Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-06-28
GOV. JONES, LETTER.

EbteI Oh huOA-iIOeuiitSlStn. we pIC
sumo no DEMOCRAT Will subscribe to The
whole of it, and we are confident NJ
member of the secret order will. Or
one point, at least, Gov. j. speaks
without equiyocation. Wheth O
not our naturalization laws are defect
i've, and whether or not the country
has any just cause to apprchend dan
gar to our institutions from the inHu,
Of foreigners, he does not believe tha
know-nothingism, a thing 'crOng in IL
SELF, is a proper remedy. He is not /;
member of the association, and give:
no evidence tia he considers it, a
the North, any better than downright
aboIitionism. We publish the lattel
portion of his letter, being about two
thirds of it, and as we think the best
part. We Nkon the reading of this
letter, viii cause many of the obliga.
ted to wish they were out Of the thing
The letter is dated, Memphis, May
26th, and concludes as follows:
Edo not see the necessity for or pro-
priety of any secret political organi-
cation in q country ike ours. In some
of the despotisms of the Old World,
where the heaviest restrictions on
thought, word and action are imposed,
secret political associations, seeking to
emancipate themselves from oppress-
ions, / can understand and approve.
But in this country, where every eiti-
Zen is permitted to think, speak, vote,
and act for himself, l do not perceive
any such necessity, and cannot ap-
prove either its wisdom OF policy.
1t is, or processes to be, an associa-
ton for the promotion of the public
interest, the advancement of public
measures for the general good
Where or whence, then, the necessity
for concaalment, if your aims, your
purposes, and ends be good, (and | am
not questioning eitherO Why with
hold them from the public eye?-
whence the necessity for signs, SYM
bols, or secrecy in matters in which all
are interested, and by which all are to
be affected? Occupying the position
| do, as public servant, what right,
therefore, have I, as such, to withhold
from you or any other citizen of the
State, any knowledge of an agency I
may have had in regard to any polit-
ical n1ltter in which you and all have
a common interest?
This, then, as | understand my po-
sition and responsibilities to public,
constitutes one difficulty in the way of
my becoming a member of this new
party.
; Again, as i understand it, (and if.
speak from the best light l can get) /
in becoming a member I agree to be
governed and controlled by the major
ity. Now | am free to admit that in
matters Of partnership and govern
ment majorities must and ought to
rule. But under our form of govern
ment there are such things as inalien-
able rights, such as right to think,
speak and vote as you please. [
bewiIing to surrender those
rights, even to a majority. am vii
ing that the majority shall rule, and
am ready to submit to the action of
he majority; but then | am not viii
ing to bind myself to aid in the ac-
Of the will of major
ty when my reason, my Judgment,
nd conscience all disapprove OF con-
Tenn it. I
@-'tis base abandonment of reason
To resign our right of thought" s
Majorities may be right, majoitiesI )
'ught to be right and generally are a
light, but they may be wrong and T
ometimes are wrong, and shall reason, +
and conscience be made sub il
ervient to them? Fwould at all times i;
ndearor to conform my opinions and S
ctions to that of majority of my p
riends, but if a. any time should S
all to be able to do this, | must ever fl
eserve to myself the proud privilege n
f thinking and acting for myself '
Another and more serious difficulty Ip
es in my pathway to fellowship, and! G