The American patriot., 1855-01-03
TFor the Patriot.

Nix. EDIroR-Let you and l and the readers
of the "Patriot" have little table talk about
that great association of Americans called know
Nothings," and to commencc-therc are a great
many objections urged against them by the public
press, many of which arc no doubt felt to be Sc
rous and insuperablc. There are many who
think they see manifest improperly in the char
actcr of such an organization, and who are doubt
less sincere in their opinions. Men Of this char
acter always act upon what they conceive to be
principle, and arc never inaccessible to fair rca-
soning.
A great many object to it upcn very loose and
indefinite grounds, such as, "Dork deeds teor
the Hght"-" Secresy and rjllany are tmia SIS
ters." Others content themselves with the broad
and comforting insinuation that "something is
rotten in Denmarh while others put their OBJ
jections upon the broad and magnanmous base,
" "Ererybody has a right to know what erery1ody
thinks, and ho.o ererybody is disposed to rote."
There will be no necessity for suggesting to any
mind of ordinary power Of perception the charac-
ter of men who compose these last named classes
They consist Of the old superannuated political
pcnsoners--the honorable corps "de Hospital
Aralde POlitiquc the very ancient and hon.
orablc order of broken down politicians mind
broken whcclhorses-slow nags-not fast enough
to win in whip and spur race-but who expect
to triumph eventually over speed and popularity
by pertinacious adherence to the track-of men
who are in, and who hear in every intonaton Of
the times the solemn sentence, Out-of men
whose political iniquities forbid every hope of an
association with the principles of public virtue
and pure patriotisn-of men who have ridden
upon the chariot of power, and feel reluctant to
have their political bones cracked by the trium-
phant car of our nations regeneration.
| While VIC consent to feel sorry for them we
cannot descend to the kindness of ah argument
with them-prejudice invariably becomes doubly
embittered by an attempt to enlighten it-and
hatred is generally aggravated by acts of mercy
and love.
But with those who find real difficulties in this
matter, and who arc actuated by an earnest dosire
to know the right, and to do it, it will afford me
infinite pleasure to converse. The first objection
urged is" that the Principles Of the Order an.
proscriptice and contrary to the spirit Of tht
Constitution" Permit me to refer you to ths
very able circular issued in Clinton over the sig
nature of gentlemen formerly connected with thu
Democratic party, and entitled Common Enc
miles," in which document the harmony of tn.
principles of the Order with the Constitution i.
distinctly and ably shown This branch Of th'
subject has both political and religious complex
ion. So far as its political cast is concerned, i
will be enough for me to say that the Constitution
J was framed for the exclusive benefit of thos
whose interests and sentiments were identified
with American nationality, and not for men wh'
acquire the mere fact not the right of voting a
the result either of perjury, abetted by unhesita
ting politicians, as the result Of some pestcn
tial scourgc which fits great many naturalization
papers for new filling. We humbly conceiv
that the trainers of that instrument, from who's
exalted patriotism it derived both its form and it
tone contemplated that all the rights and power
: which were to flow from it should be exercised il
purely national spirit. They little dreamed ho,
broad an Interpretation political corruption am
moral degcneracy would place upon the pure AM
nnsullicd sentiment and purpose embraced in thl
+ instrument. Such however, has been the case