Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-21
GENERAL RUsK ON THE KNOW
NOTHINGS
From The Henderson (Texasl Democrat.


NAcoGDocHEs, Saturday, June 80, 1855.
My DEAR Sir: Your favor OF the Goth instant
has been received. At the time it reached here
was away from home, or il would have been am
swered earlier.
The attempts which you mention as having been
made to produce the impression that favored the
hnow-nothing movement, are entirely erroneous
and without foundation. | have regarded their
efforts, from the beginning, as intended TO secure
office and political power, without any other means
to be used than so far as they were likely to Sc
cure the object
The ostensble hostility to Catholics and For
eigners, well as the loud professions in favor of
the Union, doubtless proceed upon the same prin-
cpe that actuated General Scott when he was
SO charmed with the s'rich Irish brogue" and the
musical German accent" This is sufficiently
proven by the forty odd votes to admit the Cath
olics in the Know-nothing Convention recently
held in Philadel phia.
That few patriotic Democrats have joined
them have no doubt, but large majority are
disappointed aspirants for office, Wings and Abo-
litionists.
There secrecy is highly Objectionable. No
party can be safely trusted with power who do
not openly and distinctly avow their principles.
The oaths which it is understood they take
illegal, tyranncal, and at open war with the fun
damental principles of our Government They
are a direct encroachment upon the personal lib
erty and individual responsibility which is the
very ground work of our free institutions II is
the highest privilege as we'll as the sacred duty of
every American citizen to vote for measures and
men under the guidance of his own best judg-
ment, How can he surrender that right to mid
night council, and bind himself by oath to carry
out what they may dictate, and fulfill his obliga-
tons to himself, his country, and his God, as a
freeman! The thing is absurd! He must, in the
very nature OF things frequently go against either
his judgment or his oath and that, too, in cases
where the most vital interest Of his country may
be involved.
], however, regard the Know nothing party as
already broken down. They have been signally
overthrown in Virginia, where they boosted of
great strength Many of the leading patriotic
Wings, especially in the Southern States have
not only refused To join, but have made war upon
them. At the North, as all the elections show,
they are Abolitionsts. At the South they pro-
tess to be pro-slavery men. How can such
party succeed The Wings are dsorganized if
not dsbanded; no one can mistake the rock on
which they split.
The field is therefore open to the Democracy,
and our course and policy, in my judgment, is
clear and unmistakable. If we desire to succeed
as party, and to secure the best interests Of the
country, we must drive out Of our ranks that fac
ton Of Frcesoers and Abotionists, who, deter
mined to rule or ruin, have distracted, eopardized
the Union, and brought defeat upon our party.
We cannot get along with them. Mr.. Polk kept
number OF them i'll office; they showed their
gratitude by keeping up confusion in the ranks,
and then caused the defeat of General Cass. Gen
eral Pierce, doubt with good intentions, placed
many of them in office. The result has been dis
astrous; they have brought confusion and dstrust
INTO the ranks Of the party, and serious injury to
the Administration.
They may threaten, if driven out to defeat the
Democratic party. ! do not believe that they
have the power, but if they have, would prefer
defeat to my share Of the victory, with snch men.
IT we were tree from this incubus, many talented,
influential, and patriotic Wings would join us,
and true men everywhere would rally to our
standard.
think it is great mistake to suppose that the
Freesolers can control the Northern and Western
States; my judgment is, that if the Democracy
will sustain, they ought to do, such men as are
not tnctured with this heresy at the North and
West, the true Democrats will soon put down the
Aboltionists in most Of the non-slaveholding
States
have no desire to conceal my opnous You
can speak of them you think proper, but my
letter has been written in hurry and without
leisure for revision, and not with a view TO publ
cation. | regard the battle with the Know. moth
ings as over and the victory won, and to come out
now and publish letter might look like wished
10 appropriate TO myself the credit Justly due to
others.
Truly your friend,
THOS. J. RUSK
NJ. N. EcToR, ESQ.