Texas Ranger. (Washington, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 43, Ed. 1, Saturday, August 11, 1855 Page: 2 of 4
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!HE TEXAS RANGER.
J. I JLN CASTER, Editor.
Proscription for Opinion's sale.
Mr. Lancaster :
I have been taking your paper
some time, and have always considered it a
good interior naner, but in consequence of
your taking a stand against the order to which
I belong, I must discontinue taking it.
John Stamps.
asijxugfott, &txai
SATUKBAY, AUGUST 11, 1855.
Mr. Jeremiah Cloud, of Austin county, is an
authorize! agent for this paper.
A. J. Austin-, esq., Philadelphia, is an author-
ized agent for this paper.
-Frank Lipscomb, Esq., of BelWlle, Austin co.
ia an authorized agent for this paper,
Capt. M. K. Skem., Postmaster, Caldwell, is
an authorized agent for this paper.
To Advertisers. The Texas Ranger of-
fers great inducements to business men, who
Trish to avail themselves of the benefits of ad-
Trertising. Being the largest paper in Western,
Texas, and having a circulation in every county
n tne state, as Treii asm every ooauiwa owie,
the proprietor flatters himself that those -who
advertise in ins columns, will be most amply re
numerated.
hV 'l,MvV-l !JCT
Hans tlie Banner ontne outer wall!
Mm MBSSmMBssg&$&&l&
irliree Cheers for Old
' AfasEngton ! ! !
Although, "we have not received com-
plete returns from a few small precincts
in this county, enough has been ascer-
tained to show that the entire Demo-
cratic State -Ticket, has succeeded "by
majorities, ranging from twenty-five to
fifty votes. Eor the Legislature we
give complete and official returns. One
of the Democratic candidates, for the
State Legislature, CoL Upshaw, was de-
feated by a close vote. This result tis
to lie' attributed solely to a division in
our own ranks, which will he seen "by
the returns of the "election, published
below. Although we deeply regret this
state of aftairs, we have the proud sat-
isfaction of knowing that the Col. fought
the good fight manfully, and his demo-
cratic friends will ever remember him
for his fcealous and iaithful services.
Had it not been for $ie report circu-
lated in'Dodd's precinct, that no' elec-
tion would' be held at that box. Mr.
Tarver's majority would have placed
him as the foremost condidate. He
would havebeat Mr. Sayles in tlje neigh-
borhood of "20 Totes, thus showing a
complete Democratic triumph over the
Know-nothings.,
We call the attention of our Demo-
cratic friends to the state of the vote at
Independence, the home of Gen. " Sam"
Houston, where he voted, and labored
most assiduously, and where the entire
State and county Democratic ticket re-
ceived a maioritv. This fact is full of
significance and promise. The well
tried Old line Democrats of Indepen
dence have "bearded the lion in his den"
"triumphantly. They have given ns an
example worthy of imitation. At
" Sam's" head quarters we have "met
the enemy and they are ours."
. Ifcis unmanly to exult over a pros-
trate foe, and while we indulge in no un-
seemly rejoicings, we in common with
all good Democrats and patriotic "Whigs,
hail bur victory as a triumph of sound
principles as the voice of health and
of rescue. What has beQn so well be-
gun, 'time, and sober reflection, will
complete. "We now look forward, hope-
fully to the restoration of the ancient
landmarks of the TEUE AMEBICAIST
OSDER, and Civil and Religious
Fkeedoji: to a thorough cleansing of
the political sanctuary.
t , , ,
C"2 t g i i o t- a o s, -
g. j s ; ? s s 5 ' f
: 5 I i " r ? ?
- S- I"" a I c i 3 I- - i
F- - p I ,
.'Jot GoTcrnor: , ,
PesK. 167 lOffJOOl 85 & 25 fi 21 13 2G 557
'"TDiekroB 104 "5Uo5 64 19, 1 27 78 40 21 534
,,Iiect. GoTcrnon
Rtmnels. 152101 08 95 1 25 ; 21 l3Ccfi39
Jowers, 104 74;i03 41 20s 1 27 78 40 21 510
Keillv, " 64000 0,0, 000 10
"'Coia'rlAna Office j
Crcrfm 142 C$105 7Q8 325
.SSeld 93' 7S 76 151 23 12 40S
Ctoigres: ,
3nf - 167 lOOJ id 96 10 25 8 21 13 2C562
HAneock. 103 SHCS, 55 16. 1 27 78 40 21 529
prcottlTM: J '
Tarwr.Dwa. 165107 90 63 2 16, S, 21 13 26 517
X'psbaw,Dcm. 100lOl$l 73 2 4 5! 13 9 20 417
HeajleT.Drm. 6Sl 4 0 Of 3 17 0, 0 0 6 SS
TletK.K. 103174100(61 17 1 27178 40 21 52i
3?iiinh3r,K.If. S4Clj.fi57 17 2j 28 79 41 20 488
"HesT The following are the returns
from Brazoria 'county, so far as heard
from. Three precincts were to hear
from, in all about 75 votes.
Pease 27t);'
.. Dickson 25; -j. . -. i
, Bunnels?228; f
' Jbwers 26;
Bell 210;
M Hancock 74;
Fieldfcl40;
This is from a man who used to boast
of his democracy a defender of the
Baltimore platform and the Administra-
tion. At the time he was a candidate
for the Legislature in August 1853, we
supported him as a firm democrat, un-
wavering in his support of the Demo-
cratic platform. Our political course
THEX, met his cordial approbation.
Why does he :srow proscribe ns ? Are
we not advocating the same principles
as we did in J58 ? Have we deviated
in the least ? Are not the principles of
the great Democratic Republican part',
and their platform, the same as when
we supported Mr. Stamps, on the faith
of his democracy, for the Legislature ?
Surely they are. "Who then is the one
that has proved recreant to his party
ourself or Mr. Stamps? Because we
have never faltered in defence of the
great democratic principles, and are still
battling for them against the danger-
ous and combined isms of the day, and
because we became a citizen from boy-
hood, through choice and not accident,
the faite has' gone forth from the
midnight Inquisition, that we are to be
proscribed, and hunted down by every
scheme that can be devised that as far
as in their power lies, not only ourself
but our wife and children are to be sac-
rificed as victims to this despotic and
proscriptive party. Because we took a
firm stand on the side of the constitu-
tion of our country, we have been pursu-
ed with the voraciousness of the blood-
thirsty wolf. The bread for which we
toil is to be taken from ourself and fam-
ily, a press is to be Teared up by the
Inquisition to crush and trample us to
the earth, and the knife of the assas-
sin is already drawn to complete the
murderous work, which will be seen by
the following Jetter, that was dropt in
our box at the Post Office :
Independence, Texas, Aug. 4th 55.
J. Lancaster,
I see in your paper nn
article in which you call me an abolitionist,
I will be in "Washington to-morrow, I will
give you what you deserve, you Gut-Throat
Villian, prepare yourself.
A Enemy.
Such is a sample of the weapons, with
which we are to be demolished this
looks as if " pieces of red paper have
been scattered," preparatory to the mur
derous work. If our blood is to atone
for the stand we have taken, we will
freely shed it, rather than see our bos-
om companion and little ones, immola-
ted on the altar of our blood-thirsty en-
emies. The object of the Inquisition and
that of the Knownothing order, are A-
LIKE, viz : to proscribe and punish men
for their opinions. Their 3IEAXS are
also alike, darkness and secrecy.
Already has this order worked up
the worst passions of the human breast.
Look at "Washington, Chappell Hill and
other towns. It has arrayed citizen a-
gainst citizen neighbor against neigh-
bor friend against friend father a-
gainst'son mother against daughter,
and wife against the husband.
"We do not ask our fellow-citizens to
rely on our statement, for if they will
look around they can see for themselv
es. "We also have an exposition of the
dangerous -tendences of the Know-nothing
order, from one of the Councils its-
self, Hio. 14:7, located in Lyme, Connect-
icut. The members of the council, sev-
enty in number, seeing the awful clan-
ger that was attending this secret and
proscriptive order, resolved unanimous-
ly, to sound the alarm in the ears of the
people, and to inform them of the exis-
tence of a secret order in their midst,
which is striking a blow in the dark
against the institutions of civil and re- i
ligious liberty, and which, if sufteredto
go on, will soon destroy all that is
prized most . dear in religion, politics
and morals, and feeling that thej would
prove false to their obligations, to God
and their country, if they were to keep
silent at such a time as -this, they re-
solved, like freemen and Americans,
to give an exposition of this anti-American
order, and the pernicious princi-
ples of its organization and action.
It is arrayed in warfare against the whole
machinery of a republican government. It
has enticed the people from their homes in
the still hours of darkness, and at its numer
ous places ot meeting bound them to its foul
and fearful purposes by administering the
most horrid oaths, with one hand resting on
the Bible, and the other raised toward Heav-
en, to yield themselves unreservedly to the
control of this secret power, and even to'
deny to their families and the world that
they hold connexion with the order. No
person is permitted to hold an opinion which
has not the sanction of the self-constituted
mouth-pieces of the party. "Within this
temple of superstition Sir Oracle reigns su-
preme. The devotee who worships at its
shrine is completely unmanned. He no
longer feels nor acts bis former self. In se-
cret he steals away like a conspirator to the
place where the most inveterate hatred is en-
gendered against the descendants and coun-
trymen of those brave men whose heroic va-
lor assisted in achieving the liberties which
we now enjoy. In the same manner, and of-
ten at the hour of midnight, he gropes bis way
oaci to Ins lamily again to repeat the hundred
mony should exist, has a direct tendency to
produce suspicion and mistrust on the part
of wives and mothers towards their husbands
and sons; hence we find in every town where
a council exists, the female portion of the
community are speaking out boldly their
moral indignation against an order whose in-
fluence is so manifestly baneful upon all who
are connected with it, whether nearly or re-
motely. He who does not here behold the sure work-
ings of demoralization and ruin, must indeed
be a poor moralist.
But all these are evils of small magnitude
and consideration when compared with some
other gigantic wrongs with which it labors to
curse our land. The scattering of a few
pieces of red paper of a peculiar shape obliges
every "brother" to arm himself with bowie
knife and revolver or other deadly weapons,
and follow the beck of their leader even to
the shedding blood. The Cincinnati, Louis-
ville, St. Louis, and other fearful and bloody
Know-Nothing riots, are but the legitimate
workings of the order, and but the beginning
of such scenes as were enacted on the soil
of France under red republican rule.
Those who control and manage the affairs
of this corrupt concern are in it for the spoils
of office; and no means, however desperate,
are left untried to compass this end.
It is only a trick of crafty polical man-
agers to bring to their aid the religious ele-
mentof their couutry, while it is generating
dissensions, sectarian animosities, and the
rankest intolerance.
The foregoing is a brief statement of facts;
no argument is needed to add to its force or
develop more clearly the character of an or-
ganization which, while it ostracises all thoss
born in a foreign land, draws into its toils
thousands of honest and unsuspecting Amer-
icans, and then attempts to reduce them to a
condition of servitude, strip them of their in-
dividuality, degrade them to the position of
mere machines, and compel them at the bid-
ding of their masters to disobey the dictates
of their consciences, surrender their own
thoughts into the keeping of others, and vi-
olate their oath of allegiance to the State of
which they are citizens.
Others may choose to submit to such atroc-
ious despotism, but as for ourselves we de-
nounce it as contrary to the genius of our
institutions, at waf with freedom of thought,
and deserving the open denunciation of every
true American.
The foregoing is an extract of the ad-
dress from seventy Knownothings, who
were not afraid or ashamed to sign their
names to this document. IText week
we will publish the resolutions and ad-
dress in full, together with the names
signed.
P. S. As our enemies take particular
pains to misconstrue our language and
ideas, we wish it to be. distinctly under-
stood, that in the foregoing article we
speak of the principles of the order, and
not of individuals, as we are well aware
that many good and clever citizens has
joined the Know-nothings without think-
ing of the evil consequences and dan-
gerous tendences of this secret political
organization.
More Proscription". The small list
of Know-nothings, from Grimes, with
Dr. Dickson at their head, who have or-
dered the Banger discontinued, because
we dared to exercise the right of a free-
man, in expressing our political senti-
ments, has been received. We will
foward their bill by next mail, hoping
they will be as prompt in paying lip
as they have been in proscribing us.
For the Texas Hanger.
The following Preamble and resolu-
tion, though embodying good sound
doctrines, were xot adopted at the Meet-
ing on Thursday, but we shall always
think "they ought to have been :'' viz:
" "Whereas, Texas already has a free-
soil pet Sam : and whereas one pet
of the kind at a time is as much as
Texas wishes or has use for: and
whereas two suns or two Sams "can't
shine" in the same hemisphere : and
whereas another " Sam," commonly
known as abolition, or "American
Sam,"'liearing we were fond of "Sams"
lias, recently, strayed' away from those
to whom he owes service in Massa-
chusetts, and came here to be protect-
ed and petted as a " brudder."
Therefore, Kesolved; That we
have no use for this abolition "J3am;"
and entertaining, like some of his friends,
" a tender and sacred rogard for those
acts of statesmanship which are to be
contradistinguished from acts of ordina-
ry legislation, bj- the fact of their be-
ing of the nature of compacts," and par-
ticularly '" The fugitive Slave Law," so
called ; the democracy of Washington
county, will, in good faith, use their
best endeavors to cause a rendition of
said runaway to his northern owner,
according to the provisions of said law ;
and we trust his friends, the Know-
nothings, will not in imitation of "Burns
rioters" in Boston, attempt to obstruct
or hinder his rendition, but like good
" Americans" sworn to ober all the pro-
visions of the Constitution and laws,
give us their patriotic co-operation and
assistance.
1ST. B. We understand American Sam
was at the Methodist Church on Thurs-
day night, and would have been arrest-
ed by Judge Oldham, who had the prop-
er documents ; but, finding himself a-
bout to be exposed and caught, he, with
the assistance of some of his friends who
rang the bell and cried murder and fire,
to make a diversion in his favor, man
aged to escape, with the loss of a mask
which he wore for the purpose of con-
cealment. He is now lurkin sr about the
neighborhood, but, it is believed he will
be caught bj the toll, or by the wool,
on Monday next ; for the whole posse
of the count' will be after him on that
da'. ---.
August 5, 1855. '
We learn from our friend Un
cle Bill Bandle, that we have been elec-
ted by the Know-nothings of Grimes,
Coroner of that countv. "We shall,
therefore, at a suitable time, summons
a jury, for the purpose of holding an
inquest over the body of " Sa:m," and
report to the country the true cause of
his demise.
JSJST Galveston, Cherokee, "Nacogdo-
ches, San Augustine, Bexar, Bastrop,
Austin, Brazoria, h'ort Bend and Fav-
ette. counties, are reported to have giv-
en large majorities in favor of the Dem-
ocratic ticket.
A Good Sign.
A venerable gentleman and sound
BeDublican, in writing us from near
Chappell Hill, says: - -
"I have been away from home for a
few weeks past, and am a little beiiind
in somethings. I have not been able
to read all the numbers of your excel-
lent paper, but my sons axd daugh-
ters have ; and I feel truly glad that
we have men who will stick to the
OLD LAND MARKS OF DEMOCRACY.
" Though parties have risen and fall-
en, and many new systems of politics
have been gotten up, by which many
have been deceived, yet Democracy
is the same, now as ever; and it must
prevail I Then, go on, friend Lancaster
and "nEW to the lixe !" I will give
you all the aid I can. "
That sounds much like the voice ofa
Christain" and a Republican, and is tru-
ly cheering to our heart, after having
been ostracized by a political conclave.
Our aged friend is right! He will
ever find us true to the great cause of
Democracy and eternal Truth, let others
falter who may. May a thousand bless
ings rest upon him through life, and
joy eternal beyond the grave!
A Scrap of Historr-
It is refreshing occasionally to look throngh
antecedent history, not only to discover how
people acted in other days, but also to ascer-
tain facts connected with certain undisputed
events. The Know-Nothing Party was very
properly named for all their acts and asser-
tions prove that thev have not even tasted,
much less "drank deep of the Pierian spring."
Their shallow pretext for opposing persons of
foreign birth, no matter what their superiori-
ty in intelligence, patriotism and morals may
be, is about as foolish as their claim to excel-
lence, as ylmerican citizens, over the native
born of Catholic faith. As a high sounding
and proscHptive title, they call themselves
the ''Sons of the Sires of Seventy-six," when
nine-tenths of their Sires, or rather Grand
Sires, were on the other side of the Ocean,
or in the ranks of the invading English army.
But giving them all they lay claim to, on the
score of ancestry, who were the "Sons of the
Sires r" Let the following scrap of history,
taken at an examination of Mr. Galloway,
before Parliament, in reference to this very
subject, answer. It will do it more faithfully
than any which cju come from the Know-
Nothing Council :
" Question. ' That part of the rebel army
that enlistedmi the services of the Congress,
were they chiefly composed of the natives of
.America, or were the greater part of them
English, Dutch and Irish?
"Answer. The names and places of their
nativity being taken down, I can answer the
question with precision : There were scarce-
ly one-fourth natives of America ; about one-
half Irih, the other fourth were English and
Scotch."
This "scrap" may be unpalatable to the Se-
cret Order, but truth will vindicate herself.
All who have readvthe history of our war of
Independence, and, of the. Pennsylvania line
in particular, wili haye seen, that there were
only 17,000 Irishin one famous line through
the war. What would that proportion give
at the present day r Figure it up, ye pure
Americans.
Philadelphia l'ennsj-lvanlan.
which is seeking after the political power of
.the country, by ways and means unknown to
the law, and in palpable disregard of the long-
established usages of the people and the his-
tory of the Government. It sought political
power, not by open and f.iir means, but by
secret plottings, by cabalistic pass-v ords ; by
signs and grips, unknown to the people at
large, and in palpable violation of the govern-
ment. "No said he, the true platform of this ex-
traordinary organization is to be found in
their oaths and ritual. There were to be
found the things which they were sworn to
do aud to carry out ; and looking into these
oaths and the ritual, he found that their ob-
jects were to strike at the citizens of foreign
birth, at the immigrants from other countries,
to disfranchise, degrade and disarace them,
by depriving them not only of the right to
Americanize themselves, but by cutting them
off from the rights of hospit-ility and humani-
ty. They also sought to disfranchise and de-
grade another class of our citizen, whether
native-born or foreign, on account of their
religious opinions, in plain violation of the
constitution of the country, and regardless of
the plainest dictates of justice and hum-inity.
Mr. Clay said that, rather than submit any
exteuded remarks of his own on these sub-
jects.he had chosen to collate the expressed
and authentic opinions of the old fathers of
the republic ; and he read extensively from
the writings of Washington and Jefferson, of
Madison, of Jackson, of Quincy and others.
He concluded his happy effort by saying
that though the old whig party, with which
he had always acted, was broken and dispers-
ed, yet he appeared there as one of the old
icar guard of that once powerful and great
party ; and in that capacity he protested a-
gainst this new secret organization, as fraught
with danger to his country and its liberties ;
and he called upon 11 the old liners of the
whig party to join h m n the protest.
Texas Flowr. j
"We have been furnished by Mr. "Wal-
ter H. Davis, who has just returned from
a tour in the upper Trinity country,
with a sample of flour, from wheat grown
and manufactured, the present season,
in Cherokee county. It is fine aud sweet,
evidently from the best of grain; though
not quite so closely bolted as the best
St. Louis extra. Few persons would
ever ask for a better article. Mr. D.
saw good flour, from this year's wheat,
for sale at (3 per bbl.
Civilian.
The happy results from the use of
Dr. Ttl5 Lane's Celeli rated .Liver Pills
EST'Are daily forcing themselves before
tqe public. Our citizens will speak out.
Kead the following;
This is to certify that I was troubled with
liver complaint for six mouths, aud being ad-
vised by a friend to use Dr. M "Lane's Cele-
brated Liver Pills, I got two boxes, anH by
the time I had finished taking them the di-
sease had entirely disappeared. I therefore
cheerfully recommend them to all aiflcted
with liver complaint, or any other diseaes
arising from excess of bile.
Mrs. Oarxes, No. 5 Clinton street, New York
P. S. The above valuable preparation, also
Dr. M 'Lane's Celebrated Ycrmifuge, can
now be had at all lespectable Drug Stores in
this city.
Pur chasers will please be careful to
ask for, and take none but Dr. M'Lane's Liver
.rills. 1 here are other rills, purporting to
be Liver Pills, now before the public.
Sold in Washington, b" 13. F. ltiicker and
13. P. Wilson.
tTtVyriUhttSSS EigJSS
Departed this life, at her residence, in
Washington County, on the 22(1 inst, at 11
o'clock P. M., Mrs Pajieua. Poster, in the
T2d year of her age,
The subject of this notice was born in the
state of Virginia, but emigrated in her youth
to Abbeville District, South Carolina, when
in the year a she intermarried with James
u rom oouin tar-
husband and
time-told lie of no connexion with this order.
So much falsehood in the family circle, where
The Aaierica.v Union The following
table will be found convenient for reference,
and is worthy of being preserved
1607 Virginia first settled by the English.
16U New York first settled by the Dutch.
1020 Massachusetts settled by the Puritans.
1623 N. Hampshire settled by the Puritans.
162i New Jersey settled by the Dutch.
1657 Delewure settled by the Swedes and
Fins.
1634 Maryland settled by the Catholic.
1635 Connecticut settled by the Puritans.
1636 Rhode Island settled by Roger Williams
1650 North Carolina settled by the Euglish.
1682 Pennsylvania settled by William Penn.
1733 Georgia settled by Gen. Oglethorpe.
1791 Vermont admitted into the Union.
1792 Kentucky admitted into the Union
Son of Henry Clay o:a the Stump.
Against Know-S'otiungism.
The Kentucky Statesman, of the 10th inst.,
referring to the speech of Mr. James B. Clay
against Know-Nothingism, says :
lesterday was a great day in this city. tIt
being court day, a great many people from
the country were in the city. It had previ-
ously been announced that Mr. James B
Beck, one of the mo3t distinguished and able
lawyers in our city, and Mr. James B. Clay, jes
son ot tne oage ot xvstuana, and owner ot the
old family seat, would address the people on
the political topics of the day. There was
great anxiety to hear both gentlemen, and at
the appointed hour the court house was filled
to overflowing.
Mr. Beck spoke first. lie has always been
a whig, though a man of independent thought
and action. He spoke for two hours, and
made one of the most able and efficient argu
ments against Know-Nothingism that we
have listened to during the present contest.
His speech, throughout, was powerful, ar-
gumentative, convincing, conclusive, and told
with tremdous effect upon his audience.
The next gentleman who took the stand
was Mr. James B. Clay, who, as we have al-
ready remarked, is the son of the great states-
man, and has succeeded to the paternal estate
of Ashland.
Mr. Clay said that this was his first effort
at a public speech, and nothing less thau the
profound interest which he felt in the great
questions at issue, could induce him to ap-
pear on this occjMon. Never before had sue h
extraordinary, such alarming, such novel
questions been presented for the political con-
sideration of the American ncople. His ap
prehensions were
Foster of the latter state
olina she emigrated with her
family to Mississippi Territory, thence to Tex-
as in the yearlS32. She, with others of the
old settlers of Texas, withstood all the priva-
tions and vicisitudes of a frontier life in the
wilds of Texas and lived to a ripe age, long
enough to see the fair land of her adoption
free, happy and prosperous, enjoying all the
blessings of civilized life and untold social
and religious prosperity.
It was the fortune of , the writer to be
long aud intimately acquainted with the de-
ceased, and apart from exaggeration, he can
assert with confidence, that he uever knew
one, whose whole life was more replete with
afTectiou, charity, humility and religion. She
fulfilled all the obligations, of a friend,
neighbour, parent and christian, and died
uuiveraally esteemed and beloved by all
those who were acquainted with her. If a
strict and unwavering adherence to all the
duties that devolve upon the tender mother,
the indulgent mistress, the affectionate wife
and the humble and faithful christian consti
tutes a certainty of future bliss, she doubt-
now revels in that heavenly felicitv.
prepared by the Jxedeemcr for the just made
perfect. She now sleeps the sleep of death,
her bodily pain and suffering have closed,
earthly sorrow ceased, and Jier sublunary
pilgrimage forever ended, and she now en-
joys that bliss, reserved alone, for those pure,
unspotted and uncontamiuated by sin. Just
tb she had lived she died, emphatically ex-
pressing her belief and confidence in God
and His ability to save. She invoked nis
power to remove her from this existence of
pain and suffering and take her to himself,
when she would enjoy the society of angels
and her Saviour. Never christian died more
composedly nor with more cheering or bril-
liant hopes of a happy and blessed immor-
tality. She died surrouuded by friends and
amidst the mourning family circle who could
duly appreciated their loss which could not
be repaired; but their loss has been her gain.
She was for 56 years a consistent and
efficient member of the Baptist church, aud
died in full fellowship with that communion,
but unlike many sectarians she loved all
christians, and said she felt that all were
journeying to that happy land, where distinc-
tions were unknown and where all who have
aroused in view of them.
and he sometimes trembled for the fate of observed and obeyed the mandates of our Sa
ins country. The idea that this government viour, would equally participate m the reah-
was to be taken into the keeping of a secret, zation of eternal felicity. Thus has parsed
political, oath-bound organization, which set frm lio to eternity, from earth to Heaven,
up unconstitutional test oaths, and the mem- ""om Pan and sorrow to bliss and beatitude
bers of which were bound to each other by
the most terrible obligations, was to him most
alarming, and should, in his judgment, arouse
the apprehensions of every patriotic man m
the whole countrv
Mr Clay denied that the platform put forth
by the late Know-Nothing convention at
Philadelphia, was the real platform of the
party party did 1. call them, said he , no, ,
they are not a party in any proper accepta- I
tion of the term. Parties have heretofore
been onen. nublic and above board: but this.
one who has spent more than a half century
ofa life of pious devotion and christian forti-
tude, and left the world without au enemy,
with full assurances of never ending happiness,
to join that innumerable cordon of saints and
angels who surround the throne of Jehovah,
and who have been redeemed through the
blood of Christ.
"Jesus, lover of my soul
Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nc-ircr waters roll
AN lnle the tempest still is high.
I'or the Texas Ranger.
Slcetch of the remarks of the Hon.
W. S. Oldham, on Ivnow-notliing-isnij
in reply to Gen. Sam Houston,
Ai. 2nd, and to Houston's per-
sonal attack upon him, A115. 3d.
Judge Oldham, on rising to speak, grace-
fully complimented the audience, and said
he had been many years acquainted with his
present opponent, General Houston; they
were both from the state of Tennessee, that
he had known the General when the Gen
lived in Arkansas, in which state he himself
was then residing, and had always1 enter-
tained the most friendly regard for him and
still continned to entertain the same feelings,
and was heartily willing to accord to him
the merit he claimed for past services, but he
was not so blinded by his 'regard for Gen.
Houston, that he could not see his faults,
and he thought the General was wrong in his
present position. "I have come here," said
Judge Oldham, to disenss a great principle,
and I wish to do it thoroughly and fully, and
I intend to do so as far as I am able.
He said the Know Nothings lia'd recently
put forth a platform at Philadelphia in
which they .avowed certain principles, and
declared "that all their principles should be
every where openly avowed. " The Judge
then read from the '" Richmond Enquirer" or
N. O. Delta what purported to be the ixside
platform of the order, and addressing himself
to the audience said, " you who are of the
order can say whether this is your platform
or not. I read it as I found it in a publie
newspaper, I do not say whether it is what
it purported to be or not you can tell
the obligation of the third degree which, I
read has been published by authority, I
therefore assume it for granted that that is
correct. "
The Judge then proceeded to argue the
case hypothetically, assuming- as a basis that
what he read was" what it purported to be
the inside platform of the order, ne show-
ed there was a wide discrepancy between
the two, in a great many respects, which he
minntcly pointed out that the true princi-
ples of the order, by this showing, were not
axy wfieke openly avowed but that the
party had one platform for the purpose of de-
cieving and gulling the public with: another
through the instrumentality of which they
were to promote their own individual inter
ests and objects, not only by proscribing
Catholics and naturalized citizens but by the
simultaneous proscription of all native citi
zens of every description who are not of the
household of Sam; that if this were so, and
the" members could say whether it was or
not, then the Order stood before the world
with the assertion of a, falsehood in its
mouth, or rather with a number of them, and
was therefore unworthy of the confidence or
respect of any body. Passing from the in-
side platform he spoke of the avowed princi-
ples of the order aud went on by a course of
able and unanswerable argument to show
that they were proscriptive, intolerant as
well as unconstitutional and illegal that
the true test of qualification for office was as
laid down by Mr. Jefferson " is he honest?
fs he capable ? is he faithful to the Con-
stitution?" and not as laid down by the Know
nothings "was he born in the United States?
is he a Protestant ? Has he seen Sah ? "
The Judge then went on to try the new
candidate for popular favor by the scriptural
test "A. good tree bringeth. not forth . bad
fruit," and displayed a long array q facts
derived from the late elections in the north-
ern states, showing that nothing' but '' bad
fruit" had been produced by Knownothingism
there that in every instance where Know
nothings had obtained power they had elec
ted Freesoilers and abolitionists including
such men as John P. Hale Senator Wilson.
Burlinghame Durkee, &c, witn a large
number of abolition preachers, disorganizes
aud disuuionists. ne defied General Hous-
ton, or any one else, to point out an excep-
tion in all the elections which had taken
place in the northern States, and if they
could not, he was willing- they shonkl take
either horn of the dilemma they pleased:
deny the truth of the scripture rule, or ac
knowledge the tree to be a bad one. At the
South, he said the order had as yet achieved
no iraportaut victory, and he thought was not
likely to achieve any, or that it would be
able to benefit the south any, were it to come
into power, as ithad already become divided,
and therefore would be weak as it regarded'
national objects. It was a rotten concern
and bould be of no service to us. Towards
the conclusion of Judge Oldhams remarks,
he alluded to a letter of General Houston
on Knownothingism which he had just seen,
in which the author impugns with some
severity and bitterness the motives of all
those who had "occasionally joined the
Order," and afterwards withdrawn from it,
and denounced its priucipies, its teachings
and its practices. The Judge saia'ne was
one of those who had seen Sam, and not lik-
ing the beast, had promply withdrawn from
all association wi,th him; that what he had
done and what he was now doing was from
a conviction of duty "but" said he, turning-
to General Houston, "if it were wrong in me
to leave the Knownothings, wnr did you
leave the Democratic i'artv? This General,
reminds me of a story of two brothers,
John and Squire, acquaintances of ours back
there in Arkansas; it.occured several years
ago aud if you will excuse me, I will relate
it to the audieuce.
John had all his life been dabbling- in
horse flesh, and was very fond of quarter ra
cing, at which, though no good judge of the
qualities of the better stock of this noble
animal, he had been both lucky and success
ful, as his operations were principally con-
fined to Indian poneys, and to quarter races.
He had bought and sold, swapt and traded
any number of times, and in the line of quar-
ter nags, and quarter mile "dashes" had
contrived to achieve some money and quite
a reputation, and this favorite amusement
had become a perfect mania with John he
neglected every thing else for it. His broth-
er Squire, less ambitions thau John, but
possessing far more prudence, and a much
better judge of good horses than he, used to
warn John from time to time of the danger
he run of getting picked up some day and
ruined, bu to no purpose. John wonld
still dabble in his favorite hobbies, and final
ly, in an unlncky hour, concluded he would
try his hand in a four mile race which was to
come off in a few days. So he sold his quar-
ter mile pony and bought a four mile horse,
und entered him for the race. All this he
did without saying a word to his brother,
Squire. Now John had got badly swindled
in the purchase of his race nag, a loug legged,
spavined, sweyned and broken winded con-
cern, of the Kozinante order at that; but
John thought he " was a screamer." He
met his brother in the road, and told' him
what he had done: made a four mile race
in motion and went a hundred yards or so
down street, but in tgrxixg, the Pegasus 'of
John stumbled, made two or three heavyj
efforts to recover himself and finally fell:
dowu, broad side with John under him and
there he lay. Squire immediately hastend to
extricate him, aud as s"0on as John recovered,
sufficiently to speak, inquired if he thought
any bones were broken and how he felt-
Brother Squire, said John, speaking witb
pain and difficulty, Brother-Squire I.caa-
not say that I am seriously injured.
but brother Squire draw -thathorse?
DRAAV THE CRITTER." Now said the
Judge, General Houston has been dealing in
political hobbies all his life but I wouhTad-
vise him to be warned by John's fate, and
"draw this Kuownothing critter, "rat onee.'
In conclusion the Judge exhorted the-
Democracy, not to be persuaded by jockeys-
to barter off their tried -principles which had,
stood the test of time for new ones, otfor a
strange aud startling creed, but to stand by
the constitution and union in solid, unbroken
phalanx, and then come what would,, they -wonld
be in a position to breast the shock u f
it. .
The instant Judge Oldman, sat down.
General Houston, in a highly excited mau-
nor sprang to his feet, and without attempt-
ing a word of reply to the Macedonian pla!-
anx of facts and arguments presented by lii
opponent, began a furious vindictive, person-
al onslaught upon him, exhausting his vo-
cabulary of abnse and himself too in. this-
characteristic effort. We could not with-
stand the conviction that by this conduct wasr.
implied what John said to his brother "I
cannot say, Brother Squire that I am se-
riously injured but draw the iiorse.? Th&
Knownothingspresent, too, by their precipi-
itate retreat said " draw the crittur." Their
party also after tliis election,we imagine, wfll
say " draw the horse draw the beast he-
can't run on the kind of soil we have in;
America."
The substance of the angry and mijnstifi-
able personal attack upon Judge Oldham, was
that seceders had no right to set themselves
up as teachers of the new-fangled politics of
Texa.s that the Judge was a Judas Iscariot,
a perjurer, and used many otneraousive ana
nngeutlemanly epithets (as usual) and said
he was an employee of the general govern-
ment and paid to oppose Knownothingism, .
and concluded by telling his Ltyearold , favo-
rite buck story, and that Sam did .not shoo t,
" cans, massa, dat buck jump so high he break
he own neck limeb" The General's reply
occupied some thirty or forty minutes, he
quite recovered from the previous attack of
" colic " the stimuli of the Judge having
restored him perfectly but the audience bar-
ing evinced nnmistakeable signs of being tired
out with the General's billingsgate and the
Knownothings crying for quarter, by hollow-"
ing " enough " ringing the church bell' and
making certaiu nnearthly noises asprescribed
in the " ritual of the order," Judge Oldham
was uuconrteously prevented from making a
reply to General Houston's vile personal as-
sault upon him. General Houston, himself
being the first to " beat a retreat," giving a
signal for it to. the brotherhood, hy taking
up his hat and giving-it a certain motion,""
which they appeared to understand. Above
the " noise and confusion " however, Judge
Oldham was heard to say that "though de-
nied the prwilee of defending himself against
a personal attack, he had had the pleasure
of meetiug the " great Ignoramus" of Know-
nothingism" and that though claiming noth-
ing himself they were saying "Brother
Squire-draw the horse, -and paying him, per-
haps, unwittingly, a compliment, by the ac
knowledgement they were now making that
"Sam" and his "Ism" had been routed,
horse, foot and dragoons and that conse
quently, he felt willing to be ."proscribed"
by the party of proscription. t
August, 3.
Judge Oldham having been invited by the
democracy to address the citizens of the town
of "Washington, and accepted the invitation
for early candle light, notice was given &fr
a late period in the afternoon. At the hour
appointeda large and respectable audience
of ladies aud gentlemen assembled in the
Methodist Church; T.P. ShephardEsq, who
had been appointed to make the arrange-
raents for speaking on yesterday, rose and In
explanation of what heliad done, informed
the audience that the understanding was be-
tween the cdmmittee, Judge Oldham and
General Houston that the latter, would
make the opening speech, and Judge Oldham
would reply each making but one speech
of an hour and a quarter in length: that
on coming to the stand, General Houston
said he wonld not speak at all, unless a half
an honr was given him for a reply to his
opponent, that he, Mr. Sheppard, remonjr
trated with Gen. Houston on the injustice of
his having both the openfng and closing
speech on his opponent, and an extra hal f
hour of time beside but that Gen. Houston,
positively declined speaking at all on any-
other terms. Mr. Sheppard said, he then
asked hira if he would be willing to a rejoin
der, of Id or 20 minntes by the Judge and
he said No I Mr. Sheppard then refused ft
consent on the part of the Committ,ee, to the
debate on Gen Houston's terms, but said. to
Judge Oldham, if he thought proper to ac-
cept the proposition, he would leave the
matter between them. Judge Oldham not
being willing to disappoint the audience as-
sembled, accepted the unfair terms Genera 1.
Houston, had demanded Mr. Sheppard said
he made this explanation, to prevent any:
blamn from hfno nfl.iflipd to him on account?
o
of what occurred in this church last evening
Judge Oldham then addressed the audience
in a speech of an hour or more of thrilling'
and powerful eloquence, intersperced
with frequent sallies of wit and humor, and
was listened to with great attention and fre-
quently interrupted with cheering and loud
applause. As on the previous evening, his
whole speech was a masterly effort an able
combination of facts, reasonings, arguments
and incontrovertable deductions. The .first
part of his speech was a final blow dealt to
Knownothingism, the latter part of it a de-
fense of the South of the Nebraska-Kansas
act, and of Democratic principles. The Judgo
said he had sought no personal issues with.
Gen. Houston that in blackguardism and
abuse, the General enjoyed a perfect mono-
poly. The Judge did not say polecat and-cuttle-fish
but we thought the curl of his
lip in speaking of his unclean opponent meant
about that. General Houston, had called
him hard names, a Judas and a perjurer &o.,
&c, because he had read, from a newspaper
public to all the world, certain matters there-
in contained and commented upon, them
but this he would pass as unworthy of mora
notice.
In reference to another charge, that of his
being bought up by the dinY., he thought it
about as likely to receive credit as Gen. Hous
ton s charge against the Pope, that he had
rr
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Lancaster, J. Texas Ranger. (Washington, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 43, Ed. 1, Saturday, August 11, 1855, newspaper, August 11, 1855; Washington, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48828/m1/2/?q=+date%3A1845-1860: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.