The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-09-14
Lettor from Hon. A. p. Butler.
SToNELANps, (Near Edgedeld C. H., J
Auut,St g 1Skk

beieVc that Stale 1llSi!tS anu the Liberties OF
the People arc endangered by the existence
and progress Of the Know Nothing Order"
and, in the event Of my inability to attend,
requesting "sucl expression of my views as
may think proper to communicate" has
been received
Whilst the state Of my health will not
allow mo to be with You on the occasion TO
which YOU have invited me, fear in the
few remarks which | shall submit, / cannot
do justice to the subj bject on which you wish
my opinion. In the threshold of these re-
marks, l give it as my belief, that the fair
play spirit, and unbigoted provisions, Of our
cess, by tho dagger power Of secret and IL
responsible associations.
To illustrate what will SAY hereafter, l
will quote from memory sentence Of Wash
ington Irving: "Our ancestors not only
proclaimed but practised a hardy morality
that feared no contact. They trusted to
the courage and power Of truth in their All
ti.proscriptive constitutions and opinions.
They were willing to trust their destinics on
the arena Of a fair and open trial. They
thought they could trust the cause Of rcli-
rion so far as there should be a political
Jurisdiction over it, to the following clause
of our Federal Constitution:
"'Congress shall make no law respect
ing all establishment Of religion, or prohib-
iting the free exercise thereof; or abridg.
ing tho freedom Of speech, or of the press ::
or Of the right OF the people peaccably to
assemble and to petition tho Government
for redress of grievances
And by the same Constitution, Congress
was entrusted with the power OF establish
ing an uniform rule Of naturalization.
Now, rs l understand it, the Know Nothing
organization is to make war upon both
these provisions in their true spirit. sup
pose their aim will not be avowed to es,ab
iish religion or to exclude foreign i.nmigra.
ton; but, under the assumption Of Protest
ant purity and American patriotism, it is the
purpose OF the Order to take voluntary iu.
risdiction over these subjects-that is, to
put into Office themselves under the names
OF Protestant p;ety and American DEVOTION
And, ii they should succeed in their designs
10y the influence OF these heterogeneous and
irresponsible alliances, they will have substi
tuted their conventional obligations for the
Constitution of the Confederacy.
l believe have left out another enc Of
their avowals-a common purpose to pre-
serve the Union, as they understand it should
be preserved.
acknowledge no piety that is proscriptive,
recognize no patriotism that is uncivil-
lied and exclusive, and want no Union that
IS not under the control Of an operative Con-
stitution. The Declaration Of Independ-
ence and the Federal and State Constitu-
tions ofthe United States, were made under
auspices and Influences to rehuke the big
oted and conceited spirit that would invade
them in the 10th century, when tho differ
cnt parts Of the earth are as near as the diff
ferent provinces of tho same empire were
formerly.
regard tbe Declaration Of Indepcnd-
euce and the Federal Constitution as the
great and enduring pillars of an altar erect
ed in this new world 10 to!eration-an al.
tar that owes its construction not to the Jews
nor Catholics, nor to Protestants only, but
to the united labors Of all who had sought
here refuge from transatlantic domina-
ton. While Protestants may have borne
the first and largest share in the work of
American Independence, others, Of whatev-
er religious education, We're scarcely behind
them in zeal and in activity for the hallow-
cd cause. Even the Jew was no idle spec
tator OF its advancement. I remember to
have heard it stated-indecd, ample evil
dence OF the fact was on several occasions
before me while upon the bench-that
young Salvador was the first person who
publicly read the Declaration Of Independ-
ence in our 'o6 District He fell shortly
afterwards, battling for American freedom.
And VINO was this Salvador A gallant
and dashing young Jew
But pertinent inquiry, in the consider
alton of this question, relates to the origin
OF Know Nothingism. Where did it orig
mate And why! 1t is certainly not in
d'genous at the South. There were no such
p4-exlsting virtues. 1t was and is foreign
to our necessities, whether social or political
II was no more Southern in its inception
rnan 1t ls III it's development. The North
was its birthplace. 1t arose, primarily, as
an antldote to evils which were there
brought about by an abuse of the Natural
1zat'on laws. The introduction Of foreign
ers was permitted, in disregard of the sew
era' constitutional requirements as to three
years notice, five years. residence, DC. Mis-
ch'et IS now resulting from the practice
But it is their own fault. They have min
gled the waters of the Orontcs and the IT,
Der, and it is theirs to drink of them. At
the South these abuses have not prevailed.
"A proper observance Of the law has had
= the erect Of. bringing amongst us a differ
NE g.