Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-01-23
BEWARE OF THE THING.

BEN AXE OF IHE IHlNG.
Tho effect of kuow-N Nothingsm in impartlhe
strength and stimulus to the anti-slavery m"re'e'"
of the North, is as clearly and incontrover'o''
monstrated any other fact of political ni'' ,,a
the resolutions Of their Conventions as wen ~ ';
avowal and conduct Of the men wh"n' '"! ,,
elevated to office the know-Noth'ns pa,'' .;u
convicted, in every impartial min"' VI
| ty to tho institutions of the Sou'" >-,:,
In what feeling and purpose did hno"'>o','''s'''"
,;.;,o,o, C.rt,;nv from no honest aPPrenenS'"'
- d., .n.o.sion, or saSacious foresight OF inc
| v IL ne excessive immigration. Great mea-
| f,I .-,ot movements Of political reform anu
r,,,.s,.raton, arc generally the conception OF
,,os,er minds. The age of inspiration is gone, ana
,b,t ,ep.cious and comprehensive observation OF
human affairs which is the poor substitute for "sht
from Heaven" i, the gift only ofdivine genius intense
stndy and large experience. But know-Nothnglsn
is not great idea. 1t is poor patry, puny counter
felt of an idea which any weak and depraved intel
ect might originate 1t is the offspring Of ignorance
and of vulgar prejudice, broodng in secret over ina
ynary wrongs and chimerica schemes of social re-
generation. jealousy cf foreign !dbor was the orr
gnal impulse and is now the sustaining principle OF
Know Nothingism. The cry of Amer'ca for me
4meyscaa., which is shouted in such frenzy i'll the
streets of Boston and New York, is nothing more
than demand of moH9poly and of exemption from
the wholesome competition which preserves Inc oqo-
librium of trade The popular prejudice that
drove the ignorant operatives OF Lyons anu Lam
cashre 10 oppose the introduction OF iaoor-sav-
| ing machinery now camors for the exclusion OF
the moor emiprant who comes hithcr for work
and bread. Yield to the pressure submit to the
demand and what next clamor against the
competition of slave labor, and demand for
the rrcscp exclusion of the slave from all handcrait
employments, with the certain result OF an ultimate
agitation for the abolition of slavery. hnow-No'
,hins.,n hesnn with cry for the abolition OF pauper
labor and it will end in Cry for tho abolition OF slave
labor Is not the logical sequence of the idea, the
succcssiye stems in the development of the plot
perfectly obvious to every intelligent mind7 Look
ne to its origin and considering the nature and ten.
dency of the principle which sustains it, does any
man doubt that Know Nothngism will initiate an'!
organize an anti-slavery movement in the bosom "'
the South itselfl Barred and bolted against public
scrutiny, protected against the hazard of detection
and exposure by the most awful naths and impressive
sanctions Of secresy, Know Nothingism will prepare
the mine and lay the train in the silence of midnight
and the first intelligence of the plot will be heard in
| the crash of the explosion.
! To people Of the South we say, b'~"r' Il the
! thinct Heed not its siren song OF patriotism
and p;y. American nationality is not plant
that flowers only in darkness. The cold breath
of night will blight it, but the genial warmth of day
will expand and rp-n it TO the production Of its rich.
est fruit. The Republican liberty Of America is not
! "A 4 an1 dark ulappS.
1t is triumphant and invincible, ard asks only free
dom Of speech TO rally the nations to It's Standard
Shall the light that kindled by the eloquen"e of
Henry be extingui-hed in the darkness o aoir N".
Nt.nyt>u2 The Protestant faith fighting with wca-
pous of reason, has triumphed over prncpaties and
powers and has planted here in America an impregna
BILE fortress not of defence only but "f aggressive
fare against and superstition. Shall Protestant
ism, now in the day and the theatre OF its grand.
est triumph, revive the cruel spirit and barbarous
practices of its ancient enemy and strive corsllu.
mate its ultimate glory BY which i; ,corncd in
the unequal struggle Of its infant existence Is this
the day. this the country for prosecuting Protest
sniism Maybe, il it's aninating spirit revenge
instead of charity, the recoectous of the pas: might
supply Professionalism with sufficient motive for cruel
retaliation but sssuredy he is no true disciple of tho
Faith no sincere champion of the Cause, who would
seek to avenge its wrongs BY the weapons of civil
power.
Know-No Nothingism, thcn, does not propate but
disgusts and rcpels popular sympathy by its base aud
hypocritica appeals to the pous preudiccs Of reli
gion and country. Its subtitle hostility to the stitu-
tions OF the South is relieved by no coupcnsaing ad-
vantage to the cause which tpretends 20 serve but
the essential ignominy of its nature is intensified by
the guilt of inposture. Again we say to the people
of the South, BEWARE or THE THING.