Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-11-11
For the Mor.ersa!ia Mirror.
. us rt N.-u - ~ iaaa.=s +.
"AIERICUS" REPLIED TO. 3

"AMERICUs" REPLIED TO. >. q.
Mr.. En,ron-I desire tho privilcsesthrougli
your paper, Of replying to the communication
in your paper Of tho 2sth of October last, over
the 81 gnaturc Of "Amcricas." This favor
ask, first, because suppose yosto bc an ad,yo-
cato Of free discussion-and secondly because
that your paper is to be &c Independent party
politics and Religious sects." And in my re-
marks shall claim the liberty Of speaking plain
ly and pungen,ly ofthe principles and tendencies
ofthc secret oath-bouaa organisation advocated
by sAmericus.', l shall forbear to use his real
name, not because do not know II, but simply
because he has chosen to himsclfa fictitious one
--onc tia, sounds more patriotic, and appcaran-
ees you know arc sometimes worth good deal.
Therefore, lest ] might seem to rob him OF his
patriotiem by refusing to recognize his assumed
name, forbear. can assure you have no
desire to plnck 4 laurel from his brow; but sim
ply to yindicatc tho truth. And here let me as.
sure 'Americus,' tina, heartily concur with him
in every rord as well as the sentiment Of his
frs, sentence, and only deny his applieation.-
And / am furthermore willing to admit that no
living mortal understands more in detail the
meaning, power. and application of the frs. two
words his communication, viz: 'sophsm' and
misrepresentation This lact his own fertas
efrusions have more clearly demonstrated than
any thing can say for hesitate not to say,
that never was an article more destitute oil
sound argument or truth than his. lie commen-
ccs by saying "sopham and misrepresentation
may fer time blind the oycsand lull to sleep
tho spirit Of enquiry and Investigation, even OF
alffee people ;Nbu. argument -willtdissipate the
ono and truth crush the other" This sentiment
of his is is good as his application is bad for it
must be admitted on all hands that for this very
reason sKnow Nothingism' sprang up with such
mushroom growth, being so entirely envelop-
cd in midnight secrssy and conclaye, that it for
time asfed Investigate on, but now being exposed
il must withcr before tho scorchins rays ofpop'
ular Investigation. Sephism and misrePrcsenta-
tion are he chief corner-stoncs oil the 'hnow
Nothing movement. These are toitwhat orSgsn
is to respiration-in word they sustain Il, they
give Il life and vigor. This is the recorded YER
die. of enlightened patriotism every where
Even bigoted and iatolerant England joins III
this verdict. Sound argument and truth will
verify dissipate Know Nothinsism into the thin
nest gas. American movement, indeed! Where
is the p.oor7 for he has not adduced one single
lot or syllable Of evidence to sussain his dcc'a-
ra,ions in his whole article, nor ndead can he.
Yes, this American movement las he wickclly
terms it) ,lathas suddenly burs. forth with sa ch
"moral poutr and political Strength" o wicked
pervcrsionl Moral potcncy y, indeed, in wasinG
a crusade against tho Cons tuition Oft our below
cd couu,ry-asainst the long cherished instltu :
tons Of our country. A moral potency, ha IN
nrescribing tho wholesome liberty ofconsciencc,
and for no other cause or purpose than to pro-
mote themselves to Office and power, but merit
might never place them there. Moral potency
I suppose that induced the secret oa,h.bound
Known othing bandi,ti, TO ransack, pilase and
bu,n so MANY churches recently, tha. led them
10 farce omen the door Of the Rev. Dapst, a
Catholic mi mister, in the silent hour of midnight
and tear him from his peaceful slumber, and with
tho zeal Of m infara,cd mob, inilict such acts OF
nersopal violence and disgrace upon him as
would have consigned its perpetrators to tho
dungeons Of tho penitcn,iary, had no. the order
given them sucl, aid aud comfort as enabled
them to cyade tho officers of tho lnw' Those
urc some Of the many proofs he might hsrc a1-
duced III proof Of the Immoral potency OF this
American organization. II there is really moral
potency or principle in or about t''is movement,
then unbluShing 'aIsehoods, d'stopa'ao'e 'a'
representations, crimes and "'d8'sn' reS''f!
must be accounted moral virtues pu' NJ gu
quires with seeming air OF TRIUMPH " nut 10
tais American movement "N'he' e".". T"
sad what arc ''s designs - a"'He' ' 80, ~ :"
unholy crusade against our hepaoi'can i"s"'1-