Texas State Gazette. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 44, Ed. 1, Saturday, June 23, 1855 Page: 2 of 8
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338
tfEXAS STATE GAZETTE.
JONE 23
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.LOJL
GREAT MEEMI) OF THE
lUOTERRIFIED DEMOCRACY
AT THE
STATE CJ1PITOL
A BOiUBSnELF; THROWN INTO THE
KNOW NOTHING CAMP
"Vo givo below tlio proceedings of one of tho 'most import
ant meetings ever held at tho Capital.
Gov. Pcoso declines to consider tlio State System the issue in
his election and promises to lay his views before tlio people of
tlio State v Ho avows open war against the Ktiow Nothings.
- Tbo pledges given by Gov. Pease are such that this meeting
"Has nominated him.
'. DEMOCRATIC MEETING.
A meeting of the Democracy of Trrtvis county convened at
tbo old Capitol in the city of Austin on tlio ICth inst. at 3
o'clock p. m.
On motion of A. W. Terrell Esq. Col. A. G. "WEIR was
called to the Chair who explained tboobject of the meeting in
a qv words. On motion of Maj. John Marshall R. T. Buown-
tigg was appointed Secr6tnry.
. Tlio meeting being called to order Judge Oldham moved
tbo appointment of a Committee to draft suitable resolutions ex-
pressive of the sense of the meeting -when the following gen-
tlemen were appointed :
i r Tas. G. Swislier Chairman S. G. Sneed Sr. A. "W. Terrell
Esq. Jno. Ashley Shelby W. Oharles P. DeCordova Chas.
McAnelly and. Win. Atwood.
i The Committee having retired Judge W. S. Oldham was
' called on and addressed the meeting in a spirited and earnest
manner. He depicted with vivid force theindispensiblo action
of the Democratic party to relieve the country from its present
embarrassing position and pressed conclusively the necessity
sri tor a cnorougn organization or en o party in oracr ra ciear tue
"18r i UlllUVJf U1UUUO WillUll tvu JIMUUUUU-
pBCure us unguiuesB. jlxo openiy umugneu xuiow-noimugism
fibro the bar of public opinion and concluded amid much
x applause with three cheers for the Old Dominion.
T" The Committee in the mean time reported the following
resolutions which being read on motion of H. W.Siiblitt Esq.
".were taken up separately and tho vote being so taken they
oro adopted seriatim
" Platform.
-Whorcas the Democratic Party ot the Union can ony exist
' and maintain its ascendancy by a strict adherence to the
' l principles of State Rights ; by unceasingly insisting upon the
aamimstrauon oi mo eueiui uuveruuiouu in iue Bimuiusb
W
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and most economical fprm and by jealously guarding against
'- "a tendency of that Government to exercise- doubtful and lut-
itudipous powers. That the principles laid down by the
.Democratic Party at their National convention held in Bal
timore in 1852 was intended and wen calculated to carry out
tneso cardinal maxims .ot our iaith ; that president .fierce
'm f was elected upon th'qm a.id that in reviewing his past con-
jj-iwir nr rnii.ii imna.nBol "'"'w ' niniwiMrimii.iu..'iiMm.irHii
"
;?
1
' satisfied that ho has conscientiously and truly discharged his
' tvdutie8 and that his vetoes' more especially of the River and
'?!; 'Harbor bill. Uio French spoliation bill and the Collins' Steam-
W'i '" " or bill are as so many lasting monuments in the history of
W. '1 . ' -rr ' T-. 1 71 -..!:. -J2 1 !
-4T $ tUO V OtO irOWOr BllOWing 1101 oiuy us euuuunuy mm ueuessi-
t?kv'' ty' in staying the hand of wasteful and improvident legislation
J :but of preserving the Federal Government within its true
' t sphere and. depriving it of the power of becoming daugorous
' lo and subsersivo of the liberties of the States Therefore
; Remvcd mat we continue to regard wstn unuoutca conn-
denco the course pursued by President Pierce ; that wo believe
him to be a pure and able statesman and that while he .vindi-
cates the cause of the Dqmocracy as Chief Magistrate of the
Union we shall consider all assaults made upon 'him whether
thoy may ho covert or open as attacks mado upon ourselves
and'treatthe parties as common enemies of the Democracy
--" Ri8olvcd That tbo Halls of Congress are fast becoming an
urona in which a portion of the people's servants are found the
aiders and common supporters of all kinds of claims and schemes
. '01 UUUIIC palmier UUU wmb ju jb w;u uiuo uii( iuu jjwpiv; in
their primary meetings should watch with moro vigilant eyos
the course of their servants in Congress and visit upon the au-
thors of this licentious and corrupt legislation the denunciation
and scorn which thoy so well deserve.
Resolved That the Federal Govcrnmoiithas no right to claim
' Jtq interfere with the affairs ot a Sovereign State and that we
iS'regard the propositions of the bill passed by the late Congress in
which tlio Legislative action of tho State of T'exas in regard
to 'her debtors is repealed and a substitute offered for our ac-
ceptance; as well as tho terms of tho Boundary bill of 1850
' -changed to suit the interests Of tho federal government without
' "any1 return of tho consideration of 07000000 of acres of land
'given by tho State of Toxas to the federal government as an im-
'portanc consiuoraiiaii jor mo ten muiuuub ui uuimia't'iujiuouu w
A bo paid her hy that Government as a most .pal pablo flagrant
' ana unwarranted outrago upon our sovereign rights and which
we can not subraitto without dishonor and disgrace.
Resolve That wo are fully alivo to the stealthy 'and to the
open attacks of the North upon-tho integrity oUia. constitu-
tion and the rights of tho South ; that tho coursejfguysued by
which jt was organized and it would be a just cause for the
disruption of all the ties that bind the Southern States to the
'Won'
ReSOlVed. That wn bolinvn flin rwonnnt a t5mf whan nil
Soutlfern men should bo vigilant and watchful of their intorests
ana tnac cno uemocratic Party has ever shown itsolt to no uie
onlysound and reliable political party in the Union with which
tho Sonth can unite ; that while wo invito earnestly all men to
; come to our standard we confidently and solemnly assure them
M U...- .. nUnll !C. !!... x ....
tiiuu wu Bimii jiuvur uoinpromise or sacriuco one loin ui uui
principles in tho defence of our Southern Rights ; that before
we will do this wo shall refuse to hold any further fellowship
with our party at the North.
Resolved That the free liberty of speech and the open dis-
cussion of political principles are of vital importance to the
safety and prosperity of our country and that we believe all
secret political factions as tho most mischievous and dangerous
enemies of free government that can exist in a time of peace ;
that the Know Nothing Party is one of these factions and that
wo bolievo that many good men and democrats have been led
to join it with tho honest desire to satisfy themselves of its true
object; that sufficient time has certainly elapsed to enablo it
to prove to the world its true character and while we find it
obnoxious to the charges herein declared as well as to imputed
charges of religious intolerance and sweeping proscription of all
foreigners wo call upon all worthy democrats that are its mem-
bers to come out at once from tho organization and join the
old standard ot the Democracy a party ot well established prin-
ciples and with a history so glorious with great deeds as to em
brace tho whole progress of our countv from the birth of the
Republic to the present time.
Resolved That wo now and henceforth declare the Know
Nothing party as the enemies of our Government and we shall
regard them in tho same light as the federalis t and whig of a
past day and that wo recommend our Democratic brethren in
every county of tho State to form democratic associations and
seek to rout out and destroy in the August elections an old
enemy that never has' and never will fight twice under the
same nag.
Resolved That the true test for qualification for office is the
test declared by Mr. Jefferson u Is he honest; is he capable is
he faithful to the constitution" and that any party which pre-
scribes a different test and requires no positive declaration of
principles other than that the candidate is opposed to placing
in Office citizens of foreign birth and those" professing the
Roman Catholic religion is not in accordance with the genius
of the American Government and violates all the fundamental
principles of free speech free press and free conscience upon
which this Repnblic was founded.
Resolved That we believe all real democrats who have con-
nected'themselves with this Know Nothing brotherhood with-
out being advised of its true objects or forseeing its dangerous
tendencies ougjit to and wilL abandon it and resume their posi-
tion in the ranls of the time-honored party whose principles
they know and approve and take a pleasure in publicly pro-
claiming; and we cordially invite as well as expect them to pur-
sue this course. In this crisis all who are not for us are against
us.
Resolved That we will support with all open and honorable
means as ueinocratsJsnown to be true the lion. 1L. JM. Pease
TT.n . -I J.I .
oiy anu uie-xron.rrrrrserij
JaJassachuBettsw seeking to nullity an act ot uongess tor tlio
security of our slaves ; the decision of the Supremo Court of
Wisconsin against tho constitutionality of thof ugitive slave act ;
. v. .f.. n .1 . -.!. il . r...l- J.I. - I'.L
the euorts or cue tresoiiers 10 snaccu iromjue oowu me jucuro
Jpk iSlato of Kansas.; as well as the platform raised by powerful
ffiolitical partiqB in'tho Northern States proclaiming that "there
r.. ...- - . i i-
lor wovernornuia tnexrunrirrTirettrmir-crei-iVrtriiiul-rewrt--!
i y V . 1 -r
sentauve tor uongress in tins .District.
Resolved That as we have good reason to believe that the
Hon. D. C. Dickson is the candidate of another party for Gov-
ernor we recommend a Convention to be called of all Democrats
of this county to meet at this place next Saturday at three
d'clock to nominate candidates for Senator Representative and
Flpater and .to suggest tho names of suitable candidates for
Lt. Governor and Commissioner of the General Land Office.
JAMES G. 'SWISHER 'Chairman.
His excellency E. M. Pease being then called for came
forth and gave the meeting his views in a clear and concise
manner. He said ho had been a Democrat from his youth up
until now he might differ from some of his party in reference
to his views of State policy but he accorded to each one tho
privilege he claimed for himself that of entertaining such
viewB as seemed most conducive to the public good to his mind.
That he would givo his views at length to tjie people of the
State shortly in a published circular.' The Governor conclu-
ded by boldly declaring himself opposed in the extreme to
Know-Nothingism and all other fanatical isms agitating at
present the public mind. lie was much cheered during the
course of his remarks and after concluding.
T. S. Andorson Esq. being then called for. acquitted himself
m n handsome mannor. lie compared lvnow-JNotlungism to the
hundred-footed worm that drags its poisonous length across tho
body by midnight and Democracy to the serpent of iMoses in
the wilderness held up before tho people that they might "be-
hold and live." He spoke of tho u3d Degree Obligation? as
published by the Know Nothings as a silver gauze hung out
to hide from the people the hideous features of this "veiled
Prophet" of intolerance and closed with a fervent appeal to
his fellow-citizens to follow tho high example of "Old Virginia"
and sustain .tho Democratic party against all opposition.
Hon. A. J Hamilton being then loudly called on took the
stand amid the most vociferous applause. He said ho dicl'not
wish to fpeak as it was growing late and he had much to sny
on this subject; he intended if possible to consume the time
between liow and tno 1st ivionaay in August in miicing about
it. Ho had no doubt as to the ultimate triumph of tho truths
The Democracy of Bell County.
According to previous announcement alargo and respectable
millibar of the Democrats of Bell county assembled at tho.
f Church in Belton on the 23d May 1855 when tho house being
called to order L. A. UtfLW was caueci to uio vjnair ana J.
N. Houston Secretary.
On motion of J. N. Houston that a Committee of live should
bo appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sentiments
of the meeting. The Chair appointed Isham McMillan "Win.
Reid Henry 'Harris Joseph Dennis and John N. Houston.
snid Committee: whereupon after retiring and consultation
the following resolutions were returned and unanimously
adopted :
Resolved That the Domocracy of Bell countv in public-
meeting assembled renew their dev6tion to tho principles and
organization of tho grand National Democratic party of the
Union a party whose views are limited to no classes and con-
fined to no creeds but are broad enough and comprehensive
enough to embrace all the diversified interests ot this great and
growing Republic.
Resolved That in the language of Jefferson we believe
equal and exact justice to all men of whatever state or persua-
sion religious or political to be one of the essential principle
of our government and consequently one of thoso that ought
to shape its administration.
' Resolved That in Franklin Pierce we recognise a man of
stern intoeritv and an able defender of tho constitution whoso
- j patriotism is tainted with no sectional jealousies and limited
with no Geographical lines and tlmtsink or swim we will give
to nis administration our nuuivy ami uuiui.u oum u.
Resolved That we endorse and prove tho Nebraska and
Kansas act' and freely acknowledge tho debt due from the
country to Hon. Stephen A. Douglass and those who aided him
in his noble and manly stand against a rampant and reckless
fanaticism.
Resolved That we repudiate and utterly condemn all secret
societies for political ' purposes :. Cause considering them nt
war with the genions of our institutions tending to corrupt
public morals aud certain to end in tho ruin of popular right-.
and freedom.
Resolved That wo recommend to the honest people ot our
State that they resist to the bitter end every interference on
the part of the North with any of our State elections or South-
ern institutions.
Resolved That we believe that the bill passed by the Ink
Congress of the United States known as the Texas Debt Bill
is aviolation of the rights nnd honor of Texas is inequitable
and unjust to the State and that portion of her creditors whobi
claims have been audited at par and that the same should he
rejected by tho State.
Resolved That we believe that a well devised system of In
ternal Improvements is necessary for the developement of the
resources of the State and should be adopted at the earliest
practical period : But at the same time it is the opinion of tlm
meeting that the svstem commonly known as the State Sys
tem or Galveston plan is totally impracticable not adnpted i(
the condition ot the country and it adopted would result in
failure and defeat every practical ulan : that if entered upon
would produce log-rolling and sectionnl contests and fix upon
the btate a debtirom which she could never- extricate herself.
in-oiuui-l -..... TU-.n-c 111 l(HUl VI ll DU l(Jb wiliiiuizUOn Ol llll
Democratic party ot Bell county and of tho State upon the
old Democratic platform.
On motion it was ordered that tho State Gazette be request-
ed to publish the proceedings of this meeting.
After a short address by John N. Houston Esq. there beinij
i further business the meeting adiourned.
JL. A. OGLE Uhr'm.
J. N. Houston Secy.
'shall be no moro slave States." that these arc all evidences of
hostility to the South which only awajt the relative political
pbor in CongresB to deny tons the rights and privileges sacred-
ly guaranteed to us under tho Constitution.
Resolped That wo fully endorse the principlo of tho Nebras-
ka Kansa bill nnd bolievo that Southern men have an equal
right with" tho North to occupy tho territory of Kansas with
their elaves-and to have them nrotoctod as their property and
that if the territory of Kansas shall chose to become a slave
State that wo claim for her the right to bo admitted into the
fTTninn wif.li linr iinmilini inRl-ihiHnn. nnrl t.linfc filinnlrl rIio lin ia-
fecfod on account oflho institution of slavery tho federal I
Government would have ceased to carry out the objects' for
of Democracy. He poured forth the vials of his wrath upon
tho principles and organization of tho Dai;k Lantern party
stripping their intolerance bigotry and illiberal proscription to
a perfect etato of nudity and exposingits hideous deformity to
the view of an excited audionce. lie spoke of tho ridiculous
nonsense of contending for its secrecy when evory. man wo
man and child Mexican and negro in the community knew of
it. Ho pronouueeu nimsoii nrmeu nnu equipped lor the com
test and proclaimed war war to tbo kniib against the "Doo-
dlebugs" of America as ho formed tho Kuow-Nothings. He
was jmich cheered in tho course of his remarks and for a long
time after their conclusion.
When Gen. Hamilton concluded his remarks a motion was
offered and carried that the proceedings of tho meeting bo pub-
lished in tho city papers and the Democratic papers through-
out tho cpuntry : When on motion tho meeting adjourned to
nnf nnvf ffnl-iivlfiv of 3 n'flfrT.- n. in
" ' ' ADOLPI1US G. 'WEIR Chr'm.
R. T. Buownrioo Sec'y. '
)
no
Sqotiikrn Education. The following able and patriotic
views on the above subject by Judge Perkins will we have
no dgubt be read with interest by those who are desirous t
promote the cause of Southern Education. Than this therois
no question which should rivet more the attention and elicit
the sympathies of every Louisianian. Our destiny and our fu-
ture welfare are inseparably connected with it:
1 feel a deep interest in Southern education and am morti-
fied whenever I seo a Louisiana boy going North to college. I
regard it as tho high duty of every Southern parent to instill
into the mind of his child devotion to our peculiar institutions:
and I am firmly persuaded that until Southern youth cease to
be sent away Irom home at an age when they are particularly
exposed to erroneous impressions Ave can never exneet to sec
I prevail to any great degiee that elevated State pride which
wiiuu il lbinii uest guarantee oi tne rights of the States beinj'
maintained is at the same time perfectly consistent with if nor
absolutely essential to a just and rational devotion to the Union
of the States.
My two years' fcxperience.of public lite at Washington has.
only confirmed my sense of the importance of keeping prom-
inently before the Southern mind the fact that the time is ra-
pidly approaching when the South will have nothing but Stafo
barriers to oppose to the encroachments of northern Yanaticisni.
The free States have now the ascendency in Congress and
public sentiment among them is such that it will direct tk
whole force of Federal legislation to tho restriction and ulti-
mate destruction of an institution with which not only our
prosperity but our very existence as States has become iden-
tified. (
l-ntertaining this conviction 1 look with deep interest to the
growth within our State of an institution of learning like Cen-
tenary College which is annually sending forth young men
properly indoctrinated to take their position in a few' years
leaders to that public opinion which is to mould ourStati
policy.
This true and essential principlo as to Southern education
should be further carried out by tho employment as teacher
generally throughout the country of reliable men as well
women and no ono should be employed to teach Southern chil-
dren who is in tho least tainted with New England or North
era isms and fanaticism ; and we hope tho people of the South
will hereafter turn their attention more earnestly to this impel 4
tant subi'ect.
These are opinions in which every good Southerner should p
coucur. Wo have had in our schools too great an importation
already of Yankee school teachors aud school books and hwpf .
to seo Southern talent better encouraged than it has heretof'"4- f
been. Jottsve-nons.
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Oldham, W. S. & Marshall, John. Texas State Gazette. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 44, Ed. 1, Saturday, June 23, 1855, newspaper, June 23, 1855; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth81190/m1/2/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.