Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-07-26

4 fhOCAE8S OG 4kAE NAVY 49, A@@A~sNrS-
A letter from New York in the National
In,elligencer has the following in relation to
the Know Notbings. 1t is well worth being
read:
| As to politics here. the leading item remark
is the Know Nothings and their organization.
They are beginning to be very formidable, as
those will find out, whether individuals or a
party, who oppose and denounce them. That
they will greatly influence, if they do net con
troll the fall elections 10 this state and Penn
sylyania, think may be set down as fixed
/, fact But those opposed to them, whose
wish is father to the thought assert that j.
! is "a fire Of straw, which will burn out before
the next Presidential canvass. This is BY no
means certain for their probable success in
the fall elections will whet their zeal sior q
| moro perfect union, and the constant success
sion Of State elections viii have great ten
dency to keep them together. and in efficient
action until after the Presidential election. -
Whether the association win survive that ef
fort is another question.
The belief that one Of the cardinal objects
Of the Know Nothings is the prescription Of
of Roman Catholics and the Catholic religion.
has oppcrated unfavorably for .bem, and de-
tered thousands Of liberal minded men from
joining their ranks. for there is very gen
era. feeling among The American people against
allowing religious tests and prejudices to be
intermingled with political questions. 1t is
all right and proper this should be so, and it
would be matter OF deep regret ever to see
religion brought into the arena Of politics. -
With others, regretted, as an outsider to
understand that the Know Nothings, or any
other association, had incorporated this item
into their political creed, and hence my salts
faction in understanding that i; is not the fact
and that it will be SO ayowed in an authorita-
tive manner, In discoursing recetly With q
leading politician from New Orleans, who
(without being able to avoucb the fact ]
have no doubt is Know Nothing, be told
me that the most numerous and and most
jealous of the order 10 Louisiana are the Cath
olic Crcoles, which certainly would not be the
case was their religion and its professors the
objects of denunciation by the association
The following extract from communication
in one of The leading journals of this city may
be considered as something semi official on the
subject:
Frequent illusions are made, in various
FORMS to the hostility between the Roman
Catholics and the Know. Nothings and sim
pie justice seems to demand that the real
grounds of the dissension should be clearly
understood. Newspapers of various classes,
Including the National Irteligenecr and 9TH
ers in different parts 0! the country, have pro-
tested agains theskpow Nothing as fanatical
enemies Of the Roman Catholic religion
TIE Know Notbings on the contrary, have
repeatedly disavowed this charge, insisting
that they do not oppose any religion or prac-
tice whatever, but, quite the opposite. were
faithful friends and protectors Of religious
freedom: not in the sense Of Bishop Hughes,
but in its zeal, old and common Specification.
Bot, they say, what they oppose, is Roman
Cath1lic politics, which often assumes the
name of the Roman Catholic religion, but it
is wholly distinct thing. They admit, re-
cogulso, and sustain the right 10 any and all
who choose to worship in the Roman Catholic
church to believe and profess what they please
in religion; but they will not admit nor sub
nit to any one who attempts to put down by
club law free debate or free preaching, in the
house or ia the open air, nor allow a foreign
influence to intertear with election, or to raise
er threaten mob law, or to threaten citizens
with the consequences il they do not substi
tute the canon law of Rome for the state laws
Of the Union. Even though such subyersive
attempts may be made under the name OF re
Hgion, their opposers claim to be able to dis
criminate, and are fully convinced that in OPP
posing them they oppose nothing religious,
but what is purely political and at the same
time wrong, Anti American, and intolerable.
From this it would appear that the object
of the Know Nothings SO far as regards their
action in'connection with the Roman Catholic
religion, is to prerent it from being brought
as an element into the political questions of
the country, aud thus assist in keeping relig-
ion and politics separated No one, | should
think, can be opposed to such an object.
se~-
HARD WORDS FROM FRIENDS.
The following paragraph from the Nation.