Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1855-01-24

the right OF redemPuon, OF ing huAVtiy
Of the legislature"
Webster and .Another Citizepp are
brought to nm issue. But TIE ioiioWi y,
auatItion will "unraysi the yarn. ne
says that "Themas Jetiei son has said
that AN men have certain inalienapie rign's
and among them are life, liberty and the
pursuit Of happiness, these two defln''
lions, and more particularly the last one,
are always quoted BY the opponents OF the
party, called Know. Nothing. as an un:
aanswerablc argument against them. u
taken in literal sense, will admit
their force, and they are likewise an UNI
answerable argument against all govern.
ments under the sun. And would, it car
ried out literally. let man loose on the
earth perfectly irresponsible being, know;
inysno laws but his british propensities,
and governed by nothing but his lusts. "
10 my mind, it is new idea, that the
pursuit OF happiness is destructive to oil
tho social and moral principles Of our ma.
turc. ! I had INDUCED the opinion that
tho Neglect Of this pursuit would result in
reducing man to a level with tho beast
that perish; and that the pursuit Of hap
piness, through improper channels, htly
rem eseuts such rs are ever seeking and
neve able to come to knowledge Of the
|truth--true happiness. But | nm slow to
believe that the Divine Being implanted a
universal desire in every breast to obtain
INV riyep nrincipie. and at the same time
made it death to seek after the desired
boo A.. And, yet. itmust be SO, ccordins
to the views entertained by Another Citi'
.on. OTHERWISE "Know-N Nottingham must
be 4 gseat humbus. III,
TNS shelter sou:sI III: under the'defni
| Of dlc term <brpught forward must be Civ.
ta ap," by "Auother Citizen"--thcy vii
no. serve lis purpose. But the mair
.poia., which has been dragged in, and
the one on which is hes; calculated To mis-
lead, is, that tho native Americans have
superior claims to A. right y hold the
Ercigns Of this government. aThis is no
the issue, however, and its introduction
! il better calculated to excite our sympa
thies than to enlighten our Judgments. :
! The true issue j., whether any one sc
Of American citizens have the exclusive
right to eater into secret political organi
cations, for the purpose oil, proscribin!
other Aurcican citizens, in their natural
civil, political. or religious rights. AM
under the conviction Of no such right
asked, in what does thcir secrecy consist
And this is what we demand; and claim
that We have a right to press the question
In answer to which, it is. affirmed tina
the If principles are made public, tllroug
4 every possible medium that is 70 say
such parts as are thought to be popular
! For it is pleaded BY the best writers VIII
advocate the interests Of the 'organizatior
that It is necessary to be united ina secrT
ass ciatjon in order to the more cfIeetu;
composition with the JeSuits. And, whe
pre- sed at this point, is argued that the
haye-e+her objects in view, that they al
! Am erican citizens - that they are q
! fric nds of the government. AS much {
) 70 say, that those who are not connectc
with lie secret organization, or fayorab
10 il are not pa,rio ic eitzeuS.rB'knowi
pthh.evtr principles Of d civil or polite,
shaE ,,utcr, that tend to the general advance
meit Of the public good. that all arc .cqua
'I4y Interested in, should be. made public I
fall concerned. For it is certain that Il,
health and perp"tuity Of this governmet
must be suspended upon the blessings {
heaven. a wise and prul ntsystcm ofleg
islafon, and the general intelligence an
virtue of the people. But it IS very re
mar kablc, that American citizens. VIII
have always boosted of their chivalry, an
WHO, as a nation, have ever been success
full in the field Of battle in the defen {
theit civil and political liberties, and VIII
Ehayf always acknowledged the Divia
hand in the victories which have crowne
the Quilted States of America the mistres
Of nations. should. SO suddenly, lose o.
their valorous spirit, and retire into
secrq place to take council together agains
afew oppressed and dewn-trodden Euro
-peans, who have weepinSly sought home
and protection under the lr flag, accordin,
to the. constitutional laws of the land.
III | - ~ COLON.
I Pax of ba I q ,,k. N.N