Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-08-15

deny. Now, in the name of all that is sincere
what more does any man know of the Order n
this moment than he did before the veil of secre
sy was removed? Like all show.men, they pull
down the canvass, after the monkeys have been
seen. 1t is-the first article of faith in our re-
publican creed that all political power is derived
from the people. A majority Of the people of Q
State are the Stale, for they control its political
action. If the designs Of the Know Nothings
are virtuous and politically orthodox, what oc
cason is there for or propriety n secresy in those
States where the party is in. the ascendant
Why should State keep secret from itself
IF the party is in a minority, and endeavors, by
secret combinations, to defeat' the will of the
majority, their efforts must work corruption o
public morals and are logically anli-republicar
and factious Publicity is essential.to the puri
ty Of q representative government, and arcana
imperii are attributes of despotism.
have so far treated this subject rs national
organization, and repeat that il is such, or it is
helpless to accomplish what il. has undertaken
have no faith in the success of their plans, moi
do believe that the Order will continue to exist
after the next Presidential election. The repeat
ed thrusts which their organs make at the pre-
sent Administration, (the very best for the South
thus far since that of Washington,) and the
Democratic party, '(the most Constitutional par
ty-we have ever had,) satisfy me that its cohe.
sive attraction is office, and that they are moi
insensible to its cmolumenls and spoils. Again
the fact that not single Democrat in position
North or South, unless he is an 2Abolitionist, is
connected with the Order, speaks volumes ir
support Of this opinion.
Was here to conclude, you would be war
ranted in supposing that | regard the Know
Nothing movement as hum6ug, which can dc
US neither good or harm.-Except in its caami
tous consequence of producing division among
the people of the South, do SO regard it. But
in that aspect it is formidable in the extreme
We of the South have no politics but the negro
and upon this question the language of the go
rious old Troup should be the language of the
South The argument is exhausted, we viii
stand to our arms" There canin future exist
but two great parties in the Union-the Pro.sa.
very and the Anti-slavery parties. All others
will be ephemeral. If We are united, we are
safe; if we split up into subdivision, on any
question, we are undone: -.
Party divisions have heretofore been our curse
and now. for the first time in half century
when there was bright prospect Of unanimity
when the pleadings were made up and issue
Joined between the North and the South on the
only question which can dissolve the Government
the great question whether the :slave. States
are, as equals, to remain in the Union, or, as
equals, to destroy it; this hybrid of Whiggery
and Abolition interposes 10 cast;us, and squcaks
out, in plaintve notes, that s9he Union is the
paramount political good" This sentiment will
surprise no man, when he is informed that Mr.
Bartlett, of Kentucky, the President Of the
Southern branch Of the Order, avowed his hos.
tity to the Nebraska bill, (Which simply res.
tored to The South her lost rightsin the common
territory,) as also did Dir. Pitcher of the same
State, Mr. Brown of Tennessee, Dir. Houghton
and Mr. Kenneth Rayier Of North ona-the
latter of whom denounced the bill as san out.
rage upon the North" Will you trust your des.
linies in the hands Of these men, who are the
heads and leading spirits of the Order, even in
the slayeholding South? The very circumstance
of the Order having takenroot for time at the
South will do US injury at the North. Our friends
who, like Toucey and the younger Dodge, have
fallen before it, for no other catfsetan that they
were true to the Constitution, and therefore true
to the South, will be mortifedhnd discouraged
when they find Southern men. afhliatlng with
their enemies. But worse than this every
Know Nothing victory at the, South will be
claimed at the North as an Abolition victory
The Abolition teachers tell Tie Speople Of the
North that there is q strong nilttslayerY feeling
at The South with tho pUoTrrspR p6pufatIon
and say it is because they are jealous of the com
petition of the negro. They then reason in This
way: You knOD ,ohat Kad,o Nothingism i:
here: KnO,o Nothingism is the. same ereryUhere.'
And thus men are converted into active parti
zans against an institution which, if they beiev.
ed WAS universally approved and universally sus.
tanned by those who had better opportunities Of
witnessing its practical operation than them.
selves, would at least be quiet -"
The only argument of the. Know Notlings
South which addresses itself with much force to
the Southern mind is, that the immigrant popu.
lation come to our country prejudiced against
the institution Of slavery; that they hasten the
settlement and admission Of new States, and
thus increase the political power of the Frcesoi!
and Abolition party in the National Legislature;
1t is but just and fair TO admit that the preju.
dices of the European immigrant are generally
averse to slavery but there is a reply TO this
specious argument which counterbalanees its
force, md invites rs grave consideration as any
aspect in which ha e been ablc 10 present the
question.
think have shown that tho Know Nothing
organization, even if it could effect MI extension
of the probationary period now required before
naturalization, would not prevent immigration
The tide would continue to flow into the free
States, where The Abolition party is, now pre-.
dominant. In whatever State ninety-two thou
sand Of these immigrants may locate, to that
State will be secured an additional Representa-.
tive in Congress- Observe the third clause OF
the second section, first article Of the Consttu.
ton, which is as follows: Representatives and
daDbt taxes shall be apporliOned nmong the
several States which may be included within
this Union according to their respective numbers
which shall be determined by adding to,
whole number of free persons, including those
bound TO service for term of years, and cxclu.
ding Indians not taxed, three-fifths OF all other
persons" The immigrant being ineligible to
office, could give US neither benefit or It'd, let
his sympathy be ever 10 strongly with usor in
behalf of our Institutions Having no voics in
the elections, they would. be represented by Il
native Aboiilionist; and thus The result will be
to augment the power Of q party which is deadly
hostile to:us, and to make thai. power more
availably dangerous BY concentrating, it.into the
hands Of few Of their ables, and therefore
most formidable men. Z :. - 49, 3.
Ehave addressed you earnestly, and hope
convincingIy: I:regrstithnt some of my friends
have departed from tho true State Rights Demo,
cratic faith, but will be mortified if they con;
tinue in error. L. know they are sincere, but
believe they are dellded / believe that many
of the Order are patriotic, but know that the
Order itsslfis dangerous and Sso know TINT
it's characteristics have heretofore been intoer-