The true Democrat., 1854-08-09
!" "Know-Nothingism." !"


 The monstrous character and pernicious ten dencies of the new party that has sprung up blot and disgrace on the free spirit of this age and country-were scathingly exposed by Se- nator Douglas in his admirable speech in h. dependence Square, Philadelphia, on the 4th July. We can publish nothing more valuable or interesting than the following fine passages of that speech:
 Efforts are new being made to organize a new party--a great northern, sectional party upon the abolition platform, and to carry on an offensive war against the local and domestic n- stitutions of half of the States the Union. under a banner which shall proclaim to the world that they claim for themselves the pro- lection of the constitution which they deny to those upon whose rights they make war-that the constitution is binding upon their opponents, but not upon themselves-and that they hold themselves at liberty at all times to obey or re- slst 1t as may best suit their purposes What ever name shall be gi ven to this new political organlzatlon-w 1t shall be called whig, abolition, freesoi, or know-nothing-it will still be the antagonism of the democratic party Whatever may be the nature of the contest or the prospects of success, the democracy of the nation must stand firmly by the constitution as it is, yielding plicit obedience to all of its ob- ligations, and carrying into faithful execution all of its provisions. (Cheers and continued applause.) We must maintain the supremacy of the laws, put down resistance and violence wherever they may occur, and be ready to punish the traitors whenever the overt act of treason shall be committed. CTremendeus cheers and applause.)
 Fa1lOu.citizapc if hoe boon cold +bo+ ;,, +b bosom of this new political organization there is a secret society bound together by the most solemn and terrible oaths-I kaoao not it's name -[ laughter. Inquire of whom you may, and the answer will be "I don't know.' [Roars of laughter. And from all the information can get I am inclined to believe that know nothings' is their name. Tremendous roars of laughter.
 was about to say, and presume that the facts connected with your recent election in this city have furnished you with sufficient evi- dence upon the subject; 1 have been informed that there exists in the bosom of this new po- lltlcal organization, a secret political society, bound together by the most terrible oaths, to prescribe every man, whether naturalized or not, or whatever his political or religious sen- tlments, who had the misfortune to be born in foreign cllme, and like our ancestors, driven by political or religious prosecutions to flee from ther native land and seek an asylum in America lsthere such an organization among you? Cries of "yes," "yes" "There is.'' "There is''
 It is also said, and with how much truth you have much better opportunities of know ing than 1, for of this / knoao gaothino. [roars of laughter that this secret society which controls the nominations and directs the move- ments of the allied forces against the democra cy, binds its members by the most solemn ob- ligations to prescribe every man who worships God according to the Roman Catholic faith, no matter to what race he may belong or where he was born. Cries "That is it," "They do," "They do.'l It is also said that your recent city election was controlled by this so- clety--that your city government is now being managed under its auspices, and that the whole patronage of the city is distributed under its direction and ID accordance with its principles cf prescription. Cries That is so," "It is." < It is" from all sides.
 his secret society, whose members profess to know nothing" with the view of conceal ing their political designs, are said to have their branches and auxiliary societies in every city, town, and village, and to be in alliance with this great northern sectional party, which pro- C1dllnS open war upon lne institutions of One- half of the States and upon the constitution of the United States. 1t IS not surprising that political society whose efficient secret organi- zation enables them to conceal their plans while they hold out inducements of power and pa- tronage to persons to assume their proscriptive obligations with the assurance that they can conceal the hand which strikes the blow, and thus avoid the odium and responsibility of the act, while they revel in the spells of victory --l say it is not surprising that such political organization should prove formidable and even irresistible in its first efforts. when the specific objects and principles of the society were un- Known to the community, and before the people could be aroused to just sense of their oanger lspeak of the society and of its prin- 5eipies of action here and wherever else they nave triumphed in the recent elections; for I am not aware that am personally acquainted with any one man who has taken upon himself