Washington telegraph., 1855-08-08
Letter fl ON Col. Clemens,
OF ALABAMA,
ON EN W.N THIN GISM
HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA.
July 18th, 1856.

HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA,
July 18th. 1856.
DEAR SIR Il have not before had time
to answer your letter in relation to the new
order oe KnOw-Nothings. nor have DOW at
hand all the statistics which are necessary
to full calculation of the subject Very
possbv in the opinions | am about to ad-
vance shall iud myself IN aniasonism to
Yourself and some of those Old friends to
whom you aIIude At all events there is
no impropriety in asking yon to read care
fully, not for the purpose of contradicting
or fndng fault, nor yet for the purpose of
implicitly believing. but to reason. to con-
sider, TO reflect. Ii there IS truth in wha;
write. let no previous prejudice dim it's
brightness-if there is error let no personal
partialty prevent its detection and expo
sure
The violence which has Heretofore charac-
ter;zed the discussions on this subject is un-
becoming at all times aud particularly so
upon question involving 81 much about
which men may reasonably differ l know
not why should think less of any one for
differing with me upon Know -Nothingism
than upon Democracy He has the right
to the maintenance of his opinions. and if
he Is honest no just man will denonnce
I; Is proper FOR me TO say that never
vas in a RnOw-No;hiag Loice but once
that do nu' know single sign or password.
and could not ;o-day obtain admission TO any
Council IN the State. unless it WIS through
the intervention of friend: but endorse
their PLATFORM ard propose TO defend their
principles They are the principles of
Washington and Jefferson. and what Is of
even more importance, they are the priuci-
ple< of the constitution
When ore Of tie seven wise men of
Greece visited the court Of Periander OF
CO-in,b, he was asked 'wiat i the most
perfect Pnpulsr government" He answer
el '',h1s in wIrich the law has no superior!"
This answer. Which contains whole volume
# truth aui beauty IN >ing!e line, is The
i'lnl1ti-u Of the Know Nothing creed
Tasy made 1t in the beginning tie basis OF
t5eir platform. not de>ignedIy. for very prob
ahiy the s-s~wer Of tn. S,ga has net been
remembered. il'it reason. Ten.c.ion and IN
earnest patriotism led them 20 the same re-
suit Accordingly we find that every mem
ber i imPerdt;vely required To acLn0Hisdse
the law, a. established By the Constitution,
to be supreme Obedience 70 It's mandates
Is inculeasei aS The highest du'v. and DISC
bedence i certain to- be followed hy expul-
sion Thus faT. am sure. the most violent
viii agree With me that there is nothing to
eOndemn-that there is something to ap-
p!aud
The remaining portions Of the Platform
may be disrosed Of satisfactorily. I think. if
not as briefly as the fr~t Americans shsll
ruie America In Other words-f}r ] ulesr
to deal IN no equivoca,inn-no cvaSion-;o
cover up nothing. dodge uothiug. deny moth
IN In other words. then that native born
Americans hall I'll a!l.ofFces of political i'm
Por'ance under the government: | do not
mean mere money Offices. sueh as President
Of BsI Rel d or ether Corporation. but
every ofi-r which gives to its holder an in
daence on the legislation of the country =
These are the ufiees FROM which we are
pledged to exclude foreigners. and this IS
the po-IiIon an prepared 20 m nsintain. 1t
Is Dot denied hat we have not enough and
more than enough competent Americans To
Nil all tfices we have to bestow. but it i urged
to our foreign population How is it uui,,s 2
III has been deprived of no;hing by his em-
isratinn here L. his own land he did not
even have the right of suffrage His prop
erty was never for an hour secure. His
8 PERSONAL liberty WIS constantly in danger
lie e.'uid not write or speak his sentiments
With ImPuDity. He was ground down with
iaxes- 4 pFess-gang might a, any uiomen:
tear hIin IRON the bosom OF his family. or
an oppressive landlord turn that family
houseIeSS upon the world All this is chang
ed We have given him the right to vote.
We have given him peace We have given
MN security We have given him indepen-
oence, and now. because we will not give
I'm the right to make the laws by vhioh
q We are TO Dc governed. he forsets in his ar
i Io9art ngTattude the hundred blessings we
nave shoWered upon him. ard repays the
II @'e, OF the Altar by malignant aspers:on.s
u me Minister'S to whom he owes his pro-
| 'ee,'O"- l; Is delusiOn to talk about the
Fl r'sh's Of foreigners PliriIeges is the
proper Word We are not bound to extend
:" 'hem the right of suffrage We are not
ooI"u 10 give them protection. liberty, peace,
'"Hepehdence- All these were voluntary
gus l, was philanthropy in It's broadest
N"r IS there one of the millions
"' hO'i The country who would not have
.Aeii.hged ais rwn land for ours even if the
.:''''u'ig., r,.. had denied him The privilege ol
III ~.I HE other advantages he obtains
s.u haVe been sufficient. and more than
sIu,eient to have made him anxions for a
IVT''er W.. beneath the wings of the Eagle
b.' bmueIe' then, is the injustice He has all
s1ed' more. much more, than be would
a.. oeen willing to take. But it is argued
e1eiuslon from office fixes an cdious