau never fnt.
ret IL No honest, fair-minded man. North I
II South, familiar with the history Of oar
'ountry during that memorable period. can
Expect US to be otherwise than solid.
A few years Of peace and thrift, under oar
resent, hfm, economical, Democratic State
has wrought woadera in the
ondition and feelings Of our people, white
nd black.
The carpstbaggef has picked himself m
nd silently stolen away,n lin more senses
han one.
Add few more years Of quiet thrift. and
xperience 70 our colored people, and thai
miserable travesty on manliness aud -.
-iotism, 70 be found in our home bred neai. +
.wag, will be leis without influence tor harrnj
In the coming election, the South viii 81
1lid for Hancock upon National issues. Wa
ellepe the prosperity Of this eorernnnfnt AZ.
ends upon the Democratic conslfuelion ~
le constitution, that ali powers are reserved
} the States not expressly conceded. and 4
oppose every tendency 10 Na.