The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-09-14
FRIDAY MORNING. SEPT. IA, 1855.
"Gov. A. v Brown and the Know NOthings.''

"Gov. a. v. Brown and the Know Nothings."
The Union and american Of yesterday
m orning has an article under the above head
n which he has the unblushing hardihood to
quote from that notorious letter of A. V.
Brown, to the people of Dickson county, the
following, to say the least, intensely foolish
md nonsensical paragraph, worthy only of a
reckless pettifogger, who has no character to
compromise and no position to disgrace:
" It is certain, too, that the oaths administered
arc al illegal, and that both they who administer
them and they who receive them, make themselves
liable indictment under the laws of the country
a. Now, what is all this but conspiracy against The
freedom Of election, and, therefore, ndictabe and
punishable by law ?"
We had supposed that the letter from which
the above is extracted, having answered the
unworthy purpose for which it was issued, to
soon before the election to admit of its being
successfully met by the American party, would
be allowed to rest, at least by the friends Of
its distinguished author. Indeed, ave cannot
help believing that any one who would de-
liberately resuscitate it, is obnoxious to the
suspicion of a premeditated stab at the Ex-
Governor.
But the Union and american republshes
that wonderful paragraph for the ostensible
purpose of certifying its statements by the
opinions of " Gen. Freemen of Mississippi, one
Of the most eminent lawyers of the country"
and he gives long extract from letter of
that gentleman, remarking at seems to us
that the conclusions of Gen. Freeman are ir-
resistible." More for the purpose of showing
the premises of Gen. Freeman, which are more
important to the intelligent reader than his
conclusions" we also extract from the Union
and Anserican'8 extract, the following;
FROM GEN. FREEMAN's LETTER.
The next issue is that it is an unlawful conspira
CIV 20 procure the votes of electors.
| have elsewhere shown in this paper that the
electors of the country, in utter ignorance of the
constitution and real designs of the Order and de-
ceiyed as to both are induced by false pretences to
take the oath of fealty, OF secresy and uncOndton
al submission TO the DEGREES of the National Coun
i,-and they are furthermore made to swear that
they will vote for but members of their Order
for office, and TO prefer members Of the Union De.
gree of the Order. The breach of this oath is de-
Co,t,trv and the elector is made TO believe that
such breach leaves the foul stain of perjury on bis
soul The main and essential object OF this oath is
10 procure and secure the electors Uote and then If
he refuses 10 vote for the candidate of the Order,
he violates his oath and is threatened with the for
fixture Of all intercourse with members OF the Or
der, and with being denounced in all the societies
throughout the Union a traitor to God and the
country, and threatened with the pains and penal
ties of perjury, which means, criminal prosecution
for that offence. Can any man doubt for moment
that this is clear conspiracy against the right oil
eufrage-a conspiracy to violate the public policy
and insult public Justice relative TO the freedom
and publicity of elections in this country, as set
forth in our several constitutional
Mr.. Freeman starts out by saying that be
has elsewhere shown in this paper, (the one
from which the Union and american quotes
the atove) "that the electors of the country, |
in utter ignorance of the Constitution and real
designs of the Order, and deceived as to both, |
are induced, By false Pretences to take the oath |
Of fealty, of secresy and UNCONDITIONAL sa6-
mission to the DEGREES ofthe National Council"
Why did not the Union and american quote
that portion of the paper in which this dds
tingushed lawyer" has shown these things, in
order that his readers, instead of being invited
70 adopt the conclusions of Mr.. Freeman,
drawn from premises of which they have no
knowledge, could draw their own conclusionsf
Simply because the editor of the q. Dc Il.
knows, aud every intelligent citizen OF the
country knows, that Mr. Freeman nor 10
other man, distinguished or obscure, has
ever eshown" any thing of the kind. We
hazard nothing in saying that the premises,
therefore,, upon which these irresistible
conclusions" are based, ale utterly false; for
We have yet to see the man who can show
hings that do not exist and never existed. 1t
S false to say that electors are "indnoed by
alse pretences to take the oath of fealty to
he American party, or ever have been. 1t is
alse to say that electors are or have been IN
luced to join the American party IN utter
ignorance of the constitution and real designs
If the Order" as every newspaper reader
,nows. 1t is false to say that any member oil
he American party is or ever was required to
make any pledge of unconditional submission
O the DEGREES of the National Council" as
very member of that party well knows. The
distinguished lawyer" says he has also shown
hat if she 1.-THE electorl refuses to vote for
he candidate of the Order, be violates his
ath, and is threatened with the forfeiture of
n intercourse with the members of the Order,
nd with being denounced" &c, DC. The
nildest terms that we can use in regard TO
uch fragrant assertions, is, to pronounce them
Utterly, totally and unqualihedly false and
-roundless, and no man in Mississippi or else
where, can prove them otherwise. We are
member of the American party, aud are proud /
O say that we have been one from the begin
ing. We can point any one who Is curious
bout the matter, 10 members of that party IN
his city who did not vote for Gentry in the
asst election, who are members in good stand
no and enjoying the full confidence Of their
POLITICAL associates.
But the opponents Of the American party
ave made oil sorts of groundless charges. and
re may exnect 10 see them make groundless