Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-07-21
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS"


The monstrous character and pcrncious tendencies
of the new party tha. has sprung up-a blot and dis
grace on the free spirit of this aye and country
were scathingly exposed b. Senator Douglas, i'll his
admirable speech in Independence Square, Philudcl-
phia on the 4th July. We c"n publish nothing more
valuable or interesting than the following fine pas-
yuges Of that speech:
Efforts are now being made to organize n new par
ty-u grcat northern, sectional nriy-upnn the aho'
liiiou platform, and tO carry "h M offensive war
apai,s the local aud domestic institutions u. umc-half
of the States of the Union, under banner which
shall proclaim TO the world that they "n Tor them
selves the protection Of the Constitution which they
deny to those upon whose riThlS tlry niake war
that the Constitution is budms upon their oppo.
nents but NOT upon hcmsclvcS-hnd that they mold
themselves Liberty at all times I" obey or resist Ii
as may best suit their purposes Whatever name
shull be given to this new political ors"nizatin'l-
whether il shall be called whG, nb"on, trccsol, or
know-nothi ls-t will still be the nningonisin Of the
democratic party. Whatever mhy be the nature Oi
the contest the prospects OF success, the emocr-
cy of the nation must stand firmly ny Tie Consiitu-
ton As H. yielding implicit obrl"ucc to all "t Its
obligations and carrying into faithful execution all Vi
its provisions iCheers aud cnninue1 hppiausc.i-
We must lnuiutuin the supremacy o inc laws par
down resistance and violence wherever tncy may oc-
cur and be ready to punish the traitors whenever the
overt act of treason shull be committed. rlrenci-
dous cheers and appause.l
-citizcns il has been said that IN Tie bosom
of this new political organization there secret 80
cety bound together by the most solemn anu terrible
oatlis--I kuor not its name lnuchttr Inquire oi
whom YOU may, aud the answer will be 81 don
know" Rours of laughter. Aud from Ill Inc III,
formation I CON get l um inclined to believe TINT
'know -nOthngs' Is their name. tremendous roars
of laughter.
/ was about to say and | presume that the incts
connected with your recent election III this city have
furnished YOU with sufficient evidence upon i'ie sub
Il tl,rr. rIs.l IN Il Inn
som of this new political organzatinn secret po-
litical society, bound together by thr most terrible
ouths to prescribe every man, whether nafuralizcd
or not or whatever his political or religious scnt
ments who ia the misfortune TO he bora III alorcish
cline and like our ancestors, driven by political or
religious prosecutions to flee from their native land
aud seek All asylum in America Is there such nn or
gauization among YOU! Cries OF Eyes, "ycs. -
"There is" "Thcrc is.
II is also gud, aud with how much truth you have
much better opportunities Of knowing than ], for oi
this kmoc noihng, roars of laughter that this Sc
cret society which controls the nominations ana d.
rccs the uvcments Of the allied forces against the
democracy, binds its members by tl:n"st solemn OBJ
legations to prescribe every mau who wOrshils God
according to the Roman Catholic faltl no mnttcr To
what race he may belong or where hc was Durl-
tCrics THAT is it," "rhcy do "}lh.v do. II is
nlso said that YOUR recent city election controlled
by this sorctyhut your city government is now be-
ing managed under its auspices, nu" Tint the whole
patronage Vi tic city is distributed under S direction
and IN accordance rHh as WihciWck ~ prescription.
TCrirs "rhat is so," at is, lt IL, from all sides
This secret society, whose mcnlrrs lroicss TO know
uothneS' with the view OF conccnlinS their political
designs arc said to have their brailr~ aud auxiliary
societies in every city, town. aud village, aud to be III
alliance with this great northern sectional party,
which proclaims open war upon the Institutions OF
oue-ha of the States aud upou the Constitution otthe
United States. 1t is not surprising that political
society whose efficient secret organization enables
them TO conceal their pans while they hold out ILL.,
duccmeuts Of power au pnrona@o e" persons 10 as-
suiue their proscrptive obligations WITH the assurance
that they can conceal the hand which strikes the blow.
and thus avoid the o!iun aud responsibility ot the act,
while they rcvei i'll tlu spvs Of victury-l say II Ii
not surprising that such political organization should
prove formidable uud even Irresistible i'll lie first CT
forts when the specific ubects und principles ot the
society were unknown to the Community, aud before
the people could bo aroused 10 q just sense OF their
danger. speak of the society aud OF lis principles
of action here and wherever ele they have trunphed
in the recent elections; for not aware that a,n
nersouullv acduuutcd with auv ulan who hus ta-
ken upon himself their obligations aud enrolled his
name upon their books.
No principle of political action could have been
devised more hostile to tho genius q" our ips'itutlnn
more repuyuunt to the Constitution than those which
are said to form the test Of membership III the society
of "Know Nothings." To prescribe mau in this
country Oh account of his blrh1SlhHco or rciSious
faitL i: subversivc of all our ide& mud principles OF
civil and religious freedom. revolving 10 our
sense of jrstics and right IT tefogatory to the
Har.ctor of our foreathers, wbc stre oil emigrants
from the old world sono ut an eHier aud some u!
later neriod. They once bore .alrgunco to the
crowned heads Of Europe. They, fo", suffered the
sont, or c;vl and relirious persecution, the fury