Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-08-29
CHARACTERISTIC LETTER.

Il - CHARACTERISTIC LETTER.
Among the interesting proceedings ofsthe great
anti-Know-N Nothing meeting in Charleston, South
Carolina, on the 10Th inst, the following striking
sand eloquent letter read, from Hon. A. F. But
Ter, United States Senator'in Congress from South
Carolina:
SroNELANDs, (near Edgefeld c. H.)l
Augu 9Th, 1866
GENTLEMEN: Your communication of the Sd inst,
inviting me to attend 6 meeting of those citizens
of South Carolina who believe that State rights,
Southern rights and the liberties of the people are
endangered by the eX.stences and progress OF the
Nothing ORDER" and, in the event of my ina
blity to attend, requesting such expression of my
views as may think proper to communicate" has
been received H.
F.. Whilst the state of my health will not allow
to be with youon the occasion to which you have
invited me, fear, in the few remarks which shall
submit, cannot do justice to the subjects which
you wish my opinion. In the threshold of these
remarks, give it as my belief that the fGir.ptay
spirit and unbgoted provisions of our constitution
cannot be assailed, with success, by the dagger
power of secret and irresponsible associations.
To illustrate what shall say hereafter, l will
quote from memory sentence of Washington Ir-
wing: Our ancestors not only proclaimed but prac.
tised a hardy morality that feared contact.
They trusted to the courage and power of truth in
their anti-proscripton constitutions and opinions
They were willing to trust their destinies on the
arena of fair and open trial They thought they
could trust the cause of religion, so far as there
should be a political jurisdiction IT, to the fol-
lowing clause of our federal constitution:
"' Congress shall make no law respecting an es-
Enlistment religion, or prohibiting the free exer-
else thereof; abrdging the freedom Of speech or
of the press the right of the people peaceably
to assemble and petition the government for re-
dress Of grievances }"
And by the same constitution, Congress was in
trusted with the power of establishing uniform rule
of naturalization. Now, l understand it, the
Know Nothing organization is to make war upon
both these provisions in their true spirit. suppose
their aim will not be avowed to establish religion
or to exclude foreign immigration, but under the
assumption of Protestant purity and American pat
rotism it is the purpose of the order to take vOun
tary jurisdiction over these subects-that is, tup put
into office themselves under the names of Protestant
piety and American devotion; and, if they should
succeed in their designs by the influence of these
heterogeneous and irresponsible alliances, they will
have substituted their conventional obligations for
the constitution of the confederacy.
believe | have left out another one of their
avowals-a common purpose to preserve the Union
as thew understand it should be preserved
acknowledge no piety that is proscriptive, re-
cogniSe patriotism that is unciviliZed and eXclu-
sve and want no Union that is not under the con-
troll of an operative constitution The Declaration
of Independence and the federal and State constl-
tutions of the United States made under aus
pices and influences TO rebuke the bigotcd and con-
ceited spirit that would invade them in the nine
teenth century, when the different parts of the earth
are as the different provinces Of the same
empire were formerly.
| regard the Declaration of independence and the
IeucTaf utiOH dS great anu
lars of an altar erected in this New World to toera
tion-an altar that it's construction not to Jews
MOI, Catholics, to Protcstants only but to the
united labors of all who had sought here refuge
from transatlantic domination. While ProtestanS
may have borne the first and largest share in the
work cf American Independence, others. Of what
ever religious education scarcely behind them
i'm zeal and activity for the hallowed cause Even
the jew idle spectator of its advancement
remember to have heard it stated-indecd, ample
evidence Of the fact several occasions before
while upon the bench-that young Salvador
the first person who publicly read the Declaration Of
Independence in 90 district. He fell shortly
afterwards battling for American freedom. And
who was this Salvador? A gallant and dashng young
jew.
But pertinent inquiry, in the consideration of
this question, relates to the origin of Know No
thingsm. Where did it originate, and why? 1t is
certainly not indigenous at the South. There were
such pre-cXisting virtues 1t was, and is foreign
to necessities, whether social or political 1t
moro southern in its inception than it is in its
development. The North its birth place. 1t
arose, primarily, antidote to evils which were
there brought about by abuse Of the naturaliza
ton laws. The introduction of foreigners per-
nted, in disregard Of the several constitutional
quirementS to three years notice, five years
residence, &c. Mischief is now resulting from the
practice. But it is their own fault. They have
mingled the waters of the Orontes and the Tiber,
and it is theirs to drink of them. At the South
these abuses have not prevailed proper obser-
of the law has had the effect of bringing
amongst different class OF foreign population
from that at the North-one, at any rate, of which
we do not complain.
Another reflection here suggests itself: Where is
the necessity of any such interference with the cleo
tive franchise as now proposed by the KnowNoth
ingS, when the State governments have after all,
pienary control Of the whole matter? Not only have
they this control in regard to the privilege of vo-
ting, but the power exists in them even to deter
mine who shall enjoy the rights of inheritance with
in their borders. If we were really apprehensve
that foreign immigration about to endanger
in either of these respects in any other the true
course would surely be to seek remedial action
through the State governments themselves. To de-
mand it elsewhere would be to contemn the rights
of the States.
shall regard Know-N othingism, if introduced at
the South as but another Trojan horse, brought in
by enemies and to be accepted only by the shallow
and nconsiderate. Like that horse it comes herald
ed as object to call forth praises and enlist
our adherence, when it is really but the daring stra-
tagem of those who not for welfare, and
spect not rights. My conviction is that the doc
trines and tendencies of Know Nothingism are not
only insulting to such foreigners adopt our institu
tons from choice and with the honest resolution of
rendering implicit obedience to the laws we have
but they are in grossly bad faith with
the provisions of the constitution, and especially
called for by the South That voluntary associations
of individuals should seek to supersede the constitu-
tion of our country is degree of arrogant assump-
ton which / cannot contemplate without aversion.
W hatever may be the fate of the Union, let not
Southern honor be furnished by any the least viola