New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-06-02
Secret Organizations.


Many newspapers, in the North as well as in
the South, have been exercised recently to an
alarming degree upon the subject of secret as
sociations, organized for the purpose Of not let
ting anybody know what they mean nor what
they want, but shrewdly suspected Of having poll
tioal, civil and religious tendencies. though now,
which way and what for, puzzles the curious
and throws the anxious and cautious beiievefs
in the spoils into an excessive furry and fuster
for the safety of the country. 1t is said, IN
deed that secret society, denominated Know
Nothings, has lately sprung up in different parts
Of the Union, and that in fact it already out
numbers those ancient and respectable fraterni-
| ties the Do-Nothings and the Have-Nothings,
differing materially from them, Of course, in the
consideration that tits composed of most extra
ordinary workers, and is likely soon to possess
itself of almost every thing in the shape of place
and power. What grieves and disconcerts the
wire pullers is the fact that it will have nothing
to do with any Of their parties, refuses to eau
Gus with any body except itself, disregards their
vast experience, treats lightly their weighty
influence, holds in contempt their superior dex-
serity, and finally walks in and upsets all their
calculations and knocks into confusion and ruin
the very best devised schemes of bribery, fraud
perjury, and other kinds of corrupt election
eering.
Thes Democrats, as a general thing, swear
that KnowNothing is neither more nor less
than Wing in disguise. The Wings. if there
occurs prospect that the Know othings are
about to interfere with them in carrying some
local election or other object, proclaim loudly
that no good can come from secret political So
eieties; that the Kno#-Nothing society is SO
profoundly secret that its own members are
ignorant of its Interior objects, but that out
siders have discovered it to be their grand aim
to ostracise and prescribe every body of foreign
birth. And thus it would seem that, g between
hawk and buzzard,' this queer, simple chicken
has a hard time of it, and stands chance of
having his bones picked very clean.
The Washington National Intelligencer, in
view of the approaching election for Mayor in
that city, denounces the Know-N othings and
their peculiar mode Of operating, in an article
Of nearly % column. The writer declares that
Il new element composed Of the most astounding
principles, is at work to control the election and
place the government Of the city in the hands of
a mysterious association, of whose character
just enough has been revealed to show its de-
formity and proclaim its danger. An earnest
appeal is then made to the voters, and to their
pockets, in this wise:
aWi you shut your eyes to all the consequences that
might follow the victory Of this secret club Are you
atsed that Congress- to whom look for much that
important to city would look approvngly upon tho
Of such association Are not all the reasona-
BILE calculations against it What could this association
er to compensate for the loss of the favorable opinion
and influence of Congress to city What would be
the amazemen and condemnation of the whole country
the metropolis of the nation under the administra
ion of Kno,o- Nohings Where would shame find an
apology for such foy Are you prepared believe
such state of things might not revive the question Of
the removal Of The seat Of question whenever
mooed fatal to holders and every interest
chat belongs to our city ~
What picture the fellow draws Of the city
dependent upon the favor Of Congress for its
welfare and prosperity, and the consequences of
falling under its high displeasure! Think of
Congress removing the seat of Government be-
cause the city of Washington elected Know
Nothing Mayor!