The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-05-06


NoTHINGIsM
sanator A. O. Brown of Mississippi has addressed an
elaborate the editor Of the Port Gibson Revee
in which he discusses with great franknsss and ability the
claims Of know-nothingism 70 public favor Al present.
only able to lay before readers small portion
Of Senator Browns powerful letter The extracts which
make relate manly the objections know-nolhing
ism on the ground Of the secrecy Of its organization ami
proceedings This objection which is itself sufficient for
the condemnation Of the order is treated BY Senator
Brown with singular force We quote follows:
Personally, know nothing az the know nothings
Taking for granted that fame presents the order
10 lis eolors, il political organization, gotten
for the ostensbe purpose OF excluding Roman Catholics
from office, and foreign born persons from Office and the
right Of voting. mstate the object Of the party Il i
because in the absence of any public ayowa Of It's purposes
Am compelled to rely for information upon
- opposed to all political organizations. The
laws should be made construed, and administered IN the
open face Of day fom the first suggestion that gives them
shape the 6na OF their complete execution all should
be public the MONDAY. The history Of the Jaco
binstbe cbasnber and the inqustongises many
and painful proofs that liberty BY word and life mock
cry when the laws either made, adudgei executed
IA private II win be said know, that the order does
propose egislae in secret This is unworthy
sion. If II is agreed in pass particular laws aud
chosen and secretly bound by oath
them Of what value il that they through the forms Of
legislation In public The Jacobins consulted and agreed in
private, but they through the forms OF legislation in
public. The result that they deuged France in blood
"lfwe pass laws ia secret, through
agencies, how long will 1t be before shall be called
revive the star chamber and judgment in secret? And
when this is done will the nquston shake the dust
from its implements Of DEATH and claim the right TO execute
in secret?
Thus may be revived in republican America the appa
ing and bloody tragedies that backen the pages Of English,
French, and Spanish history.
.sThe secrecy observed by the knownothngs be
the plea that all political parties hold
cuses Wings and democrats their party associaona
scribe their principles the banners they unIurand
publicly in the newspapers the stump, and everywhere
else vindicate their principles They consult priv ty to
the of reaching conclusion But the conclusion
reached it openly proclaimed Not with the know
nothngs they do not their party associations As
party they principles before the public ard, Of
into defence of their principles the
papers, the Stump elsewhere They consult in secret
and conclusions reached, they made known
only the initiated There is therefore, parallel be-
tween whig democratic caucus and know nothing
lodge.
effort has been made the secrecy Of the
know nothngs by citing the example OF Free Nasons Odd
Fellows and other benevolent associations Things to be
compared have sort OF resemblance to each other
Free Mason and Odd Fellow associations purely chara
be Know nothngs exclusively political We have the
highest Christian example for dispensing charities in
but the high authority teaches to openly
To my mind the feature OF the know nothing
ganzaton though paramount is its only objectionable
feature party that is worth joining and worth sustaining
ought have permanent, palpabe and lasting pfnci
pesome principles thar be carried into useful and
i've practice in the administration of the government Have
the know nothngs such principles? To comprehension
present advised they have not Can they. for
pe BY any system of legislation short Of radical change
federal and State constitutions exclude Roman Catholics
from the right OF suffrage the right OF holding Office Our
enlightened and liberal constitution. all know, makes
invidous discrimination against Catholics. but extends
the cg OF its protection them and all regionts,
surfing them Of their right worship od after the dictates
of their conscience. progressive democrat but
progressed far enough make the guaran
tees the crafty hatred OF the Pope
undertake by stealth accomplish that which the consu
tion has forbidden to do openly