Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-12-04
A REPLY TO THE LITTER OF TIE HON. HENRY

A REPLY TO THE LITTER OF TIE HON. HENRY
A. WISE.
NV Yosk, Nov. "a, 1854.
| To the Hon HRxRr A. WISH
| Standardization for your talents and confdeocs In
your patriotism have induced to peruse. carefully
your recent manifesto against the socaed order Of Know
Nohings do not pretend to compete With you either
10 logical acumeo in rhetorical display, but .
truth and justice, and feeling Of Amereanism In
duce me 70 osr suggestions in regard to the posi-
tons which you The poetulatc which you lay
doun-thst the laws Of tie United States declare AID
feud the liberties Of people, that they free in
sense surprising In their franchises ereu the Magma
Charta Is undenabe but II Is literally people whose
liberties they declare and defend The constitution o,
the United States declares in its preamble that
formed by ancestors to the blessings Of ber
the nselves and their posery aud the whole tenor
OF that shows marked distinction between th.
itoo Of the native born and nst1ra1ed citizen 1,
evidence Of this need scarcely call your attention the
fact that to one but native or Citizen the time O.
the adoption OF the constitution is eligible the oic.
Of President Vice President aud that q prolonged
OF residerce indispensable qualification for
S.n.tor or Representative in Congress Toe feeling OF
caution and the sentiment Of nationality which imposed
these restrictions recommended BY the approval Of
our eases parrots As veil as BY our sentiment OF
amor paria. II il true that Congress empowered by
the cous;tut oo to Establish uniform rule Of natura
Isos; but this is merely permi.sve-an authority to
De used eIpedieney dictate ior the general good
and by no means compulsory, when the OF the
franchises hus extended boSn the foreigner threaten
to disturb our domestic tranquility" hod-and no
arSunent 80 specious as to from the position
that the institutions OF country its government its lava
and its freedom, are rs much inheritance to il, chill
dren the property Of family ard that hence as an
American born citizen, have rights sacred than
Vvrhtr an ho -
II true that privileges Of national Character NAV De
conferred without injury, sill Who good faith become
citizens, but this does impair RICH, Of the ma
tive TO guard With jealousy tho franchises which he has
inherited
Iaceor fully with the principle established BY our Revo-
ution which recognizes the right Of but the
assertion OF this right BY imp,s the superior
right OF native population to fence sad guard sgsos the
danger OF innovation and eucfoachment the institution.
OF their country. For the truth of this position appeal
neither to the sophstrics Of logic the dssive figures
Of rhetoric but to the eer 81 of the human heart
Your hrst this mysterious order is its Sc
crscy aud ask when there necessity to js,;-
~ secret association Tor political ends what else can JUS
fs >. Now sir, with al your erudon you must have
read careesy the history Of times no: to be aware
OF the strict surveillance which exercised nv contend
factions in this country the debera,ion. Of their
Opponents well the subtle devices which are used hv
parties TO destroy the efficiency OF opposing
cannot accuse you, hoserrr, o. such negligence, for
ven admit in the that caucus NAV sit in
secret TO consult on the general policy OF great public
party by what right tten ccnieSsng, you do s-
norance OF the organization aud objects OF that gres,
American party whose sicc would seem miraculous II
did unde:st md the pa,riDc principle. which have
induced TO it, popularity, do You deLy them the privilege
Of secret or private consul upon their general policy
take you upon your admissions SIR, which are
conclusive asaipsi this point the necessity Of
orsiuiI itiou be established and that /. both
siy and convenient, is have doubt eatireS
eatirey satisfactory 10 the members o the
which you denouuce They the best the only true
judges upon this subject, aud the rgho hundreds OF
thousands Of native born Americans the priv
eSe OF secret caucus cannot be dened sound ru
Of democratic principle That recoglze such a |
right aud oppose the practice, simply upon the |
ground that il il unnecessary, appears from your
aborei upon this point Alter exhibition OF sta
tstcs which IS partial in its nature, but which |
nevertheless, shews sufficient balance of Catholics and
naurez citizens TO control any ordinary election this
couny, ask, Now, what has such msjority Of num-
bsrs and wealth, of natives and Of Protsans to Tear
0in such miaoies of Catholics and citzens?
Why, sir is a have just stated thar in the e1 element
OF party politics small compact body Of may
troll The elections OF our country, sni In great
ca'e it, policy. This your own eIper poiti-
ciiu has doubtless taught you You greatly mistake how
ever, the o. cts and purposes Of the American party il
you suppose their opposition il directed entirely against
Roman Gait oics Al naurazed citizens. We look upon
the dsmsgogues who with selfish purposes by fvnipe
ard atcry, have fosered autiAmercan sentiments and
anti American organizations among adopted citizens
for the axe OF political advancement the chief sinners
who endure the wrath Of the awakened Nene.s-
There are no men more earnest advocates OF religious
ire,dpm more decided opponents OF party corruption
lis not the religion Of the Catholic more than
that OF the Protestant 10 which they object but il free
dom Tor all which they advocatt-freed0n from the yran
Of pcstcraft and freedom in government from all
religious interference They Wiling that ay church
stall bold spiritual supremacy in these United States
ai they do hot believe that any man who acknowledges
higher duty as it regards hs political and social obi
g,Ons TO church organization than that which he owes
TO the government under which he ives l. t to be al
American citizen This, sir is the argument wbereupop
a" alleged opposition TO Roman Catholics il founded
| n4ya .lrIaa nj rnr1
cessary here to ked dstiuc;on-a distinction
which the eDissaries OF the Roman church are f, max
ing Tor themelSes distinction which the American
party fully recognizes, and which will free them in the
eyes Of the udcioui from every mputaon of religious
persecution In confirmation Of this position witness the
difficulties that have occurred between tho Roman priest
hood aud their Catholic congregations in various sections
OF our country the Of which, in the case of
III, Rev John Brady. Of Hartford Conn. has excited
universal sympathy; sentiment which has no where
been more powerfully felt than among members of the
American organizations 10 TRUTH the Catholic coDyrpgs.
rions 10 the UUed S.aei 10 their resistance to the "
ranuV OF priescr Of which VIC have no. but she be-
ginning Of the end, will have hrmer or more reliable
ilenis than the m,n you denOunce 50 much for Know
Nothing opposition TO the Catholic religion The attempts
o. the Roman horarchy obtain botL mpora and spit
I!uil control in this country must be familiar to you-
Their prescription Of the Bible in our public schools 4,
Ne" York must have revoed your feelings a. a christ
iic and their attempt revive the tenure OF church
property, against which the OF mortm,in was en.c
ted Centuries ago in Engand have ca lied forth ,our
earnest opposition a. an enlightened legislator Yet s,d
experience has taught vensl had potica p.re.
become mat even the great principles Of the true M,gna
Cnafta Won have been outraged by ecclesiastical u.urpa
'oh upon these points had not scouuer organization pos
setsed strength To oppose the ohnatons Of the Roma,
priesthood aud defeat the inrques Of corrupt psrtiz,ns
accord uly sir with your proud boast a. to the sentiments
patriotism and nationality which belong to Ms as people
and which undoubtedly survive through long generations
nor would have my countrsncn selfish or cIclusvei in
their devotion TO freedom. Il is because desire that lib
ey IN this country, should be perpetual and that our
isht should be beacon TO AL mankind, that would
guard well the avenues Of her sacred temple II ia not
sn't the foreigner by BIRTH the CIthoc in religion
that secret political organization leveed bu, when men
o foreign birth, Who have accepted the boon Of citizenship
offered by our laws who have found asylum under our
institutions from iJranny and oppression pretend 10 main.
tain Their sncen national pr.udces to band ,hcn., res
together As Irish or German associations 10 control Amer
can elections aud th. notwithstanding the oath they have
taken In becoming citizens n allure allegiance TO every
ohef sovereignty IS not time for native born citizens 10
net IN concert and oppose conduct aniAnecan aud
insulting TO their national prideY And when moreover
the cmms arics OF religions hierarchy which has aimed
and sill aims at uIiyersa suprem proc lain boldly de-
signs angouistic TO the genius OF our institutions and
dangerous 70 that principle Of religious freedom which
| Un the III .,,,a.. ~