Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-05-22


, The fifth article Of the creed may Gc,crv
passing remark. While it may be tru
I that the Bible properly understood MAY b
. lie only permanent basis Of liberty, yet j
' practice 1t must be- acknowledged it has bee
= often made tic stalking horse Of tyranny
both civil and ecclesiastical. 1t was proba
bly, never intended for the Use OF politicians
certainly NOT as a political machine: Aud i
this connection may here advert 10 the in
| tindrion in the preamble Of the basis
which points 10 Il religious poiicy is ncce.*ar
TO preserve our political institutions IN Mei
original purity. The people of Virginia cal
never trust sanction any other policy Ill re
gard to religion than that which keeps tn
government and religion apart-s" that mel
Their shall interfere with The other. he.
may we'll doubt whether the Great unknown
of the new order of Know NothIngs, kno"
more about the principles of our institutions
III their ORIGINAL purity. than those VINE
founded theur-whu gave us the bill OF right:
and the act Of religious freedom.
1t would seem from this very cursOry view
of the Know Nothing creed, that far thr
greater portion Of il is not only free from OBJ
lection, but worthy indeed of high approba'
ton by men of all political and religious
denominations. That portion is IN truth
but a series Of political trulsms. \ still
larger proportion would have been approved
by all, had they added the ten commandments
and the IG articles Of the Bill Of Ri hts
and this they would perhaps have done were
it not that the Bill OF Rights thwarts their
religious pocy-and the dccalogue fUrhids
the solemn mochery prac,iced by their secret
organization.
But however nearly they may seem TO ap-
proach, there is an impassable gulf between
those who would truly preserve our free in
situations in their original purity and the
founders of the ncw order, who would amend
the work Of the Jefcrsons and Madisons of
other days. 1t may be but step, indeed, that
separates them. 1t is but step from life 10
death from virtue and innocence, TO guilt
aud shame. A man pressed by adversarles
to the wall may lawfully stay them. a sIn-
gle unnecessary step in adrGncr, makes him
Il murderer. / repeat there is between ian
American" aud true Nirsiniall, an impassa
bic gulf. In that gulf are the dark cavcrus
Of acrtry-and at Il lower depth the bottom
less pit Of persecution. filed wiki dark and
dismal spirits; some fear armed with the
weapons of death.
4 few words only on the st aud third ar
,icles Of the Know Nothing creed: which
propose the total exclusion of naturaAcd
foreigners from all political Offices. This
universal exclusion is rs Liberal, UNI ust and
unnecessary, As 1t Is contrary 10 the spIri ni
our institutions IN their original purity. The
natural prejudice against foreigners is too
strong in this rs in all other countries, 10 re-
quire solemn Oaths or cOmpacts 10 give 1t
Increased energy. The intcrdct Of giving
these Offices in Virginia 10 foreigners IS al
most us unnecessary rs one To prohibit the
election of free negroes. Very few If any
foreigners were ever elected 81 tar as know
among Us to any political office Of impor-
tance. since the foundation Of the Common
wealth. As 10 taking the interest of other
States under our projections let 1.-The Ame-
rlcan party Of Virginia" remember the prin
cipe of nunntcrveutl0n announced in the
Ilth article of their own basis. Few of us
perhaps would be unwilling to extend the
period Of probation rs to torcigners-tcwcr
still to prohibit the importation Of paupcrs
and criminals: hut why should free people
trusting in their own capacity for sell. govern
mcnt, voluntarily divest themselves Of the
",
ali who under the law may be able to serve
them a right which, under the sanction
of Washington and Jefferson gave lis the
services Of Lafayette, Il Hamilton, and Il
Gallatin
| come now. fellow citizens. 10 charges
which much more seriously Impeach the ncts
and objects Of this new order. | alIude TO
the religious poiicy which they would miro
ducc. and rhc Secr,t orgHni:nilon hy which
;hry are seeking to crci their purpose. This
nurpose and this orsauzatiom--wls the hcs'
iiohrs before me: in the careful exercise %!
nv own judgments; and III the sincerity OF my
heart ] think deserves your decisive dISap-
nroba;:ou. The character Of tlr.InIans has
heretofore been always regarded III home ana
abroad as snguiarly frank and open; their
conduct, especially in reference TO public
concerns, above board and fearless. Thank
heaven this new scheme Of secrecy originated
in the land Of steady habits: IN the land
where robbery of private property is sane
toned by law aud The judges who would re-
store it, expelled from office. Secrecy is the
refuge OF guit-why should innocence seek
| III What is to prevent the new order in
Virginia from urging their new tangled no
4,
liz hi of day! They or their friends tell us
i, was necessary 10 its success-that 1t was
impossible 10 obtain recruits from the Demo
cratic party had they not been protected 10y
an obIis alton of secrecy. Ihls is merely Il
feigned excuse. However secret might be
the entrance iutO the cavcrns OF Know No
tbiugisn, all must see that the first vote given
by their recruit would expose him 10 all the
dreadful consequences Of party "disciplinr,"
lh. terror. of which, it is said, makes Sc
rrccy so indispensable. But suppose it true
Then il is difficult TO say which is most drs-
picable, the poor democrats who dare not
saw their souls are their own, for fear Of their
old associates, or the new order which. hy
s,calthy means, would invite such pusillani
| nous recruits To rally under their standard.
Such recruits, doubtless they think, make
GOOD Know NothiuSs They eau indeed be
good for nothing else. You arc cowarily,
in effect say their ncg ircnds-come To us
in The dark and we will protect yol by con-
ccaling you as long as we can: you sta!. 10
longer be the slaves Of the dcmocra,s--uo ::
YOU shall only be the slaves Of the Know
Norhiugs--borud down, soul and conscience
while members, implicitly 10 obey the cdIcts
of our councils.
Can any honest or honorable man taae the
osths or make the pledges required by the
new order Yes :--many such doubt NOT
have already done so They do not view
those oa,hs or pledges in the light that do ::
or they could not take them without pro-
found sense of degradation. 4 free born Viz
gilman agrees TO vote as he is directed But
| they are only binding it is said while he con-
,inues memhcr. He may withdraw when
he peases. Why, we might join gang of
robbers on the same principle, and only rob
till we chose to stop. The Thing itself il
wrong if intended ersr TO be done: The OBJ
legation is degrading il assumed for one
hour. Every man who assumes an oblsa-
j l.. Ii, =.