Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-06-30
From the Augusta Consttutionalst.
sI'seffer from the Hon. A. b. L0ngstreet ON
Know NOfhingism.


name of Augustus Il. Longstreet IS endeared to the
people of Georgia by many ties in the history OF the
past 1t is name which we were taught to revere
in early youth synonymous with all that was bold
and fearless in the character of the advocate, with
all that was parental and dgnihed in the sage in
structor and with all that was pure and honest and
upright in the minister Of the gospel. The old men
of Georgia have been accustomed TO love him as a
brother: the Young men, scattered throughout the
State who from his lips, have heard the lessons OF
wisdom, continue to revere him as father. There
is no man in Georgia who will dare to stand up and
say that A B. Longstreet speaks from impure mo-
tives The indignant frowns of all honest people
would paralyse the sacreligiOus effort Judge Long
street has been forced from his retirement to
out and speak upon this question; but having come
out. he has met the issue with that bOldneSS and
honesty which characterizes the man. He speaks
to the people in the voice of warning wisdom, and
tells them to beware of an organization, which must
lead to religious intolerance and persecution.
The circumstances which led to the publication of
this letter. from attack made upon the Judge
by the Memphis Eagle and Enquirer, charging him
with preaching anti-know Nothing doctrines.
After alluding to the editors of that paper, who
have assailed him as the head of the Mississippi
University he proceeds to condemn the order in the
terms to be found in the extracts below. Let every
Georgian read them carefully and ponder over them,
we'll, whether he be Know Nothing or anti-Know
Nothing:
cation in the country-secrct in its movements, and
going under the name Know Nothings It's princi-
ples understood to be, opposition to Catholics and
Foreigners, to be planned in the dark strengthened
by oathS and manifested at the ballot-box 1t ledi
me with alarms.
II saw in it the elements of rapid expansion and
awful explosion. exhibited them to the class that
graduated in that month, and forewarned them to
have nothing to do with it, Had been inspired,
could hardly have foreshadowed it's history
accurately than did. OF my prediction nothing re-
mains to be fulfilled, but the outpouring of more
blood. My forecast in relation to it, ought to ensure
respect for my Judgment in and about Oxford at
least; but it is that very forecast which is raising
buzz of discomfort against me in this vicinity now.
This is the sin which brought out against me
the recondite presses which have named before
1t is called 'dabling in politics. but, it's true name
is Unpaatable Truth This is the sin for which
! am soon, perchance, to be sacrificed They that
stoned the Prophets Of old are yet alive, and why
should I expect better fate than theirs? WE'LL l
do not know that better could be made of my
old carcass than the Offering of it up the altar of
this American Baal. An incense might arise from
it that would do to purify the Church and the
State from this modern abomination than anything
which emanate from my poor frOst-covered
brain. The public has now the sum total of my po-
litical sins, public and private I shall speak at
large Of the new order in appeal to nv Church
at some future day, if may be allowed to do so.-
am committed against it, and shall oppose it for
ever-not in the class room, but every where else
not a partizan, but Christian This the pa.
irons of the University should know. For all the
honors and cmolumentS of earth could not be in
(uced to position of neutrality in regard to
it. If all experience be not falsehood and all his
tory a fable, it will throw this country into ceaseless
if it be not crushed and that speedily.
I'm my view, every man who has a scrurles in
fuence, shor'd rsc against it-now-immediatel
ere it be for, too late Indeed it allows no nell-
Lrality. With all its protested Americanism it as
sumes an absolute dictatorship 1t will allow
man to question its purity its policy. 1t gathers
within its pale, of dignity, talent and pietv,
preachers and teachers and with them the most de-
ohonH odd HafX
upon earth binds them by oaths in the bonds of
fellowship and sets them all at work in politics, and
nothing but politics I find christian brother
among them-I read to him T. Cor. vi. IA, and on,
and mp!ore him to ont from such connec-
ions; and it addresses me in tones of despotic au-
hortv in this wise: Sir, my name is Potics-you
ar? Clergyman, and Clergvmen should have moth
ng to do with Polticsr Right cries my brother;
old man vou'll ruin yourself if you mcddlc with
politics! say to him your oaths against the
avs of God AMI your Church. Sir it responds,
do you TINS denounce the pious of my order-havc
you no respect for the Church your place. |
lenounce the sinners of the band and the saints
prove l reprove the saints, and the sinners de-
rounce me! The saint shields the sinner, and the
sinner the saint. If such combination is not
nough to make the Church and State both Shudder,
know not what would.
son me the Order bears with intoerable
PRESSURE 1t rises before me like the ghost of Ban
luo, at my: every step in the pathway of duty.
Il am a preacher: If preach upon the sanctty
il OatnS. I regards Se! 1DSuiteu, ana attacks me
accordingly. If preach to christians to out
rom the wicked it insults for assaing Know
Nohngs. If preach that the love of Christ is not
bounded by State lines, it charges me with attack
ng the article of its creed against foreigners.
Il am teacher: If l teach that unlawful prom
ses are not binding, shall be charged with justify
ng the exposure of Know Nothing secrets. If set
he lesson to my pupils wherein j. B. Say says that
very accession of to country is an accession
If treasure; am to be published to the world as
my pupils in anti Know Nothing poll
lies. AS l am ever to be gored by this young mad
bull, had we'll take it by the horns at Let
he order keep its hands off me, the Church. and the
Constitution, and will never disturb it.
CA word to the good people of Mississippi and
nave done. You have University of which you
nay feel proud For harmony and kindly feeling
mong the faculty, for good order good morals, gen
lemanly deneanor, study and progress among the
students, and for aIdePt attachment between pre-
'eptors and pupils you may fearessly challenge a
comparison with any other kindred institution in the
World For its age, it has not its equal in point of
patronage and rank in the United States. In these
aspects, it stands at the head of 1903 of 1S Col
eyes in the United States; and of those above it,
arge majority forty years older than ITSELF
md three over one hundred years older. And this
ank it has attained through adverse fortunes
han probably eyer beset an Institution before
Fear not that it will be school of politics.
Your graduate in politics before they come to
he University.
1T il in its palmiest days, and this you see
S one of the objects of Know Nothing vandalism.
It has already, l fear, thrown fire brand into its
peaceful halls. appeal to you to the rescue
Rise up as one man against it, when it invades the