The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-01-25
CALMLY REASONED.
HorSINToN, MASS, Dec. u, 1854.
To the Editor of the National Era.


To the Editor Of the National Era:
know not how could well do without the
Era And though | may occasionally detect
in it opinions different from my own, its high.
toned moral independence and enlarged views
of human freedom prompt me, from year to
year. cheerfully to aid in its circulation for, if
a man will only be gentlemanly and honorable
in his dissent, will not ask him to agree with
me against his own sober convictions. And
regret that any Of your subscribers should with
draw their names on account of your position
on Know Nothingism; for it seems to me
that the manliness of the position is enough to
retain confidence in the integrity of its pur-
pose.
But my feelings are decidedly with you on
this subject of Know Nothingism. | would
not, however, presume to tender you my SYM
pathies, did not suppose that it is agreeable to
you to know that there are those ready to sus-
tain, while others oppose you.
There is, in my own mind one view of this
matter of secret political organization, that I
do not remember to have seen presented. 1t
is that of antagonisnl-or, at least, an ignoring
of the fundamental principle of cO-partnership
that is involved in our form of Government
What commercial house would for an instant
recognise the right of some of its partners to
adopt any important measures affecting its vital
interests-such, for instance, as appointing
agents to carry on its bus;ness-without con-
suting the rest? And who would voluntarily
continue member of 4 corporation, ma or-
ity even of which should assume the right to
60 into a secret arrangement, and avowedly to
manage its affairs in manner that could not
be known to the remainder? However prop
erly the abstract principle of secrecy may be
defended, such an application of it, to my own
mind, is simply absurd. Now, take it that
the citizens Of this Republic form one great
co partnership; and that their citizenship, ac-
cording to the genius of our Constitution, in
wolves, or rests upon, certain natural and ina
lienable rights, by virtue of which all have q
common and equal interest III the Government.
Therefore, no individual or class of persons has
any right to give direction to its admnistra-
ton, without consulting another, and, it may
be, large portion of the communicated
less in manner necessarily to exclude their
cooperation and participation in their own
business. At any rate, no one shall, in any
such way, take my business out of my hands,
without my remOnstrance. | cannot believe
that any such principles or measures can gain
permanency in this country. Were it possible,
the principles of the Protestant Reformation
wonld need be re-enacted, and its measures re-
adopted Professionalism would need to be
PrOtestantized.
And the objects that render such principles
and measures necessary, from that very fact,
become suspicious. Everything that renders
such an application of the principle of secresy
necessary is presumptively wrong "Men love
darkness rather than light, because their deeds
are evil" How else is it possible to account for
measures so widely adopted to prescribe or
virtually to deprive all fOreign-bOrn persons in
Of o ;ohf Of
j had supposed that the very object Of our
Government was to make men Americans :
that is, Christian Republicans, both by birth
and adoption. Who but foreigners, indeed,
laid the foundation of our free institutions Ii
the signs of the times do not greatly deceive
us, we are in danger Of an Irish and foreign
phoba rs detrimental to human rights and re.
pugnant to Christian philanthropy as the color
phebia that has so long cursed our country.
Indeed, have these two distempers formed an
alliance? Or has the Slaveocracy taken adj
vantage Of the popular prejudice against for
eigners, to strengthen its waning power, and,
if possible, to forestal the rising feeling in our
land in favor of universal liberty? What else
means the spread of Know Nothingism, like
wildfre, at the South, and the selfgratulations
of Hunkerism all over the country, that through
this secret organization Abolitionism is itself
abolished?
But / will not yet believe that any set Of
| men, whom this great excitement may estab
lish in power, will ever attempt to legalize any
| principles so repugnant to the genius of our
| Government and of Christian morals
= But, notwithstanding all this, it is a f:,
| question which has been raised, and put to YOU
| by some of your correspondents how far is Il
consistent with Republican freedom to allow
the denizens of Rome to exercise political pow
err in our Government l have been looking
for something more satisfactory from YOU on
that question. / was much interested in Won,
reply to Mr.. Hull in your paper of the Dist, bu,
1t did not quite come to the point, as l thought
l agree with You in all you have said, based
upon the principle of religious sectarianism.
| 1t cannot rightly influence our State and Ma
tlonal councils. But the question recurs, " /.
the Catholic church merely sect among the
sects? And, as such, is it simply to be ignor
| ed in politics, like the Methodist, the Episcopa
liam, the Presbyterian church Or is it, rather
a vast political corporation, seeking political
ascendency among the natiOns?" i certainly sc
understand its genius and its history. un
derstand that it is religious and ecclesiastical
only in subserviency to its political ends. Il
admits of no compromise. Like Slavery, Il
must destroy or be destroyed itself. 1t is true
that Catholics and Protestants fought shout
der to shoulder for independence" They had
a common interest in opposing the Crown o.
Great Britain. So history is full of hard fought
battles by the Catholics themselves against tbs
Pope; and no doubt most Catholic inhabitant:
of this country are ready, professedly, to dis
sent from the civil or political supremacy Of
the Pope.
Indeed, some of the highest lay and ecclesi
astical authorities of the Papal church can BIZ
easily produced against the right of the Pope
to interfere with the politics of any country
But, neither the Pope himself, nor any genera
council of the church, ever repudiated its civi
or political any more than ecclesiastical author
i ity 1t assumes both. At least such Is m,
understanding of the matter. If am wrong
please to correct me.
The church of Rome does, as a matter O
fact for it is her genius, and the history of hel
!! prosperity plainly attests the fact, usurp tn,
[ civil power wherever she can.
She has set up and deposed kings at her op
ton, wherever she has possessed the power
! and, by no decree, no intimation, has she eve