Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-06-13
THE RICHMOND WING AND THE
KNOW NOTHINGs.


The Richmond Wing of the 10th instant,
comments with some little asperity on an arti-
Gle in the Sentinel headed IAN old party under
a new name" That article treated of the new
society known as the know nothings."
Yelled in mystery as that society is, it is but
natural that inquiry should be attracted to it.
Aspiring to be great controlling party, it
would be wonderful indeed if it were permitted
to pass unquestioned When new and secret
and influential organizations are created that
must exert, for veal or woe, great influence
on the destinies of the country, it becomes pa
triots everywhere to endeavor to ascertain their
precise character and objects.
The Whig should give us credit for seeking
to investigate this society. We could not our
selves join, nor do we understand how any man
pretending to common intelligence can join,
such society. 1t will not announce its OBJ
jects. 1t maintains an obstinate silence. But
the Whig finds fault with u.s. 1t makes itself
merry, too, over the opinion we expressed in re
gard to that society being the joint production
of northern whiggery, freesoilism, and the whole
chapter of isms. 1t rather ridicules the reasons
we gave for so believing.
Now we would respectfully ask the Whig to
point out our mistake, if mistake we have COM
mitted. We would go further, and ask the Wing
to state its own theory in regard to the elements
of that society, which it seems to favor. If the
Wing is in favor of that society, and really
it shows tenderness for it, why is it in its
favor? 1t must have a reason, and if so, it is
fit that it should make that reason known.
We do not profess to be skilled in witch
craft-we do not pretend to be able to search
into the secret thoughts of men; but we do
claim to be able, by reasoning from known
facts, to get at some proper idea as regards the
composition of this secret society.
The wolf may disguise itself in the sheep
skin, but it cannot escape detection. The ass
may strut in the lions skin, but its ridiculous
bray will infallby betray it. So northern wing
gerry may cloak itself in the mysteries of know
nothingism, and ally itself with all the odds,
ends, and isms of the country, but it cannot
avoid showing the cloven foot
Does not the Richmond Wing see it, and
see that it is as plain as pike-staff?
But says the Whig: "The Sentinels re-
port may serve, to some extent, to account
for the component parts of northern know
nothings, but how are we to account for south
ern knownothings 2"
This is very pertinent inquiry. We will
endeavor to answer it. If there be such things
as southern know-nothings, which there ought
not to be, we presume that they are either those
who have joined the society, because they look
on it as an effort to revive the whig party under
new name; those who make opposition to
foreigners and Catholics the great controlling
| consideration, or those who neither understand
nor care for the secrets and the principles of
the order, but join either from stupid wonder
or sheer recklessness.
We will venture to say that if there be an
abolitionist or freesoier in the south, he will
become know-nothing. If good southern
wings or democrats join that order, they will
join it without understanding its character
They will be deceived, humbugged, entrapped.
But we do not feel disposed to say more on
his-subject at this time. 1t is possible, barely
possible, that we may be deceived in regard to
the character of the know-nothings. We think
that the opinions we have expressed will turn
out to be correct, and we have felt it to be our
duty to warn our readers against falling into
the snare that is set for them. If they do so
after this warning, our skirts will be clear.
Their sins will lie at their own door.