The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-04-27
PATRIOTIC MHIG


In letter declaring his inability to address the Demo-
cratic Association of Richmond during the present
vass Thomas Niche esq Of Stanton Of the fore
most men in Virginia, the following powerful lam
guage:
+" Nothing, you, would give pleasure
than address the intelligent people of Richmond the
interesting questions of the present tell them how
bghtng the free spirit OF country the secret mystery
of knownothngism must prove how demoralzing it will
be children the higherto high openhearted
bold youths Of Virginia to be educated in the sneang arts
Of secrecy and esponage be taught by their fathers
spy all the political actions Of their lowmen and yet
keep their actions and obec reference
which necessarily all, profound secret to
publish platforms of pretended principles suited every at-
tude and every TASTE for the purpose Of gaining proee
while they feel the degrading consciousness that they
hbted by horrible oaths from revealing their real OBJ
cct. principles outside of their ORDER and while dis
world forced conclude either that their platforms
filled with false professions intended to msead that
those who publish them are perjured.
Has any party right TO political secrets? In private
associations may conceal matters which them
selves alone But politics. relating necessarily to the affairs
conduct of in which every citizen has
equal stake, how party be tolerated in Withholding,
from any portion of citizens, information subject
which vitality every of them? In small part
neshp il portion of the partners to conceal from the
rest designs reference to the social funds their
cates SO excluded would be justified in forming conclu-
Of dishonesty and court justice would interfere In
the ordinary intercourse of life honest of ordinary
humanity secret which his neighbours
interests bound by high moral obligation to disclose
it to him whom interests Yet here is political party in
termeddng the dark with the affairs of government which
involve your and m liberty and property and those Of
children and of millions of Others and yet they cooy
fuse let know what their objects until shall be
informed by such results they may hereafter produce BY
their own showing they enemies popular government
for the whole community participates
But they show their enmity in various other forms
They practically deny the capacity of the people to govern
and therefore establish arsocratic councils, with great
consolidating and controlling head located most tly
where the Five Points, in the city of New York
with Them instead of being vested in the people and
emanang from Them is vested in these arstocrac councils
The theory of requires appeal from as
tocracy to people, Know nothngm that the
ory by providing in all appeal from the people to
the aristocracy.
the people had capacity for self this self
styled American Query aboriginal y party deny their
honesty therefore, they trusted except under
oath And again while the spirit of institutions re-
CURES every citizen exercise his best judgment in vo-
ting for all officers Of government this wonderful invention
of Yankeedom requires him TO bind himself by solemn oath
not his judgment at all. but to give his
the majority of caucus itself subservcn to the
mandate OF superior caucus may order These start
ling novelties American Yet know nothingsm
bold in this respect Alone in all others skukng denying its
name DENYING association refusing to make known its
Objects hiding in dark with bats and owls denounces
all as anti American who will not adopt its dogmss!
should like discuss and dsec the monster not only under
preceding head but Others and especially its cde-
ralsm should like show the people of Richmond, and
whole South, the cunning device Of the know nothing
nominee for governor, nsled into him. doubt by the
under whom he learned his Americanism by
which he asks the people OF Virginia to deprive themselves OF
all ground hereafter the northern plan of in
tervenon domestic affairs by intervening in
SADIE against and foreigners because she suf
fcng any from them herself but in order to
rid her sister States of the nuisance.
ssBu console myself under my inability to obey your
call BY the reflection that il went it would only contribute
feeble light candle that glorious which has
and which continues shine among you and engbt
en- Won till the day of election Wise and Douglas and host
Of Others have told you than tell But as have
been whig only TO old whig friends that i
have looked carefully the cloak Of know nothngm,
lifted with daring hand the veil that covered the face OF
the Prophet SAM and satisfied myself well that il not whg
gerry as had always understood IT, and knew 1t
dcrsood and proesed by thousands of honest and patriotic
men, horreadu, iormi, ,aysns, eui lumen
d~rptun,. Yes; blind bat, and dark as Erebus
Let IT, they love their lives and high repu
History informs 81 secret political parties,
but not OF one that remember which has been damned
by impartial poserty This party has much besides its
crecy give it earlier and deeper condemnation than
that which fallen lot Of its predecessors II the
democratic party should follow its lead what hell upon
earth their underground fight would make; yet would
plead example,, and the responsibility would be Sans
"with high regard, THOMAS ]. NICHE"
II is refreshing in these days of political delinquency TO
ace such Thomas j. Niche thus boldly and fear
lessy avowing his hostility to the secret order of kownc
,ngs and when Il is remembered that for several years