Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-07-20
son or HENRY CLAY on THE STUMP
AGAINST KNUW-NOTlllNGlSM.

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son OF HENRY CLAY on TIE STUMP.
AGAINST KNOW-NOTlllNGlSM.
The Kentucky Statesman, the 10Th inst, refer
ring TO the speech of Mr.. James b. Clay against
Know y NotInGisn, says:
Yesterday was n great day in this city. 1t being
court day, 4 great many people from the country
were in The city. 1t had previously been announced
,b,t Mr. James 3. Beck, one ol tho most dstIIl-
,u;shcd and able lawyers in city, md Mr.. James
T. Clay. son o. the Sage of Ashland, and owner ni
tha oli family seat would address the people on the
,,nI;.irai to,cs of the day. There great
iety to hear both gentlemen, ana al lhe appointed
bour the court hous. was filled to ovcrtlowin..
Mr. Beck smoke first. He has always been whig,
tbourh man of indcpcnd ent thought and action.
He spoke for two hours, and made one o the most able
and efficient arguments against hnow-NotniilSisil
tbot we have listened to during the present contest
Ills snoech throughout, Tas powerful argumenta-
two convincing conclusive, und told with tremer-
dous effect upon his audience. >,
The next gentleman who took the stand was Mr.
James B. Clay, who, as we have already rcnhrHS'';
is the son of the greut statesman ana has Succecue
"a the patcrna estate OF Ashiald.
NJ fNoy said that this was his first effort mt pub
lie spccch and nothing less than the profound inter,
90, which he felt in the great questions at ISSUE cnuIu
induce him to appear oil tiiIs occasion. Never be-
nra md sn,h extraai binary, such alarming, such
novel questions been presented for the political con-
sideration OF tho American people. Ills apprcHeh-
sions were aroused in view OF them, ana ne SOME
fines trembed for the tate oi MS country ne i''
,Lat this Government was to be taken into the keeping
~ :, snrrrt uo.cul oalh-bOund organization, which
set I'M unconstitutional test Oaths aud the nehipeIS
of which were bound to each other by the mosi TERRI
ble obligations was to him most alarming, ana shoud'
in his Judgment arouse the apprehehsios {" e'e'! P"
triutc man in the whole country. ,
Mr. Clay denied that the platform put tor'n by me
late X now Nothing convention at Phadelhla, was
the real platform ofthe purty-pnrfy did eau .neln
said he; no. they arc not parry III any -
omen. public and above board but this Is secret
oath abound political organization, which Is seeking
after the political power ol the country py T"ys ""
means unknown to the law, and in pnpaole dsreg"ru
of the ong-cstubshed usaScs oi the peop,e "iu 'ne
history of the government. III souSht poi'toai Pu"
er NOT by open and fair means. but by secret Plo'-
tnrs, by cabastic passwords by signs and glps ul
known TO tue people ut large, and in paipaoe ''oa'
ton of the government. .,.,,o-a;,or,
organization is TO be found in their oaths and ritual
There were TO be found the things wnich iiey were
sworn tn do and 10 carry OUT; ana lo'A!"S ii'o M.
oatls and the ritual, he found that their "tGc's were
to strike at the citizen nj foreign o'r', ~ '.G NM
Grants from other countries to disfranchse Degrade
and disgrace them, by deprirlig them NOT "S VI .e
right to Americanizc themselves, Dut oy cutt!ng
them off from the rights OF hospitality anu nuity
They also sought to disrancilse anu oeeraue alo"e'
class of our citizens whether native.borh or forei?h
on account of their religious opinions, III paln 1lo'
lation of the constitution OF the country ana TeSG
less Of the plainest dictates Of justice and human
ity. ,,,,;. o,,. o~to,.
ded remarks of his on these subjects, lie hau enc
cen 70 cone the EXPRESSED and authentic opinions o
.ba old fathers Of the repubc and he rend extensive
Is ' from the writings ofWashins'on and Jefferson Of
Madison, oc Jackson of Quincy and Others.
lie concluded his happy. effort 5y saytnS th"t
though the old whg party with %cn y i he M anners
@ and sreat Ta % party s o and in that capacity o;
cd srains, this new secret organization, as transh
with danger to his country aud its liberties and he
called upon all the old liners OF the wing party
ioiu him il the protest.