Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-08-17
SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS,

The Union announces the offer and accept
ance of the Chinese Mission to DR.. Peter b
Parker 1t will be recollected that more thar
a month ago, we stated that DR.. P. was I,
have rendered to him that position. Ths
Union also reviews the recent Know Nothipe
letter of Senator Houston in an elaborate ar
ticle, written with great ability, indeed. II
leaves the Senator not peg to stand on, and
completely dissolves his connection with the
Democratic party, If that was not done by the
Senator himselfin the paper under the Union
review Of g the evils of secret political as
sociations," the Uaiov says:
The monstrous evils growing out of secret
political ASSOCIATIONS require no more forcible
illustrations than in the terrible experiences
Of the past year. The New Orleans and Gin
cinnati riots, the ST. Louis atrocities, and the
late revolving butcheries in Louisville. were
not tae result of wicked passions suddenly
and unpreneditatedly called into wild. war.
nag existence. In the fifty years and more
of contest between the Democratic and FEEDER
al parties, there have been hot blood and bad
oiood, oltter inyeetive, unsparing denuncia-
hon, zeal outstripping discretion, and the con-
Ventlonal usages of society forgotten in the
ardor OF partizanship. But the war was an
open, honorable war, and conducted in the
hight OF day. II blows were exchanged and
neads broken, they were the natural results
o. bringing together, during an exciting poit-
zeal canvass, large bodies of men of opposite
sentiments, wishes, and expectations. Such
uhinHnly brawls are too f.equently the accom-
paTiiments of all kinds of popular, promiscu-
Gus gatherings, and we cannot look for a per-
feet immunity from them until the disposition
OF the impetuous or turbulent is held in check
oy the force Of public sentiment, or by the
rlgld enforcement of stringentlaws. But no such
Plantation, excuse, or apology can be offered in
extenuatiOn of the guilt now indissolubly con-
nected with tbevery name of Know Nothingism.
NO sane mHn will believe that the Louisville
outeherlcs Were the result of accidental COL
lislon, when mems minds were stimulated by
the customary excitement of political cleo
tfoG Guns, pistols, knives, FIRE and faggots,
and the other implements and instruments of
eofture and destruction, Were too near at hand
and too ready for use, to give even q coloring
to the superstition that the terrible scenes ON
the night of the 9th were not premeditated
We believe that the riots In the cities already
named were the result of previous consulta-
ton, advice, and instruction in Know Nothing
lodges. The organization, concert of action,
ana complete success of the rioters justify this
behef, and furnish all necessary proof of con-
Not only are secret political associations OBJ
noxlous for the facilities they afford for con-
coctlng schemes against life and prOperty. but
.ney are equally obnoxious fer the Opportuni-
ties they afford for the successful commission
OF minor grades of crime. In other words, in
these midnight colleges of conspirators swind-
ling hnds as much favor as assassination The
1oilowinS letter from Louisville, which ap-
pears IN a late number of the New York Even
lnS Post, will better explain our meaning:
LOUISVILLE, Aug IL, 1856.
When L wrote my list letter | was not aware
Of the extent Of the outrage perpetrated by
the know-nothings on the freedom of the cleo
ton. There arc eighteen polls in the city of
Louisville, and sixteen In the county, making
thlrty-tOur in all. The inspectors or Judges
vi election, two for each, were appointed by
Judge Garland, know-nothing who, with ex-
traordlnary hberaiity, named four democrats
and sixty of his own order. But their
possession OF the records in doors, and of the
approach to them from the outside, by which
Iney could cover any fraud, was not enough
Inc Judges decided that they would dispense
10ltA tie baii0t-E0r itself
tney required every voter to open his ticket,
ana read aloud the names Of his candidates
a scratch Of the pen on the book opposite the
name was the only record and evidence of the
vote cast The voter either threw his ticket
on the ground or carried it away with him.
HE inability OF the foreigners to read English,
or TO read at all, Us far as it went, was then
made the pretext for rejecting their votes.
"hen this statement was made to me, / could
not credit 1t, though my infOrmants, who were
Two OF the most respectable citizens of Louis
VILE, assured me that they had read off their
own tickets, and then threw them away.
" Mr.. ", do you tell me that seriously, and
are you very sure there is no mistake about
it ~
Yes, sir. read of my own ticket, and
threw 1t away. | stood by and saw a dozen
others do the same. There was no ballOt.box
used
Another gentleman, whom have known in
tlmately Tor some years, and an old resident of
louisiana, confirmed the statement ~ went
to vote in the usual way" said he, " with my
ticket folded up, but heard those who were be-
fore Inc reading off their votes. / asked if
must ITO that, and was told yes; and did it..
Gentlemen, II | were stranger to you, l
would not write this without getting it verified
by witnesses and Oaths. L would expect you
to diseredit 1t, as the tale of crazy politician
that such an outrage should be perpetrated
IN this country that the ballot box should
DC discarded from popular election.
The InteLLigcRceT rejOices over the compare
rive political calmness of South Carolina, as
O'AHSSo thO dIlSuliOu Just now manifested
by her leading citizens to scientific agricul.
ture. The IRteiligencer's New York CORE
sPondent says Of the Hon. Ex-Governor Wash.
ingt0n Hunt:
Ex-Governor Washington Hunt, the very
head and front of the conservative Wing party
IN this State, has addressed a long letter to
the editor OF the Commercial Advertiser i'm op-
position TO the projected fusion of the Wings
with the Republican party. He reviews the
matter IN all Its bearings and in so forcible
manner as 10 command the attention of all
true wings In the present critical state of af-
iairs. HE repeal of the Missouri Compromise
Is OF course condemned, but in q calm and dis
passionate manner; and, instead of proclaim
ing a Sectional war against the South, let US,
ne says, first appeal to that portion of the
sedthern people who are still loyal to the
country and faithful TO time honOred cove
nsnts, invoking them, in the name Of patriot
Ism and justice, TO come forward and aid in
undolng the wrong of whiC b We complain, and
In restoring that mutual confidence and good
VIII which impart to the national compact its
true strength and its only vaiue.' He de-
nOunees the lauless doiDgs of the Missouri
oorderers, and says he will not dishonor the
south by assuming that a maiority.o of her peo-