Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-12-22
ra tn. vernon, w.,ehm.o q stat. Journal
The New Party.

ana trnst. ana IN MASSACHUSETTS, 10 nearly all
the places Of honor and emo.ument, through
secret meetings and plans Of concert in nc
ton, coneoc'ed and carried out through mid
night associations, has not only as,onished
the uninitiated, bu, it has walked up the
sleeping energies Of the thoughtful, the re-
iecting and the consderaie. Of all former
parties, to the inquiry,--To wha, will this
Know Nothing movement ultimately lead
The question is an importnn. one, and de-
msnds the most rigid, deliberate and thor.
ough investigation.
The wisest of our wise men, the men Of a
former generation OF politicians and states
men, who still linger in our midst. tho their
heads may be whitened by the frosts Of many
winter, and their sun going down in the
west, should not shrink from the task of in-
vestiguting the question and boldly speaking
out their sentiments upon the subject With
prophetic eye and the heart Of true pat.
riot, Washington did not hesitate, in his fare
well address to his countrymen. to warn
them Of the danger TO liberty Of secret po-
htical associations.
( II | rightly understand the motives Of the
order of Know Nothings--a name of their
own choosing lit Is to Americanse this
( Republic, and exclude foreigners from the
cleo tive franchise until having served an up
premiership of twenty-one years IN the
country. whatever their age or intelligence
may be. on first landing upon our shores IN
pursuit Of an asylum from poverty and op-
preston. A pretty long apprenticeship of
serviiude, truly. Some Of them may require
it to mike good citizens Of the republic
Others Of them may need but little time to
become naturalsed and be as well qualified
TO vote and be voted for as those born upon
our soil. Many of them, even better quail
flied for freemen and the faithful and accep-
table discharge Of public duties However
good, however truly American the motives
of this new and secret order of politicians
may be, good intentions can never Justify I'M
lawful means. "The end sanctiiies the
means," is doctrine which no true Ameri-
can can either preach or practice, in morals
or in politics. 1t is false doctrine and should
be secuted by every honest man. whether Of
native or foreign origin.
am neither an officer nor a candidate for
offce,--nor do | ever expect or desire to be
Yet | have duties to perform, friends to care
for, and a country 10 love, and may be per.
mtted, doubt not, Mr.. Editor, without fear
of the irown Of any one, or the hope of DO
litical or pecuninry reward, freely and fear
lessly 10 express my views through the col
umns of your paper. have been an atten-
tive reader Of it for about forty years, and
may ask for the privilege Of column or so,
to give my views, without icnr of exclusion
from the polls or The columns of the Watch.
man, either on account Of my age or my ma.
tviiy. ! was born--no matter where-with
an American heart in 10Y body and love
for American liberty and the noble institu.
lions OF my adopted state. have special
love for the ballot box, and should not like
very well, at an uge Of more than sixty, to
serve pupilage OF twenty zone years to quail
ify me to vote the whig, the democratic, the
free soil, the republican, the temperance, or
even the know nothing ticket. To require
1t of me, would smack little, think, of in
justice and tyranny. What l have right
to claim for mysei,it is my duty to claim for
Others similarly situated. |, therefore, here
enter my solemn protest against prescription
IN politics or religion Ii is the tool OF ty-
rants, and was never intended to be welded
by Americans agains, the rights and ptivi-
leges of quiet and peaceable citizens, what
ever may be the color Of the skin they wear
or the distance OF the land that gave them
birth. A Laplander, n Scotchman, French
man, Briton, an lrshman, with equal char
acter and quallt cations, has as good right,
having conformed to our laws of naturaliza-
ton, 10 vote and be voted for as has the
President of this American Republic; and
he that would deny him that right, or ex-
clude him, on account of his rel gion or his
origin, from the ballot box or eligibility to
office, is unworthy the name of q true Amer
lean The party, secret OF public, thu,
would bind its voters, by extra judicial oaths,
to accomplish such purpose. is a danger
GUS one, however good, OF apparently good,
may be the ruling motive. at does not
change the character of a wrong principle
that it is sought to be applied to good end
The wrong consists in its being a pirate
conspiracy against public rights" freely
confess that approve Of some things which
the new secret society of politicians propose
to accomplish. am utterly opposed to ST.
cret combinations for It's Accomplishment.
One evil attending this secret yet powerful
and popular movement, II sceins to me, must
be seen and Felt by every conservative,
christian or pa ,rio,ic mind. A vast amount
oil bitter feeling will inevitably be stirred ~
between Romanists and protestants, and be q.
tween Americans and Foreigners of the
same religious, # not Of the same political
faith. Already careful observer canno,
fail to see and to regret, as proscriptiye and
wrong, feeling OF indiscrlmina,e hostility
against the Irish name and nation, including
alike, in its proscrplive progress, the Prot
s".--. --A ,i.~ rsP.s.
The editor Of the Puritan Recorder, who
seems to be well posted up on the Know
Nothing movement in Massachusetts, informs
the public that in some communities the
zeal Of this new and secret sect Of pollti-
clans has become SO intense as TO overlook
all distinction between the adherents of the
Pope and those who have renowned his al.
legiance, and 10 have induced spirit of
persecullon against the Irish name. l. this
wse' Is !, right Shall every thing Irish
] ha 1annpnrad "a an.nath,u.x A..