Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-12-12

TUESDAY,, DECEMBER ~, ts'a.
THE TYRANNY OF KNOW-NUTlllNGiSM-A
STARTLING REVELATION.
n, e~spo,;tion of Know Nrthingis,n. however clear
and accurate. can convey 50 vivid a conception VI III
nature rs msy be derived from an insight INC III
practical operation. 1t may be shown by irresistible
argument that Acknowledgment is obnoxiousto eve
~ principle of justice and state policy, but all The
logic Of the schools will not have the effect on the pup
Lie mind which a single instance oI oppression ah0
outrage, such az is related hereafter, will exert. Inc
masses are moved, no, by abstract argument but o'
pslpsbie and visible facts, which appeal directly t0
their reason and feelings.
There was a plausibili,y in the pre'ensions OF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS which, Disgusting its real nature
NAV have misled a few w%ell-meaning people as to lie
rrue spirit and intent. The intense feeling OF natonaii-
" which il affects, for instance, has gwen ha creui'
with the public to which it has no Just title. bHits false
n-etence. Kuow.N othingism has achieved Inc hcti'
t;ou. triumph. which it boasts. To counteract the
,rop-ess Of this az Of all other errors, our reliance Is
On the intelligence oil the masses. The people may
Ia m. victim Of q momentary delusion, but their rea-
mn oappo, be long deceived. They will penetrated the
1sl Of secrecy which shrouds the mysteries OF hnow-
nottingham, and behind all its professions OF patrio'-
Ism discover the hidden spring OF selfish anpinon
which puts the machinery i'll motion. 10 q country
Distinguished for popular intelligence it is Impossible
Yea. any cabal Of politicians can eVade the scru'ih!
o. public opinion, and elevate themselves 70 power
b. the agency Of q secret organization. Their pur'
nases will be detected, aud the means by which they
operate be exposed to the indignant reprobstlon OF
the people.
Sooner even than we anticipated is the nature o!
Know. nottingham unveiled to the public gaze' by the
victims of its own fraudulent pretensions. The fol-
lowing preamble and resolutions, adopted at a general
meeting of the order of Know. Nothinss OF the city
Of BROOKLYN. on the 9th ultirno, disclose the aim of
the authors of this association, and the means lhey
employ to Garry out their purposes
whereas the action OF the Grand Council OF the
s:a.e of New York al their late session in October
Lst, in making an independent nomination Tor State
officers without Instructions TO THAT efiect from inc
subordinate councils of the State, and without giving
them an opportunity 10 participate IN tue seieet1oh OF
such candidates, and when no necessity eNisted ior
such a course, inasnuch as GOOD MEN snd iRCE
had already been nominated by the great poiitca!
parties Of the State, the nomination OF some OF whom
was effected by the direct action OF this order, was
departure from the true interests and objects OF inns
order, an unwarrantable assumption OF power, and IN
direct violation of resolutions adopted by the same
Grand Council in june last:
"Aod whereas the said Grand Council adopted
resolutions presented by Chauncey Shaifer, putting
al unwarrantablc and er post tacto construction upon
the obligations of the members OF this order, there
by andsavoring 10 coerce und compel them, ny
THREATS and PENALTIES, to vote for the candi-
dates 80 nominated by said Grand Council, i'll direct
violation OF tho Constitution and laws OF the land,
and subversive Of the genius and spirit OF our repuo-
Gcan Institutions:
"And whereas the said Grand Council, a. their re-
cent session, adopted a resolution originally suggest,.
ed By II. A. T. Granbury, requiring the members OF
this order, under certain pains and penalties; To
CONFESS, under oath, how they voted at tho recent
election, in palpable violation of the rights and Privi-
leSes secured to, and so highly priced by, every true
American: Therefore,
"Resolyed. That we rcpudiate and condemn tho
aforementioned action Of the Grand Council, as anti
American, anti Republican, and the most uiwarran'-
able, aboniuable and dangerous assumption OF Dce-
no,ic power ever attempted in this Republic; IN its
Confessional, Penauts and threat Of accommodation,
only equallsd by the Holy lnquisition OF SPAN, ana
only worthy OF imitation by the Grand Council u Gar
dinals at Rome.
"Resolved, That any American asseuting OF yield
Ing obedience to such degrading and Inquisitoral re-
ouistions, .nherits not the spirit of the revolutionary
sires, and il unworthy tho name OF a son OF 10 anu
descends to the level Of an Ignorant Papist.
"Rssolyed, That we our brethren 10
nnu.e and calmly reflect, before they aid i'll ~ctntrallz-
Ing 90 dangerous n power in the hands OF a BODY. VINO,
however, pure, they may now be, may, at some iu'ure
time, be composed of unpriucipled men, who, regard
less o; the public interests, Will WELD II ior iher own
&C. J. SHEPARD, President.
.W. e. IIEAToI, Secretary"
In this revelation, the authenticity of which is not dis
pu.ed, We have an official exposition Of the means Of
coercion and menace which Know-Nothingism en'-
p!ors 10 enforce obedience 10 it's commands. THIS "
Knoc Nottingham, as depicted by those who writho
under the heel of it's ruthless tyranny. Will the in
,.N;,an, fresmen Of Virginia consent that 81 despica-
bic an instrument of oppression be transplsrted to
this STATED Shall we, with the pusillauiinous spirit OF
slaves, voluntarily submit our necks to the yoke'-
Shall the people be deposed from power, and their
sovereignty be usurped by all ohgarchy which Gu
forces submission to is dicta,ion by the terror OF
THREATS and PEEALTIES!