Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-05-11
4 Patriotic Whlg.


Democratic Association of Richmond during the pre-
sent canvass, Thos J. Niche, Esq. OF Staunton,
one of The foremost men in Virginia. uses the follow
ing powerful language:
sure than to address the intelligent people of Rich
mond the interesting questions of the present
canvass-to tell them how blighting to the spirit OF
country the secret mystery of Know Nothingism
must prove; how demorazing it will be to our
children, the hitherto hgh-minded, open hearted
bold youths of Virginia, to be educated in the sneak
ing arts of secrecy and espionage; 10 be taught by
their fathers TO spy out all the political actions Of
their feow-men, and yet to keep their own actions
and Objects in reference to matters which neces-
sariy concern all, profound secret; to publish
platforms of pretended principles, suited to every
latitude and every taste for the purpose of gaining
proseytes, while they feel the degrading conscious
ness that they are prohibited, by horrible oaths,
from revealing their real objects and principles
out side of their order, and while Disguised world
is forced to conclude either that their platforms
filled with false professions intended to misead, OF
that those who published them are perjured.
g" Has any party right to political secrets In
private associations men may conceal matters which
concern themselves alone. But politics. relating
necessarily to the affairs or conduct of government,
in which every citizen has equal stake how can Il
party be tolerated in Withholding, from any portion
of our citizens, information subject which vital
ly concerns every one of them In small partner
ship if portion OF the parterS to conceal from
funds, their associates, excluded, would be justified
in forming conclusion of dishonesty, nd court
of justice would interfere. In the ordinary inter
course OF life, an honest of ordinary humanity,
possessed of secret which concerns his neighbours
interests, feels bound by high moral obligation to
disclose it TO him whom it interests. Yet here is
political party ntermeddng in the dark with the
affairs OF government which involve your and my
life. liberty and property, and those of chiIdren
and OF millions of Others nd yet they cody refuse
1ok IL:
be informed by such results they may hereafter
produce. BY their own showing they enemies of
popular governments tor in such a government the
whole community participates.
But they show their snmity in various other
forms. They practically deny the capacity of the
people to govern, and therefore establish arstocratic
councils, with great consolidating and controlling
head ated, most fifty, somewhere near sthe Five
| Points, in the city of New York. Power with them
instead of being vested in the people and emanating
from them is vested in these arstocratc councils -
The theory of our government requires appeal
from aristocracy to the people Know Nothingsm
reverses that theory by providing in all an ap
peal from the people to the aristocracy.
If the people had capacity for self-government,
this self styled American Query aboriginal y par
ty deny their honesty therefore they are never trus
ted except under oath. And again while the spirit
of institutions requires every citizen to exercise
his own best judgment in voting for all officers of
government, this wonderful invention of Yankeedom
exercise his judgment at ALL but to give his
vote to the majority of caucus itself subservent to
the mandate OF superior caucus, may order. These
startling novelties TO American ear. Yet
Know Nothingism, bold in this respect alone, in all
Others skuIking, denying its name denying its asso-
citation, refusing to make known lis Objects hiding
in dark with bats and owls, denounces all as
| anti american who will not adopt its dogmas!
should like to discuss and dissect the monster not
only under the preceding head, but many others, es-
| live Fa1o How
people of Richmond and the whole South, the cum
ming device of the KnowNothing nominee for Gov
ernor, instiled into him, doubt, by the same mas
tiers under whom he learned his 'Americanism,' by
which he asked the people of Virginia to deprive
! themselves Of all ground of resistance hereafter n
the northern plan of intervention in our domestic af
fairs. by intervening in crusade against Catholics
and gners, not because she is suffering any in.
convenience from them herself, but in order to rid
her sister States of the nuisance
| " But console myself under my inability to obev
your call by the refexion that, if went, it would
only contribute the feeble light of candle to that
glorious sun which has shone and which continues
to shine among you, and elighten you till the day OF
election. Wise and Douglass, and host of others
have told you more than I can tell. But as have
been a Wing, only say for me to my old Wing
friends, that have looked carefully under the cloak
of Know Nothingsm have lifted with daring hand
the veil that covered the face of the Prophet Sam
and satisfied myself well that it is not Whggery as
had always understood ii, and knew il was I'm.
dersood and professed by thousands of honest AM
patriotic men, but monsrum horTenduna, intormi, in.
gems Gu. hren redemptum. Yes blind as ba,
and as dark as Erebus. Let them beware of it. as
they love their lives and high reputation. History
informs us of many secret political parties but not Of
one, that l remember, which has been damned b,
impartial posterity This party has much besides it,
secrecy TO give it earlier and deeper condemna
ton than that which has fallen to the lot of its nre
deoesso[s' the Democratic party should follow it,
lead, what hell upon earth their underground fgh
) would make; yet it would plead example, and Ibt
) responsibility would be Sans
With high regard,
Il THOMAS j. MICHIE.p