Texas Ranger. (Washington, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 44, Ed. 1, Saturday, August 18, 1855 Page: 2 of 4
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
ivju.giaKgiu:w.v..'MaJiiaiim
iJJLI.M jl..-w
jCy3fJSy,,cOry '
V&lo
" ' MSB Ejil.hi ii iiiiik.LMH'iiBaaaaMBBBaMBMgaMfr'irw'wh m. i hh ii hi v'-t-jr--"!'.
- n- y"- -.. - -'. - -t-.-t,. . - . w v , . .. ... ...
t
'v
THE- TEXAS RANGER.
J.IiACASTER, Editor.
iiigton, &cxas.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 1855.
Mr. Jeremiah Cloud, of Austin county, Is an
authorized agent for this paper.
A. J. Austin, esq., Philadelphia, is an author-
ized agent for this paper.
jFrank Lipscomb, Esq., of Bellville, Austin co.
is an authorized agent for this paper.
Capt. M. K. Sitei.1., Postmaster, Caldwell, is
an authorized agent for this paper.
To Advertisers. The Texas Banger of-
fers great inducements to business men, "who
wish to ayail themselves of the benefits of ad-
vertising. Being the largest paper in 'Western
Texas, and having a circulation in every county
5n the State, as "well as in every Southern State,
the proprietor natters himself that those -who
advertise in his, columns, Trill be most amply remunerated.
A good practical Printer, competent
to take the foremanship of this office
can get an excellent situation.
Old Wasliiitjrton Comity victorious!
Tlie Defeat of tJxe Invincible Sam!
"We cannot "but again congratulate
our "friends, democrats and whigs, thro-
ughout the State, upon the glorious re
sult of the election in this county. On-
ly six weeks ago the Know-nothings,
according to their own statements
which we believe to .have been correct,
numbered upwards of seven, out of our
eleven hundred' voters. "With these
they confidently and reasonably calcu-
lated upon influencing many outside the
organization, and thus expected to car-
ry the election by from three to five
hundred majority, at least; and with this
expectation, made their nominations
secretly, and went into the canvass up-
on (as they vainly hoped) issues of State
policy alone, "blinking the real issue in-
volved in the principles of the new or
ganization. They had been actively at
work, in their councils, for nearly a
year; preparatory to this election had
ihe advantage of their secret meetings
and councils had their secret plans ar-
ranged and well matured had under
one plausible pretext or another, decod-
ed all the unwary and unsuspecting in-
totheir snares, and bound them with
oaths to the party bad secured (as they
supposed) a clear county majority of
250 or '300 for their nominees within
the order alone, without counting those
they expected, by this array, to influ-
ence and control, outside of it. - They
had "stolen- a march" upon the democ-
racy and secured an ambuscade with
masked batteries thev had taken care
to have good orators and speakers, val-
iant champions and leaders procured,
from various parts of the State, as well
as from this county the head quarters
of the order have been here the grand
councils "of the State met here The
'-Grand President" the REVEREND
R. E. 33. Baylor, of the Baptist Church,
resided here Gen. Houston, the would
be nominee of the order, also lived here,
&c. &c, and with all these advantages
besides, the prestige of success, and the
claim of invincibility on the part of the
order: the patriotic Democracy of the
county, combined with a few good old
patriotic whigs, have charged upon the
enemy, fought them and driven them
from their concealment Touted them
horse, foot and dragoons reduced their
numbers from 750 tc 350 or tnereabouts
(except outsiders) 'crnshed out: Know-
nothingism in old "Washington. Cer-
tainly this is GLORY ENOUGH FOR ONE
pay!!
The county Congressional vote be-
tween Bell and Hancock, shows a clean
majority for us of 70 we have a hand-
some majority for Governor and Lieut.
Governor, also have elected B.E. Tar-
ver, Esqr., to the Legislature, and would
have elected Col. TJpshaw, but for the
ihct of Mr. Hensley having been in the
field as an independent anti-know-nothing
candidate, which divided and thus
weakened the strength of the regular
democratic nominees, to the amount of
all the votes he received. It .will be
seen by reference to the returns, that we
have a clear aggregate majority for
members of the Legislature, and would
have elected both our nominees, but for
the circumstance alluded to, Mr. Hens-
lev's running.
It is a somewhat significant fact, that
in Gen. Houston's own precinct, Inde-
pendence, there was a very decided ma-
jority against the Enow-nothing ticket
some 25 votes, out of the 150 polled
there. The patriotic shouts sent up by
the democracy, when the result at that
ballot-box was announced, reached the
General's ears, and were doubtless very
suggestive of reflections to him. The
vote of the the county, and, as we pre-
sume of the State, when heard from, will
A be equally so.
mortifying the Gen., and cite ourself as
an example. Now, as far-as we are con-
cerned, we can state most positiveiy
that such was not the fact. "We never
once thought of going to Independence
until the night before the election. "We
had the Democratic tickets printed for
that box, and intended to have sent them
by Sunday night's mail, but our demo-
cratic friends advised us not to do so,
as both post-offices were under the con-
trol of Know-nothings ; therefore, in or-
der to be on the safe side, we started a-
lone, at day-break, on Monday morning
with the tickets. Another citizen of
this place voted the Democratic ticket
at that box, making only two votes a-
gainst " Sam," which were ballanced by
the votes of two Know-nothing citizens
of this town. Immediately on our ar-
rival at Independence, we met Squire
Hines, (a near neighbor of Gen. Hous-
ton, and one of the brightest and oldest
pillars of the Baptist church) and asked
him his opinion of the vote at that box.
He replied that the Democratic Ticket
would be triumphant, at least 25 votes,
and. was it not for sickness and other
r
causes, which would preverft many from
the neighborhood from coming to the
polls, the Democratic majority would
be far greater. It is, therefore all fudge
and a willful fabrication to say that it
was a made up plot by democrats to de-
feat Gen. Houston at his own box.
The canvass has been an exciting
one, and the case of the " The People
vs. Sam" argued ably on both sides.
The will of the majority has been reg
istered, and well be cheerfully submit-
ted to by all. "We shall have in our
next Legislature, in the person of Mr.
B. E. Tarver, as able and as good a man
as ever entered those halls, and in that
of Mr. Sayles, one who is a " Know-
nothing" only in name, and who will
we doubt not. make us an able and ex-
cellent representative. Take them to-
gether, and we think they will do hon-
or to old "Washington county, and that
her interests and those of her sister
counties, so far as these depend upon
their acts, will be well taken care of.
As opponents in the late heated can
vass, each has ably sustained the prin
ciples of his party each has borne him-
self gallantly in the contest, using no
poisoned weapons, and seeking no un-
due advantage each doubtless in their
many encounters Jtas experienced
"much of the joy that warriors feel.
In foeman worthy cf their steel :"
and each has now been crowned with
the civil wreath of public approval.
As colleagues in the nextLegislature,
we doubt not, they will be found fight
ing shoulder to shoulder, with undi
minished enererv, ability and zeal for
the best interests of their common con-
stituency and of the State at large.
Mr. Sayles is a young gentleman of
liberal and enlightened mind and edu
cation, and we believe he cannot long
consent to be pent up and confined with-
in the narrow limits of proscriptive and
intolerant Know-nothingism ; that he
will not be prevented by any 'false
pride of opinion, from returning to the
bosom of the democratic republican par-
ty, where he, and all others, who have
left, upon sudden impulse, perhaps, or,
may be, without due reflection, will be
received with welcome and with joy.
A J-ue ivnow-notiiings pretend to setup
akexcuse for being beat at Gen. Hous-
tfnslbox, by saying that Democrats
from I other precincts voted at that box
$&" The Know-nothings and their
organs being so mortified at their re-
cent defeat, and more especially in their
hot-bed (Washington) from where their
grand convention nominated their pro-
scriptive ticket, take great pleasure in
announcing our recently elected candi
date for the Legislature, B. E. Tarver,
Esqr., as a whig. It is true, there was
a time when Mr. Tarver, acted, in part,
with the whig party, but like those
distinguished whigs, Preston, Stephens,
Jones and others, the cardinal principle
of his political creed has always been
State sovereignty, and of the strictest
sect of State-right school. It was there-
fore, no violent change for him to quite
a party which is said to be, buried in
the vortex of Know-nothingism, and u-
nite heartily and cheerfully with the
true democracy in repeling an invasion
,of those lofty principles, an adherence
to which gave Texians a right to be
proud.
It has been proclaimed throughout
the land that the whig party was dis-
banded because denationalized, and that
now only two parties were offered for
the choice of the people : one, the old
democratic party, with its ancient ban
ners torn by many a conflict, but flut-
tering proudly in the breeze ; the other
a masked ism, with a pretended plat-
form of principles to seduce and deceive,
and a secret organization which con-
strains its members to practice proscrip-
tion, intolerance and deception. 'Be-
tween the two in the " Lone Star State,''
it should not be, and is not, difficult to
choose. Mr. Tarver's choice is fixed.
He is one of the Democracy. He will
fight under their standrad and rally to
their war cry. Hundreds of true whigs
are entering the democratic fold, and we
predict that at the next Presidential
election, the Democratic part' will be
stronger than it ever has been since the
days of Jefferson.
JSST According to promise we give
below an exposition of one of the Know-
Nothing Councils, signed by the unani-
mous body in council assembled. The
paragraph in the address respecting
Know-nothings going armed is, like ev-
ery thing else pertaining to this order,
denied by some of its members at this
place, but to the proof:
uWe are credibly informed by several
gentlemen who were present last Saturday at
Bastrop, that when Judge Paschal, during
his speech, read this quotation, one of the
Know Nothings denied the truth of it, where-
upon two respectable gentlemen rose and sta-
ted that they were members of the order, and
that the charge was true; and, moreover, that
they had seen the red papers scattered upon
that vpry floor in Bastrop, whereupon the
same Know Nothing stated that he did not
deny the distribution of red papers were sig-
nals of danger, and a call to come prepared,
but he only denied the inference of his breth-
ren, that it was a call to come with pistols
and bowie knives So it will be seen that
there was no dispute about the fact, but only
of the character of the arms to be brought.
And about this there may be some question.
The inference is, that each member would
arm himself with the weapon to which he is
most accustomed, since all nature combats
" danger" with the secret means at hand.
Our cotemporary calls for the Ritual So
faras that is concerned we need make no
comments, for the ground is wholy occupied
by Dr. Lane in his letter, in' reply to the
editor of the Times, published in to-days
paper.
State Gazette.
Editors of the Gazette.
In the State Times issue of the 4th in-
stant, I find the following :
Know NotMngs going Armed.
It -will be recollected that it was stated by Judge
Paschal in a speech in this city some weeks since,
that it -was said to be one of the obligations of
the members uf the secret order to go armed upon
certain occasions, and to come armed at certain
signs from their members. Although the matter
caused some growling among the initiated at the
time, yet as the speaker had been prompted to
the remark by aseceder from the order thenpre-
ser' and one whom no honorable gentleman would
contradict without knowing the responsibility,
the fact has never been denied, nor the practice
justified. Had the fact been disputed, the ritual
now published everywhere, would have left no
doubt upon the subject
State Gazette.
We do not pretend to impugn the motives of
any man. nor do we know whether Judge Pas-
chal's prompter, on the occasion alluded to, was
or was not a secedcr. If he was, he must have a
meat treacherous memory for no such an obliga-
tion is asaimcd in the American order. It is
news to us, and every member of the party to
which we are attached knows it to be false.
Had we been present at the meeting, we should
have contradicted it on the spot "the fearful
responsibility" to which the Gazette alludes, to
the contrary notwithstanding. A msn with a
bad memory shoud never take upon himse-f the
obligations of an oath without pavine the strict
est attention to its details. The ritual you say is
now published bring in the evidence.
State Times.
I am Judge Paschal's author, and for the
benefit of the public, and to repel the charge
of falsehood contained in the above article, I
subjoin the followiug extracts from the llitual
of the Order, which the initiated is sworn to
observe :
" that you will answer an imperative no-
tice issued by the proper authority obey the
command of the State Council President or
his Deputy, while assembled by such n otice.
and respond to the claim of a, sign or a Cry
or the order, unless it be physically impossi-
ble." J P
Again "that you will, under all circum-
stances, if in your power so to do, attend all
regular signs and summonses that may be
thrown or sent you by a brother, of this or
any otlnr degree of this order."
The following are the instructions given by
the President to each initiated .
A right angle triangular piece of paper
red in color, will signify suspected danger.
if the color is red, with an equilateral trian-
gular pit-ce cut out, it will denote actual trou-
ble, uhich requhes that you come prepared to
meet it."
It is true that the initiated is not required
in express words to go armed, but he is re-
quired when a summons is thrown him, to
come prepared" to meet danger.
1 leave it now to an impartial public to
decide upon whose brow the brand of false-
hood .should rest. Jlad the above extracts
been given by the editor of the Times, there
would have been no necessity for this exposi-
tion of some of the principles of thcoidcr.
In withholding them for the purpose of de-
ception, the editor of the Times has perpe-
trated a falsehood, for he who intentionallv
withholds the truth, when professing to "ive
it, iaiio less obnoxious to the charge of lyiu
than he who boldly tells a falsehood.
Were I disposed to repel the charge of
"renegade and tiaitor" so often heaped upou
those who have abandoned the Know Noth-
ing organization, it would only be necessary
to lefer the public to tho last plank in the
Philadelphia Platform, containing the follow-
ing ''permit" :
"The principles of the order shall be
henceforth everywhere openly avowed."
Ii. N. LANE.
dark against our institutions of civil and re-
igious liberty, and which, if suffered to go
on, will soon destroy all we prize most dear
in religion, politics and morals.
Resolved, That we feel that we should
prove false to our obligations, to God and our
country, if we were to keep silent at such a
time as this, and that we hereby set forth to
the people the following exposition of the or-
der, and the objections which arise in our
minds to the principles of it organization and
action.
On our admission to this order we had giv-
en to us the solemn pledge and assurance
that no obligations would be imposed upon us
which would conflict with those we had al-
ready taken, and owed to God, our country,
and our families. For the sole reason that
we acted as we were bound to do under the
constitution of the State, and that we honest-
ly complied with our sacred obligations as
electors, we were ejected from the order,
anathematized as unworthy of respect, unde-
serving of any confidence or trust in any buis-
ness transactions, and as deserving only the
scorn and reproach of all good men. "We
v ere subject to the nio-t fearful denunciations
because we would not surrender up to this
most accursed of all despotisms our freedom
of citizenship, and degrade ourselves down to
the ignominous servitude of wearing a mastiffs
collar.
In view of such things, what honest man
would contend that any obligations which
might be imposed by the order are in the
least binding or entitled to a moments respect ?
Who would not go rather one step further,
and say that man was guiity of perjury in
the highest degree who would act witlithe
order against his own honest convictions ?
"We believe if the parent for such a cause
disowns the offspring, the obligation to keep
the secret of such a parent is forever absolv-
ed; and the light of day should be permitted
to penetrate into the dark recesses of this in-
stitution, so worthless, and at the same time
so dangerous and destructive to the genius of
American Institutions.
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 of meeting bound them to its foul
and fearful purposes by administering the
most horrid oaths, with one hand raised to-
ward Heaven, and the other to the merican
Flag, 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 peunittcd to hold an opinion which
haE not the sanction of the self-constituted
mouth-pieces of the party. "Within this
temple of superstition Sir Oracle reigus su-
preme. The devotee who "worships at its
shrine is completely unmanned. He no
longer feel nor acts his 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 his way
back to his family auain to repeat the hundred
time-told lie of no connexion with this order.
So much falsehood in the family circle, where
the utmost confidence, truthfulness, and har-
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 couucil 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 wronsrs with which it labors to
see that its influence is for evil, and only evil,
upon every interest of our country. We know
of many in other parts of the State who feel
with us in this matter, and who are resolved
to come and wash their hands of this foul
and disgraceful business.
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 thoso
born in a foreign land, draws into its toils
thousauds of houest. 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 conscience5;, surrender their own
thoughts into the keeping of others, and vi-
olate their oath of allegiance to the State of
which they are citizen.
Others may choose to submit to such atroc-
ious despotism, but as for ourselves we de-
nounce it as contrary to the cenius of our
institutions, at war with freedom of thought,
and deserving the open denunciation of every
true American.
Resolved, That the officers and members
of this Council affix their names to the a-
bove. '
Resolved, That the papers in this State
opposed to this organization, are hereby re-
quested to publish the foregoing.
B. P Bill, President.
Daniel S. Swax, Marshal.
Charles A. Tikfanny, Instructer.
John Sterling. John W. Bill,
Lodowick Bill, Gideon Bog'rs,
Charles Stark, II. B. Daniels,
Hewlett Iv. Anderson, A. S. Lee,
Stephen Sterling,
' David Quinly,
Henry C Pierson,
C. A. Howard,
Alfred Lester,
Samuel Daniels,
G. AL.Eeckwith,
Charles E. TifFany,
James A. Bill,
E. N, Lester,
Frederic Fosdick,
C. D. Slumnrf,
John A. Peck,
lteuben Lord,
B. B. Huntly,
L. Spencer,
S. B. Ely,
Daniel Daniels,
E. B. Warner,
Charles E. Smith,
H. B. L Reynolds,
Oliver Chapel,
S. B. Wood
D. A. Martin,
F. C. Smith,
T. J. Warner,
Geo. Daniels,
Noah Haidin,
Geo. A. Tiffany,
E. E. Bump,
Joel Clark,
Joe. TV. Rog'rs,
Wm, W. Warren,
P. B. Sampson,
John G. Hughes,
E. JI. Caulkins,
C O. Cone,
J. J. Champlin,
L. H. Maynard,
Abner S. Ely,
E. J. Warner,
E. S. Lay,
John Chapel,
Ira Chapel,
H. L. Huntly,
It. N. Deanison,
E. Strong,
Wm. B. Fosdick,
David Warner,
F. F. Huntly,
Elisha Miller,
Ira Z. Congdon,
E. J. Beckwith,
Chas E. Peck,
Elisha S. Peck,
David B. .Date,
J. Congdon,
II. B. Sisson,
Clement Fosdick.
Avoid debts as you would a leprosy. A
man indebted to another is virtually his slave J form them of the existence of a secret order
i'rora the Hartford Time.
An Exposition
Of Tlie PrincipJes and Power of the
Know .Nothing Order of Connecti
cut, Founded on the Actual Ex-
perience of Council jXo. 147, Lo-
cated in Lyme.
UNANIMOUS ACTION IN COUNCIL.
Whereas the State Council of Know Noth-
ings, at its recent session in Norwich, in the
grossest violation of irs constitution and laws,
by which it professes to be governed, and
contrary to every decision founded upon evi-
dence and justice, did revoke the charter of
this council on the representation of the pres-
idents of two other councils in this town
Xos. 105 and 10S; that a majority of its
membeis voted at the spring election in ac
cordance with the dictates of their own con-
sciences, without fear or favor of any man :
Thi'refore,
Resolved, That we can regard the action of
the State council, in thus revoking our char-
ter without even notifying us of such inten-
tion, in no other light than that of a base and
tyrannical usurpation of power, oppressive a-
like to us and every subordinate council in
the State.
Resolved, That his action has fully open-
ed our eyes to the manifest determination of
the order to crush out both freedom of speech
and action on the part of its members ; to
utterly disregard its assurances and obliga-
tions, professedly made in good faith, when-
ever it shall best suit its secret, dark and un-
hallowed purposes ; and henceforth to regard
no other law than that of passiotiatc impulse
and arbitrary prosciiption, which has ever
been the last resort of those powers only that
have attempted to shield the most gigantic
wrongs under the dangerous plea of necessity
and absolute authority.
f Rtsolvedy That, in our opinion, the time
has arrived for the alarm to be sounded in the
ears of the people of Connecticut, and to in-
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 siiedding blood. The Cincinnati, Louis-
ville, St Louis, and other fearful and bloody
Know-Nothing liots, 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 lepublican rule.
I hose who control and manage the affairs
of this corrupt concern are in it for the spoils
of office; and no means, however desperate,
arc left unit ied to compass this end.
The order is engaged in a crusade agaist re-
ligion ; it icvives the old spirit of persecution
for opinion's sake, and of course rallies arouud
its standard thousands who are always found
more willing to fight agaiust Catholicism than
to practice there own profession. Odious re-
ligious tests which have been successfully rea-
soned down and removed from the statute of
our State are speedily dragged from their
loathsome tomb and quickened into life. No
Catholic is to be tolerated, no matter how
sincerely he ma' revere his Maker ; he is to
hold no office in the gift of the people, have no
part in the government nor interest in any of
its concerns, while the atheist, deist, de-
bauchee, infidel, Mormon, or Buddhist, is re-
cogized as a good and worthy brother.
They have fearful appiohensions that the
Catholic church will sqou overrun and possess
the country, to the ruin alike of republican-
ism and religiou ; and all this too, when that
church is in the most rapid decline in the old
country, and while it is only continuing in its
Jold a moiety of those who reach our shores
strong in their attachment to its cause.
These apprehensions, then, are entirely un-
founded in fact and opposed to common sense.
It is only a trick of crafty polical man-
agers to hi ins to their aid the religious ele-
ment of their country, while it is generating
dissensions, sectarian animosities, aud the
rankest intolerance.
History and experience aliko teaches that
no people were ever persecuted for opinion's
sake without coming out iu the end vastly
itlCl eased in numciieal strength anil tuihlir'
lavor. it is a saving, both old and true in
all ages, "the blood of the martyr i the seed
of the church." No form of religions has
been put down by persecution of its profes-sor-:.
This order swears its members never to
vote for a foreinn-boni citizen to fill any office
in the gift of the people. Thus, birth-place,
lather than virtue and intelligence, is made a
qualification for places of trust aud responsi-
bility ! What an absurdity is here ! The
Know Nothing principles and practice would
elevate a JJeiiedict Arnold to thn nnvsidpnnv
t the same time nioeerihn snob in mi nc
JSST A sliort time previous to the e-
lection, Ave received a letter from Judge
E. M. Williamson, declining and invi-
tation to canvass tlie State, on the ab-
sorbing political topics of the day, but
for want of room we were compelled to
defer its publication until now, togeth-
er with one of the documents furnished
us by the Judge, which will be found
on the first page. It is a preamble and
series of resolutions adopted at San Fe-
lipe, Austin's colony June 22, 1835, and
is worthy to be placed side hy side with
the American Declaration of Indepen-
dence. To the Editor of tlie. Ranger.
Tn answering to your request, and that
of other Editors of the State, caIIuiz upon me
to take part iu the discussion of the political
topics that are agitating tiie public mind ; at
present, my feeble health compels me to de-
cline the proffered honor. I would cheerful-
ly perform the duty if I was in good health.
I cannot however omit the present opportu-
nity of transmitting the accompanyinir print-
ed documents, as -pending the sentiments I
bave ever entertained, and publicly, express-
ed in endeavoring to sustain the Republican
Principles on the continent of Ameiica. In
the order of their respective dates you are at
Liberty to republish them, entire ; or make
such extracts therefrom, as in your judgement
will promote the principles avowed, and aid
rhem in defeating the part' organized iri this
State called Know Nothings. I am respect-
fully, your Fellow Citizen
R. M. Williamson.
The Elections.
Telegraphic dispatches to Xew Or-
leans of the latest date, state that Ten-
nessee and Alabama have gone for the
Democracy-, and Kentucky for the Know-
nothings. (The True Delta cautions
persons not to place too much confidence
in telegraphic news.)
A terrible riot occurred at Louisville
on the night of the 6th. Twenty per-
sons were reported killed and twelve
houses burnt. The last telegraphic dis-
patch states that the mob was march-
ing to the Courier printing office, with
cannon for the purpose of demolishing
it. On the introduction of Know-nothingism
into Louisville, the Courier then
a whig paper advocated the order, but
the editor after being convinced of the
evil tendencies to which this secret and
oath-bound party was aiming, resolved
to withdraw and expose its intollerent
machinations. For doing so he was
threatened in every possible manner
that they, the " Know-nothings, would
ruin him, which, we suppose they were
about to put into execution on the night
of the election, by demolishing his office,
and perhaps taking his life." If this is
the " beginning of the end," God only
knows what the consequences will be
we shudder for the future. !N"o man is
now safe who openly and independant.
ly avows his political opinions he must
be proscribed, persecuted his proper-
ty and himself sacrificed. The Union
trembles, and almost hangs by an hair
naught, will save it from destruction
but the true and tried democracy, uni-
ted with those noble, patriotic whigs,
who foresee the impending danger, and
are rallying round the "TEUE AAEEB-
ICAN" and Eepubltcax standard.
JSSf AYe have heard of certain bui-
sr Know-nothings in this place, and bu-
siness men at that, who not being
satisfied with discontinuing the Eansrer,
are going about persuading other
business men to discontinue their pa-
per and not advertise in the Eanger, or
patronize it in any other way. Do they
suppose the' can stop the Eanger by
such unprincipled ways ? or do ther in-
tend to say to all men outside of their
order " we Know-nothings do not want
your custom? If such be the case,
those opposed to the Know-nothing doc-
trines, must act on the defensive, by retaliation.
XiOl the poor Catholic.
Is there a true American, Protestant,
or Christian, that can read the following-
without a chill of horror running thro-
ugh his veins. God speed the day
when Know-nothingism shall be 'crush-
ed out' from this laud of boasted liberty.
This atrocious outrage was committed
by men who would proscribe an inno-
fensive Catholic, and if needs be burn
him alive on the stake.
The Mobile Register gives the following
details of an atrocious outrage committed iu
that vicinity: It appears that the proprie-
tors of the Dog River Factory hufi- given a
piece of ground, on which has been erected a
building for school and religions pnrposes.
The services have been occasionally supplied
for some time past by Catholic Priests from
the Spring Hill College.
The Reverend Father Nashon has, for the
last eigeteen mouths,, been in the habit of
officiating at this Chapel. On Snnday morn-
ing last, while in h:sbnggy olf tinrToacT"t6v
the Factory, and about a mile from it, he
was stopped by four men. They inquired if
he was a Catholic priest; being answered in
the affirmative, they desired him to get out
of his buggy. The Reverend Father, think-
ing their manner sn?piciotis, hesitated a mo-
ment, but on reflecting that some person
might be sick and in need of his services, he
complied. Upon reaching the ground, he
was seized and dragged oft" the road into the
woods where he was held by two of the vil-
lians, while the other two beat him severely,
the one with his fists, about his head and
and face, and the other with a-ilarge stick,
Proni Europe.
The news from the Eastern war is
unimportant. Quotations from the Liv-
erpool cotton market make a decline of
l-6d per pound.
Ol.
JLiSr AYe have received enough re-
turns to show that the Democratic tick-
et has triumphed in this State, by seve-
ral thousand majority, overKnow-n'oth-ingism.
In our next we will .givea.
tabular statement of the vote of eacb
county.
-) ' -
JS5T The yellow fever has made-its
appearance in Houston, and numbers of"
its citizens are leaving the town.
JgST' By an advertisement in to-day's
paper it will be seen that Mrs. Yirginia'
Smith, of Galveston, proposes opening
a dancing school in this place. XTer re-
putation as Mistress of the graceful and
accomplished art of dancing is so well
know, that we are confident she will
meet with a liberal patronage. She
may be seen at the "Washington Hotel. ;
Bbexhax, Aug. 17th, 1855.ft
Paesox Lancaster,
Dr. Sir: sw -jz
The ten days allowed for presiding-
Officers to make their returns in, hav-
ing expired on yesterday, the Chief Jus-
tice proceeded to compare iheballotst
The returns from Independence being-
informal were rejected, which changes
the figures as follows, to wit :
Pease -ill ; Dickson 456 ; Jowers466
Eunnels 456; jSTeill 14; Hancock 461
Bell 493 ; Crosby 366 ; Fields 446; Brown
3; Tarver 448; Savles461; Farquhar
431; TJpshaw 344;" Hensley 114; For
the Texas Debt Act 36; Against ,668"! "
Yours &c,
- "W. F. Jareell.
JSSfWe commend the following extract
from the letter cfHon. A. H. Stephens npon
the subject of KnowNothingism, as a correct
and emphatic definition of what is really tkuk
Americanism. For one we are not so illibe-
ral and proscriptive as to reject it. So very '
consistent is it with onr ideas of republican-
ism, that we clip it for the benefit of our rea-
ders. Whether it will have any bearing
now or not is another question. When reas5'
on resumes its throne we may expect a belter
and more tolerautstate of affairs. But'to
the extract: - -
True Americanism, as I have learned it",
is like true Christianity disciples in- neither
are confined to any nation, clime, or Foil
whatsoever. Americanism is not the pro-
duct of the soil; it springs not from the land
or the ground; it is not of the earth earthy;
it emenates from the head and the heart; it
looks upward, and onward and outward; its
life and soul are these grand, ideas of govern.;
ment which characterize our institntions'and
distinguished us from all other people; and
there is no two features in our system which
so signally distinguishes ustfrora all other na-
tions, as frse toleration of religion and tho '
doctrine of expatriation the right of a' man
to threw 'olf InV allegiance 'to SrJyrS'eviBr
other State, Prince, or Potentate whatsoever',
and by naturalization to be incorporated as
citizens into onr body politic. Both the'se
American ideas which were proclaimed in
1T8T by our "sires of 76," are by their "sons"
at this day derided and scoffed at.
on other parts of his person
Having brutally beaten him in this man-
ner, one of the four drew out a dirk or bowie
knife, and holding it towards their victim,
told him, that if he ever attempted to go to
the factory for the pnrpose of preaching, he
would feel that weapon; that the punishment
now inflicted was nothing to what he would
suffer if he persisted in coming down. They
then left him to pursue his wav as best he
could. Bleeding and faint he managed to
reach the factory, and it was some time be-
fore he was sufficiently recovered to return
home with an escort which was provided for
him.
We heard last evening that the Reverened
Father is in a very precarious state, and
badly bruised about the head.
The police are on the track, and we hope
that the perpetrators of this outrage on the
person of a defenceless and unoffending Min-
ister of God, on his way to perform the func-
tions of his ministry, will meet the punish-
ment its enormity demands, and show to a
civilized world, that the TRUE Americak
party will protect their citizens, be they
Catholics or Foreigners.
and
jjaiayeue, Hamilton, .Uoutgomery, Uates,
Steuben, De Kalb, Moultrie, St. Clair, Jlor-
ri, and a hos. of noble and gallant men who
freely spent their tieasure and shed their
blood in our glorious struggle for liberty.
And aie the people of Connecticut prepared
to adopt such principles as these principles
which are at war with the machinery of the
American government ; We have tuo much
confidence in their intelligence and honor to
believe they will long submit to this great
wrong. We feel confident that there are at
this time thousauds in the order who are sim-
JKs-T Gen. Houston in his speech at
this place just previous to the election,
asserted among other things to gull the
people, that Gen. Cass favored the Know
Nothing order and their platform. In
answer to this, the Civilian, the editor
of which, has always been an admirer
of " Sam," says :
- This is a mistake in toto. Gen. Cass,
on tlie contrary, has written a letter
strongly condemning the order as dan-
gerous to the liberties of this country.
Excepting Gen. Houston, of tho old
Democratic leaders of the nation, we are
not aware of one (really distinguished)
who has approved the Know Nothing
party Gov. Jones of Tennessee, Wal-
ker of Alabama. Stephens of Georgia,
and many distinguished Whigs, also op-
pose it. Excepting Gen. Houston, what
distinguished Democrat in Texas favors
tho order? not one. Kusk, Henderson,
Williamson, Pease, Ward, Runnels, Bell,
Wood, Johnson, Smyth, Potter, Scott j
and nearly every one of the old Stand-
ard Bearers oppose it. i
A Democrat the other day remarked, in
speaking of the Know Nothings and their
proscriptive principles, that "foreigners on
coining to this country, take an oath to sup-!
port the. Constitution, and Americans who'
join tho Order, take an oath to oppose It.''
A truer remark couid not well have been
madf, or one which butter defines a Know
Nothing.
Mercury
A. wise man never sets his heart upon what
Jg-g How do our Know-nothing A-
merican friends like this scraj of history
taken from the N. Y. Herald, a Know-
nothing paper?
"We see before us now no loop-hole of escape
from the perilous contingencies of a sectional
scrub race, involving the most hostile aud
embittered elements of sectional jealousies,
hatred, violence, discord, and disruption. Iu
the North the anti-slavery fusionists are ri-
ding rough-shod over all obstructions. - They
have absorbed the new American party
throughout the New England States; they
have reduced it to a capitulation in Pennsyl-
vania; they have swallowed it up at a mouth-
ful in Ohio and Indiana; and almost every-
where else throughout the northern States,
excepting the State of New York, we find
the know-nothings playing second fiddle aud
acting as tide-waiters to the Seward holy
alliance.
" This is a deplorable state of things; bnt
it is nothing very wonderful. At the Phila-
delphia know-nothing national State council
there was a split npon southern slavery, the
bouth, with jNew lork to back them, going
off in one direction, and the bulk of the
I North in another. The order in every State
! was thus Ipft free to take its own course, and
! to forr its n n alliances for the elections of
the current year, leaving the general com-
j hiued plan ol operations for 1856 an open
quesRon. Vctmg accordingly, the know-
notbngs of New England, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, and Indiana have joined the anti-slave-i
'Oiilitton, and in theremaining north-wes-fin.
St.ite they will probably pursue the
vu'V "Iv of making hostilty to the exteu-
f vt "t sry tne oase line ot tueir opera-
t.oUS "
ja..
Inow KotJiiji? Withdrawals in
Louisiana.
The Southern democratic papers are liter-
ally teeming with examples similar to tha-
subjoined, which we find in a late number of, .
the Louisiana Courier:
"We learn from the Ouachita Register,
published at Monroe, Louisiana, that Mr:
Robert J. Caldwell, the district attorney of
the twelfth judicial district, has broken offrali -connection
with the know nothings and joined? .
the ranks of the democratic party, the old
national organization of the Union. Mri
Caldwell, in a letter directed to the editor of
the Register, declares that, after having
been for some time a friend to know nothing-
ism, he has, after mature consideration, come i
to the conclusion of abandoning that sect,
onder the conviction that it cannot conduce
to any national or patriotic object. He a.bV
jures all adherence to a party which fosteri
prejudices of every description, which incnlj
cates national distinctions, and which renders,1
the masses passive instruments in the hands"
of the adroit wire-pullers. Mr. CaldwelU ,
after haviug honestly entered their camp, has-
left it in an eqnally houorable manner. He ,
believes it the duty of every good'eitizen to
recant his errors when he discovers them-to
be such, and that there is more real conrage
in abandoning a party undeserving of respect
than of adhering to it throngh false pride
His own experience coupled with the excess
committed by know nothingism, have demon-
strated that no true American ought to be
with them. He repudiates all associations,
based upon political oaths, and scoffs attlie,.
idea that in a free country a man's thoughts;
or a2ts should be fettered by any organiza-
tion whatever.
"This letter, written with remarkable pers-
picuity and energy, created au immense sen- s
sation in the parish of Ouachita. This exam-
ple we have no doubt will be imitated by.
many. Those who sympathise with the prin-.
ciples of our cause, but who are deterred from "
a manifestation of it by .feelings of undue-
shame, will ere long voluntary come forward
and put their shoulders to the wheel"
0 on
General Houston's Letter.
Under date of July 24, the General repeats
the charge denied by General Scott, that " an
agreement was made between a Catholie
Bishop and General Pierce conditioned that
General Pierce was to receive the Catholic,
vote, and, in the event of his election, a situ-
ation in his Cabinet should be given to" a'
member of the Catholio denomination'
This general charge of a bid to both tKe
Presidential candidates in 1852. has been
fully denied, and is universally disbelieved. -,
While we commend General Houston's zeahiu
reviving the statement, it is but justfee to
praise the prudence that restrained the new --
American party, from re-publishing, in this
city, at least, the hacknied charge.
The General makes allusion to "natura-
lized foreigners;" (a new class of residents:) -Were
it not that our Uuited States' Senator
and ex-president, is known to be of Scotch-
Irish extraction, we might readily believe
that he had decended, in a direct line, from
the Plymouth Rock Pilgrims. His views
are highly intolerant.
ledger.
Wf.r?c r, r1oA dnV 1,'Vo , JX fanfnw
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View two places within this issue that match your search.Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Lancaster, J. Texas Ranger. (Washington, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 44, Ed. 1, Saturday, August 18, 1855, newspaper, August 18, 1855; Washington, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48829/m1/2/?q=green+energy: accessed June 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.