The Shasta courier., 1855-12-08
The Know Noshinx Address.

The address recently issued by the Know No
thin Stat Convention is a document. taken al
together, thlt may be pronounced unique un-
like anything that is in heaven above, or that
is in The earth beneath, or that is in the water
u iler the earth"
This is our opinion. Other editors. singular
as it may seem. look upon it in different light.
The State Tribuae. instance, says "the
beaniy of lis dic,r4i is only equsls-d by the pu-
ri,y Of its principles aud the soundness Of its adj
vice. And oar neigibor down street thinks
'.ii contains much gtnpd sense and wholesome
ndvicr,' and strongly and justly deprecates'
tke shameful manner in which California has
been neglected by the General Government"
Now far as the advice" part of The forego-
ing quotations are concerned, we agree with
both editors. Bat when they talk about the "pu-
rity Of its principles" we must beg to be count
ed ont. q Purity Of its principles" forsooth |!
Purity of what sort OF principles, pray Not
of the principles of the Constitution. for that
Instrument guarantees eqnal privileges to all
citizens, whether native born or of foreign BIRTH
~1cept alone tlse right of filing the Offices of
States. Not of the principles upon which the
fathers Of the Rernhlic acted for they were op-
posed to all distractions between ciiizens-and
never regarded The birth place ofa man in filling
any "ffice, those already named. Not of
,he principles of the Declaration of Independ.
rnce. for one of the complaints Of that instrli-
went aga,hst George the Third, is that he " ob.
al r r
rrs.'' But if you mean to say that the more H.
fibernl Of It's principles The old "pure"
1lnrtfnrd-Convenior- Blue Iii sht-- federal doc
trines with which Jefferson combatted so victo-
riously then agree with you
The most Interesting portion of this remark
able document, however, and the one to which
we desire particularly to refer, is the following:
We believe that all white native born citizens.
Of good moral character, who acknowledge
allegiance superior equal to their allegiance
To the Constitution and laws of the United
States are common brotherhood, and entitled
10 the same privileges without reference to sect
or relisiea.
Now desire to know of our neghbor of
the Republican. whether no he includes this
rejection Of the Catholic test as a portion of the
''good sense" part Of the addressa We have a
very vivid recollection OF short article which
appared in the first number of that paper, in
which the editor referred to the letter of Jere.
Clemens, in another portion of the paper, and
spoke of it as "an able, bold and manly exposi-
tion of the principles and purposes of the Ameri-
can party" In that letter Mr.. Clemens argues
mt length the danger of trusting Catholics with
power. And after declaring that murder, per-
jury, incest-every crime has been ''made We
NAL If it tended to the advancement of the
Church." and other things equally severe, he
continues:
"What we see existing elsewhere wha: we
know has always existed wherever Catholics
had the power, may sgrely dread for our
selves, without being liable to the Charge cf ex-
cessve t. midity, partscuarly when we see the
rapid strides they are making in power and in
ffuence among From 1910 to 1850 The num-
Der of Catholics in the United States doubled
and now they exceed two millions Of seuls. At
shat rate 1t will not take them long toacquire all
The power they want, and when acquired they
will not fail 10 exercise it. In the very nature
Of things the Catholic must be prosecutor
When he believes that every Protestant is on the
highway to hell-when he believes that it is
charity to torture, and piety to murder those
whom he looks upen as enemies to his God, 1t
would be absurd to expect mercy, or look for
federation.
Either Jere. Clemens or the Know Nothing
address is in the wrong.
The Great North Again.