The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1855-07-17
Ourselves and the Know Nothings.


safety for fear that we should identify ourselves with
the American Party, alias the Know Nothings, We
have no apprehensions of serious character having
as we think, arrived at the stature of full grown man,
if not full in the years Of discretion Wchare arowed,
and do distinctly aYow disincnation to engage in
any political crusade, where party lines are to be
drawn and observed. We are disgusted, heartily
sick and tired OF all party organizations whether o
Whig, Democrat or otherwise, for our limited expe.
rience assures us that after all they are nothing but
sounding brass or ,inkling symbols. Yet we do not
the philosophy Of rejecting everything, because
they may not be in exact accordance with our pre-
conceived opinions and predictions. Whilst we are as
FREQ rs ever to say that certain features oil the ne'c
platform Of the American party. please US, and II car
ricd out hy them as party i'll good iah, we Shall
approve and heartily endorse cannot perceive that
wcarc committed to blind and indiscriminate cu-
dorsemcut Of erery thing which the new party profess
cs or does Not at ALL The assumption is ureasona-'
BILE, we don't mean that it shall be So and i; is unwar.
rentablc to assign Us sucl position.
II to love our country, with jealous regard for
her peculiar institutions. and disposition to see her
overrun by wild swarm Of iSms and errors, calcu-
lated in their very nature to subvcrt the principles
upon which or glorious magna.chaytcy rests.-in a
word destroy true rcpubliranism and place upon
footing with other priest ridden and abused govern
mcnts,-if this be Know Nothngism, be it so-wc
wiling to shoulder thereproach If 10 ''advocate
an amendment Of the Naturalization Laws, with prop
or safeguards to preserve the purity Of the elective
franchise" and "the passage Of such laws as will pre-
vent tho immigration Of panpcrs and criminals to this
country" bc Know No;hingrsm-be American then
We glory in the appela'iou. If to oppose any in
reference in the vested rights OF persons, whether
they be Of native foreign BIRTH to declare our
selves in favor of non-intcrvcntion with slavery by
the Federal Government except for the protection Of
constitutional rights or 10 'advocate high Ia.
tioal policy, such rs will afford stern and unwavcring
protection to the American name abroad and will fol-
low and guard the American citizen wherever he
moves" and with all our heart to "bcievc that Amc!i
ca shond be governed by Americans, c(lccting the
same through the ballotboX alone the only legitimate
instrument Of reform in this country and endorsing
most heartily :hc noble AMI patriotic sentiment, that
tic Office should seek the man. aud not man the Of.
Of Office, and Office spoil, among ollccscckcrs az
reward for partisan services If it hc 10 hold
and avow these sentiments then. III the language Of
Patrick Henry We say, make the most Of it, we are
traitors.
And again as another reason Of the faith that is in
us, wc will man,ain and defend the Constitution of
the United States and the rights Of the States with
out dminution, insisting upon faithful performance
on the part Of the General Government OF all the du-
lies cnined upon By the Constitution and, whilst
We hold that religious faith is question for each ndi
vidl to settle for himself regard it as OF the ut.
most mpor:anca-to Use the original language in tie
Constitution OF one Of the old thirteen" Confcdc.
rates" nat no person who shall deny the being Of
God, or the truth Of the Protestant religion or the
divine authority Of either the Old or New Testament
or who shall hold religious principles incompatible
with the Freedom and safety Of the state shall be capu-
bic OF holding any Office place Of trust or profit in
; the civil department, within the States These arc Il
!ew o. The reasons which We give ior th" present why
we favor certain principles avowcd by the American
! party.
On another occasion NAY enter into the proof oi
tie several positions here assumed rr the present VIC
close, with M earnest asS'ifv" to our respected ana
highly vaiTc'i icm'js. t.;,l shall st;diorSy avsi
ANYTHING which will commit us 10 :alSc and un:clai!r
principles Incompatible with Truth Justice aad the
Conrttuon.