The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-06-20


NoTfiINGIsM.
The following letter from Senator Tooubs Of Georgia
to The editor OF the Columbus Times, win b. read with
deep interest and is destined to have wide circulation
plain explicit and 70 the point and leaves doubt
to the platform upon which the honorable senator
stands that the political are aatcd BY the
fusion and confusion Of knOw-nothingsm and abo-
tionismi
BosroS, (Mass.,) June 6, 1858.
DEAR SIN More than three weeks ago, in compliance with
my PROMISE wrote TO you giving my opinions Of the
political organization commonly known as "knownothngs
or the American party did learn until reached Au
gusta the way here that you had not received H. IL IL
should yet hand, wish you 10 publish IT, il
much fuller and carefully exposition OF
opinions than this letter be. shall embark to-day for
Liverpool and, for Of time condne myself 10
brief statement rather than argument the sub
ject.
Ny first objection the party is independent of
its principles opposed to 1t because - POI
ltica society. Society has right to know the men, and
the policy of the who seek direct its affairs and
troll its destiny. Publicity the life blood of representa-
tive republic Without IL public liberty perish
and necessity short Of that which would justify revolution
justify the surrender Of this great security Of popular
government All party associations constantly liable TO
be used by the cunning the unprncpled and enterprng
members for the promotion Of personal objects than
the public interests and needs argument prove that
secrecy greatly increases this tendency and facilitates the
accomplishment ofsueh unworthy ends Secrecy is the
ural covering of fraud the natural ally Of error the
envy Of truth. The patriots who framed constitution
gave it fatal blow by provisions which the freedom
OF speech and the liberty OF the press.
This objection to the party derives additional force
from the obligation which is said to be imposed upon the
plican for admission that be will carry its DEGREES
whether his judgment approves them II this be true
it is surrender of the dearest rights Of freeen and Is
crime against society.
Ny objection to the American party is that pro-
poses in way TO invade the rights of conscience
call in question for the free thereof OPP
pose. Our constitution protects against the putting Of
such tests upon the but the principle founded
truth and Justice and ought to be the rule of the ndvd
ual action well Of the public conduct Of every citizen
Centuries of unavang persecution taught fathers the
folly as well the wckednes Of attempting control
mems conciences by penal statutes civil disabilities they,
therefore, put the sting of disability into the temptation
disgrace stautebo with this sort of legislation We
viii defeat their noble objects in part at least BY enacng
different rule in the exercise Of our political rights.
1t charged that the Roman Catholic poy is cruel in
tolerant despotic The charge wholly unfounded
lift be true greatly TO be condemned and dplored and
above all things should avoid initiating their vices and
thereby justly subectng ourselves this great condemnation
We neither conquer eradicate the vices of Roman
ISM whatever they may be- BY initiating them by perse
cution The world has tried these remedies for centuries
past and tried them in vain Let rather oppose her
city with kindness her intolerance with free toeraon lin
then may reasonably look for different and better results
The that the simple yet sublime truth got itself
kuowedged by government that the citizen is RESPONSE
BILE State for his civil conduct but God only his
religious faith the unhoy bonds which unite the Church to
the broken persecution conscience sake be-
impossible here, and tolerance entered
its of universal dominion Its first great triumph
to strike the letters from the conscences of Irish Roman
Catholics 1t has begun similar good work for the Prot
estant in Spain and Sardinia and for the Greek in Turkey
and viii go on conguering and to conquer until the de-
of persecution-blind, deaf and tupidshal have
abiding place upon the face of the earth.
The naturalization laws greatly complained OF by the
American party. think them founded just principles,
and in the MAN, wise and good laws To naturaze
intelligent foreigner of good moral character and attached
and who has resided among long enough to test these
qualifications great benefit to the State well to the
individual who receives the high privilege These the
dons and safeguards which laws seek throw around
the right of citizenship These laws are, doubt fire.
quenty volaed they are doubtless imperfect and do not
fully effect the objects intended by them Let all proper ad
dons and amendments to carry out these objects
be made and then let the law be faithfully administered and
these things be done without the aid of societies
There is another objection to this party which should put
it under the ban of southern opinion We have had great
struggle for the last six years, upon
sectional issue This issue has been settled by the wisdom of
the representatives Of the people This issue found its sou
ton in the legislation Of 1850 and 1854 The and safety
the republic demand that this legislation should only
be undisturbed but vigorously upheld by the nation The
American party in the North whenever it has had power
has the vigorous hostility this legislation
The nohngs of Massachusetts, have attempted to null
fy it, and have shown total disregard Of their public
oahs, and therefore wholly incapable of giving any
pledge, open secret that of honesty ought to
cept Political association with these moral
plicity with their crimes.
The policy of the South to unite to lay aside all
party divisions wings, democrats, and know nothngs
should together, and combine for their safety
enough to do this, to present unbroken
Of fifteen States united for the preservation Of their
own rights the constitution, and the Union, and uphold
and support that noble band Of patriots at the North who
have stood for the constitution and the rights against the
tempest of fanatcm folly and treason which has assaulted
them, shall succeed. We shall then have conquered
peace which will be enduring and by which will
invite further aggression.
am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
X. TOOMBS.
Col. r. LoMAx,
Editor Times and Sentinel Columbus, Ca
COL. SAVAGE AND GEN. CULLoM
These gentlemen are competitors for Congress in the