The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-26


the hitherto impregnable Old Dominion; and
if it is not taken, it has been SO thoroughly
shaken that it will only need another trial to
bring it to an unconditional surrender.
Our returns as far as received, indicate
series of almost uninterrupted losses to the
democratic party, and corresponding gains to
the opposition alliance. The back of the Rich
mond Junto is broken, at all EVENTS and, 10
deed, if the spoils democracy be not thoroughly
vanquisbed, the first appearances of the field
are very deceptive. Making all reasonable
allowances for exaggerations and over estimates
of the opposition vote, and taking the basis
even of Mr.. Pierce's fifteen thousand as the
democratic majority to be overcome, there
is yet scope and verge enough" in the general
average of the reported majorities, for the cleo
ton OF Flournoy by handsome majority.
Whatever may be the actual figures the re-
suit is substantial triumph to the Know No
things. 1t will give new and powerful
impulse to this American movement,
and the mighty political revolution in
yolyed in it. The fact is established that this
new political movement possesses in the South
as much active vitality as in the North, if not
more and that the organization Of great,
overwhelming national and homogeneous Anne
rican party is perfectly possible. These facts
having been demonstrated in the democratic
stronghold of Virginia, the question recurs,how
is this powerful organization, as illustrated in
our town and State elections North and South,
to be fused into consistent and harmonious
national working party Can it be done by
ignoring the great issues of the day! or by
fusing with free sellers in the North, and
Southern ultras upon that mysterious platform
of the third degree? or by war Of uncondi-
tional prescription against foreigners by birth
and Catholics in religion? We think not. We
apprehend that the work of organizing the
Know Nothings as a national party for ana
tional contest remains yet to be done.
As a national party, this American organiza-
ton will require thorough overhauliog and
remodelling in many particulars. Il will be re-
CURED to take a strong conservative position
between the ultras and extremists of all sorts,
North and South, and especially upon the
slavery question. To do this, it will not be ne
cessary to square the individual opinions Of
men to any arbitrary exactions. 1t will suffice
to occupy the constitutional platform Of
State rights, non-intervention in the domestic
affairs of the States, and an adhesion to the
doctrine of popular sovereignty in the Terrific
ries. When any issue, however, of sectional
character shall come up before Congress, such
as the admission ola new State into the Union,
it will become the policy Of this new American
party, if it desires to live, to consider the
IF tho ouciapt harm nf tho
Union as superior to all other questions. In
this light, if it should appear, as it must appear.
that it will be hazardous to admit another free
State into the Union, without the equivalen
Of a counterbalancing State to the South at
the same time, it win become the manifest duty
Of the Know Nothings TO 60 for the concession
so as to retain to the South saving balance Q
power in the Senate as bulwark against
| Northern fanaticism.
With regard to foreigners there must also
be some pruning of the present Know Nothing
platform, before it can be made to doVe-tai
with the express stipulatioDs of the federal
constitution. The idea of excluding all foreign
| born citizens from Office is open to the sus-
| picion of sn unscrupulous appetite for the pub
| lie plumber. Grant that Americans should
| rule America" we believe that foreigner born,
| in fulfilling tie requirements of our naturali-
cation laws, becomes an American. Under the
constitution all public Offices are open to the
naturalized citizen, except the Presidency and
Vice. Presidency and with these two exceptions
| he has filed them all, from the appointment
of Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the
Treasury by General Washington, down to the
present day. Iftbe existing naturalization laws
admit TOO largely to the privileges Of the elective
franchise the ignorant, purchaseable and unac-
climated masses thrown upon our shores from
redundant Europe, let these laws be modified
accordingly. But the shibboleth that all
adopted citizens shall be excluded from public
Office, is simply untenable, because it sets the
constitution at defiance.
So, too, with regard to the Roman Cath ,lics.
The constitution expressly establishes that i'm
measurable blessing, absolute religious liberty.
1t is the peculiar glory and strength of our
| popular institutions. Adopt this extreme pro-
scription suggested by the Know Nothing
lodges, and religious liberty is superseded by
an intense religious despotism, and our bsauti
| full republican 81 stem is at an end. If Arch
Disp' u liuguec, VI TIC ups > NuuClO, Ut tulee
tlousspd New England Protestant clergy men,
or Brigham Young and his sanity poly gamisss,
or any other religious leaders or society uu-
dertake to interfere on the ground of religious
duty, and as a religious balance of power
in the politics of the country, let them
BE- put down. On the other hand as the consti-
tuition makes 10 provision for the exclusion of
INV nan from Tho pnb1in sprcioa an oooon,l 80
his reigious belief, this proposed intoleraut pro-
scription Of the Catholics is clearly stdtious
heresy, and nothing better.