Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-05-12
Persona!.


snsx-s -
Personal.
From dislike to bring matters personal to III
self before the public, have forhorne to notice
some of the nany base fasehoods that have been
ported bv some persons 10 what have said in my
public speeches Some of these basclcss abrcations
are go palpaby false that they have corrected them
seives. l have, however, been recently informed
bv personal friends who are politically opposed to
me- thatit is still reported in some places that
ssrted in my speech at the Court House that the
Know Nothing party of Virginia have negroes and
abslitionsts associated with them in their secret
meetings, No who gave attention to what l
said in the speech at the Court House accepting my
nomination for the Legislature, or on any other oc-
easion, and who has any regard for the truth or
JUSTICE viii assert that said any such thing. II
affords me satsfaction-I take pleasure in stating,
that honorable gentlemen, who were present and
heard what was said, have done me the justice to
deny the charge, although they are opposed to my
election on party grounds.
On the occasion referred to, while speaking OF the
origin of the Know Nothing party in the North ana
its party machinery, stated Substantially tnat
believed that this party cotton up at the worm
for the purpose of combining in one sworn phaianS
the slavery of the North in order to secure
concerted action on that question, and that IN u
ginia our Know Nothing friends had been deceived
as to the objects of their Northern allies. 10 sus-
tain that view of the subject referred to the cleo
tions in the North, where the Know Nothing party
had elected antslavery to succeed conservative
national men. That, in Virginia, the objects OF the
party were to defeat Democracy and secure the
Offices. disclaimed any idea that our Southern
friends who had favored the organization, were
untrue to the South But warned the people
against resorting to such dangerous party machine
~ for political purposes, in the South. ehoweo
that under the oaths and nunctons OF secresy con-
tanned in their ritual, which require the most pro-
found secresv to be obser ed to the existence OF
the order, its members, proceedings and meetings,
that the rankes abolitionst of the North who is
member of the order and acquainted with the pass
words and signs might enter our Virginia councils
and endeayor to obtain the sentiments of every mem
Der Of the council on the subject of slavery and reg
i,t.r every man whom he found favorable to his
views and report accordingly. That he might 60 SC
far as to make flaming abolition speech and while
the members of the order might spurn and hiss him.
and despse his doctrines, yet, under the inanctons
Of secresy resting upon them, they dare not inform
the officers of the law of the fact, that he might be
made to suffer the penalties of the law.
also warned against the danger of setting the
precedent of holding secret political meetings in the
South where negro slavery exists That it is dan
gcrous to recognize the propriety, in any class OF
persons, to hold secret political meeting at the dead
hour of night in slave State, without one Oh tn'
parties or objects of the parties connected with
ing known TO the lawful authorities of the land That
If the propriety of holding secret political meetings
.ndsr the cover of the dark shades of night, when
ell the rest of the citizens asleep is recognized
by sanctoning the party organization OF the Know
Nothings, then the precedent would be liable to tis
abuse; that designing abotionists from the North
might come into our midst and meet with our slaves
in secret sworn organizations under cover OF the
night and plot the ruin OF the South. In this was
sndeavoring to show the danger of resortng to such
partv m achinery in the South. That while 1t might
bs tolerated in the free States that it is too DANCE
rous an instrument to be introduced into the SOUTH
and that Southern in their zeal for party should
should not use such weapons. have always DIS
claimed any idea of conveying the impression that
cur Southern brethren, who are connected with the
new party, are untrue to the South. know that
,ome of my warm personal friends who are ultra pro-
slavery, are classified with the Know Nothing party.
would not have been fsnatiea as to have charged
them with the least disposition to encourages aboli-
tionism.
Istill believe that our Virginia brethren are mis-
taken in the real objects of their Northern allies
Already ther haze discovered that they, were mis-
taken in Senator Wilson, upon whose election they
congratulated the country, and endeayored to in
duce the South to believe that he great State
rights man-.bound to respect Southern rights
Now they are denouncing him and would have the
South bellows TINT he has been expelled the Know
Nothing party. when in fact, he has just been ap
pointed one of the delegates from the State of Mas
sachusctts to the X. n. Grand Council of the United
States to DO held in June next; at which time,
doubtless, chat party will select their candidate for
t4e next Presidency, With Senator Wilson assisting
cad directing.
Would that had trumpet-toague to thunder
into tho ears Of every Southern man all that have
said this subject that the spell of party zeal
might be broken which ID consuming their discretion
and that all Southern men might be put upon their
guard and be prepared for the coming struggle upon
the sectional question.
deem it proper to make this explanation in
order that no man may unintentionally misrsp- I
reeeDt.rhst have said.
ABSALOM KOINER.