Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-03-28
For the Spectator.
The Know Notlings.

with considerable interest, the progress o
this new political organizations and although
in the outset, disposed to rank it among tn,
ephemera of the day, prompted to our sligh
regard of it rather by the inslgnifcance o
its name than by knowledge of its princi
pies, we begin to see, as the saying is
"llght ahead" and to put our trust in thi
native Incorporation to conduct us to it,
We had long since begun to falter in ou
reliance on the two contending parties o
the day, and, whilst we regarded as una
vailing, the efforts of the Wings, we coult
not perceive that matters were more likely
to be amended by their opponents, the Dem
ocrats. On all sides of us we saw misrult
and error abound, which appeared to us ir
remediable +; inconsistencies not likely to bs
reconciled and, what we regarded as dan
gerous, attempts at innovation, involving
as we thought, the stability of our institu'
tions, and threatening our national prosper.
ity, if not it's existence. The welfare and
interests of the nation were beginning to be
verlooked in the strife of factions. and in.
dividual promotion to have more corside.
ration than the general good. State rights
and federatve rights were brought into
constant collision, not to elicit correction in
what is wrong, but to display the talents
and pretensions of some prominent leader
or to afford some new aspirant to poitlca!
distinction an opportunity for advancement
less of his country''s interests than his own
We question there be legislative assem-.
bly on the face of the earth in which a.
much has been said, and as little effected
Of late years, as in our own, and We regret
to perceive the evil is on the Increase
Why, it may be asked, have we departed
from the wisdom of our fathers, who met
for council, not for display; for accomplish
ment, not for useless, angry and interim
nable Debates Why told what Mr.. A
thinks, Mr.. B. proposes, Mr.. C. says; yet
hear nothing OF what either they or their
colleagues in the nation do, but to meet, to
resolve, to neglect to execute, and to ad-
journ. Why are party considerations SO
much mixed up with every bill brought be-
fore Congress, or ours State Assemblies,
that the public veal is overlooked entirely,
IN action upon it, or at best, regarded as
but secondary to more selfish interests =
Why, but because the ballot box is abused,
and the right of suffrage made too general
by extending its prerogative to those whose
early education has not taught them to use
it wisely, or to such good purpose as was
contemplated in its appolntment-to for
eigners, who, as blind and misled instru-
ments in the control of factlonists and DEM
agogues, have, we contend, done more, by
the misuse of this privilege, towards the
detriment of our institutions, civil, political,
and ecclesiastical, in few years, than cur
native population, in the natural and usual
progress of iffiov alton, would have accom-
plished in a century. We are not of those
who would deny TO eur fellow creatures,
suffering under the expressions and priva-
tons of foreign governments, home in our
favored land. where there is room and room
enough for all and which their industry
has, we cheerfully acknowledge, material
ly aided in population, development and
Improvement. Nor would we withhold from
them participation in our rights and privi-
leges under what we consider wholesome
limitations, of which they and their descen-
dants would ultimately reap their share Of
benefit. We would give them freedom ol
thought, word, religion, and action protec.
ton in person and property the right tc
acquire honestly, and to possess peaceably
all, and more than all their birthright en-.
titled them to abroad and these so soon as
they placed footing on our shores; but we
would require them to have such expert
ence of the operation of tree government
as is exacted of ourselves, before they should
be permitted to influence it by their votes
or 10 direct it BY their appointment 10 Office
1t is not enough to be free; we must bt
born SO; or long years of probation mus
have qualified us to exercise, without abu
sing, the privileges of this happy condition
which carries with it also, its latent curse
and may become licentiousness, instead 0
liberty, if restraints, long imposed, be sud
denly removed. The lesson of political
like that of self government, is not learn
in day and as well might we expect tn
child to practice the prudence, forbearanc'
and discretion of the man, as the foreigner
ignorant of our character, our position, gu
policy, our necessities and our institutions
10 become, as if by intuition, instantly ca
pable of comprehending and influencing
Them Alright. We repeat, that he should b.
taught, as we are, in the school, before hi
is admitted into the office, and serve as w
do, an apprenticeship, before he can becom'
one of the craft.
We have said that in ecclesiastical, a
we'll as in political matters, foreign infu
ence was beginning, if it have not alread.
BEGUN, to create disturbance, and we thinl
we will be borne out in the assertion, b.
the reflection of those whose memories, lik'
our own, extend back to the period whel
our churches, of various denominations
though divided in form and doctrine, wer
seldom or never, at variance in the pur
pose of christianity, which was to unite al
in brotherly love and charity; in harmon,
and in peace. Such too, was doubtless tn
intention of our wise constitution when
offered religious toleration to all-such it
construction and practice before the tide o
emigration brought to our shores The ele
ments of religious as well as of politica
discord in the minds as unaccustomed Il
think for themselves in spiritual, as iii TEN
poral concerns priest-bound in conscience
as they had been tyrant-bound in action
Catholics and protestants, before this inva
sion, if they did not kneel at the same al
tar, met in the same social circles wer'
taught at the same schools participated II
like Offices of trust, usefulness and charity
and were with US in all respects what tn
Father of our country desired we should be
as one people, serving one God, and livinl
for one common cause of religious and 20
I;tical free dom. The thunders of the Vati
clan reached us not, or, if they did, fel
harmless, for there was then no foreign at
1 l.