The Shasta courier., 1855-10-20
Cen. Cass ON Know Noihinsism.

II will be remembered that just previous 10
the last election it was published, IN Know No'n'
in naners..bat that old wheel-horse of Democ-.
racy Gen. Cass, had approved Tie p'a'ior', u
the new order as proclaimed to the "oii' ~
the convention at .Phadelrha Of-course 'i'e
old Statesman was grossly mlsrepreseh'eu' 's
will appear by the following portion OF a recent
letter, called forth by the wide spread currency
given 10 the SANDER The letter is addressed 10
the editor of the Detroit Free Press =
SiR:-The public journals contain letter ga
ted July Oath, written by Gen. HouS,oh' wn'Ln tn
has lust met my eye, and in which he says ne
perceives, by the papers of the day, that "Geh'
Cass has approved the platform ot The American
order as proclaimed to the world by the conveh-
tion at Philadelp phia." had observed the same
statements to which Gen. Houston alludes. and
had let them pass unnoticed, tor II would oe
hopeless task to endeavor to correct all ttle ms
apprehensons and misrepresentation to when
it is my lot as well as that OF all other pnblic
men. to be exposed in these days OF party STRIFE
And. indeed, i could not suppose that such as
sertions would deceive any one who mad heard
or read my yemarks in the Senate OF the United
States, on the 5th Of February last, upon the
presentation of the resolutinGs ct the Lesisla-
ture of Michigan. instructing the Senators OF that
the Introduction of slavery into the Territories
of the United States. Upon that occasion, while
declining to comply with these instructions,
took the opportunity 10 express my sentiments
in relation to the new political movement, which
sought to acquire and exercise power by secret
combinations, bound together by the sanctions
of an OATH which, it is said, made it the duty OF
its members to surrender thei ir individual con
victions to the express will of majority of their
associates l then observed: Strange doc
trines are abroad and strange organizations are
employed 10 promulgate and enforce them. Our
political history contains no such chapter IN the
progress Of our country. as that which Is now
opening. The questions OF constitqtlonality and
policy which have been 50 long the battle cry
of parties, are contemptuously rejected and in
tolerance, religious and POLITICAL finds Jealous,
and it may be they will prove successful, advo-
Gates in this middle of the nineteenth century.
boasting with much selfcomplacency of its in-
telligence, and in this free country, founded up
on immigration, and grown prosperous and pow
erful in liberation.
We want no new parties, no new platforms,
no new organizations, and the sooner these dan
gerous efforts are abandoned, the better it will
be for us, and for those who are to follow US IN
this heritage of freedom
| might well suppose, after the expression OF
these views upon the floor of the Senate, and
that any further action on my part would be up.
necessary to prove my consistency, as a disciple
Of the school of Washington and Jefferson and
Madison and Jackson, In the rejection oil a dan
gerous innovation inconsistent with all the prln
ciples those patriots taught, and which. in
effect, aims TO transfer the great political duty
of an American citizen from the light of day.
where il should be exercised in this land of free
dom, to secret conclaves, as unfriendly to calm
investigation, as to wise and patriotic decision.
But the extract from the letter Of Gen. Houston
has shown me that these reports have received
more credit than had believed, and this con-
sideration has induced me thus publicly To notice
and to contradict them. My opinions, indeed,
upon any subject but of little consequence.
except to myself: but if they worth reterrin.
to- they are worth the trouble of making the re-
ference true one.
have no sympathy with this plan of political
gaiazation-none Whatever neither with the
means it employs, nor the objects it seeks TO at
tain. lis secrecy, It's oaih-bound obligations, lis
control of the baIloi-box. its system OF proscrip
ton. striking both at oitical rights aud re!i-
gious duties, and lis nt vltable tendency TO array
portion OF the con munlty against anotr
and to carry deadly feuds into every of
the land, oi winch have Ist had proof,
written i'll characters OF blood, and are doomed
Ia have many mOie ii this movement goes on,
for this is but the first installation of death. and
how many others are 10 be paid and after what
lameniable vcissitudes, is known only linn
who ioresees events and control lLcnl--
these characteristics mark it as the mos; dau-
gerous scheme lIch has ever been introduced
into our country TO regulate its public action
It's social condiion. 1t is the Orhu9eiSm of IA
republic. scarcely better i'll principle than lis
lnouarchical rroroype-of a republic whose
ireedola ard equality justify as little as lhcy t-
,ite the Introduction of machinery whose
operation is concealed from public observation /
but whose consequences are CLEAR they are
alarming.