The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-11-16
KNOW MISREPRESENTATION, &c.
} Me Eaitor oftAe National Era:

TO tie EdttOr 81 TIE National Era:
In number of articles, of late, you charge
the Know Nothings with prescription, persecu-
| ton, &c. 1ou say " it is persecution for con-
| science sake when permanent political party
| is sought to be organized on the principle OF
| excluding Catholics from any office OF trust,
profit, or influence; gross violation of the
spirit of our institutions and of Professionalism"
You continue: " If the principle be right, the
Constitution of the United States and those of
the States ought TO be altered, so as to make
Catholics ineligible to office; and, if it be right
to resort to such prescription TO put down Cath
olicism, why not exclude them too from the
right of suffrage?" &c
1t has been said that those who live in glass
houses should not throw stones. There are in
the United States great number of people
whose religious doctrine inculcates the idea
that American Slavery is an institution ordain-
ed of Heaven, and this belief influences their
conduct accordingly. And sir, your paper is
doing all it can straining every nerve, to organ
ize Republican party, =" a permanent political
party" "on the principle of excluding" all per
sons of such religious belief from any office of
trust, profit, or influence" land, if Archbishop
Hughes's assertion, that American Slavery is
an institution sanctioned by Heaven, is the true
exposition of the Roman Catholic creed, your
own political Republican party would as effect
ualy prescribe the Catholics, as does that of the
Know Nothings) Now, sir, if your deductions
are correct, goa are prOscrber, and prosecute
men for conscience sake" Your are guilty
Of all the Intolerance you charge upon the Know
NOthings; and your principles, when carried
out, (prOvided your OCR reasoning is correct, }
would lead to all the intolerance of their prin-
ciples.
The writer proceeds to amplify this view
without, however, strengthening it, so that we
feel justified in emitting this part of his article
as room is precious. He then continues
The fact is, such prescription is not gross
violation of the spirit of our institutions and of
Professionalism. There never was party in the
United States, that was not organized upon
precisely such principles. The Wings and Dem
ocrats, and now Anti-Slavery and Pro-Slavery
men, endeavor to keep each other out of office,
because they consider the measures they advo-
cate as hostile to the welfare of the country
And so the Know Nothings intend to keep Ro-
manism out of power, because they consider the
practical results Of their doctrines, as they have
already shown themselves, to be hostile to the
nations good.
If / understand Ant-Slaveryism and Know
Nothingism, the antagonism between their
principles is all imaginary. Your logic APP
4
for Roman Catholic for office, he cannot OPP
pose Slavery and be consistent! That is the
precise relation they stand in to each other ;
and ! must say that have not sufficient men
tai acumen to perceive the first particle Of an
tagonism between them. If it is among the
I" inalienable rights of all men," that no organ
| Zation shall be formed to exclude any Of them
| from Office because others consider the pract-
cal applications of their doctrines as delete
rious to the country, why, then, you may talk
with consistency about Know Nothingism being
| opposed to the inalienable rights of all men -
and you may, perhaps, while telling of the op-
pOscrs of this doctrine, find an organization for
| the specific purpose of excluding from office
those who relgiouSly believe Slavery to be a
! blessing. If there really is so much antago-
nism between Know Nothingism and Anti-Sla-
very, will you please to point it out in man.
ner SO plain, that mind of common caliber
can take it in. | am sure am an Anti-Sla-
very man and if you will plainly show up the
antagonism, why, won't join them.
You should recolect, in talking to your read
ers, that many Of them have got to 90 up the
height, step by step. You appear to have
reached the top at one bound, which others
being unable to do, fail to comprehend the re-
lations between your premises and conclusions
Give us the flight of steps, so that ordinary
minds can reach yOur position, and them per-
haps, "the good sense and principles +" of An
| ti-Slavery men will not let them be entrapped
into any such party" Truly yours,
| Corning, N. !. G.. W, KNAPP