The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-07-18

lowing by vote what is allowable by law.
The whole question, as general PROPOSE
ton, is determined by the permanent ad-
mission of large masses of persons in view
to the common rights of citizenship. It
is one thing to allow specific privileges to
individual foreigners residing on our soil,
for specific purposes; but it is altogether
another, to disfranchise in part, and by a
principle designed to be permanent, i'm
mense masses of men already permanently
a part of the population, and so recog-
nized. We insist, therefore, that the whole
movement must retrace its progress, or 60
forward: it is unwise in the extreme to
leave all their power for mischief in their
hands, resulting in part from their simple
existence in the country as part of it's
population, and in part from the privi-
leges which are still to be left them-and
then exasperate them to use it, by at
tempting to reduce their full political
equality with citizens of other birth and
religious opinions.
We object, in the last place, and with
deep severity of conviction, to the princi-
pies of organization adopted by the Amer
lean or Know Nothing party, and to some
of the particular features which they have
embodied in their order. If ever any
principle was at war with the very foun-
dation of the American Republic, it is
principle of secret, oath-bound organi-
zation of political parties. 1t is unneces-
sarv danrarouc bocf;lo to tbo f,pdor,o,
tai maxims of republican liberty, and, in
its existing aspect, demoralizing in high
degree. 1t strikes o blow at that great
fundamental maxim of the government
the intelligence of the people-an essen
tial element of republican liberty. What
matters it, how much intelligence the peo-
pie may have, if political men will con-
ceal from them the elements upon which
to employ that intelligence, in the founda-
ton of an opinion and the adoption of a
policy? The duties of man are correl-
ative. If it is the duty of the people to
require knowledge of any party claiming
their suffrages, before they endorse them,
it is the duty of that party to give it. No
party has the right to retire into the dark,
bind itself to secrecy under oath, unfold
what they please and conceal what they
please from the people; nor have the peo-
pie the shadow of a moral right to give
their sanction to that, of the propriety of
which they are not informed
Moreover, this principle of organiza-
tion will prove utterly subversive of the
Constitution of the United States, by
placing the legislation of Congress in the
hands of an irresponsible association of
its members; in body totally unknown to
the Constitution, distinct from Congress
itself, existing within, but independent of
all responsibility to, any public or re-
cognized law. The Congressional Cou-
neil itself at war with the Constitution,
will be under the control of the Ma
tional Council; and the result will
be, that the Congress of the United States
will become, under the full success of
Know Nothing principles, mere registry
of DEGREES to body in the heart of the
country, unknown to the Constitution
existing, no one can tell where aiming
at, no one can tell what. 1t is principle
of party organization, which, by de-
manding the unlimited submission of the
minority to the majority, annihilates the
balance-power of q Parliamentary opposi-
ton, and all the advantages that belong
to it. 1t extinguishes the personal inde-
pendence of the voter, destroys the juris-
diction of conscience over the political
conduct, and makes it condition to the
preservation of his integrity, if voter
should happen to scruple measure or a
man proposed by the Order, that he alb
solutely abandon the party altogether.
Lastly: If this principle of secrecy and
obligation under oath is legitimate for one
party, it is legitimate for all; every party
may adopt it; the "Sag Nicht" clubs Of
the foreigners of the West are wholly
justified; and the whole political destinies
of the country may be controlled by Sc
cret, oath-bound organizations hybrid
mixture of Masonry and political eau
Gus, with all good in either spoiled by the
conjunction. Can any man in this nation
contemplate such prospect-the legiti-
mate result of the principle of organiza-
ton adopted by the Know Nothing party
without emotions of alarm amounting
to terror? 1t is principle, legitimate in
a condition of society where the lives OF
men are dependent upon the fidelity Of
their political associates: it is utterly
abominable in any other. Yet the ac-
complished writer in the Critic, for May,
would place such principle, in point Of
political morality, on the same footing
with the vote by ballot!
We have only to add, that if the Ma
tionality, the Federal Union, and the Prot
estant Civilization of this country, are de-
pendent upon the conservatism of this
new political combination, it's past acts
indicate most fearfully that gloomy times
are ahead.
! WASHINGTON, July H..
| The President has issued proclama.
ton in relation to the reciprocity treaty
Establishing among others, the following
frontier ports through which bonded mer.
chandize may be exported to Canada nm.