Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-05-26
HON A, H. STEPHENS, OF GEORGIA.

(whigs) seemed to be entering into new. coll0'ha-
tions with new objects, purposes ami prnc'pies'
with which he could have nothing to do lie gives
his views of Know Nothingism at length, condemn
ing and regulating it in the most decided terms.
Mr. Stephens is Wing, and devoted TREND Oh
Southern rights. We present below some interest
in, extracts from his letter Read them, and then
hand the paper to your ncighbors. Remember IL
is a Southern rights Wing who is uttering this
voice of condemnation Of the dlrkantern organIza-
ton:
''In my opinion, man is fit to represent ifee
peope who has any private secret objects or aims
that he does not openly ayow, or VINO Is not ready
and willing at all times when required or ASKED
candidly and trutAtuLky to proclaim to the assem-
bled multitude not only his principles, but MS
views and sentiments upon all questions that may
come before him in his representative capacity. 1t
was on this bass that representative government
was founded and on this alone it be maintained
in purity and safety. And if any secret party Shall
ever be far successful in this country as to bring
the government in all its departments and functions
under the banefu influence Of its control and power,
political ruin will inevitably ensue. No truth in
politics can be more easily and firmly established,
either by reason from history, upon principle or
authority, than this. These are my opinions, can
didly expressed
stBut have been anticipating somewhat. was
on the preliminary Questlon-that is, the secrecy
which lies at the foundation of the party-that at
and has its being and without which probably it
could not exist l do not, however, intend to stop
with that will go further, and give now my opin-
ions upon those questions which are said to be with
in the range of its secret objects and aims. The
principles as published Cor those principles which
are attributed to the order though no body, as an
Organized party, avoW them) have, as understand
them, two leadtng ideas, and two only. These are
PRESCRIPTION by exclusion from office of all Cath
ocs as class, and prescription OF all persons OF
forcing birth class-the latter to be accomplish
ed not only by an exclusion from Office of all foreign
ers who are now citizens by naturalization, but to
he more etfectually carried out by abrogat0n OF
the naturalization law for the future, or such an
amendment as would be virtually tantamount to it.
These told the great ostensib!e objects
for ali this machinerythcSe oaths, pledges, secret
signs eouivocations denialS, and what not And
what have say of them is, that if these, in deed
and in truth, be the principles thus attempted TO be
carried out, then am opposed to both OF them,
openly and unqualitiety.
'iBut to pass to the other view of these princi-
ples-that is, the consideration OF them questions
of public policy. With me they both stand in no
better light in this aspect than they do in the other
The first assumes temporal jurisdiction lii JoFNna
coRscientiy'-to which l am quite much opposed
as to the spiritual poooe1y controlling the tenn
porGL. One is bad the other-both are bad.
utterly opposed to minglng religion with poll
tics in any way whatever; and especially am op-
posed to making it test in qualifications for civil Of
fees Religion is a matter between man and his
Creator, with which governments should have moth
ing to do. In this country the constitution guaran
ties to every citizens the right to entertain whatever
creed he peascs, creed at ALL if he is SO in
clined and no other has right to pry into
his conscience to inquire what he believes, what
he does not believe. AS citizen and member
of society he is to be judged by his acts, and not
by his c1eed Catholic, therefore, in country,
and nj all countries, ought, all other citizens, to
be permitted to stand fall in public favor and es
timation upon his oaon indiCiduaL merits. Every
tub should stand upon its own bottom
'But think of all the Christian denominations
the United States the Catholics the last that
southern people should join in attempting to put
under the ban of civil prescription for church
they have never ac0Tred against our peculiar
institutions. No man can say as much of New Eng
land Baptsts, PresbyterianS, Methodists; the
long roll of abolition petitions with which Congress
has been much excited and agitatcd for years
past not from the Catholics: their pulpits at
the North are not desecratcd every Sabbath with
anathemas against slavery. And of the three thou
sand New England clergylHen who sent the anti
Nebraska memorial to the Senate last year, not
was Catholic, as [ have been informed and believe.
Why, then should we southern men join the Puri-
tans of the North to prescribe from office the CATH
0lics account of their religion? Let them and
their religion be as bad they can be- or as their
accusers say they are, they cannot be than
these same PuTtta1lcal accusers, who started this
persecution against them, say that are. They
say we going to perdition for the enormous sin
of holding slaves. The Pope with all his followers
cannot, L suppose, in their Judgment be going
10 worse place Ior nOulng what they cOnSIuer the
monstrous absurdity of immaculate conception
And for my part would about as soon risk my
chance for Heaven with him. and his crowd too !
as with these sef-rightcous hypocrcs who deal out
fire and birthstone literally upon our heads. At |
any rate, have hesitancy in declaring that |
should much sooner risk my civil rights with the p!
American Catholics whom they are attempting to
drive from Office than with them But sir am op- |!
posed to this proscrlption upon principle. If it is
once begun there is telling where it will end. |
w hen faction once tastes the blood of q victim it
seldom ceases its ravages amongst the fold 50 long as
single remaining one be the number at first ever
so great, IS left surviving 1t to guard against
any such consequences would certainly ensue !.
IN this country If this effort at prescription of this
sect of religionStS should be successful that that
wise provision to which have alluded was put in !
he fundamental law of the Union And to main |
lain it intact in letter and spirit with seadfastness
at this time, hold to be most solemn public duty
True Americansm, as have learned it. is like |
true Christianity disciples in neither are confined
20 any nation, cline, or soil whatsoever American
SIN Is not the product of the soil: it springs not |
rom the land or the ground is not of the earth
Dr. earthly it emanates from the head and the heart
It looks upward, and onward and outward: its life
and soul are those grand ideas of government which
characterize our institutions and distinguish us from
Ill other people; and there are no two features in
our system which so signally distinguish us from all
other nations free liberation of religion and the
doctrine Of ecpGtriGtiO-ther right of man to throw
' his allegiance to any and every other State prince
or potentate whatsoever, and by naturnlizati0u TO
be Incorporated as citizens into our BODY no)itic
Both these principles specially provided for and
lrmy established in our constitution. both tbasa
American ideas proclaimed in 1889 nv onr
SlreS OF 10, and by their 'soaS at this d.v dnrdo5