Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-11-28
COMMUNICATION.
For the STANDARD.
Know Nothingism--by One who knows SO"e-
thing.

Insr;ran a,1rta (but better known by their true
and self.assumed name Of KnOao N0thtngs) sithpiy
for exercising the right of thinking and acting lo
myself and for expressing freely my opinions o.
that political organization, deem it duty owe
myself my country, and my friends, to explain tle
causes which impelled me to dissolve all iurtnea
connection with the Order. They certainly deserve
the gratitude of the American people for underta'
king the Herculean task OF managing the inui'"G
GUS concerns of the Protestants, Catholics, the De-
vii, and all other foreigners that may WISH oo
shores And especially for relieving the citizens OF
the United States of the trouble OF choosing tneir
own rulers-Executive, Legislative, and Ministerial,
nv generously rendering their services to NIL all te
offices of Government, from the PresldeDt down "
n constable cannot, therefore, withhold my mod
;cum of nrase to the projectors of so many oleSs-
ings to my country. On the ,pth day 'ot May iast
there was meeting of the Trustees OF the Baptlst
Institute at Taylorsville, Alexander county, n. ~
and being one ofthe number, attended the meetins
which was held in the law Office of A. NJ. Boyle Esq,
of Temperance memory. -,
After transacting the business when caiieo US
ogether the subject of Know Nothngism was IN
troduced by some present, and something calieo
a nlatform of principles read Having been
raised in Protestant community, freely express
ed what had been taught In my youtnIan AVE-
sion to the dogmas and heresles OF the roman "a
tholic Church. And moreover said, was opposed
to either Catholics or foreigners ruling the Aneri'
can people. c, r.
mime in whom had great confidence, and who was
sitting near me, continued to express an earnest oe-
sire to Join the Know Nothings; but said he would
not do unless would also JOIN. 1 MS expression
was repeated so often that felt much disposed 10
ioin them, purely to crafty him; though mucn
against my own judgment and incllnatlons. l Sui
continued to raise objections against the order
And finally told those present either could not or
would not take oath, as l considered all Volun,
tary oaths not made in obedience to the constituted
authorities and laws of the country to he wanton,
sinful and forbidden to all who protested the Chrs-
tan religion After conversation upon the
subject A. NJ Boyle, who seemed to be, and was in
fact the leader upon this occasion, said could al
firm instead of swear, upon which observed that
if there was any good resulting from tne OrGer l
would have no objections to joining them. Those
present seemed pleased with this declaration, after
my strongest objection had been removed. Their
Book Ritual, Rubric, or Formula, Tor whatever
name you choose to give it, it looked to me IKE
miniature primer, "a kind of thumb-paper AFFAIR."
containing the obligations the first and second de-
grees, and also gentleman who was busily engaged
in the village sent for and these degrees hur-
ried over on his account, as l judged. And then
the Ritual of the third degree sent for and those
present went through the degree their obligations,
signs, countersigns and passwords The oblga-
tons, signs, counersigns and passwords, are sub
stantiay the same that l saw the following week
in the Memphis Eagle, and subsequently in the
Richmond Enquirer and North Carolina Standard,
&C., the only variance being the absence of the
Bible and cross. Upon the conclusion of the cere-
mony, such was the qualification expressed on the
OCCASION thatit was Immediately proposed to fur
nish with the necessary books to establish man
ufactory of Know Nothings in the neighborhood of
Little River Academy, where then resided IN
community of Democrats intimatng at the same
time how much the Order might be benefited by
my active cooperation. As did not express de-
sire to accept them, the subject was dropped One
hours reflection after left Tayorsve, and partic-
ularly an expression that fell from my friend, (be-
fore spoken of) that he had been one of the Order
all the time, staggered my faith IN man, ana IN an
organization that had to be upheld by deception
Ny friend afterwards said that must have misun-
derstood him at the time; l am willing to admit
that may have done But subsequent disclo-
sures proved that had hit upon the truth and
that Know Nothing sophistry justified the means in
obtaining the end. [ am willing to believe that a
misguided zeal on the part of my friend (for whom
still entertain the warmest feelings of friendship
and esteem) in sustaining political party to which
he heretofore belonged, (the late Wing partyD and
which had lost its name amidst its own mutations,
and the political revolution of the times, prompted
him, in unguarded moment, to act part which
under other circumstances both man and
Christian, he would scorn to do. Calm reflection
upon the step had taken, the incidents CONNECTED
with it. the objects and aims of the organization result
ted in the conviction that professor Christianity,
patriot phianthropist could not remain mem
Der of the Order AS my assent obtained by
warrantable fraud fetunder obligations to observe
their obligations, inuncons of secresy any thing
which came under my observation. | spoke of the
principles and objects of the Order to my friends,
and others, frankly and openly. But of the indi-
vidual members spoke with caution and reserve;
because, for many of them entertained the highest
personal respect; and OeleVed they were acting
der deluson which time and sober reflection would
correct The first public alIuson to the Order,
which made, at the Old Baptist Meeting House,
on the Yadkn river, in Caldwell County, in a dis
course delivered there in the month of May last
] did so then, because had offered my letter of
Christian fellowship to the Baptist Church at that
place, about three years BEFORE and it was not
ceived upon the ground that 1 was a Son Of Tenn
perGnce.
What said on that occasion that had been
a member of three secret societies-the Masonic,
the Sons of Temperance, and third, which l did
not even designate by name. The first two 1 al
legged were instituted for the best and noblest pur
poses. That Faith, Hope and Charity, char
acterisc of the first sobriety and good will to man
of the second; and the third was gotten up for po-
tcal purposes-that it cut asunder the chords of !
charity, and was in the simple language of truth
q child Of the deUiL, and knew it. l spoke
more of the Order in public until the 29th of July
following, at Taylorsvle, where had been initia-
ted, and which the most appropriate place for i
me to justify the course had pursued in dissolvng
my connection with the Know Nothings. 1t was
The Saturday preceding the Congressional election
\ day OF public tax-gathering and moreover, day
specially appointed for meeting of the Know Moth
ngs of Alexander county, to ratify the Philadelphia
PLATFORM day when they proposed (but did not
do) to throw off the vail of secresy-to exhibit to
the public gaze their political descript sarreling
to parade their runt Opossuno, which had been
nosng about after some pumpkins, amid the vine
covered patches Of three thousand New England
was now (for the first time in lay
orsvile at leasD to crawl forth in all the vermin
dignity of its race from some ash-heap in Yankee
dom, IN search OF its paternity its snout protru-