:
A' mmW V X X UtKM X X V
A Family Paper, devoted to State Intelligence, the News of the World, Political Information. Southern Rights, Agriculture. Literature, and Miscellany,
"CQh'i JOHN j. PALMES, I
CHARLOTTE, MECKLENBURG COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA.
$2 PER ANNUM
In Advance.
vest
ETITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
Main Street, )
TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1856.
C VOIAJME4.
( NUMBER 26.
-New Series
ONE DOOR SOUTH OF SADLER'S HOTEL. S
OF THE
rj.j vv y Q-ji-y vAt
BOOK V I JOB
, O
Having iccflljr visited New-York, and se
lected from the old and OSBgawt
Foundry of Goo. Bruce, Esq.,
A QUANTITY OF
3Crui nnb nsjjtoniiblf (Bqyc,
We niv now prepared to Execute
In tlio Best Style,
ALL, KINDS (T
mm wmmmm
. . . , , , fgf, 0 -y j , ..
iiiuit iply the JWicawt) nf you
multiply the Results,"
I one of the rntshfinhfil ilmnof business-
"SS ft-- '
OJUEBS FOR
PAMPHLETS,
HANDBILLS,
CARDS,
CIRCULARS,
LABELS,
CLERKS' BLANKS
SHERIFF'S do.
CONSTABLES' do.
MAGISTRATES'do.
ATTOKXEYS' do.
OR FOK
Required by the business Commdnity,
WILL BE EXECVJTKll WITH
'Mw 1 9 r A I 11'"
ANI
- " r -a s
Various Itiiacla of
i . if t m .,
A -J
ALWAYS ON HAND.
Eating and ICetVetiinentt
SALOON.
rjlHE undersigned takes this method to re-M-
turn his thanks to his friends for the libe
ral eacowras wl which baa been extended to
him in bki W of business, and to inform them
that he has sold his establishment to Mr. J. Ad
IfinaoB. who will continue the business at Ow
sane- st.md. I shall u main in the Saloon, as
heretofore, and will b- happy to receive the calls
of my fr'n-nds, as usual.
Fresh .Korfolk OYsters
.... i , l li?
ill at .-ill tmi"-.s lie Kepi on nana anu
stirred up in anv style aeajwd.
Fine Tobacco, Segars, Wines
Brandies.
And ihe best of Liquors generally,
AK aya en liaud.
MEALS, eompost d of such dishes ;(s may be
railed for. served ui at till hours, in the most ap
proved style of cookery.
Day Boarders
Are taken, upon maomUe terms. Call at ihe
Saloon, two doors north of Ken"'s Hotel, if you
di-sire aoawfthmaj nice to eat aud drink and to re
cruit the inner man.
V. H. JORDAN.
Dec. 25, 1855. tf for J. AdUinson
LWCOIRAOE THIS K0( klNiJ
rHlHE nnderaigned l'gs leave
.M. to return his thanks to those
who favored him with a call dur
ing ike Lst year; am h' would
svspectfully mfarm the public that
he has removed to the Machine
Shop formerly occupied by Messrs. Geoni &
Whisicuit, adjoining Mr. J. Rudisill's Bteam
Phmillg Mills, when- he is prepared to execute
all work m his line as cheap andtis goinl as can
le ii..ne in IBM State.
Turning, Cutting Screws, Repair
ing Boilers and Engines of all
descriptions, Making and Re
pairing Mill Spindles, Wood
Plainers, Making Ploughs, Iron
ing Wagons; and in Horse-Shoeing,
&c., we challenge any one
rot neatness, wear, and dispatch. Inter
fering st,. SI 35, common ditto $1. east
steel to. s. gc gteel plate, t-.
si t iruijv
K.m Mr Y HEARD, the Gun and Lock
Siintli can hi- fosma at the above establishment
Charlotte. Jau. I, 1856, ,f j p
THE FIRM hitherto eziatmc under the title
of PRITLHARD & CALDWELL, Drag
gists, L dissolved by mutual cous-ut this dav.
(the 17th.) All persons indebted to the ww'
ar aruestly des:r d to make arrangen.-uts, at
am rat4; by January Court next, for settleiueiu
and all with whom the previously existing con
cern is iu arrears, to presmt their claims bv that
"mVu m, nt- lo n. M. Pritchard.
Hie Oruv:1Siiiiirs will becar
wd on as beret, f. r. . m the old stand, o. S.
Crauito Row, ofmosite Badler'a Hotel,
vrb re the Mbscriba be happy to BBS anv
aid ALL oi his old ti:ci;.N and genenmi pat.onA.
si ;uiy :uid ail tiuw-s.
II. M. PRITCH Attn r
Vf Jtte. D. 18, ia6ft
m
DAILY DUTIES
Our daily paths ! with thorns or flowe rs
We can at will bestrew them ;
What bliss would gild the passing Lours
If we but rightly knew them.
T!- way of life is rough at best,
But briars yield the roses,
So that which leads to joy aud rest,
The hardest path discloses
The weeds that oft we cast away.
Their simple beauty scorning,
Would form a wreath with purest ray,
And prove the best adorning.
S, in our daily paths, 'twere well
To call each gift a treasure,
However slight, where love can dwell
With life-renewing pleasure!
S. W. JDAVIS,
Attorney e. Counsellor at Law,
CHARLOTTE, Ji C
Jan- 1, 185C tf
CHARLOTTE HOTEL,
BY
J. B. KERR, Proprietor.
EVERY accommodation afforded
the patron of the CHARLOTTE
II
HOTEL.
At this Hotel is kept the Stage Office for Rland
A Baxter's daily line of stag-s from Charlotte via
Lincolnton, Shelby and Itutlierloruton to Asne-
ville, K. C.
Alan. f.vc the line of Ti i-w ,-ekl v St.!T-s from
Charlotte via Monroe, N. V. and Lancaster, .S C.
to Camden, S. C. ,
t:.tr..iis Dt tlie CJharUuw Hotel conveyed to and
from the d.-j.f.s free of charge.
J. 15. KERR.
Jan. ?, 1850. 3u
Broad-Street Hotel3
IMi
S!
Rl II UO I. VA.
rWl HIS well-known Hotel has been purchased
by, and is now under the control ot the uu
dersiirned, who has introduced fuch improve
menta as make it ejual in accommodation and
comfort, be trusts, to anv hotel in Richmond. It is
situated on Shockoe Hill, within 100 yards of the
Depot of the Richmond and Fredericksburg Rail
Road ; thus affording a convenient and desirable
stopping place for travellers going North or torn
in" South. I will not follow the fashion of the
day, anil make high-sounding promises ; but I
will ask a trial of my House from the travelling
public believing that my accommodations and
rfturirrj: will be the best n commendation.
ISAAC A. GODDIN.
Richmond, Va.. Dec. 4, 1955. tf
Vision acadei?iy.
THE first session of this Institution will
commence on the first day of January,
1856 s
Terms of Tuition, per session of G months, spell
ing. Reading, and Writing, $0 00
Arithmetic, Geography, History and G ram
mer, 7 00
PTnhnmpoy, AalwoBsy.awd Cmimiatrj1, 8 00
Surveying, with the use of the Compass, 10 00
Said School is situated in District No. 42,
it' Union county, on the Wadesboro' road, l(i
miies west oi .uonroe, m me neigiinoriiooa oi
K G. Howard s, Col. Dunn's, W. P. Robinson's
and others. Good Hoard may be had in the vi
cinity at i-SO to $7 per mouth.
Those wishing to become Teachers of Com
mon Schools may thoroughly prepare themselves
in this School.
E. G. M0FFETT, Teacher.
Jan. 1, lKVv If
S. W. WESTBROOKS,
Proprietor or the Criiiltord
POMOLOGICAL
GARDENS
AND
'VMT'OULD respectfully call Ihe attention of
V our Southern cUizena to his select collec
tion of native and acclimated varieties of FRUIT
TREES, embracing some FORTY THOUSAND
trees of the following varieties, viz : Apple, Pear,
Peach, Plum, Apricot, Cherry, Nectarine, Al
mond Also a choice assortment of GRAPE
VINES. Raspberries, Strawberries, &c. &c.
KAl! orders, accompanied with the cash,
wiil receive prompt attention, and the trees will
be neatly packed and directedto any portion of
the country.
1'. S. Persons wishing Ornament-,! Trees can
be supplied. Address Greensboro', N. ('.
Dec. 4. 1855. 3m"
SADDLES & HARNESS.
THE SUBSCRIBERS
have entered into co.
partnership and open-
ed a new- Saddle aud Harness
ManLifactory,
AT R. SHAW'S OLD STAND,
In Ssings' Brick Corner Buildino,
where they have constantly on hand a large
and splendid assortment of
SaddlcIIriclIei,IIariicss,&c
of every description, according to the most
! approved style and fashion of the day. They
I are also prepared to manufacture anything in
their line m the most substantial and work
manlike manner and better than the best.
We respectfully invite the public to call
ami examine for themselves.
Repairing done at short notice and with
neatness and dispatch.
SHAW cS: PALMER.
March 2, 1S55. 32 tf
s.
M. HOWELL,
Saddle 6l Harness Manufacturer,
(Three doors south of Sadler's Hotel,)
CBABXOTTSj N. C.
THE subscriber thankful
for the vury liberal patron
age bestowed upon him dur
ing the past year, has now
made more extensive pre
paration for the future de
mand for work in his line,
and w ill endeavor to furnish
all that may want Saddles
and Harness, with a superior article at the
lowest possibls prices. He has now on hand
a very lare assortment of
Saddle, BritiUs, Harness, Saddlery Hard
ware, Whips, Bufala Hobes, $ud
iV.t. Cloths, Skirtings. Jlug
SI ins. Potent En
amelled and Harness Leather.
together with every thing usually kept in my
line of business.
7Ail k:n,!s of Saddles and Harness made
at the shortest notice.
K7" Repairing promptly executed.
S. M. HOWELL.
Oct 23, 1855. 13-tf
ttiiri
Mb
mm
moral J ntclltacntc.
CENTRAL AMERICA.
The diplomatic diflk ulty that exists be
tween the governments of Great Britain and
our own, in relation to the Clayton Bulwer
treaty and the movements of the celebraUuLlcha re jrj prosidpnt of
"filibuster,'' Ben. alker, must lor a tune
give considerable prominence to the affairs
of Central America. The diplomatic difficul
ty referred to is of a serious nature, and if
the debate that occurred in the Senate on
that partof the President's Message in which
the matter is treated may be taken as a fair
exponent of the popular feeling in this coun
try, the question must soon be brought to a
direct issue.
Central America is also becoming a point
of interest, by reason also of the operations
of the filibusters. We are eminently a pro
gressive people, extremely fond of making
States. To gather in a million or two of
acres, strip them of their forests and improve
them with farms, towns and even cities,
which shall embrace a population sufficient
to entitle them to an admission in the Unioa,
as a sovereign State, is often with our peo
ple the work of a very short time. All this
has been accomplished within the brief pe
riod of a single decade. State making has
alwav-s been a driving business with us.
Gen. Walker evidently designs to con
solidate the five States of Central America
into one, and thus give birth to another A
meriean Republic. Accordingto the recent
work of JSIr. Squires, the area of Central
America contains 154,000 square miles an
extent of territory about equal to that of
New England and the Middle States com
bined. The population is two millions,
which is divided among the five States as
follows : Guatemala, 850,000 ; San Salva
dor ,194,000: Honduras 350,000 ; Nicaragua
300,000, and Costa Rica 525,000. Such a
confederation would make quite a respecta
ble empire, at least for a filibuster. Of the
entire population, however, only one hun
dred thousand are whites. Of the remain
der one million are pure Indians ; eight
hundred thousand of mixed blood, and about
ten thousand negroes. The climate is said
to be good, though diversified ; the produc
tions aud mineral resources of the country
are highly spoken of, and the chances of
immense developement under the infusion
of Yankee enterprise could not be better
Walker's sphere of operations is at present
confined io the sii.r1" So "Kiammmg
vvliicb of Itself Is equal in extent of Territo
ry to the State of New York. Recent ad
vices, however, indicated that ho is gaining
ground in two, if not three of the other
States, influential parties favorable to his
project having been organized in those
States. It is not supposed that he will at
tempt the immediate military subversion of
any of the States, but iu the event of Hon
duras and San Salvador forming, as is anti
cipated, a voluntary alliance with his Gov
ernment, Guatemala could hardly refuse to
consolidate, while as to Costa Rica, iu view
of its national resources, it may be conjee
tured that the result would be inevitable.
Baltimore American.
Wokk fob Walker. Carrara has left
Guatemala with one thousand men to march
against Nicaragua. General Lopez, of Hon
duras, has directed troops to the same des
tination. In the State of Salvador, soldiers
are being rapidly enlisted, in order to aid
the inhabitants of Nicaragua. In Costa
Rica the government has also mads an ap
peal to the population to aid Nicaragua a-
gainst w aiKer. it appears troin these
manifestations that Walker has yet some
thing to do before he can sit down aud enjoy
his filibuster laurels.
The Oregon War. The Indian news
from Oregon, brought by the steamer
Northern Light, is quite startling. The
volunteers have come out second best in all
their engagements. Captain Bennett, in a
pitched battle near Walla Walla, was killed ;
also several soldiers. On the 7th December,
Lieutenant Slaughter, of the army, aud
three of his men, wrere shot dead, and five
more wounded, by fire from the bushes
while in the act of kindling their camp fire.
Lieut. Slaughter was an efficient officer, and
at the time he fell, was rendering valuable
services to his country. Gen. Wool will
take the field as soon as he can concentrate
a sufficient force, obtain the necessary sup
plies for his troops, and the weather will
permit of a successful campaign.
Chinese Slaves. Several cargoes of
Chinese slaves have recently arrived at Cal
lao, and other ships are expected. A ves
sel, a short time since, landed five hundred
and twelve persons, and had lost one hun
dred and twenty-two on the passage from
Swaton. The mortality among them is ve
ry great. The cargo was sold in a few
days to good advantage. The owners of
farms find the Chinese slaves better work
men than others.
A Veteran. A correspondent of the
Richmond Enquirer, says that there is living
in Poarhattan county, a person who was born
contemporaneous with the coronation of
George II, of England 16 years before the
Declaration of American Independence,
and four or five years before the birth of
Washington.
Virginia Convention. The Democrats
of Virginia are to hold a State Convention
at Richmond, ou the "th day of February.
The Trial of Eccles. The Charleston
Evening News of the 14th says : The trial
of T. J. Eccles, late Mail Agent on the Col
umbia and Charlotte Railroad, on the second
indictment, was resumed this morniug, at
10 o'clock. The present case is one for
ntwwtinor n 1-1ti r eemtainiitf a bill of pt-
cari0
tte Bank, to J. Cheeseboro, As-
Sistant Cashier of the Charleston Bank.
There are three other iudictments of the
same character from Charlotte, and one from
Union for the loss of a letter containing one
thousand dollars. The present trial must
be either finished or postponed between this
and Friday, as ihe trial lor tin- murder of
Capt. Ayres, of the ship Ariel, bound from
New York to Shanghai, will then be taken
"P" ...
American Commerce There are loading
this week, at New Orleans, for Liverpool,
seventy vessels, against twenty-nine at the
some period last year. No less than one
hundred and eighty ships and barks are at
this time loading in the Southern ports, one
hundred of which are for Great Britain.
Mobile Register, Jan. 0.
N. C Revised STATUTES. We are re
quested to state that copies of the Revised
Statutes have been received by Gov Bragg,
for distribution among the various Counties
of the State ; and that persons have been
engaged to distribute them, but have been
prevented from starting by the inclemency
of the weather. As soon as the weather
opens, they will be sent out as rapidly as
possible. Raleigh Standard.
The Year 1856. The year we have en
tered upon will witness much political ex
citement. In North Carolina we will have
to appoint delegates to the National Demo
cratic Convention t nominate a candidate
for the Presidency ; there will be a Presi
dential election; we also have to elect a
Legislature and G overnor. In view of these
things, it becomes every man to prepare
himself to1 discharge his duty to his coun
try, by trying first to discharge those that
he owes to his God. Much reading aud re
flection are necessary, to qualify a man to
know and appreciate what and who he is,
and what are his duties aud rights. Golds.
Tribune.
Disaster. Saturday night, about 8
o'clock, the spacious Danville Railroad De
pot in Richmond, Va., fell with a great
r .1. . i.o T . . porfect wreck The
immediate cause was tho vast weight of
snow.
The depot was 225 feet long on the west
side, 210 feet on the east side, aud 132 feet
wide, and being covered iu by one roof,
supported only by small iron rods, present
ed a wide surface for the falling snow, which
had accumulated to a depth of several inch
es before the accident occurred. Fortun
ately no one was in the building at the time,
and no lives were, therefore, lost. This de
pot was erected at a cost of 25,000 to the
company, about two years since, and was
one of the largest iu the South. The Dis
patch says it is impossible to estimate the
loss to the company, and to the merchants
and farmers who had freight in the depot,
but we fear it will fall but little short of
$50,000, as there were in the building, at
tho time of the occurrence, some 13,000
bushels of wheat, besides hogsheads and
cases of tobacco, lots of guaao and merchan
dize of almost every character. There were
also two or three freight cars crushed by tho
falling timbers, and one of them literally
ground into fragments.
Another Dkeadftjx Rail-Road Acci
dent. The express train from Albany, N.
York, stopped just below Poughkeepsie, on
the 0th instant, on account of a defect in the
track, when it was run into with great force
by another train from Poughkeepsie, bound
in the same direction. Two cars of the
former train were demolished and three per
sons killed a Mrs. Green, of Uticu, and .a
young man and woman, names unknown.
Twenty -two persons were more or less in
jured, several of whom were not expected to
recover.
Serious Railroad Accident. On Sat
urday evening last, 11th instant, a very se
rious collision took place on the Danville
Railroad, in which some lives were lost.
It seems that both the up train and down
train were a few hours behind time, and the
conductors of each fancied the other was
waiting some wnore on u.e nne io pas,. ,
. . , .1. . ! . T .
ras snowing hard aud both trains going at j
tnc rare oi -w uiui-a uu mrm, nucu mv; ii
into each other about 12 miles from the
!,. -i M , 1...... ..,-,...,,
Uiieuoii. Ji ii .......... ...... .....
J 1
:.. .. I , o tnfirtm smnli firm tlio
Killed ana wounawi arc nia.iv m irupuruvu
. . .
lj Uf IlUIIJI.ll- 1 v nuu jvit'. I
Si,7f Democrat I
Thf rovvrivivL fJONVENTiov --The i
I HE tOMMEKCIAL CONTENTION. i ne
Aiavor oi tnc L.itv oi iiiuricsitui uua jippoiui- :
J ' 1 v v 11
.-II 1 .1 i
ed eighty delegates to represent the City in i
the Commercial Convention at Richmond,
hich meets on the 30 thof Januarv.
I
Governor or Wisconsin . Boshford, !
Republican, has taken the oath of office as
Governor of Wisconsin by decision of the
Supreme Court. Barstow, (Democrat) how- j
ver. hud been previously declared eleoted '
by the-LegisIalure. J
' rrew .TeL-so,,'s farewell address was ,
read, according to custom
ncioro worn .
r i . .
branches of the Pennsylvania Lo
:
I . ICl Hill )
on the 8th, and five thousand copies order
ed to be printed fin tho use cf the members-
Congrtssttmal ani political.
SOMETHING FOR NOTHING.
A Know-Nothing Congress has now been
in session nearly six weeks, and during that
time there have been in the House of Repre
sentatives over one hundred ballotings for
Pk r. the expense to the country bns
,x(,u tUroe thousand dollars a day aud at
JF8e organhmtioa offhe House has
j costthe Government about $130,000, enough
I money to found a University, to fill the
mouths of one hundred and thirty thousand
destitute widows and orphans, and to defray
the expenses of a thousand missionary ves
sels to heathendom. And what value has
the government received for this vast outlay?
None. South-Side Democrat.
ELOQUENT SPEECH
Of Hon. Lawrence WL, Kcitt,
OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
In our abstract of Congressional proceed
ings for Saturday last, we spoko of the able
and forcible speech of Hon. Mr. Keitt, of
South Carolina, after being called out by a
speech of Mr. W alker, of Alabama, who
alluded to Mr. Keitt, as certifying to divis
ion, on principle, in the ranks of Democra
cy, in a speech delivered by the latter gen
tleman at Barnwell, South Carolina. When
Mr. Keitt got the floor he spoke as follows
aud with an effect that will not be forgot
ten :
Mr. Keitt said : Mr. Clerk, the gentleman
from Alabama, Mr. Walker has dragged
mo into this rambling discussion ; and as I
will not allow any party and partieularly
the party with which I am co-operating
even through implication to be wronged
through me, I choose now to speak for my
self. The gentleman quotes from a speech
made by me last fall, before a. portion of my
constituents, at Barnwell court house. I
will sav that I advanced no opinion in that
speech which I wish now to retract, and
made no statement which I am disposed to
qualify.
The gentleman from Virginia Mr. Bo
cock is correct in saying that I do not tech
nically belong to the Democratic organiza
tion. Sir, I wear no party collar, and nev
er will wear one. I never will abdicate my
individuality, or merge myself in any party,
so as to commit self-abnegation. I will sup
port any measure which is just, wise and
constitutional, come it from what party it
niij , ciuil I will ic!lst any TncasvLTC wh!ih
is the opposite to these, however emblazon
ed it may be with party insignia, and how
ever authenticated by the stamp of party
councjL 1 am content, sir, to express here
my own opinions, and those of my constitu
ents, which 1 may legitimately reprosent.
I advise gentlemen to some modesty and
circumspection in uttering the oracles of
part-. A few years ago you had men who
could speak fof party. You had men whose
spleudid iutellects and lofty patriotism made
parties. Parties were then based upon prin
ciples, and their organization was the breath
of these men. Now men are the breath of
parties. Now parties make men ; then men
made parties. But those times are gone,
and those great names are only illuminated
with historic glories.
I repeat, then, sir, that I cannot be quoted
as a member of the Democratic party to
show a want of harmony in its ranks, as I
am not strictly in its organization. I will
say, however, that I have hitherto support
ed it upon this floor, and I expect to con
tinue to do so. 1 have given it my support,
and I shall continue to give it my support,
because it approaches much nearer to the
true policy of the country and the principles
of the Constitution than uny other organized
party in the republic. It is the only party
which, in circling round its mighty orbit,
touches the poles of the Coustitution.
In the speech to which the gentleman
from Alabama Mr. Walker referred, 1 con
demned the doctrine of "squatter sovereign
ty." In my speech on the Nebraska bill,
iu 1854, on this floor, I condemned it. The
gentleman from Virginia Mr. Bocock can
say whether he approves it or not. Ge ntle
men from the North can say how fared the
discussion upon the bill with them. I will
not enlarge upon these points now ; but as
soon as the House organizes I shall take an
early occasion to present my views upon
these various questions.
Mr. Brooks said : Will my colleague al
low me to ask him and I do it by way of
-uwstionif hp does rot approve of the
. rf reP()lutiou of the Derao.
cratic caucus, and ot the fresMom s mes-
7
o
.j t J 1 11 T
Yf.. U r.iM- koiH- I no most RnMifl v. I
I , , - .
,... ... ...... ........ . i
tuatlK my colleague ior lue luquiiv, as ji
' v c i
. , , t ,
luu"KD "v 1 r k"v b"" "
uMy thrWn dOW" by 6 eentleumn tro,n i
P.wJIb. TMr. Reade.l I sav to him
. , L j j
. . , . .
tlit. in niv- uidfrmeuL his nartv that is.
. . , j J o ' i
the American or Know Nothiug party is
: guilty of civil and religious persecution.
1 Tliis T will show. The Know Notlonf rmr-
" 1
ty binds its members, I understand, to vote
against all members of the Roman Catholic
Church. Is not this making a religious
test ? and are not religions tests prohibited
by the constitution? Let us erannne this
What is suffrage ? It is political contri-
neo to collect aud express the public opin-
,,-,: ,oir tne m nne win. uuwnmi oi su.
v -
fne'e a natural or a conventional right ?
J
It is the latter, beyond a doubt. If so, from
what do
you get it?
From vour OTamnic
law. Now, as you cot it from vour hriranin
law, it is, of course, given with all the limi
tations and conditions iwjmiwij by the fun
damental law. What does that say ? Why,
that there shall be no religious test. The
clause granting suffrage, and the clause
prohibiting religious tests, must be constru
ed in accord with each other. Thus the or
ganic law imposes a restriction upon the ex
ercise of suffrage ; and whoever makes re
ligious tests violates that constitutional
restraint.
But it has been argued that the Know
Nothing party does not contempluto the en
actment of a law excluding Roman Catho
lics and naturalized foreigner;, from nil of
fices. If this result is accomplished through
the agency of the ballot box, will it not bo
as violative of the Constitution as if achiev
ed through positive enactments ? If, through
an instrumentality put into your hands by
the organic law, you accomplish the sub
version of the hitter, is it not as violative of
all obligation and dutv as if vou circumvent
cd it by a positive statutory provision?
To give an example : The President of the
United States is under tho obligations of the
Constitution, just as any voter is. If he
were to declare that he would bestow office
upon no one who is a member of the Roman
Catholic Church, simply because ho wus a
Catholic, would it not be making a religious
test ? Clearly so. How would this be so ?
By determining the qualifications for office
and station according to the religious con
victions of the candidate. The same is true
of naturalized foreigners ; yet, in this in
stance, the circumvention of the Constitu
tion would be without any positive law.
In answer to this view of the question, it
has been said that the voter may vote as ho
pleases. Within the limitations imposed by
the Constitution, State and Federal, ho may
voto as he choose ; but if he votes over and
against those limitations, he is guilty of legal
or moral wrong. Though no specific penal
ties may have been defined, and no legal
tribunal instituted to enforce them, yet tho
wrong is not the less clear and disastrous.
This argument also implies an absolute and
unqualified right of property in suffrage.
If this right exists, why cannot the vote be
sold ? It will be answered because the law
prohibits. Exactly so ; but this proves that
the right is a qualified one that there aro
restrictions upon its exercise. This is all
I contend for. I contend that the right of
suffrage is a political or qualified right ; that
it must be exercised in conformity to the
limitations of the Constitution ; and that
the fundamental limitation is, that it shall
not be so used as to make religious tests.
Suffrage is a qualified political right, given
to individuals in co-relatiou to public duty,
and the latter reacts upon the former.
At this point I may answer an inquiry put
by the gentleman from North Carolina, (Mr.
Iieade.) He inquires "if we would vote for
auy one hostile to civil liberty and the Con
stitution?" I answer him frankly that I
would not. But he does not put the ques
tion fully. Does he believe that every mem
ber of tho Roman Catholic Church is hos
tile to civil liberty and the Constitution ? If
so, does he bolieve them to be thus hostile
to them because of their religion ? If he
does not believe both of these propositions,
then he cannot sheltor himself behind his
implication.
If there be any number of Roman Catho
lics in this country who are true to the
Constitution and civil liberty, then the Ro
man Catholic relionon does not make its vo
taries false to their civil duties and obliga
tions, aud their political proscription must
le because of their religious faith. Thus,
in this event, the gentleman makes a reli
fious test. Nor will he fare better on the
other horn of the dilemma. If lie alleges
all Roman Catholics to be hostile to civil li
berty, lecause of their religious creed, he
pronounces sentence against the Constitu
tion, and t'ikes issue with the sages and
founders of the Republic. The Constitu
tion declares that there is no lncombatibili
ty between Republicanism and the Roman
Catholic religion, and the sages of the Re
public believed that Catholics might be as
loyal citizens as the followers of any other
faith. If the gentleman believes this pro
vision in the Constitution to be unwise, he
should strive to amend it in the way pro
vided in that instrument itself. While it
exist, it is the law, and disobedience to it
is the "higher law."
I pass now, sir, from this branch of the
inquiry of my colleague. lie asks nie also,
if I approve of the President's Message. I
do approve of it most emphatically. It is
a bolL wise, and statesman-like, document,
and should commend itself to the sanction
of the public judgment. In this connection,
too, I will say, that while I am opposed to
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rue representation oi ujv ouiw; iu im; lskt
-. Xt . r,- re
.,--it i. iMiiin'itiii! (,iiiiv( i t in at. t Cincin
nati, if President Pierce is the nominee of
the Democratic party, I will cheerfully
J J.;m anA T ,l.k Ja
and
eOOO.il -!' mm. '-M'SIAU WK
pport htm, and 1 doubt not my
State will lo so. I think lie has high claims
upon the party ; and in this I believe I but
express the judgment of the people of South
Carolina.
My object, Mr. Clerk, was to define my
own o-ition. I will add, however, that I
believe the Democratic party is to-day purer
and truer to the Constitution than it has
lcon for years. It has passed through fire
and water, and many of its impurities have
been consumed or washed away. It has the
smell of fire upon its garments, and while
it moves on in the historic track of the
, , ,., r . ,. T ..,. -i :. a l
loUu-ters oi cue nopuouc, x suan u... ... w
Tieed '. Manv of the halt, and lame, and
blia-d, had fnllen by the way; had this fate
overtaken all such, it would haveocn bet
ter. The gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr.
CamplM'll says that the Democratic party
came into this Hall two years ago upon the
created wave of popular power; and be asks
where is it now? He says it is a feeblo and
scanty band, clinging to its broken altars.
Why feeble and scanty? Because it lias
loen much more friendly to the South and
truer to the Constitution than either of the
other parties. Clinging, says the gentleman,
to its broken altars! Why, sir, to what else
should itjding ? While abolition fanaticism
is sweeping over the free States, prostrating
the guarantees ol the Constitution, and
tearing down the remaining pillars of our
Republican edilice, where should the 1 e.mo
cratic party be but within the sacred pre
cincts, fighting down the foe? While the
lust of Northern domination and Free-Soil
propagandism is driving the chariot of sec
tional power over the remains of the Con
stitution, to what should the Democratic
party cling but to those altars reared by the.
founders of the Republic? If it le true to
the Constitution, and steadfast in tho faith
of the fathers, let it bind itself to the horns
of the altar ; and as the angel descended to
rescue the son of the patriarch even from
the uplifted knife, so may the genius of the
land stoop down to rescue it from the
gleaming dagger of the Fusion cohort !
The Message. Wo intended writing a
comment upon tho President's Message, but
we just happened to think of the Western
editor, who upon receiving a copy of Slink -spear,
proceeded vory formally to write a
notice of tho work, and give it as his decid
ed opinoin that the plays wero well written,
and that Mr. Shakespeare was a mau of tal
ent. We thought that if wo were to write
an article commendatory of one of the best
messages that ever emanated from tho White
House, we should pluco ourself nlong sido
of tho Western editor, aforesaid. So we
have determined not to say a word about
the message. Rockingham (Va.) Regis
ter. KNOW-NOTHING TROUBLES
The nomination of Hon. John M. Botts
for the Presidency, (which we stated last
week as having been made by the K. N.
Councils of Brooklyn) has been endorsed, it
seems, by the K. N. Councils of Richmond,
Va. But the Richmond Whig, one of the
K. N. organs, is sorely displeased with the
nomination and pitches into Mr. Botts in a
very unenviable manner. The Whig as
serts, among other things, that 'a majority
of the American voters of Richmond have
no confidence in Mr. Botts ; and declares
that,
"As for ourselves, we say iu all delibera
tion and candor that we hold the rights of
the South paramount (to every consideration
of party; and that before we would yield
one jotor tittle of them to tho unjust demands
of the North, even for the sake of the Pre
sidency, with all its honors and patronage,
we would see John Minor Botts, his tails,
aud every party on the face of the earth,
sunk so deep that tho bund of resurrection
could never reach them."
This is plain language, and the only in
ference which we can draw from the Whig's
confession is tliut the Richmond Know-
Nothings who sustain Mr. ltotts, aro willing
to sacrifice the rights of the South, or some
portion of them at least, for the sake of se
curing the election of that gentleman to the
Presidency. Is this so ? It is a family
quarrel, however, and we don't cure which
whips.
The National Convention. The Na
tional Convention of 1852 adopted the fol
lowing resolution as the number of delegates
to be chosen :
"Resolved, That, in constituting future
national conventions of tho democratic par
ty, in order to secure the respective rights
of the States to their relative representation
in such conventions, each State shall be en
titled to twice the number of delegates thut
it has votes iu the electoi ial OoUugOv und no
more ; and that tho Democratic Nutionai
Committee, in making arrangements for the
next National Convention, provide such
number of seats therein for each State, and
secure the same to the delegates elect."
Toe convention will meet on the 1st Mon
day in June next, at Cincinnati.
A i.AiiAMA Democratic Convention.
The Democratic State Convention of Alaba
ma assembled at Montgomery on Tuesday,
the 8th inst. A rowtution endorsing the
policy of President Pierce, and commend
ing him to the Cincinnati Convention as a
fit candidate for re-election to the Presiden
tial Chair, was carried unanimously, and
with great applause.
Town Election. At the municipal el
ection held in this town on Monday last,
our Know-Nothing friends carried tho day,
"lock, stock and barrel," electing their en
tire ticket without opposition. F ayettevdle
Carolinian.
EyThe Parkersville (Kansas) Gazette
learns that Gov. Shounou is about V resign
the Governorship of that territory. He is
now on his way to Washington city.
A Conpolatios As Obituary notice iu
a Wilmington. X. C-, paper, cous-des the
friends of tbe deceased by the reflection
that "though she may uot return to them,
they may shortly g to lies." This is a
consolation not generally appreciated by
the life-roving people of oar day.
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