Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1855-06-02
The approaching canvass.


cation known as KnoW-Nothings. The dem
ocracy are m9ered on the old democratic har
Dor, ready to do battle under their old coleFs
for those inmutable principles which they
have ever professed and practisel, and which,
under the blessing of Heaven, have conducted
our eoua.ry to its present proud and import
| ant position among the nations Of the earth.
On the part Of the democracy it is contest Of
principle-principles to which our country is
indebted for her present high state Of pros
pcrity-against a sworn band of political ad-
Eenturers, who seek to deceive the people, and
fasten upon the country q system at once mar
row, intoleTant, iliberal and proscriptive
Tie democracy should conduct the contest as
one for principle, patriotism, and the best in
terests Of the country, as arrayed against
those who would erect a Chinese wall around
America and Liberty, and proclaim to all
who wore born without the Enclosure, that
they were net entitled to the enjoyment Of
freedom, because their birth alone renders
them the slaves of tyranny, and incapable Of
yention assembled in America, whom history
has pronounced patriots and heros, and who,
after due deliberation, announced to the
world that call men are created equal" But
to contend in the approaching contest, declare
the reverse of this, and, of course, must re-
gard those who put forth such doctrines as old
fogies, who succeeded in quilting the age, until
Ned Bunthne' was. raised up, and sent to pris-
on to conceive and put forth the true doctrine
Of Know nottingham, and pronounced none
worthy offreedom, except those born within
certain latitudes. This convention of patriots
also declared that governments derived their
just powers from the consent Of the governed
but Know Notingism has discovered that
this is not the correct doctrine Of freedom
but that those born without the circle Of Ger
tain prescribed limits, are only qualified to be
governed and taxed, and can have no voice
in controlling or framing the policy of their
government. This, in the the days of '76, was
pronounced taxation without representa- tion;'
but thanks TO the inventive genius of Know
Nothingism, it is now ascertained to be the
quintessence of American freedom The con-
stituton of the United States declares that,
congress shall make no law prohibiting the
free exercise Of religion; and yet the Know
Nothing party wage an unjust, cruel and I'M
compromising warfare against those of the
Catholic faith, whether of native or foreign
BIRTH. One Of the main principles Of the par
ty is thus shown to be unconstitutional. AID
their entire platform at variance with the
principles laid down in that and other docu-
ments put forth by cur foreflthers, the foun-
ders Of our government. Let those "ho as
sert that the opposition to Know Nothingism
is not governed by principle, examine the
creed and acts Of the secret order, and they
will soon ascertain that opposition to it is
founded in the same principles which gave
rise to the revolutionary struggle, and to our
present form Of government. The principles
which have controlled the democratic party,
and the party cannot be abandoned or broken
up while they prevail. The assertion that
the democratic party has fallen to pieces. is
made only by wings, who have witnessed the
dissolution of their own party, and watching
the rings on the tail of their coon grow pale,
concluded that others had fallen with them
selves. Or, like the fox who had lost his tail
they are at work to prove that it would be tie
. e. &. III
tails-that all the old political parties should
disband.
The first important point in the campaign
against the midnight crusaders, is that Of
harmony in the democratic ranks, and the
State Committees have set an example which
evry member Of the party should emulate
Let members sink indiyidul preferences for
the benefit Of the party, with al. its glorious
anteoedents-with its liberal and enlightened
policy-its known andpathy TO prescription
whether fer religion Or nationaIity-itss sound,
broad, Union wide platform, and its truly re-
publican programme Of principles, vindioated
by the test Of practical experience"-and eve
ry democrat should ponder well upon the value
which rests in faithful AMI honorable per-
formance of the functions of all public SER
wants, and remember as he casts his vote, SO
ne contributes to the prosperity and happi-
ness of his country. The democrats enter
the contest under the ancent banner Of faith,
against new form Of opposition into which
their enemies have united themselves The
Know Nothings seek to exclude from the
rights of citizenship, all those citizens who
happened 70 be born on foreign soil, and re-
ject from the right to vote or hold any office,
all our adopted citizens, without regard to
merit or qualification They desire that re-
igious sectarianism should make the Ameri-
can ballot box the arena of its sanguinary
controversy. They seek to destroy free citi-
zenship--equal rights liberal constitution
and wholesome laws, and permit new and IL
liberal fanaticism to extend its banful infiu-
ence over our free institutions. They seek
to abolish The qualification of honesty and
capabilityH for Office. and establish the quail
fcat;on Of birth within certain limits The
disbanded wings. forsaking the principles
enunsated by their leaders, for those of pro-
I scriptiOn, oppression and intolerance, have
gathered their scattered remnants to compose
the chief material of this new order Against