(Transcribed from The Clarke County Democrat, Grove Hill, Alabama, January 31, 1856)
PROCEEDINGS OF THE
DEMOCRATIC and ANTI-KNOW NOTHING CONVENTION,
Held in Montgomery, Jan. 8, 1856
Pursuant to notice, and in accordance with the call heretofore made, the delegates from the several counties to the Democratic and Anti-Know Nothing State Convention, assembled in the hall of the House of Representatives of the Capitol in Montgomery, at 1 o’clock, P. M., on Tuesday the 8th day of January, 1856.
Mr. W. L. Yancey offered the following, which was unanimously adopted:
We, the Delegates of the Democratic and Anti-Know Nothing party of Alabama, in Convention assembled, to adopt the following Resolutions.—
1. That the following principles constitute the true basis of the National Democratic organization:
- First the perfect equality of privileges—civil, religious and political – of every citizen of our country, without reference to the place of his birth.
- Second, The unqualified right of the people of the slaveholding States to the protection of their property in the States, in the Territories, and in the wilderness, in which territorial governments are as yet organized. The Democratic platform is based on the recognition, not of one, but of both of these principles; and when efforts are made to separate these two questions, the Democratic party, resting upon its platform, says: We cannot compromise either proposition, but stand united upon both.
2. That we hold the American Union secondary in importance only to the rights and principles it was designed to perpetuate; that past associations, present fruition, and future prospects will bind us to it so long as it continues to be the safeguard of these rights and privileges.
3. That the State of Alabama, in the judgment of this Convention, will and ought to resist, even (as a last resort) to a disruption of every tie which binds her to the Union, any action of Congress upon the subject of slavery in the District of Columbia, or in places subject to the jurisdiction of Congress, incompatible with the safety, the domestic tranquillity, the rights and honor of the slave-holding States; or any act suppressing the slave trade between the slave-holding States; or any refusal to admit as a State any territory hereafter applying, because of the existence of slavery therein; or any act prohibiting the introduction of slaves into the Territories of Utah and New Mexico; or any act repealing or materially modifying the laws now in force for the recovery of fugitive slaves.
4. That any interference by Congress for the prevention of slavery in any of the Territories, would be an inexcusable and unconstitutional infringement of the rights of the South, which, it is the deliberate sense of the Convention, it would be the duty of the people of Alabama to resist, even to a disruption of the ties that bind this State to the Union!
5. That the act of Congress, providing Territorial Governments for Nebraska and Kansas, embodies the principles of Congressional non-interference upon the provisions of that act, so far as they relate to that subject, meet the hearty concurrence and approval of this Convention.
6. That the restoration of the Missouri compromise line by Congress would be a great wrong, resistance to which, even to the extent of a disruption of the Union, would be a sacred duty with all who cherish the essential principles of Constitutional right and State equality.
7. That it is the deliberate conviction of this Convention that in view of the great practical questions which now involve and menace their dearest rights and most important interests, the people of the slave-holding States should unite for the protection of their threatened rights, and for the prevention of further aggressions upon their domestic institutions; and that they should positively refuse longer to atliliate with any National party which will not distinctly and unequivocally recognize and maintain the full measure of their rights under the Constitution.
8. That it is expedient that we should be represented in the Democratic National Convention, upon such conditions as area herein after expressed.
9. That the delegates to the Democratic National Convention, are hereby expressly instructed to insist that the said Convention shall adopt a platform of principles, as the basis of a National organization, prior to the nomination of candidates unequivocally asserting, in substance, the following propositions.
- The recognition and approval of the principle of non-intervention by Congress upon the subject of slavery in the Territories.
- That no restriction, or prohibition of slavery, in any territory, shall hereafter be made by any act of Congress.
- That no State shall be refused admission into the Union because of the existence of slavery therein.
- The faithful execution and maintenance of the Fugitive Slave Law.
10. That if said National Convention shall refuse to adopt the propositions embraced in the preceding resolution, our delegates to said Convention are hereby positively instructed to withdraw therefrom.
11. That this Convention appoint in Executive Committee, to consist of one person from each Congressional District, whose duty it shall be, in the event that the action of said National Convention is not in conformity with the seventh resolution, to call a Convention of the Democracy of Alabama to meet at an early day, to consider what is best to be done.
12. That we hail with unaffected satisfaction the movement of Georgia to prescribe the terms upon which she will associate in party brotherhood with any national organization.
13. That we sympathize with the friends of the slavery cause in Kansas, in their manly efforts to maintain their rights and the rights and interests of the Southern people, and that we rejoice at their recent victories over the paid adventurers and jesuitical hordes of Northern abolitionism; that the deep interest felt and taken by the people of Missouri in the settlement of Kansas, and the decision of the slavery question in it, is both natural and proper, and that it is their right and duty to extend to their Southern brethren in that Territory every legitimate and honorable sympathy and support.
14. That we are uncompromisingly opposed to the political organization commonly called the Know Nothing Order, having no sympathy with their secrecy, their oaths, their unconstitutional designs, their religious intolerance, and their political prescription; and that, under whatever name or in whatever shape its members present themselves before the public, advocating the principles of that Order, they will alike meet our sternest opposition.
15. That the signal triumph in Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and other States, of the Democratic party, and of the patriotic Whigs, who co-operated in achieving these results over the Know Nothing organization, as conclusive evidence that, in the great practical questions involved in that contest, Southern men may honorable and successfully combine, without regard to past political distinctions, to save the Constitution from desecration, and the South from being prostrated before the power of Northern fanaticism and misrule.
16. That those men in the non-slaveholding States who have advocated the passage of the Nebraska Kansas act, and the Fugitive Slave Law, as measures of justice to the South, deserve our thanks, and are entitled to our confidence.
17. That the Administration of President Pierce meets our cordial approval, and the bold and statesmanlike enunciation of Constitutional principles, in his recent message to the Congress of the United States, entitles him especially to the gratitude of the South; and this Convention earnestly recommend him to the National Democratic Convention for nomination as a candidate for re-election to the office of President of the United States.
Mr. Clitheral offered the following resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved, That if any vacancy occur in the Electoral College, not provided for by the appointment of Alternates, the remaining members of the college be authorized to fill the same.
Mr. Brown offered the following resolution, which was adopted.
Resolved, That this Convention recommend that each county appoint Sub-Electors to aid in the approaching Presidential canvass.
Mr. Stone offered the following resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the several Counties of this State be and they are hereby requested to send to all future Democratic State Conventions, only one delegate for every two hundred Democratic votes cast for Governor, in the election next preceding such Convention, and one delegate for every fraction of such votes of one hundred and upwards.
Mr. Sayre reported the following Executive Committee, under the resolution adopted by the Convention reported by the committee on resolutions:
1st district, J. W. Lesesne of Mobile
2d district, E. C. Bullock of Barbour
3d dist., John A. Elmore of Montgomery
4th dist. W. M. Brooks of Perry
5th dist. John T. Phinzy of Lawrence
6th dist. Joseph C. Bradley of Madison
7th dist. Miles W. Abernathy of Benton
On motion, John A. Elmore was elected Chairman of said Executive Committee.
Mr. Gayle offered the following resolutions which were adopted:
1. Resolved, That Gov. John A. Winston deserves the thanks of the Democratic and Anti-Know Nothing party for his gallant and gloriously successful fight in the late Gubernatorial canvass in Alabama.
2. Resolved, That at his triumph, with the principles so clearly and ably maintained by him, unmistakably indicates the approving feeling of our people towards him and his official conduct.
Mr. B. C. Yancy offered the following resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved, That a copy of the resolution adopted by the Convention, endorsing the course of the seventy four Democrats in regard to the election of Speaker, should be telegraphed to them in full.
Mr. Searcy offered the following resolution which was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention are tendered to the President, Vice Presidents and Secretaries of the Convention for the able and efficient manner in which they have discharged their respective duties.
Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be tendered to the members of the House of Representatives for the use of their Hall.
The Convention selected unanimously, as Electors for the State at large, W. L. Yancey of Montgomery, and L. P. Walker of Madison. W. M. Sanford of Chambers was appointed Alternate for Mr. Yancey, and John Erwin of Greene, Alternate for Mr. Walker.
DISTRICT ELECTORS
1st. A. B. Meek of Mobile, alternate B. Y. Beene of Dallas
2d. James L. Pugh of Barbour; alternate John K. Henry of Butler
3rd. E. J. Bacon of Chambers; alternate J. W. A. Sanford of Montgomery
4th. John G. Barr of Tuscaloosa; alternate A. A. Coleman of Sumter
5th. John D. Rather of Morgan; alternate J. S. Kennedy of Lauderdale
6th B. C. Yancey of Cherokee; alternate W. O. Winston of DeKalb
7th J. L. M. Curry of Talladega; alternate N. S. Graham of Coosa
The following gentlemen were appointed Delegates for the State at large to the National Convention to be held in the city of Cincinnati on the 1st Monday of June, 1856.
John Forsyth of Mobile; alternate Joseph W. Hall of Baldwin
David Hubbard of Lawrence; alternate J. H. Weekly of Lauderdale
Reuben Chapman of Madison; alternate J. T. Bradford of Talladega
John Cochran of Barbour; alternate C. M. Jackson of Autauga
The following gentlemen were appointed Delegates from the Districts:
1st Julius Hessee of Mobile and John W. Portis of Clarke; alternates J. W. Pennington of Choctaw and J. H. Hawthorn of Conecuh.
2d. G. W. Stone of Lowndes and A. L. Milligan of Coffee; alternates C. Robinson of Lowndes and J. K. Henry of Butler.
3rd. Bolling Hall of Autauga and J. B. Tate of Russell; alternates Matthew Lyle of Tallapoosa and W. W. Mason of Macon.
4th A. B. Clitheral of Pickens and R. H. Clements of Tuscaloosa; alternates Porter King of Perry and Z. L. Nabers of Pickens.
5th H. D. Smith of Lauderdale and T. H. Hobbs of Limestone; alternates G. P. Rice of Morgan and John L. Bunch of Franklin.
6th H. C. Cowan of Jackson and W. Acklen of Madison; alternates W. O. Winston of DeKalb and James M. Adams of Marshall
7th James R. Martin of Talladega and H. W. Nelson of Shelby; alternates James F. Grant of Benton and James R. Powell of Coosa.
The Convention then adjourned sine die.
FELIX G. NORMAN, President.
Secretaries
Albert Elmore
Julius Hesse
R. H. Chapman
The Grand Masters of Free & Accepted Masons of the State of Alabama 1811-2011
Freemasons contributed to America and the state of Alabama through their patriotic service and philanthropic work since 1811, but little is known about their backgrounds. Utilizing the bonds of their fraternity, but without fanfare, the freemasons built schools, orphanages, nursing homes, provided for the sick and elderly, fought wars, and were an integral part in building the state of Alabama and our country. They were, simply put, ‘the epitome of good patriots and citizens.’
As wife of one of the Grand Masters, Donna R. Causey, had the unique opportunity to work with Alabama’s Grand Lodge to provide biographical data into the lives and backgrounds of all the Grand Masters of Freemasonry in Alabama from 1811 to 2011. Many early photographs of the Grand Masters are included in this work.
Biographies of the following men are included listed in order of their service: THOMAS WADSWORTH FARRAR, WILLIAM B. PATTON, NIMROD EARLE BENSON, THOMAS BIVIN CREAGH, WILLIAM JORDAN MASON, WILLIAM LEIGH, JOHN C. HICKS, EDWARD HERNDON, NATHANIEL WYCHE FLETCHER, JAMES PENN, FELIX GRUNDY NORMAN, RUFUS GREENE, WILLIAM HENDRIX, DAVID CLOPTON, STERLING ALEXANDER MARTIN WOOD, JAMES MCCALEB WILEY, ROBERT HUGH ERVIN, STEPHEN FOWLER HALE, WILLIAM HUTCHINSON NORRIS, JOHN ADAMS LODER, WILLIAM C. PENICK, WILSON WILLIAMS, GEORGE DASHELL NORRIS, WILLIAM PARISH CHILTON, JOSEPH HENRY JOHNSON, ISAIAH ATWATER WILSON, JOB PALMER PILLANS, HENRY CLAY ARMSTRONG, HENRY CLAY TOMPKINS, RUFUS WILLIS COBB, JOHN HOLLIS BANKHEAD, JOHN GIDEON HARRIS, MYLES JEFFERSON GREENE, HENRY HART BROWN, GEORGE MILBURN MORROW, FRANCES LEIGH PETTUS, GEORGE PAUL HARRISON, JAMES ANDREW BILBRO, BENJAMIN DUDLEY WILLIAMS, RUSSELL McWHORTER CUNNINGHAM, ROBERT JAMES REDDEN, HENRY HUDSON MATTHEWS, BENJAMIN MOSES JACOBS, HUGH SHEPPERD DARBY MALLORY, LAWRENCE HAYWOOD LEE, DANIEL ARTHUR GREENE, HENRY CLANTON MILLER, WALTER SMITH, ROBERT STERLING TEAGUE, PERCY BLACKETT DIXON, JULIAN FLETCHER SPEARMAN, DUNCAN CHALMERS CARMICHAEL, OLIVER DAY STREET, JAMES MADISON PEARSON, ROBERT FRANKLIN LOVELADY, WILLIAM LOVARD LEE, SAMUEL A. MOORE, COKE SMITH WRIGHT, SAMUEL BOYD ADAMS, ENCY FENDLEY YEILDING, GEORGE UNDERWOOD POTTER, WILLIAM EARL JAMES, JAMES MATHEW JONES, CLARENCE EDWARD MICHAELS, JOSEPH CLIFTON ROE, WILLIAM JOSEPH NASH, FRANKLIN WARREN PARKS, WILLIAM LIPSEY LEGG, JOSEPH SPANGLER SOUTHALL, LEONARD STACY TERRY, JOHN W. PREDDY, TROY LEANDER NUNN, CARL CHARLES COOPER, EELY ELBERT JACKSON, ROBERT RUFUS BERRYMAN, JAMES LEW LAWSON, GORDON LEE EVATT, ARLIS RICHARD FANT, PENSON RABON GRAHAM, WILLIAM WALLACE, JR, TOLBERT DAVID SHARP, FRED W. VAUGHAN, JAMES W. COOPER, WILBUR HALE ARMISTEAD, HOWARD E. BLACKWELL, WILLIAM JOHN BRANNON, MARVIN P. LYNN, PAUL E. BRADFORD, CHARLES CECIL ROBINSON, JOSEPH DANIEL BRACKIN, JAMES M. EIDSON, SR., THOMAS B. WHALEY, WILBUR O. HARDEN, ROBERT CHARLES COLEY, GERALD S. BORDEN, JAMES G. MACON, JAMES FRANKLIN GLASGOW, HERMON WEBB TAYLOR, CHARTER LEE NICHOLSON, JACK SMITH, J. B. ROBINSON, JR, RALPH HARRIS HENDERSON, SR., MARVIN EUGENE LEACHMAN, FLOYD HAMBRICK, JR., DAVID L. SHIREY, J. C. BRADY, E. WAYNE LUCAS, WARREN MALCOLM KILLINGSWORTH, ROBERT L. JONES, WILLARD RAY FULLER, LUTHER EUGENE GROOMS, LARRY W. WORTHAM, DELTON EARL HAVARD, STEVE BROWNFIELD, JERRY UNDERWOOD, ROBERT THOMAS CRAWFORD, V. WAYNE CAUSEY, RODGER SIMMONS, BILLY C. FORD, DARRELL NEILL, GENE ANDERTON, FRANK W. LITTLE, JAMIE A. SMITH, LARRY W. STINSON, TEDDY R. GROGAN, LARRY A. HANCOCK, RONALD ANDRESS, C. STERLING HUGHES
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Visit the author’s websites: www.alabamapioneers.com and www.daysgoneby.me
Donna is also the author of several genealogy books and historical fiction series, Tapestry of Love See all of her books by typing Donna R Causey in the search box for Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.
