The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-08-22
from the n. @. Bee

ted the manner IN which they lntend 10 carry
it on. And if we may judge from the whole
sale abuse heaped upon the poor know moth
ings,' it would, perhaps, be charity to conclude
that the gentlemen who addressed the Canal
street meeting, were under strong ''post pran-
dial' influences, rather than regard for the
| high and honorable bearing that should char
acterize political contest. The vocabulary of
abusive terms could scarcely furnish express
| sons strong enough to suit the heated fancy of
| the speakers and give point to their denunca-
tons.
To the demagogu6 and partisan this may
have appeared all right, but to honest inquirers
after TRUTH and the true patriot, something
more than sweeping charges and fiery declana-
ton is necess ary to convince the Judgment and
confirm the mind.
That a candid and liberal minded public may
examine, in calm manner, the claims of the
"know nothing" or American party, propose
to present some of the objections urged against
them, and contrast the principles and position
Of the American and ant-American parties.
The first and most common charge against
the American party il, that they meet in secret,
that they dare not let their proceedings be
known. That they are oath bound confeder-
ates, and therefore, must be Matching some
terrible treason.
This objection is plausible enough till you
examine it, and see that, in this respect the
American party does not differ from the other
party, or from all parties that ever existed in
this country.
The anti-American party now have their
meetings in secret, during dark hours and in
I,,t t1,t ool
with the countersign, can find entrance, and
who are, for aught We know, as much oath
bound as the ''know nothing" Indeed it is
but fair TO conclude that meetings guarded with
SO much care, have not been left without an
oath, and thattreason is much more likely to
appear there than in meeting Of native born
Americans
Ifthen, the anti i-American party are pursuing
the same course that is pursued by the Ameri-
can, it only shows duplicity and fraud, when
they dare claim a higher patriotism. Tt will
not do to say that it was done in self.defense.
If it was wrong and treasonable at one time,
it is equally at another nor is it likely 10 be
less reasonable when practsed by q party
whose avowed object is to sustain and perpet
ilate foreign influence and deprive native born
citizens of the privilege of ruling their own
country.
Again, (and the fact is so notorious that it is
almost useless to repeat) the working and
plans Of every party that has ever existed in
the country, have been secret, and managed by
committees and leaders, who only gave the or
ders to the rank and file, and obedience fol-
lowed. The know nothings' have only
changed this order of things and let the rank
and file plan to execute, and take into their
own hands the guardianship of the institutions
of the country. Is there any thing wrong in
this, or are the rights of any citizen violated in
any particular. The influence of the dema-
gogue may be lessened, and his power to do
harm curtaed, but no one else suffers, and the
sooner he suffers the better.
Another charge is, that the ''know nothings''
are enemies to the country.
This, of all the unfounded things that have
been said against them, seems the most su-
premely ridiculous, yeti it is harped upon and
rung in changes from one end of the Union to
the other.
Who is an enemy to his country? The man
who is endeavoring to subvert the institutions
of his countrywide tries to overturn the gov
ernmcnt and its laws, and submit them to some
other influence, or reduce every thing to state
Of anarchy.
Has the American party done any of these
things? That man does not breathe who
can point to single act that either directly or
indirectly indicates any such thing. On the
contrary, every declaration and act goes direct
ly to sustain the constitution and laws, and
the protection of every citizen, whether native
or natura]ized, in the full enjoyment of all their
rights. The published platform Of the party
proclams it, every individual member proclaims
it, and no man dares deny it, without being
guilty of falsehood!
Yes, but, says one gentleman, we do not
know whether we can believe that platform or
may have been put forth with some
mental reservation, some secret oath that bound !
the party to different course.
That gentleman knew at the moment he ut
tered this unmanly insinuation, that it was
wholly unfounded, and unworthy OF him as
high minded, honorable man. He knew the !
leading men of the American party. Their
social position is as high as his own--ther in
tegrity as unimpeached, and their honor un-
doubted. This was a sufficient guarantee to
him and to the world. that the American party |
Intended to do what they said.
But if the gentleman is not satisfied with |
his guarantee, what better assurance have the
citizens of Louisiana, that he and the anti
American party have not some mental reserva-
ions, some secret oath that binds them to ele-
'ate foreigners to office, for the purpose of get
ing their votes. I do not charge this upon
hem, but it is as far presumption as to sup
'ose the Agerican party capable Of so much
Implicitly.
We are again charged with being violators
f the constitution, because we refuse to vote J
IL and elevate to Office citizens of foreign
irth.
This appears to me an exceedingly strange T
bjection. 1t will be difficult to find in the con q
tuition, or any law in accordance with its pro- t
sions, a single line that secure to the natural .
ed citizen the right to office. He is eligible s
office, and may hold it if elected to it by the n
sople, but the people do not think proper to n n
We him Office, he suffers no wrong, nor has n
" of his constitutional rights been violated II
will be conceded by all that every citizen has a !,
rfect and constitutional right to vote for whom q
pleases. If, then, one citizen has the right, =,
cry other citizen enjoys the same right, and Il
1at each can do individually, two OF ten thou h.