Delaware State reporter., 1854-11-21

@f the same things, and there can be no
necessity for secrecy in the prosecution OF
honorable purposes.
But there are evils resulting from such
4soeiations which ought not to be over
4oked In republican government the
lhsis # our security is public coyfdcnce.-
Wkatyer strikes at public confidence, strikes
Iasrerublicanism. al When the Wing party
bsale the Democratic party upon an issue
mad public, the defeated party gives up
the Iontest as honorably settled. In turn
Ae Epenly gains for his own party an equal
t'iynph, and the opposition as quietly ac-
qEieste in their overthrow. 1t was done
aSsnly !; they saw how twas done and were
Ssft ii, the success of secret political socie-
/ tts public confidence is undermined; it
eles way; a reign of terror commences;
'aNther secret organization, Of Know-Some-
thbgs, arc organized; and they, too, may
-t#mph, and the dismayed Know-Nothings
Iak not SO tamely submit. They, in re-
selge, apply the munitions of secret war
~. Long before the charter was granted
yD any Of these organizations midnight was
deemcd an suspicious time for secret depre-
htions, and no more powerful means than
III spark of fire, or the simpler modern in
yhtion called lucifor matches, would be
neded to assist in secret resistance to the
sperior trick of the victorious party.
No less sacred a citadel than the temple
iworship and family altar will be lighted
and ilumine the earth with their fires.
Nc, sir, already has this internal work be-
: sin under tho auspices of this modern in
f iitution of reform-already have Catholic
Ikurches been burned to the ground or bat
| bred down by the hands of the lawless,
Responsible mob, patronized by those grace
bss demagogues who would reform, the world
) nd maintain the super-cxcellcnt character
, { Christian gentlemen, whilst they use for
: lost enormous crimes minions heated by
( bad fanaticism, the worst and basest Of the
: hole family of man.
| Where is the church burning to end, un-
t Ter the auspices Of such an extended, and
), pwerful, and sly, and hcartlcss band All
: gf your churches may lie in ruins upon the
0 tarth. Then may your monasteries and
: funneries share the same fate. By this time
t Nhurch-burning may become fashionable,
i Ind the hand long trained to incendiarism
b may with the same facility try his expert
lft7nt upon the Methodist churches; which,
rSssy Ss.y Catholic churches, may be devoured by
SyssSs. But the dwellings of priests and
n r. houses Of Methodist preaoheks may en-
6 & sve similar fntN, as they become subject tc
! the overruling mandates of ring Mob
: Indeed, the forebodings to one accustomed
t somelancholy feeling are truly frightful.-
t III the sobcr-mindcd the fearful results Of
7 arch organizations promise no less than the
overthrow of free government. 1t was then
! scret loiiticol reformation which preceded
J. the French Revolution, and contributed tc
Il .he trophies of Marat and Robespierre.
d The results are plain and natural, and il
requires far more of fortitude than wisdom
to foresee a nation of Christian republicans
! giving way to Vandalism until she is over
come with pure barbarism, and seeks pro
lection and pleads for quarters beneath the
hospitable throne of an absolute despotism
It surely requires no vast stretch of imagi
nation to travel back to the reign of oul
| Catholic and Protestant English Kings anc
Queens, who have left nothing to posterity
but a loathsome memory Of their persecu
tions inflicted upon conscientious men fol
no other crime than the voluntary worship
! of the living God. Indeed, sir, the memory
of the illustrious Calvin has been soiled BY
! the reflection of prosecutions inflicted upor
! his dissenting contemporary, Servetus. New
England, both the cradle and the grave o
5 true liberty, destroyed the portrait of he
. Plymouth landing by interposing the fright
: ful spectacle of hanging Quakers and Bap
Q fists for their opinions; and who that ha
LII ,l,,ka hoe 10
s ted it and with generous forgetfulncs
,f these our mutual wrongs and mutual suffer
,e ilgs are consigned to oblivion.
al What high-minded, intelligent Cathol
al ,oc Protestant would see these scenes re-en
id lacted upon the continent of America, thougl
A they were regulated by law? Who, in th
r. name of liberty, would seek their introduc
a)tion by mob violence, under the sacred gar
n of religion, wearing the sacerdotal robes Q
is the temple of God There may be wrong
l-in every ecclesiastical organization. If the
i conflict with the rights of citizens, the lay
!; under our constitution is abundantly able t
4 correct the evil; if they do not conflict wit
)lL those rights, it remains question with ma
and his Maker without an intervenin
u|I power.
l1 There may be wrong IN our laws whlc
oi il not sufficiently scrutinizing and severe i
h tie prohibition Of the emigration of foreig
ne 3Hupcrs and foreign criniaals-if that b
on 81, let those laws be amended, and ever
hInoable foreigner will rejoice in the di'
re- ihction which is made between virtue an
ct vic. That would be levelling blow, il
le- deed, which at one fell stroke struck dow
en- the good with the evil, the wise with IL
I'll foolish, indiscriminately. Butsuch is KnoV
hi Nothingism in its inception. God on
NJ knows the end, and may He in mercy for
illl fand us the worst 44 5
al = am, myvery dear sir, your sincere frier
IN and fellow-citizen, bound by the fratern
ni feelings of holy and liberal Christianit
N 1 HENRY CLAY DEAN.
III A. p. GREGoIRE, Esq. x, t.sg
hJ -----s.'---
- ~ l. IL