DHSS OF HON. P. S. BROOKS THE PEOPLE OFTHE FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. ELLOW CrizNsirs: I have been induced to you this Address in consequence of havreceived a number of letters, from gentle.
in various parts of my District, in which ey say that "many. of your (my) friends and pporters are anxious to learn your (my) views the Know Nothing Order." Other gentleen have written that, "if the party is not ortly checked, it will control Lexington Dist;" and that "many of your (my) best nds-have joined the are doing all ey can for its promotion." That a few impulsive spirts should have been ostray by the Native American feature of Order, was to have been expected; but that ey should be so numerous as to form a Party, that party so strong in any part of South lina as to -dream of in very truth azes me. I have upon.this, as upon all political quesons of the day, decided opinions, which are glated by fixed principles. My correspon-. ents have, as has the humblest voter in my istrict, the right to know what those opinions re- and I would be unworthy of my position your Representative in Congress, did I desire dissemble or suppress them.
Before I proceed to express my views, which re in opposition to the Order, candor constrains to admit that "Americanism" is a natural entiment with our people. I deprecate myself appointment of men of foreign birth to repnt our country abroad, or to preside over Colleges; and if all of the States would, common consent, withhold elective franhise from immigrants for ten years, the agreeent would receive my entire approval. But use I approve, in a degree, of one tenet of party, it is no more unreasonable to expect me adopt all of its principles, -than it would be require a man- to eat all of every dish upon a 'llof fare, because he fancied one. Yet this ingle feature has caused thousands to attach hemselves to the Know Nothing Order, without sidering its other features; and thus, for one wdet drop, they gulp down a whole gallon of itter stuff. to the Know Nothing doctrines, he birth-place of a man is a grave political conideration.
In my judgment, the birth-place of political principle. is infinitely more importan.6 nd to the Know Nothing Order we will appy the Know Nothing test. Where was it born? In the State of New York. When? Very hortly after the passage of the Nebraska and Kansas bill, restored to the States of the South their lost right of equality in the common territory. What has been the effect at the North? To defeat every Democrat who vote4 for this bill of justice to the South, and to put in his place an Abolition Know Nothing, who stands pledged to repeal the bill, and to give his vote and influence to the enactment of others of greater injustice and injury than the Act known as the Missouri Compromise.
I might here appropriately comment upon the impolicy and ingratitude of countenancing the ebeymies of our friends, but this is sufficiently obvious. Permit me, however, to direct your attention. for an instant to the tergivesations of the Know Nothings, who, at the North, are out-and-out Freiesoiters, and everywhere are opposed to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, as is shown by the tact, among others, that every Southern man. but one, (Mr. Millson of Virginia, who voted against the bill for the opposite reason that it was not strong enough for ths South,) who voted against the bill, is now a member of the Know Nothing Order.
At the National Freesoil Convention held in Pittsburg, in 1852, and which- nominated the Know Nothing Abolitioist, P. Hale, for the Presidency, it was That the doctr'e that any human lnw is a finality, and not subject to modification or repeal, is not in accordance with the creed of thie our government, and is dangerens to the liferties of our people." -ims resoiuu-nau Tererenice tonc omyzpmnise Measures of 1851, which the Freesoilers desired to repeal. They scouted the ides that those were a finality," and contended that they could tand should be modified or like any other law of Congress. The Nlissouri Comipromise was no more a "finality" than the Compromise of 1851. Yet the Freesoil Knowv Nothings now refuse to stand to the position taken by the Pittsburg Convention, repudiate their own creed and falsify their oivn declarations, by -asserting that the Missouri was an irrepealable compact.
Again: By the same Convention it was That msIGaWrs and from the Old World should find a CORDar, wzrLconi to homes of comfort and fields of -enterprise in the-New; and every attempt to abridge their priyileges or becoming citizens and owners of among us ought to be resisted with inflexible deierminationl." the Know Nothing maintai-is the rigeigner is dangerous to Republican liberty, it is a patriotic duty to exclude him i'rbn every right and privilege of an Anmerican citizeni. What has -produced so extraordinary andarapid a change of social and political sentiment? I was in conversation, at this point I would be.old that.mn.y remarks do not apply to the outhern division of the because of the at. Philadelphia, which was solely on aocinant of glavery, and when the Order ceased to be a nationail organization. And this would be anistake. The Order is still a national organization, as the n'exZ election of President will develope; when the Know Nothing South and the Know Nothing North will vote for the same man-particialarly.
if the'election is-throwvn into the lower House-of- Congress, where the temprati6f6roffic6' would -be more difficult to The Order isitill a national organizatioh, fot its. ihembers; both North ahd South concur upom alf points of their creed as origi-. naly'framed, and upon -the incidental question of slavery. Tlbeir hatred of foreigner and Cath6lie is equally. intense, and my vemarks do apply, for the immigrant and the aCatholic have much, very to do with savery-a question wich, because of its being of.
all others the mostrvital to-us, (inseparably iterwdven as it is with the political, prosperity and happIness of the people of the. Ald -of being the touchstne whiekhis-appliedto -political issue by the people of the after-all, the sumi ad of American is either national, or it is It prop'osesto extend the probationary term of natoralization (by which its withhold the Iight to vote, for their complaint is- only of -political evils) to twty-Ohs years, and to disqualify both Cathoiu. and men of: oreign birth forever for office. No one that tiscan be legally donebut in ways-by the action of Congress, or by the-people li he separate States. Should the Order IsaveE the) keluisite majorty effect their pkurposes i' eihe way, then surely it is as national (I use this word for conaenfence) a any party can 'I iolfithat indither plan can' be byg eaich acting in iti sovereignhaeater; if all the-Staltesi were to adopt the principles of the party, hat State would be by the most cogent of roseme, to-refuse: to them.
These rea6ons are.to-befound in the value of andia- the; political, power numbers. The younger of the Western States would take up the sword before they would to, have their growthi and political power checked by arstrainit upon immigation. They wantE the foreigner to fell their and to swdll the utimber 'of their representatlives. If every Stat4fn the Union were -tdprohibit im-migratiota but WisdDnsini, tire effect would be to mak her, in a very short time, the Empire. State.Wiscnsin, pith population of New York, Would have the same, political power, anid the do, by comnbining with Ohio, ould and would rule the.
Governmbint "You urely have not forgotten the Alban. regency. It is true'that the Constitution of A15lieUted States reads-that the Rules of NatUtalization bal1l-be eniformD in all the States;" but, it as lear that the political right to vote was not 1 herin. contempiated -Lbut- that reference was had to the'right property; for we know that he laws of the several States are not uniform the subjet of voting. In New York and South Carolina, a foreigner is required to wait five years, after declaring his inteption to be.
come a citizen, before he is admitted to the full fruition of all the- rights of citizenship. In Michigan and Illinois, but six months are required; while in the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska, actual-residence will qualify every white male adult to. vote at the first -election. But the Federal Constitution also declares that "the citizens of each State shall be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States." Now if one of these new fledged citizens of Michigan was to come into the Fourth Congressional District, and in compli. ance with-your State Constitution remain two years, could you, under either Constitrtion, refuse him the elective franchise? You could not, unless your own Constitution had been previously altered-a mode of procedure which the Know Nothings seem seduously to eschew.
And yet that man may have been within the limits of the United States but little- more than half the time required by our State law to invest him with the political rights of a citizen of South Carolina. effect of citizenship is to remove alienage; and when a man once becomes a citizen of a sovereign State of this Union, his right is as perfect, under the Federal Constitution, to all the privileges and immunities of citizens of the several States," as though he had been born on the soil. I have assumed, and it seems to me upon tenable grounds, that the Western States will never consent to a further restraint upon immigration and it is evident that the evils which the Know Nothings ascribe to a redundance of foreigners, and to a peculiar religion, will be as great, (I think greater,) if they are congregated in one or a few States, as if diffused through all the States. Nor could the Know Nothing Order legnlly disqualify the Catholic foreigner, who had been legally naturalized in a different State, from voting for or holding of Federal office, if lie chose to remove into this State, and had complied with the-requisitions of the law as it now stands, because of another provision of the Federal Constitution, which enjoins that no religious test shall ever be required as a qualifi. cation to any office or public trust under the United States." This plan, then, is utterly insufficient for the purposes of the Know Nothings; and the other -by the action of Congress-strikes me as even less effectual, as I shall next proceed to show.
The remedy by Congress implies the right of Congress to determine who is, and who is not, a citizen of a State. That Congress, with the consent of three.fourths of the States, may expunge the clause of the Constitution which refers to religious faith, or to the privileges of the citizens of the States, is admitted.But has Congress the right now, or will they ever have the right, to grant or refuse the privi. lege of voting to the citizens of a sovereign State? if they have, then the days of liberty, and the happiness of the people of the South. ern States, are few and bitter. Will the Know Nothines admit? will dare to establish this principie? And if they do, how long will it be before an Abolition majority, in pursuance of the precedent, will declare that your negro slave is a citizen, and will authorize him to vote at your elections? And what then becomes of our favorite doctrines of State Rights and State Sovereignty? My conviction is, that the right to vote is derivable from the sovereign power of the State, and that the concession of the right to Congress is fatal to Southern liberty.
Congress may prohibit foreigners from entering the territory of the United States, for is their peculiar province to regulate -our forign intercourse; but when a foreigner is once oated in a State, with-a view to remain, whatver or political privilege he is to enjoy must be derived from the sovereign power of that State. For the sake of us suppose that ongress had this power, and that at the next session they should pass a law withholding all olitical rights in future from men of foreign irth; what would be its effect? An intelligent piaccomplicl'entleman like John Mice sighing for a plantation and negroes in Alaama,) would indeed avoid a country which enied him the most valued and yet the most rdinary right of a free cinizen; but how would be with the poor and the famished, whos come our shores for bread with the restless and itractable or with the criminal and fugitive, who swell the tide of immigration What care hey for political or rights, whose European heritage is ignorance of either? rThe peratior. of such a law would be to exclude all the intelligent and good of every clime, and to leave the door wide open to the vicious and ebased. The Order has gone too far, or not far oo far in provoking the hostility of the immirant population, with.out achieving an equivaent benefit; tind not far enough for their pur. oses, which.
can onily lie attained by the absoute prohibition of immigration. A feeble blow eoils and brings injury with its. return; a vig. rous one-may demolish' or correct. In common with many of mny fellow citizens, I experience some discontent because of the influence and mpudencee exerted and displayed by fewy men who have become Americans by a sort of hotouse process; yet -I will not disguise my be-.
iefthat we of the South have but little interst or concern in the single issue of Native mericalun. The institution of negro slaves protects us rom the evils attributed to the foreign populaion. The States of the North, by manumision-b'y incessant and hypocritical cant about he horrors -and degradation of heir greater wealth, which they have filehed rrom the pockets of Southern planters by mieans protective their, inordinate desire for the political power' of nuinbers, and which as eaused them to' hold out indueement's of mployment and heretofore higher wages-have ucceeded in diverting the tide of iftimigration mthe slave to the free negro States. Trhey ire now reaping the fruits of the seed sown by hemselves; and that it is bitter fruit, occasions no manner of distress. Our policy is to iew this Kilkenny cat fight in' serene silenice md composed equanimity.
If we don't inter. ere, we arc sure to have the good will of the oreign cat; and if the belligerents eat each ther up, why, I don't know then that we should efuse to be comforted.I have said that the President, the immigrant' nd the Catholic had much to do with the slavey issue. Many. of you who have passed the neridian of life, will live to see the day -when he A bolitionist is held off from his pirey only by the veto of a Piesident. The cionnection of the for'eigner is not so perceptible or availabte; rete indirectly exerts a sallutary inflence upon with-the conservative portion of the Northern eople.
There is in ever society, save that in hich the institution of slvery obtains, a natural and unavoidable cont between capital and. Labor; or, which is virtually the name, between property and persons. In the States where there are no slaves this natural struggle- develpes itself 'in riots, blood-shed nd murder. The influx of foreigners (estimaLed -to be annually about a half million, the nst- of whom'are laborers) aggtaviates this entest.o.such a 'degree that--upon the iminirat is- erroneously charged evils which.are aturalto their condition of-society. 4t fort the low price of labor, (which.is incident every-commercial.
pressure-which pressures mt intervals of about ten years pervade our enire country, because of an inflated: curreliey, prohoing wildspeculation,) is by fale philosophy attrnouted -niely to the heavy foreign popu. lation, and the consequence is that collisuioris nd riots are 'of almost daily occurrence; which mdanger llfe -and Now, while they ire in -turmoil, strife -and confusion, we are livng in quietude and peace. facts must. have an influence upon public opinIon f'or their thinking men will not be -long at fault In disceding the cause of this difference of eondition to the conservatism ot'negro slavery, no will beir capifalists be long in determining where to ake their investments with tle-treatest appreciate the value or'tJlle of the Catholic with slavery, when JIi ecal to you remembrance the very strIking hia-. orical fact that every slave State which has been added to the Confederacy, and formed out of erritry acquired ice the Revolution, was origit tally Catholic territory.
Louisiana, Arkansas1 nd Missouri wareacqunired from Catholic Fram-o Florida was purchased from Catholic Spain; and Texas was stolen, through the instrumentality of Sam Houston, from Catholic Mexico. If all these States are not now Catholic in.religion, it only shows that the sect is not so dangerous as it is represented. At the proper time, and in the proper way of getting it, we of the South will want, and must have, and wil have, Cuba. Now, if the doctrines of the Know Nothings prevail, she herself would scorn an alliance the considerations of which would be the exchange of the most valuable territory of its ize in the habitable word on the one hand, for rable and contemptible the other. When we reflect upon the character of our Government-observe its continuous expansion in the cold regions of the North-remember that the admission of every pew State adds instantly two votes in the Senate and one in the House to the majority already against us-when we consider the fact that natural laws will prevent the expansion of our institutions everywhere throughout our domain, save in-Texas and in Kansas, and that the Territories of Oregon, Washington, Nebraska, Utah and Minnesota are rapidly growing into States, the ultimate acquisition of Cuba is presented to us as an imperative political necessity.
Cuba would- not altogether restore and perpetuate the political power between the two sections; but I desire to direct your attention to this -point: that if the principles of the Know Nothing Order prevail, it then becomes absolutely impossible that the equilibrium can ever be restored for we and our institutions can expand but in one direction, and that is in the Catholic direction. Are the people of the South willing to live forever at the mercy of a majority which is daily and hourly increasing in strength and fanaticism Better, far better, would it be for us and our children, to give to every Catholic upon earth a home.stead, and stock it with negroes, at our own expense. In "ploughman's phrase," the Northern fanatic has.the long end of the singletree, and if we turn our backs upon the Catholic, the Freesoiler will keep it forever. With ample power in his hand, and lawless fanaticism in his heart, what injustice, what insult, what injury, will he not inflict upon us? 1 have never yet seen a Catholic Abolitionist, and of the three thousand preachers of religion who insulted the Senate by an impertinent protest against the Nebraska bill, not one was a Catholic. I have never read or heard of an antislavery sermon written by a Catholic priest in America, and it is my deliberate judgment that Northern hostility to Catholicism is hostility to slavery.
I have observed that the Know Nothing presses ask, with much earnestness and apparent purpose, if any Catholic priest was ever known to take the oath of allegiance, or to vote, in America Admitting that they have not, I can see no great significance in the fact. Naturali. zation would confer upon them but two rights which they do not possess without it-the right to hold and devise real estate, and the right to vote-neither of which does he value. His Church provides him with a home, which is the property of the and supplies all his wants abundantly. His Church is bib estate; and in view of his celibacy, any other estate would be an encumbrance.
In his refusal to vote, he.is supported by the habit of many Pro. testant clergymen, who uniformly decline the ballot.box from an apprehension that even this slight connection with party politics may impair their influence in the care of souls." The Protestant or Catholic minister who refuses to vote, but conforms to the spirit of our' State Constitution, which disquali'ies them both for political office, because they are, by their protfession, dedicated to the service of God." I leave the religious faith of the Catholic to his Maker and himself. Wisdom and her twin, humility, sugest that, while we avoid his should imiitate his virtues, and not be thanking God at the market that we are not as other men are." James Balmes, a Catalonian priest, high in authority with his Church, and an emanicipatonist, when defending his sect, before the Abolition jury of Europe, against the charge preferedbyM. Guisot, that the Catholic Church nau crnieten-o-te- counruunec-. UT -smveryi gave utterance to tihe following language: In a colony where black slaves abound, who would venture to set them at liberty all at oncei Their intellectual and moral condition rendered them incapable of turning such an advantage to their own benefit and that of society ini their debasem*nt.
urged on by their hat.red, and the desire of rengance, which ill-treatment had exited in their minds, they would have repeated, on a large scale, the bloody scenes with which they had already, in formur times, stained the pages of history. And what then would have happened Society, thus endangered, would have been put, on its guard against principles favoring liberty henchforth it would have regarded them with prejudice and suspicion, and the chains of servitude, instead of ikeing have been the more firmly Out of this immense mass of rude, savage- men, set at liberty without preparation, it wvas impossible for social organization to ariae, for social organization is not the creation of a moment, especially with such elements as these in this -case, ince it would have been necessary to choose be. tween slavery and the annihilation of social order, the instinct of preservation, which animates society as well as sall beings, would undoubtly have brought about a continuation of slavery where it still existed, and its re-establishment where it hadI been destroyed. Happily thme' Catholic Churelh-was wiser than philosophers; she knew how to confer upon humanity. thme benefit of emancipation without injustice or revolution.
knew how to regenerate society, but not by rivers of be borne in mind: that these remarks vere made in reference partly to white slaves saptured in war-to slavery as it. existed at the time when the master had the right of life and death ov'er his right was exercised by Quintus Flaminius, who slew'his slave in the sidst of festival; when Vedius Poillio threy one of his to. the. fishes, because he broke a kuinbler; when the Spartans in a stampede assembled all of theirs, at the temple of Jupiter, nd put them to deatn when, at Rome, should a master beassassinated, every slave that he had, the innocent and the guilty, had to die, as wvhen Pedonius Secundus was killed, four hundred of tis slave's were execusted. Let it be mlme that the influences of benign religion were the instrumients to "regenerate society," to which Balms referred, and not ruthless asisaults upon a sacred Constitutitnmd compact.
How mild and liberal the sentiments of this dangerous Catholic upon an institution which, it then existed, was'a crime and a curse, colis pared-with those of the Abolitionists Sumner and Giddings, and the Know Nothiings Hale and Wilson, upon an institution uncondemed' by Christ, and a blessing to the negro But the political relations which the Catholle does or may bear to thme people i have the honoro repfesent, it has become my duty to disenss. And if in this land, famed for the' plenitude'of its civil liberty and liberty of chrisian denomination is to be disfranchised and an irresponsible and inquisitorial-ae. organization, what security, let me ask, has the next weakest denomination that the same rate is not held in. reserve for it'i and so'to proress, until the contest is narrowvid down to the wo largest denominations', when, in Jhe struggle. ror supremacy, charity and forgiveness shall givre place to violence and wrath, and thegeligion of aviour to the scourge of the sword1 when.
oms devout, chronicler of the pious seeds ofone.f' these most christian armies, in a doxological parody, sing, at the close 4f eomne eventrul battle'Nw-God be praised I the day is ours: Lutherab hi has'eriod for Eplsebpallen isaslain nd as we looked on them, we thought of Seine's enpurped And godCuligny's hoary hair all -in his blooand then we thought eon eenganee, and all long Remember-St. Bartholomew" was apassed from And in remembering the some econd.St. Bartholomew masare, may aot men, by the' frengied passions of distem- ered minds, forget that it is I mae is mine, saith the Bler wifth mse a little time tupon the'-secret eature of this new Order-a feature which they 1 rofess to have it was origi-' deny. Now, in the name of aft that Is sincere, what ufore does any man. know of the Order at this moment than he did befora the veil of secre.
sy was removed -Like all sho.in,; they pull down the canvass. after the have been seen. It is-the first article of in our republican creed that all political power is derived from the people. A majority of the people of a State are the Stale, for they control its political action. If.
the designs of- the -Know Nothings are virtuous and politically orthodox, what occasion is there for or propriety in those States where the party is in--the ascendant Why should a State keep a secret from itself If the party is in a endeavors, by secret combinations, to defeat' the will of the majority, their efforts must work a corruption of public morals' and logically anti-repgblican and factious. Publicity is8easeptial-to the purity of a representative government, and arcana imperi are attributes.of deep tism. I have sofar treated this subject as a national organization, and I repeat such, or it is helpless to accomplish. 6 has -undertaken. I have no faith in the success-of their plans, nor do I believe that the Order will.continue to.
exist after the next Presidential The repeated thrusts which their organs qpake at the present Administration, (the very best'for the mouth thus far since that of Washington,) and the Democratic party, -(the most Constitutional party-we have ever had,) satisfy -e that its cohesive attraction is office, and tli they are not insensible to its emoluments and-spoils. Again, the fact that not a single Democrat in-posiLion, North or South, unless he is aanAbolitionist, is connected with the Order, speaks volumes in support of this opinion. Was I here to conclude, yia would be war. ranted in supposing that I re'ard the Know Nothing movement as a humbug, which can do us neither good or in its calamitous consequence of producing division among the people of the do so regard it. But in that aspect it is formidablein the extreme.
We of the South have no.politics but the negro; and upon this question the language of the glorious old'Troup should be the language of the South-" The argument is exhausted, we will stand to our arms." There canin. future exist but two great parties In the Union-tile Pro-slavery and the Anti-slavery parties. All others will be ephemeral. If we are united, we are safe; if we split up into. subdivision, on any question, we are undone.
Party divisions have heretoforebeen our curse, and now, for the first time hii Gulf a century, when there was a bright prospdet. of unanimity when the pleadings were made up and issue joined between the North and the South on the only question which can dissolt.the Government great question whether the.slave. States are, as equals, to remain in the Union, or, as equals, to destroy it; this of Whiggery and Abolition interpose, to eastus, and squeaks out, in plaintive notes, that -the Union is the paramount political good." This sentiment will surprise no man, when he is informed that Mr. Bartlett, of Kentucky, the President of the Southern branch of the Order, avowed his hostility to Nebraska' bill, simply restored to the South her lost righ'tiin the common territory,) as also did Mr. Pilicr of the same State, Mr.
Brown of Mr. Houghton and Mr. Kenneth Rayier of Notth Carolina-the latter of whom denounced the bill as "an outrage upon the North." Will-you trust your destinies in the hands of these who are the heads and leading spirits of even in the slaveholding South circ*mstance of the Order having taken roof for a time at, the South will do us injury at the Worth. Our friends who, like Toucey and the yotinger Dodge, have fallen before it, for no othiera'etan that they were true to thu therefore true to the South, will be moi-tified'nd discouraged, when they fnd Southern men. affliatmng with their enemies.
But worse 'shan this every Know Nothing victory at tle South will be slaimed at the North -as. any lign victory. The Abolition teachers tel epeof the North that there is a strong feelian att eso-ui with ep3ulimon, and say it is becajuse thej-are jalous of the competition of the negro. They then reason in this way: You know Knp 'Nothingism. is lere Know Nothingism is thegsameecery.where." And thus men are converted 'into.
actie partirsans against an institution which, if' they'believed was universally approved and universally sustained b'y thees who of itnessing Its practical operatiod' than themselves, would at least be quiet. only argument of Knew Nothings South which addresses itself with much force to he Southern mind is, that the immigrant population come to our country prejudiced against the institution of slavein that they hasten the settlement and admissilfr of new States, and tius increa'se the political power of the Freesoil and Abolition party in the'National Legislature. It is but, just and fair to admit that the prejudicesof the European immigrant are generally averse to slavery but thiere isa reply to this specious argument. which couniterbalanfces its invites a grave consideration as any aspect in which I ha. e' beon able to preseint the guestion.
I think I have shown that the Know'Nothing argnization, even if it'idld effect an extension af the probationary period- now regntired before naturalization; would not prevent immigration. Tme tide would continue to flow into the free States, where the Abolition party is. now prelominant. In whatever State ninety-two thousanud of these immigrants may locate, to that Stae will be secured anf additional Representa. Live in Congress.
Obserte the third clause of the second section, first article of the Constitution, which is as follows: and imt taxes shall be -apportioned. among -the several States (whicha may be included wihin this Union according to their respechev nunberps which shall be determined by to. whole number of' free persons, including those bosnd to'service fo'r a tei-m of years, and excluling Indians not taixed, three-fifths of all othei persons." The immigrant being ineligible to afice, dould give us neither benefit or 4id, let ls sympathy be so strongly with us or in behalf of our institutions. Having the elections, they would, be represented by a ative Abolitionist; thuis the result will be assgigent the of a party which is deadly sostile 'to'us, and to make that power more1 availably dangerous by' concentrating-it-inito thle ands- of a few of their ablest, anid therefore not formidable men. and I hopie Iregrotithat somne-ef my fuiends iavi epartedfrom theatrue State Righats Pemo.
faith, but I if they con.inue. Inerror. but. believe tlie'y are I belipvo that mn fthp.Order but I know that he rder ifslis dsngeolsg a nd'I also- know that, to -charaeteristles haveheretofore been intolersnee of opinion ased a of As I beive, so have writen; and if(as it may be that) too uam.1o fall before ths' msadern vich no mah knows n'of whseohieeounera, I shall have thb. safaction.to feel better.
in retiremnt, Ith amy principles, than be re-eeted for-life as-the representaltive of principlesof the othing Order. Respectfully yourobedient servant, Aug. 2,1855. A ERIARnatL iAThe Boston- IMass.) ines says a.gentleman residinig in his'city who :1 hventy-three years ago. rm Englanmd, and lirought ivith himi somiethree undred guineas- of his own hard earmaog, with heh he commenced business asia grocer ou'5 mall ILittle by.
rde, and at pres is probably' orth uiore.than any othr manla Massachusetts n-the same line ofbsns 'During the period hi never gave a ndte of or look one; hetiever'sued a man and never a a'ned fver'elled to the wvitnes and In- any tourt during the whole puriod. He ever was of course never voted, tthough he has paid of dollars for tato and country has beeni knoawn obuy a cargo India goods, amounting $DOOe 9,0 fr which a aid caish on delivery. Knever deafs in oif ris intaticting liquors; ser gives a dollar' fai- mny oharitaublo purpose rhere he -thinks inamo-ivill appear In the ewalmpeis; although he has distributed thou.nds to the distress of his fellow-men." Letters to the Anderson Committee. WE give below the letters of our-two immediite fellow-citizens, Hon. BUTLER and Col.
F. W. PlcKENs, in response to invitations to the Anderson dinner. Letter from Hon. A.
P. Buuler, U. S. Senatorfrom South Carolina. NEAR EDGEFtELD, July 14.
GENTLEMEN: 1 received by the last mail your polite invitation to attend a festival, on the 25th to be given in honor of your Representative, Col. Orr. I regard the compliment to Col. Orr well merited. Upon all the tests of the old republican school, he has been true, and has exbibted an industry and ability which entitle him to the confidence of an intelligent constituency.
It would afford we, for many considerations, great pleasure to be present on the occasion to which you have invited me. But I am obliged to leave home to-day, to fulfill engagements which duty will not allow me to disregard; and I fear that I shall not have time to be at Anderson by the 25th. If in the past your Representative has performed his duties with credit to himself and the he has an undeveloped future before himself and his coadjutors, that will put to a high trial their wisdom, patriotism and firmness. It is in vain to take refuge in flattering hope and delusive disguise. ivents are running to a crisis full of fearful issues-either in anarchy, under the irresponsible influence of secret and unconstitutional societies, or in the despotism of irresponsible majorities.
But, gentlemen, it was my purpose, when I sat down to write this note, to say little else than to return you my acknowledgements for your remembrance of mue in connection with the occasion of the 25th. As the mind will return to matters in which it has been recently engaged, I will make a remark that may be somewhat illustrative of my reflections on the history of our revolutionary ancestors; and it is a history full of instruction. I wish I had before me the concluding clause of George Mason's will. I think it the most impressive passage of composition that I ever read, and I think its author had one of the most impressive intellects of his day. He had the elements of character to inspire confidence and command respect.
Gen. Washington falt this influence, and gave Green a passport to the South through an introduction to Geo. Mason -a striking tribute. This gentleman, with a wisdom, sagacity, and firmness almost unparalleled in history, saw, with the vision of a far seeing -statesman, the future as we have seen it developed. As a patriot, without looking to the rewards of personal ambition, and without at all caring for the honors of place, he stood amidst the perils that beset him, and met the temptations that might have reduced him, without fear and without reproach.
As a gentleman and neighbor, he per. formed all the duties, which such relations could require, with a high regard to propriety, usefulness and justice. Such a man's life may well be studied. The concluding clause of his will to which I have referred, is couched in language-and I have referred to it less to adorn a moral, than to point a tale." The testator, feeling that he had something of the authority of the sage, expressed himself in the instructive affection of a parent. I can.
not quote his language and I fear 1 cannot give its import. He said that be had enjoyed the honors of public life, and had encountered all its perilous responsibilities; and that experience had brought to his mind the verdit-that in the pursuits of private lit's were to be found the true source of happiness, quietude, and honorable independence. But lhe said with a solemn injuction to his children and descendants. whilst I give you this as my opinion, I say, on the authority of a parent quitting this any of my sons and descendants be required to engage in the business of public life, let not the dread of poverty, the fear of disgrace, nor the perils of death, deter thedi from maintaining the rights to Whicn tney were I have no doubt he intended to say, that such rights were in danger, in view of federal usurpat Without any of the authority or right of George Mason, hope I may give this sentiment without just exception "Young Statesmen of the the rights you were born to, and which were intended to be secured to your -section by the Federal Constitution, and do so without the danger of violeince and anarchy, but undar the security of concert, and the- lights of wisdom and intelligence. I am, gentlemen, yours, A.
P. 1JUT LER. Dr. 0. R.
BROYLEs, Chairmani, Letter from Hon. F. WV. Pickcens, ex-memiber to Congress from South Carolina. EDGEWooD, Jully.19, 1855.
GENTS: 1 received your kind invitation to join yfu at a dinner to be giveQ to your distinguished representaitive in C.ongress, and Wvould pleased to be present, if my constant engatgements would permit. -I hope his abilities and active talents will render him eminently useful to his State, ini the great emergencies that must inevitably arise. thing from as humble an individual as myselfrwould of course be considered aliost a trespass upon your time, and yet I cannot forbear saying, that it appears me the Southern States occupy a somewhat differet position now, t6 what, they have done for the last twenty-five years: A Fugitive Slave Law has been passed, supposed to be efficient, -the Nebraska Bill has been passed, the M1issouri Compromise, line has been repealed. Thie North complain of all these acts as grievances not to be They demand theie repealthey also demand the abolition of slavery, in the Distriet or Columbia-the p'rohibition of interchange of slav.es between the Southern States, and the 'rejecliomn of 'any State tolerating slavery in its constitution. these are all positive meaisures.
(We stand on the defensive. Heretofore we have complained of great grievanes and were compelled to' move-now they are foi-eed to nmeve.1 And in this point of'view, we hatve a stroliger position- than for yea'rs, if are only wise aind sincere. I suppose first distinct move will. be to reject Kansas on her applicntion as a slave State. There is a large majority in the next H-ouse of tatives against the admission af a State.
Let themi reject the application. I wil! not.preaiie to say what we will do in such an event. They cant restore the Missouri Compromisenor epealthe Fugitive Slave Bill-nors abolish Slavery in' the District. o'f'Columbia, or any thing of thi'kind, because thle President and the Senateare bgth against themn. The only real issethey ean practically te-nder at present is for the majority in the lower House of Congress, to, reject the application-of a slave I rather think, from the course 3ikpublic opin.
ion, that the Southern States, under the lad of Virgnia', will be considere4'the'great guardians and pi-otectors of' the Foreign interest and po, litical infiuence of foreigners -in these United States, and thst.the idaders of the old and file Demornracy of the NortherL. who hate been routed by- recent organizations there, will rally and fend Foreign influence, in the Middle and North Western States, so as to form a and-notive party who' will look upon their opp'bnents with intense bitterness and rel sympathy with the South as their political guardians in the Union. They will be inadeto -feel that i'liere2 is a party amongst them at ome, whose is to their political equality, and they will ally themselves with the Slaveholding States, in order to foster a poljtial power, to keep in check what they will look upon as a hostile dominaht party at home. So the eect of all recent' moves is to allay all buitterness and division in the Sotth, while they have created intense excitement anft bitter gles at thotNorth-and this will continue to be the case. The 'great pi-esidential' question is nowv pressing; for setlement, too.
This involves the division of seventy millions of dollara year, or f'or th next four. years. This is a great stko and too many live by it, to 'allow of any violent T'ssue 'being made that might produce a rapture. Under these cireumstaces4l doubt, whiether the majority elected to the House of Representatives will ever dare rejct th of a State for adinission be. cause it happens to tolerate slavery.
But if I they do, considering, that these Southern States were originally' settled by a brave race, who have left their blood-stains as signs upon their early pathway, I trust, in God, the watchword will be, Equality forever or Independence, aind. that it will ring over a thousand hills and start from their scabbards the swords of a hundred thousand freemen. True, Southern men have been murdered' by mobs when in pursuit of their property, under the Fugitive Slave Lanr, and we were degraded by the circ*mstances attending the admission of California-and true, thei: insulting agitation against us ought not to be borne-but I have seen enough to know that no great and decided move can be made by the Southern States in concert, unless some palpable issue be tendered, so striking that the whole public mind will be at once aroused and instantly prefer to burst the bonds rather than to wear in peace the chains of slaves. Of one thing I am sure, the time is past for talk and high resolves. We want wisdom and I thorough knowledge with sincere patriotism.
After the history of the last few years, prudence and heeding forbearance would add much to the dignity and future influence of South Carolina. But I have said more than I intended. With the best wishes for the prosperity and success of your distinguished Representative-and for your individual welfare, I have the honor to be. With great respect Your obedient serv't. F.
W. PICKENS. From the South Carolinian. a THE AGRICULTURAL CONVEITION. This large and respectable delegation of plan.
ters and farmers met yesterday, at the City Hall, at 1a. m. On motion of Dr. Caine, Col. J.
F. Marshall, of Abbeville, was culled to the chair, and Maj. S. G. Earle, of Anderson, was appointed Secretary.
On motion of Dr. J. W. Parker for the enrol. ment of the Delegates, the Chairman called for I them, in alphabetical order, by districts.
The following Delegates appeared. A. Calhoun, John P. Barratt, S. V.
Caine, Allen Vance, C. W. Sprowll, J. R. Tarrant, T.
V. Bird, S. S. Marshall, Wm. Smith, J.
H. Logan, John Cothran, Edmund Belcher, J. Foster Marshall, R. A. Williams.
Anderson-O. R. Broyles, S. G. Earle, J.
N. Whitner, A. P. Calhoun, W. R.
Calhoun. S. Poreher, J. Dubose Purcher. E.
Powe. E. James, S. H. Wilds, R.
L.Hart. S. Watson. A. Peay, E.
G. Palmer, W. H. Ellisen, W. W.
Adger, J. R. Alken, T. S. Dubose, Rt.
E. Ellison, F. Gaillard, J. M. Robertson.
J. Taylor. C. Hope, W. F.
Caughman, Jacob W'ianmaker, J. H. Counts, S. W. Leaphart, John Fox, J.
C. DeGaffarelly. G. Summer, Dr. B.
S. James, W. Chappell. P. Pelham, J.
H. Witherspoon. M. Stevenson, Wm. S.
Mullins. Marlboro--H. W. Harrington, Sam'l Sparks, J. W.
Harrington. M. Henderson, W. E. Hardy.
M. Dantzler, Jacob Stroman, Thomas Oliver, O. M. Dantzler, Adam Amaker, John Dantzler, C. Edwards, John H.
Folder, A. D. Goodwyn, J. D. Trezevant.Pickens.-J.
C. Miller, E. 1. Keith, N. H.
Jenkins. R. A. Thompson, B. E.
Seaborn. W. Hampton, Maj. O'Hlanlpn, A. RL.
Taylor, Dr. A. J. Green, J. D.
Frost, C. Bookter, J. Lykes, Dr. R. WV.
Gibbes, Dr. John Wallace, A. F. Dubard, J. Biites, Col.
Fenley, Thos. Taylor, Maj. Stark, W. Clarkson, Jas. S.
Guignard, James S. Scott, W. F. Rt. H.
Goodwyn, 3. M. Howell, James Catheart, John Crawford, Col. Sims, E. Hope, W.
Hampton, Francis Btulkley, J. T. Sims, JT. IIL E. J.
Wmn. TF. J. Robertson, 3. Fleming, H.
P. Green. J. U. Adams, Col.
Harris, Col. Thos. Davis, Col. J. Bauskett, J.
B. Davis, Parker, A. M. Hunt, Win. Glace, F.
R. English. Nettles, Win. V. Lee, 0.
P. Mcftae, J. D. Blanding. 3.
M. Pitts. Dogan, G. B. Tucker, TF.
A. Carlisle. It was moved, by Dr. Caine, to appoint a committee of five to nominate officers for this. Convention.
Mr. Dantzler moved an -amendm'ent which was necepted, that the Commnittee'consist one delegate from each 'rho following-is thie'committee Dr. Caine, 0. Rt. Broyles, Rt.
S. Porcher, T. E. Powe, E. G.
Palmer, lM. James, J. C. Hope, TF. Watson, A.
G. Summer, W. S. J. W.
Harrington, 0. Dantzler, E. J. Arthur, E. M.
Keith, W. S. Bogan, W.J. Taylor, Win. Nettles, J1.
MJ. Henderson. Who retii-ed to consult, and on their returni nominated thme following- gentlemen; wvhichi was unanimously 'monfirjned: 3. P. Barrati.Vice President T.
E. C. P. Bookter, Dr. 0.
R. Broyles, J. D. Foreher, A. G.
Summer. Dr. MarshalI then'resigned the chair to Dr. Barratt, who returned his niknowledgments, and addressed the C.onvention in a pertinent and to the point. On motion of Col.
J. F. Marshall, that a comn. mittee of one member from -each agriculturel society district notk havingja society repre- I seted in this Convention, be by the chair to prepare business for 'the That all resolutionseuggesting ncion by this.Convention, be referred to the comncommittee on business withiout explanations by the Mr. Pimer objected tonentting off debate, and free interchange of opinion e) alowed.
Col. Summer mnovedto lay this usblation and 4 amendment on the table-which was agreed to. i Wallace -moved a' reconuiderationl of the 'j first resolution--wich was agreed to Mr. Mullins addressed the Convention.im favor of each district having a.fmoll and legitimate reentation on the committee. The resolution, with aslighit amendment, wams then'adopted, and (he.
following donmiteel pointed by CoMMITTEE o1t DUsINEsS. Abbevillo Ag'I. Society; J. Foster Calhpun's Mills, J. A Calhoun.
i Greenwood T. B. Byrd. 5 Pendfaton A4 P. Calhoun.
0. R. Broyles. Black Oak R. R.
Poreher Darington E. James. Chesterfield. TF. E.
Powe' Edgefield S. S. Tompkins. Fairfied; E. G.
Palmer. Lexington J. Fox. Laurens -A. G.
Summer. Marion Orangeburg Union. W. S. Dogan.
Sumter TF. R. English. Lancaster "4 H. Witherapoon.
Newberry 3 ML Henderson. Pi Kershaw W. .3. Marion .3, W. Harrington, Richland A.
3. Pickens B. Seaborn. The Convention then adjourned till 4 Ti (Recess.) ti At.4 p. m.
the Convention resumed its ssin nd on motion it was ordered. Thrat d'elegates from other societies or who have arrived since morning, be represented in he committee. The following delegates appeared and enrolled their names: a D. J. G.
B. Gill, Jas. Pagan, Jas. A. Lewis 5, MeAlley.
Smith, Dr. J. Logan, sen's a J. York B. Springs.
The Convention then adjourned ihis morning. The.Convention met 10 a. imd4 was orgaii- hi ized. Trhe Committee on Business being c'lled tot from the want of room' we are compeluiii tmit until our next issue. The Committee to form 'tlis Constitution re.
orted the following: Constitution of the Stale Agricultural Society of South Carolina. 1. The name of this Society shall bohe3tate kgricultural Society of South Carolina. 2. Its objects shall, be to improve anpdadapie he condition of agriculture and hertiecnltture, nd the auxiliary mechanic arts and manufac.
ores. 3. This Society shall consist of individual upon their paying an annual of two dollars, or twenty-five dollars To ife membership-and of delegates from such, listrict societies as shall pay an ahnuaf of five dollars into the treasury of this society; and that each delegate from such soety shall pay a fee of two dollars; and also of nch honorary and corresponding members as hall be deemed proper by the but nu terson shall be chosen an honorary member of he Society upon any other ground of merit or laim than of distinguished services rendered to' gricultu're, horticulture, or the mechanie-arta. 4. There shall be 'a President and six Vicee and an -Executive Committee, conisting of seven persons, including the President, rho shall be annually elected by the Society.
5. The Society shall meet annually in the ity of Columbia, on the second Tuesdayo November, at which time there shall. be -an' Horticultural, Mechanical, Many. tcturing and'Stock Exhibition. 6.
A quorum of the Society shall consist of ot less than fifty members, and the President hall preside at all meetings, and in his absence Vice President. Executive Committee shall appoint an ndividual, who shall act as Secretary and Treas. rer, appoint all Standing and other Committees if the make arrangements for its nnual 8. It shall the duty of the Secretary and to Sep and preserve the books and vapors of the Society-to prepare its proceed. egs for publication-to revise all comm t.
ions before they are published-to-receive 4v1 lisburse the funds of the Society, under, ection of the Executive Committee, toed' gricultural paper, to be published by th iety, wherever, in their opinion, its publiit hall be deemed expedient-and psrf6 ther duties which they may assign to hIn.f vhich he shall receive an annual eompensaiaon be affixed by the said Committee. 9. This Constitution may be amended by rote of two-thirds of. the members attending any annual -meeting. The Commiittee on the Offices made the fol.
owing nominations, which were' unanimonsly P. Calhoun. Vice B. Byrd, Geo. Seaorn, Thos.
E. Powe, R. Jacob Stro. na, N. A.
Peay. Executice G. Palmer, A. G. summer, O.
Ii. Dantzler, R. W. Gibbes, R.7 Gage, J. U.
Adams. Col. Bauskett being asked to take the chair temporarily, Col. Summer moved, that the thanks of the Delegates be presented to Dr. L.P.-.Bar,att, for his kindness and.
courtesy ip presidingver this Convention; and to the Secretaries, fur he efficiency with which they have discharged heir duty. It was unanimously adopted. On' the-President resuming the Baikett presented the resolution to him, with few complimntary remarks, which Dr. Bairratt replied to with much feeling, and on his own want. of proper.
parls nentary knowledge as a presiging officer- A resolution was then offered anda comtpiteeo. appointed to escort the PresidenL to taking which, he expressed his ealadgments for the honor, with imuch Col. Marshall then moved that the Execntive ommittee be to appoint a suitable each district, to canvass the di's. to procure, of money and amies to the Society. Dr.
Gibbes tirrined over to the Sociulyeityivesilver medals and a steel die, which was proented te the Slate 'Ag'ricultural Society late Cole Joshua 3. Waid. The Convention then meet en ho second Tluesday in Novemlber next. RIOT IN LOUISVILI.E. LoUZeVILE iUGUST 7.
T'he electidn in thlis $tat6 'yesterday for' Gdyrnor and of Congress, was ivarau contestud. -The-majority for the Atneridas''ticket thtis is about 1660.j The mokb dispersed last night after settirig irs to-the fice of the," Signs of the paper adhe ao isisue this morning. As far as can be ascertained, there appears to have een about twenty persons killed and many wounded. Fwelve buildings were burned'before the fiames.oud.4 be The first uhot was'lired by foreigners sitsme dii. froi the pulls.T'he accennii froa-ilie seeise of theroare horribli.
Pari of human bodie's are to be cbarring in the roodering ruins! 'Alarge crowd Ie now ated the eouarz-hoouhe where' he.dad bodies iSe being the assaalt had been made, the zliseiskas' nch.exasperated,se0t fre tea of houses upied by their assailants, with a view of saking. lis diffienlt to say whuatwillget be the jIs's nost Order hasbeen paral' storel. The milliiary are and hopes are enterained tha'tpeace'may be prese rved, though ihere e'rioum apprehsensifefr to-night." About -4 kdchniidreignirsive thuaffar been killed'd -TUB ELTONS. Fiox accounts from Konv d41e Auust Jo, we learn tia' The.Coonties ofRat, enry, BimndiMllionted 'Des1eratie a-bijOiy 32. Sumrpter a'nd'Plkes countiesgive' te'Know- Nothing majority of 171'wentytwo counties in Southern and Easterzylite ama ive the Know Nothings a majority of 3,50.
'ercy Walker, Know.Nothigg, frelected tCongm te First Di-triett, In Tgeuee the badly to use tbe of ghe feWW5a. Nothing'aheet, they "1ha'rp lest voiesand seir money." Johnsonr, the standa rid besar of aniow Npthingism in ihat State, iy beyond allibt ee by 13S00 2000 Siillill id, r'ies tCdjges by a t. 36. ell donet'enneisse. From North Carolina, we nw Noth'ingism 'seemst'to have awikened ip." W'eare cetainoflite.
memnbers -f Congress i of eigtt with a--presp'ect of one or Clingmans about therew'as -oe ubt, Is eertainly realected, The aggregate -vets iowa a large -Democratic- From Kentnchy our returns are meagre enk. eni to render it. certain that. the Ngthings carried the State-the onlyae ey can count Coastiutiqalits. TunE OcEAN JohiiN.) pers received by the Asia, containghe fo1ldw-.
ug, showing'tfie progress't dib thew ork, New Fountdland and Telegasil empany apd.Lpudop elegaph Comoanie't steaner.Y cho14'r arned to St. 'Johns, hating unpiorting laborers and o2ayDesan, and other places. otn thle teali ligae here the work was to be istne4. huirred men have beets left there withbai'sweek'a ovisons, anid the. Victotia, recein I some alight wepsira, wouA leavw ab4dianal menufor- tih, lIne, The Johnpg 'e sangtnine work be spre4ilv acopisrd' toidt rougtl cheering deoe1ntC 'of tiiwffsh 'ytio I paans of 'the coast hth A mnachine for siowing seed in rills, lique cups hire-ptliaed -upon a nderneath ion wt disibuting AQnrey ths aee the opew nnergtat Illsa rfect z4gury and 'eyennee 16v h4ok ound trafe' thdIb.
