Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-02-03
From the Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel.
UHNOyV N0TuINGC ~

l.
and cons in such matters should be suggested and
made public at the very outset; It will not answer
to wait until it shall become " institution, fix
ed fact and when, if it be evil it Will be too late
to provide a remedy.
No rejecting man will deny, that in government
where freedom of speech and opinion exist, con-
stituona rights the necessity of secret political
ganization may be sharply questioned In monarch
cal governments the members of such would be
called conspiratorS revolutionSts because the only
object could be to Obtain under secret concert of
ton and opinion, privileges and immunities not sane
toned by their laws and where the open avowal of
the object would subject the citizen to censure or
punishment; here all is conceded that rational be-
ing would ask, and if more needed, it is the
high privilege, the imperative duty of the American
reemen to thunder it in the Of their rulers, and
not in trembling whisper to midnight concIave.
1t is the boast of the order that they elect men to
office, who either were not candidates, or whose
chances of success would have been hopeless, but
for their assistance. Nothing could more clearly
evidence its Ant-Repubican tendencies; it is but
boasting that they defeat the expressed will of the
people; candidates are nominated in open convcn-
ton by the delegates duly authorized to do so. 1t
is presumed that these nominations made with
reference to some special fitness in the nominee,
to particular interest to be SuhScrved BY
concentration of Know Nothing votes, the reason
able expectations of the people are frustrated. 1T
may be urged that the ballot box constitutes the
cearest index to the popular will, but here is not
The votes of secret faction were based upon
carrying out an object foreign to the general 6 cd,
only to themselves and in which they alone were
interested. In this way the offices Of the govern
ment filled by who own no allegiance to the
people, and are bound to obey only the behcsts Of
their order. In this way, o1icc-seekcrs taught
to curb the inclination, to rely upon patriotism and
wcl-doing to obtain the confidence of voters, and
compelled to a subserviency to the dictates
of unknown and irresponsible power. Its ends in
short, are sought to be accomplished, not by the
lightenment orthe people, butby removing as far
possible from them, the machinery by which they
are governed.
1t concentrates power in the hands of The few, for
while numerically they may be inferior yet all know
the effect of a body of men, though few in number,
we'll disciplined and armed uEon a superior force,
dlSmcmbcrcd and without concert of action. The
Jacobn clubs Of Paris secret political organizations,
OF a few thousand controlled the dcstin-
les of thirty millions of Frenchmcn. Having
tasted the sweets of dominion, their deliberations
ceased to turn upon the welfare of the country and
they became mere asscmblage of bItcherS; they
toasted on human blood during the day, and at night
aPpeaSed the gnawinS Of their wo!iish appetites in
the anticipation of tomorrow'S slaughter; domestic
privacy invaded, the son betrayed to the guiio-
tine the father, and the husband the wife, there is
no reason why, in its natural extension, secret 20
ltcai association should not apply to private and
domestic relations, to character and reputation, the
same principles applied to politics, to birth, or to
religion
As secret religions association, illustration
nay be found IN the iaquiSiton. which Tor ages con-
rolled the Catholic nations of Europe, until NapOlc
'n the true vicegcrent the time of God EARTH
shattered with his armed legions the bloody mana
les with which it had fcttercd mankind. 1t is not
pretended that the object is the advancement par
Icuariy of the Protestant faith, but stern oppoSi
ion to the Catholic. am protestant in my reli-
,ious belief and certainly would eschew with as
much zeal as any the predominance Of Catholics in
ms country, and whenever they shall arroSate to
themselves an undue assumption of power or privi-
eSe Shall he ready to prevent it, if necessary, by
he strong hand The Constitution guarantees to
mem, as to all other denominations, the free eNer-
Use OF their faith and it is not known in the South
Il least that they have in any way transcended the
rights. With us they too insight /
cant in point of numbers to excite fear, and there
something unmanly in depressing by secret COM
nations. those who should be assaulted only with |
he weapons Of reason and truth We arc indebted |
Or this peculiar mode of opposition to the Catholics
the New Englanders; people who in their early |
ctt!emcnt here, fed it is said, from the persecution
the old w orid, to enjoy religious freedom in this.
hey crnced their appreciation of religious freedom
" baniShing Roger Williams, for saving that the !
Civil Magistrate should restrain crime but never
ontroi opinion, should punish guilt but never rIo-
ite the freedom of the sonl" They baniShed Anne
hutchinson and Wheeler, they fined anS whipped
lark and Homes. Baptist preachers, for denuncIa-
ing the tenctS of their faith They passed law
anshlng the QuakerS pain of death, and actual
hung several under this enactment. Within easy
istance of where these denominations perpc-
'aed, hourished Catholic colony built up under
ne auspices of Sir George Calvert, himself dcrotee
that faith. To these people is due the honor OF
lIISI, IN tne the IuTISlaH W o!u,
proclaim entire religious liberation. and to grant
he enjoyment of perfect religious freedom to all
ects, creeds and denominations Bancroft the dis
nguished American historian, uses this language:
Calvert deserves to be ranked among the most
Use and benevolent law -eivers Of all ages He was
first in the history of the Christian world to seek
'r religious security and peace by the practice of
lstice, and not by the exercise of power; to plan
lie establishment of popular institutions with the
1joyment of liberty of conscience; to advance the
areer of civilization, by recognizing the rightfnl
quality of all christian sccts. The asylum OF Pa
lists was the spot where, in a remote corner OF the
orld, on the banks of rivers which, yet, had
ar6v been explored, the mild performance of
roprieary, adopted religious freedom as the basis
the State"
Let us pursue the parallel little further. Two
nndred years have, since the events Ieferred to,
anspired. The descendants of those puritans in
iucation, enlightenment and morals, claim the
renost rank among the nations and cannot urge
r themselves under the relying phrase of "delu-
ons," the exemption from blame which they exact
r their ancestry, and yet in what respect arc they
.tter? Have they not prescribed and repudated
outhern Christians for the exercise of a consttu-
ona right, in holding slaves, whom their purtanic
theirs stole in Africa and sold to ours ? and would
ey not hang and burn us, as of old, if they had
C power
Have not their preachers forgetful of God, and of
cir high calling, banded together to violate the
onstuton, and render nugatory the laws of the
nd? Have not their Churches become Pande-
oninms where black professionals and white pro-
stants, male and female, mngie together, to utter
asphemies against God and treason against the
ates Have they not ignored the God of nature,
jured the precepts of the blessed Saviour and |