Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-09-13
From Tie Na,ionai k.islligeacsr.
SECRET POLITICAL. SOCIETIES.

- sAS y hi5 PAsss sN&t " EieteUa tosScs SsuAS-
thing higLl5 inimical to cur republican form
Of Government 10 tie Know Nothing party
as il there were never before any secre: po-
litical societies or combinations Of either or
any Of The great parties which have existed
in tho country. Although no. member,
and not intending to be one of this new, aud
as it is said TO be. secret party. | venture to
say wosl or two in its justification +, but
diselaiming all sympathy with secret societies
Of every kind further than as inevitable evils,
growing naturally out Of our free system Of
Government, the suppression Of which Sy law,
were it possible, would bo 70 chlageshe spirit
oftte Gogesunesa. Tic Ilpow Nothing par
ty, which has astoaishe1 .Le people With It's
sudden appearance and its extraordinary sue
cess, may Do thought N ezeresence on the
body petite, but it cannot be forcibly extir-
patea With rovolGliea in the Government
1t may die Of Itself, but it cannot be killed by
law.
1t was discovered more than sixty years
ago that the great body Of tic people could
be influenced and ruled BY societies under
seductive special names, the Interior objects
of which were as eGectually disguised and
kept as secrets from The many, as are the do
iugs Of a MasoA.c Lodge or the conclaye Of
the Pope. One OF those existed in The period
Of Washington's Presidency, in opposition to
his Administration, and IA favor Of a war in
behalf of tho revolutionary France, which
probably nothing but WashingtOn's great in
auenee could have prevented. The same
party increased, and became strong enough
to overthrow the Federal party, whether FOR
the good or evil Of the country it is not my
purpose to discuss. About the came time or
rather before the famous Iammaay Soe.asy
Of New York was organized. This was at
first, aud 10 still understood to be in some
sort, secret society; or if It has in any res
pect lest that character, it is still not an
open society into which any citizen. without
respect to party, has right to enter without
| initiation any more than in the Know Moth,
ing party. Those societies (the Democratic
and the Tammany) were Known TO be politi-
cal, and supposed to he nothing else. The
great State OF New York has been for the
greater part governed for long series Of
.yesFs by tbe influences arising out Of Tsmma.
ny, and, as c consequence, largely influencing
other States; sometimes by one Democratic
faction sometimes by another, chiefly as Dir.
Van Buren, or bis opponents have prevailed
in the 'ciglcam. So Of the Great Federal
and Democratic, and Wig parties of the
country generally, Their schemes fer the
maintenance Of their own CT the subversion of
the others power in the Government have
been concooted and originated, not by the
people, but by the leaders Of their respective
parties; the people really having little more
to do than TO vote for the parties to which
they respectfully attach themselves. This
every man Of ordinary intelligence knows to
30 tie ease. Parties can, in fact, originate
in no other way than By such associations and
combinations, always commencing with few,
sometimes with merely personal and interest
ed design, which our political history shows
has but two frequently aud most iDjudicious-
y prevailed. The great danger to our Gov
ernment arises from the lust Of power aud the
love Of Office. which govern and viii always
govern mankind. This danger is only 20 be
cognteFaeted by the perpetual vigilance Of
the people as may no. be 3eluded by corrupt
ing Influences and who shall awaken those
who are to proper sense of the prevailing
or threatened evil.
That the practical working Of our system
OF Goyernment has been and is such as We have
stated Is, uahappily but too true, although
the theory proceeds upon the presumed virtue
and intelligence Of the people. Why, then,
should the Know Nothing party be especial
iy aud rancorously censu.ed for doing sub
stantialiy. the same thing which has been
done by all parties since the very foundation
of the Government?
Let US now enquire into the alleged cause
and origin Of this new party
Great and manifold as are the benefits
which the country has derived from the for
eign immigration, yet it cannot be overlooked,
for the facts are too palpable, that it has also
been the source; aud inevitable source, Of
much political eVil-at first in small degree;
and producing no very alarming effect until
within few years, when emigration became
50 extensive and indiscriminate from nearly /.
all The nations of Europe as to form in some
sort distinct and important political power, /
which the great parties of the country are
CONSTANTLY struggling by every kind of means
and device to appropriate 10 their support -
That foreigners coming from despotic or mon
or T.l a 7