Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-12-01
lpatrbnlanM STUFF suurnul.
ny Il. p. WALTON. JR.
MONTPELIER, DEC. 1, 1854.
Observation-Disclosures.

] old party organizations are breaking up. III
starts with wonderful energy and wonderful
success 1t starts strong. undenably. 1t
may be ephemeral, or it may be the germ Of
a powerful, permanent, and excellent politi-
cal party. We say the "germ," for with
its present narrow platform, and as a secret
oath bound association, it cannot long exist.
| Its platform must embrace not one or two,
but all, the essential principles Of good
government; its policy must not be limited
to naturalization laws alone, but respond to
the muluiarious necessities Of magnificent
country and great people Its secrecy
must ultimately give place to publicity and
! free discussou-i,s extra Judicial oaths TO
the constitutional Frecman's oaih--ils secret
councils to open meetings-and It must re-
cognize good and true men as such, without
grip or sign. In Short if it achieves perma-
nent success, it will have to deserve it by
good works-ani If its works are good, thoy
must not be hid under "A bushcl
In any event, Know Nothngism is not to
be sighted or despsed: as, at present at
least, recognized power in the country,
and a growing one -as prolessed party Of
Reforms party which proposes to con-
troll the elections and legislation Of the
counlry,-every man in the country has an
interest in i, and moreover every freeman
has the right 70 know all about it. The
Know Nothings profess TO have political
work to do 10 reform laws-to fix qualf.
cations for office. These are matters TO be
settled by the votes of the people; every
Freeman has an equal voice and an equal
right; aud in voting upon any mltter which
concerns the state. every voter is compelled
by his constitutional oath as freeman TO
DO it 80 as in his conscience he shall Judge
will most conduce to the best good Of the
same, without fear or favor Of any man.
How shall the people iudge-how regard the
freeman's oath, Which is binding alike upon
ALL aud superior TO the Know Nothing oaths,
or any other cXtra.iudicia oails-we ask.
how shall they JUICE 81 they do not knotg ?
Clearly this is impossible, utterly impossible.
Hence we think the people have a right to
knoio all about Know Nothngism and os
ali editor feeling somewhat the responsible.
ty, and prziug also the Freedom of the
Press. we are bonuG TO let them know the
truth, If we can get hirly at it. According
ly we give, in this paper, tie Formulary or
Constitution of the new organization popu-
larry called Know No,hings, and also the
platform published by the organ named " the
Star Of Vermont" The FIRST we publish as
VIC find it, copied FROM the Pennsylvania"
with an introduction from the Richmond
(Va.) Enquirer" These papers are both or
gans of that spurious democracy which has
not scrupled to admit aliens to It's fold and
to swell It's vote, without naturalization ~
without knowledge Of the constitution, laws
ana institutions Of the country and, in short.
without a single qualification for the respon
sible privilege aud duty Of an American
freeman. These papers, too, are wagine
war upon the Know Nothings; and the
a" Pennsylvania" while 1t scouts the X. Ms
is in league with the locoiocos OF Pounsyl
yania in constructing their party, through
secret clubs, with system of espionage by
organized bands Of spies, TO ferret ont and
make war upon their opponents. For ,hes,
reasons we place no confidence in the docu
ments because they come from such sources
We believe them 10 be true. however. OF
other grounds, and ia spite of their origin
D.. The oaths are ike copies published else
where and the oaths as published by TN
Pennsy lyanian" and copied into the 4" Bos
ton Post" have been substantially admitter
to be true, BY x. y. on oath in a court il
Massachusetts. This testimony will be pub
lishcd hereafter, together with speech b.
Senator CLAYTON, the substance OF lee
ture by bishop HorgrNs on the Nauruhza
ton laws, and other interesting ard import
ant articles upon this subject and we can
not doubt that every freeman, who reads on
paper at all will find ample materials to ,x
cite deep interest.
Our present purpose being simply to az
rive at facts-at the materials for renecto
and discussion we do no, desire TO common
particularly upon the articles now given
One remark only we will make and that is
that the "Sar of Vermont considerable
modifes the creed contained in the Forum
larry. The Star" is against political Ro
mdniSm. Good. The Star" and tn
Know Nothngs perhaps viii also 60 agains
political Protestantism,- and political Nor
monism, and Church and State in ever,
form Aye, aud as there seems TO be on
essential qualification or modification of III,
Formulary. it is very possible there may b,
many more; perhaps 4 trimming up and al
addition of new planks, until the whole Plat
form shall be comeiy servlceaOle and endur
ing.
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