The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-08-17
GEN. SAN noUsToN,s LETTER.

return to enter upon the duties OF Inc situation Wheh mas
been assigned to him.
GEN. SAM HoUSToN'S LETTER
The only senator claiming to be member Of the demo-
cratic party who has joined the secret political and pro-
scrptye order is General Houston of Texas All the rest
have put back the fatal bait with dgni6cd all the
rest have caressly and publicly denounced the midnight
cabal and its despotic creed recent revelation of the
mysteries of the know-nothing prisonhouscs in this city
has disclosed the of the senator of Texas among the
bound adhercns to the ritual of this organza-
ton and letter. over his signature, dated at ndepend
ence Texas on the oath ofJuly 1855 before formal
y acknowledges the connexion and deliberately argues the
propriey and Justice OF athe movement" Nothing could
more impressvey establish the orthodoxy and the
sstcncy the democratic party than the fact that while
most ~e opposition senator's have eagerly rushed Into
the new secret organization sedulousy cultiva-
ting m favor the senator's representing the democracy in
the Congress OF the Union have earlessly rejected and
denounced the doctrines of knownothngism with the
single exception alluded to- And, if to complete the
contrast and to show that democrat can be know
nothing and be seconded by the democrats of his State
the same Texas which has repeatedly reelected General
Houston TO that high body, has, almost simultaneous
with the publication of his letter. pronounced against the
sentiments he has proclaimed distinct issue made be-
fore the peopeand this with emphasis and majority
hardly surpassed by the Old Dominion ITSELF
Senator Houston opens his letter with declaration
which manifsty intended for prediction He says:
regard the result in the Virginia election highly
couragng the principles Of the orderp Upon the theory
that patient may be cured by the physician who kills
him. and finishes his agony, this complacent opinion
may be accepted but how agreeable it may be to those
who have escaped the rough courteses of the practitioners
of the Old Dominion, not prepared to say Such
exercises those enforced by the heroic Wise will
doubtless produce wholesome consequences; but there
is silent satire in the counsel Of the Texas leader
of the know-nohings when he tells them that these
exercises "good for them" 1t is like the story OF
the drummer, who being called upon, in the course
of duty, TO administer punishment TO friend tied at
the halberts requested to fog high he dido fog
low, he did-to fog in the middle he did--hgh, low,
down the middle, and up again. lie debut all in vain
the patient continued his complaints with the pro-
yokng pertinacty, until the drummer exhausted and
cry, flung down his scourge excaimng "thc devil burn
yothere is pleasing you, fog where you will" Our
know-nothing friends have been logged through four
southern Suites since their chastsement in Virginia; and
if the latter being single State inflicted highly
couraging" defeat according General Houston there is
gratitude strong TO compensate for the delicate at
tentions of Alabama North Carolina Tennessee 7ras
We fear the ogging must go TO the end before the
know-notngs will acknowledge that they sufficiently
"encouraged' and pleased.
The selfsacridcing spirit Of the senator from Pexas
upon which he felicates himself that he "was slen,
while the rumphs of American principles were rcver-
beratng throughout the Union and that he comes for
ward 10 defend them while they :" in eclipse may
may find its solution in the somewhat unexpected dis
closure Of his oatbouna ncpber Of the order
is questionable at least that if he himself could have
remained in the eclipse" whether he would have adven-
tured the appeal which have been most reluctantly
extorted from him.
Senator Houston tells his committee that he regards the
nothing movement growing out OF great crisis
in the affairs Of nation and the precursor Of sound
heahful and vigorous nationality When the only evil
dence Of sound healhfu and vigorous nationality" as
the result Of this movement is found in the unparalleled
trumphs Of the aboonists, who have eked out their
majorties with know-nothng votes and who now claim
for the FIRST time in history TO be the strongest party
in the popular branch OF Congress easy to that
the senator's definition OF the word he is different from
the meaning attached to it by the people He would ~na-
onalze party that has heretofore been confined to the
fanatics Of the free States and he would spread broadcast
the land those baefu doctrines which be-
acceptable the people while the constitution is
spected and obeyed. The apples of the Dead were
sound and heabfulo if results like these worthy
such high-Aown senatorial eulogy.
On the subject of secret societies the senator is not
strong he when he fought the battle of San Ja
| cinto
AT the time they cry ont beware OF the danger o.
secret societies II is true that secret societies have always
been dangerous despots and yran They have de-
nounoed aad prescribed Masonry The Pope with other
ntates have crushed the ancient order in their domnons
In country have it portals leading into it,
sacred temples for while closed and deserted Secret socie
ties then denounced Thank Heaven that coud of ia
natcsm which for awhile overshadoed II has been dspeed
by the light Of reason aud il s continues to extend the
blessings of ts principles thousands OF dconsoate widows
and orphans The opponents Of the American order escaim
IL political association and therefore ought not to be
i crct.
reply yes II secret and is name denotes its objects
Is ii the fret secret political society which has been organ
lied in the United Staos2 1t well known any other
historical truth that General Washington aud many Of his
compsrots Of the revolution members OF the Cnon-
na Society, in which, If not under misapprebension,