The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1855-07-21
\AcoGpocurs, July IL. 1858

Gentlemen: Yours OF the Bird inst,
reached me upon the Nth. and found me
pfo.ttste with fever, avail myself of the
hfst moment OF recovery 10 answer your
letter. The rumor which YOU mention AS
prevailing in different part, OF tue state,
that WAS "A member ol the order OF know
\o,hlngs Is entirely destitute at foundation,
Have never had any connection with them.
You further request my views upon.t the
merits Of this new party While have
not been anxious to ah,fude any opinions
which mieht entertain, un.ess the occasion
demanded II, | have none upon tins or any
other subject which AIN sohcltous 10 con-
c.al. have from very raIN DAY after !
first heard uf h .k.-t nee OF ,.s new
psfty, regarded II 49, au ugauzaton cons
trolsd b, Ambitious men with Vie" to
obtain office aud political power he
wing party v., ."statr, great DIVISIONS
,r..trd d. l.Ii.rrAllc ranks. aud This
presented .u op,u ~. aod the temptation to
msn, parsons VIM had contributed their
share to produce the existing state Of things
in both the old parties, 10 Try uu- ne" e1'
pertinent Their Sudden successes IN the
Northern aud Nos'ruu Sialr-. the ritravA
giant promise. held out. and ihrr Boosted
nationality, drew luto then rauks among
others man, good democrats; but IA my
Judgment, by far the larger portion afe
broken down politicians, wings, and aboti
tionists; and when | use the term aholi
,ionists, | mean To include all who call
themselves ircesoiers, anti slavery. "hm"t
proviso men. &c. rs well a. those "h"
openl, aud boldly attack the Constitution
and the Mon Their actious lead precisely
to the same results
The ssfrecv OF this party is high'v obs
lecuonab's Al history Teaches us in ian
pu.p. not To \. mistaken, that secret polt
,cal parties have been ever, where destruc
tive OF social order As well AZ public liberty
Opsnness. fairness, and caudor are pabnc
virtues which should not be lightly esteem
ed. They elevate aud dignity human na
ture. aud their exercise has contributed much
to form that exalted national character,
which happily the tui,cd States maintains
before the civilized world.
The oaths. which it il understood they
take ia even a more objectionable feature,
they are illegal if no, demorsllslng The
rrh, Of suffrage is an invaluable one, tits All
individual right To seek to control by
DEGREES OF councils, or otherwise Ia an en-
croachmen, upon personal liberty what
would b~ the condition OF member OF the
order whose council directed HIM to vote
one way, and whose Judgment and con-
sciepce told him the most vital interests OF
his country required him to vote the other
In such case his duty or his oath would
have to be violated.
They set out with opposition to the
Catholics and foreigners, AS their only open
ly avowed principles, both OF these classes
are unpopular in many OF the Sates,l yet
we Sc. some of the most reckless editors IN
the Union, foreigners themselves, The advo
Gates OF the party, and forty odd votes are
cast to admit Catholics into the Philadelphia
Convention.
am aware they have recently adopted a
new platform, upon the strength OF which
they invite public confidence, Platforms
are easily constructed sud Of late days are
becoming quite Numerous. This one isa
sort Of stump speech aud includes all sorts
of things but it is unfortunate tba, 1t comes
to light 80 soon after the overthrow Of the
party in Virginia. tina. so much OF 1t is de
voted to the recovery OF the ground lost IN
that contest, and that from their own shows
ing il has 40 iain, "a support, II in fact 1t has
any Al all from the non slavcholdiog States
!, ia a good old rule Of universal appI,cs
ton, by their fruits ye shall know them
Now, il this party out OF the many
elections which they have controlled. have
sen. single man from the no".sl"vehold'
ing States to either branch OF Congress
who is not an open aud avowed abolition
,st and who will not vote sgs'ust the Al
mission Of any new State, whose Cons'itn
ton may recognize slavery. the tact has
entirely escaped my observation"
Ihsve never regarded this party M hav
inp much national strength Recent events
have very much diminished what they had
MANY leading, talented influential Southern
whigs not only refused to joan, but made open
and effective war upon them from the start
The democrats are every where leaving
them so rapidly tina, there will soon be but
few il any left in their ranks
The wh'g party ia d,sorgan'sed II not
en,,rsly dsbandcd, nobody can mistake the
rock upon which = was wrecked lh'