The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-06-29
MISCELLANY.
From the Augusta Constitutionalist.1
Letter from the Hon. A. b. Lonpst,est -,
Know Nofhina;a,.

O
Know Nothingism.
We find in the last number of the Nas,,
vile Union and American, letter on tb;
absorbing question, from this distinpuiLe,
native Georgian, now President of the In;
verslty OF Mississippi. The name of Auons
tus Is. Lohgstreet is endeared to the neonl,
OF Georgia by many ties in the history n
the past lti name which we wero to,,,,l
to revere in carly youth as synonvmous Will
all that was bold and fearless in the cbarao
ter OF the advocate, with all that WAC M
rental and dignificd in the sage ipstrnctrnr r~
and with all that was pure and bonos. ~ !,
"tpr's't III the minister of the gospel. The
old men Of Georgia have been accustomed
to love him as a brother; the young men
scattered throughout the State, who. from
his lips, have heard the lessons of wisdom
continue to receive him as father. There is
no man in Georgia who will dare to stand
up and say that A. B. Lonrstrcet speaks
from impure motives. The indignant of an
honest people would paralyse the sacrilco;.
Gus effort. Judge Longstrect has been
forced from his retirement to come ont and
speak upon this question; but having come
out he has met the issue with that bo]dncss
and honesty which characterizes the man
lie speaks to the people in the voice Of
warning wisdom, and tells them to beware
OF all organization which must lead to re-
llglous intolerance and persecution.
Inc circumstances which led to the nnb-
licaton of this letter arose from an attack
made upon the Jud ge by the Memphis Ea-
gle and Enquirer, charging him with preach
ing antl-know Nothing doctrines.
After alluding to the editors of that M.
per, who have assailed him as the head of
the mississippi University, he proceeds to
condemn the order in the terms to be found
IN the extracts below. Let every Gcorgian
read them carefully and ponder over them
well, whether he be Know Nothing or anti
Know Nothing.
"ln July last had just heard of new
organization in the country-secret in, its
movements, and going under the name of
sSIOw Nothing leo Prtnv1Prcs- unuyrs
stood to be opposition to Catholics and
Foreigners, to be, planned in the dark,
strengthened by oaths and manifested at the
ballot box. 1t filled me with alarms.
81 saw in it the elements of rapid expansion
and awful explosion. I exhibited them to
the class that graduated in that month, and
them to have nothing to do with
it. Had I been inspired, could hardly
have foreshadowed its history more accu-
ratcly than did. Of my prediction moth
ing remains to be fulfilled, but the outpour-
ing of more blood. My forecast in relation
to it, ought to ensure respect for my judg-
mcnt in and about Oxford at least but it is
that very forecast which is raising buzz of
discomfort against me in this vicinity now.
"This is the sin which brought out against
ME the recondite presses which have named
above. 1t is called ""dabbling in politics."
but its true name is "Unpalatable Truth"
This is the sin for which am soon, per-
chance, to be sacrificed. They that stoned
the Prophets of old are yet alive, and why
should expect better fate than theirs
Well, do not know that better use could be
made of my old carcass, than the offering
of it upon the altar of this American BaaI.
An incense might arise from il that would
do more to purify the Church and the
State from this modern abomination, than
anything which can emanate from my poor
frost-covered brain. The public has now the
sum total of my political sins, public and
private. Ishah speak at large of the new
order in an appealto my Church at some
futur tiay;ifI maybe allowed to do so.
am committed against it, and shall oppose
it forever--hot in the class room, but every
where else-uot as a puritan, but as Chris
tain. This the patrons of the University
should know. l could not be induced to as
sure position of neutrality in regard to it.
If all experience oe not a falsehood, and all
history a fable, it will throw this country
into ceaseless convulsions, if it be not crush
ed; and that speedily.
sIn nay view, every man who has scru-
ple's influence, should rise against it-now
Immediately, = ere it be forever too late.
Indeed It allows no neutrality. With all its
professed Americauism, it assumes an abso-
lutte dictatorship. twill allow no man to
question its purity or its policy. It gathers
within its pale, men of dignity, talent and
niety. preachers and teachers, and with them
the most depfayeds abandoned, desperate,
God-defying sinnernpon earth; binds them
by oaths in the bonds Of fellowship and sets
them ALTO work in politics; and nothing
but politics. I find q christian brother a.
moup them-I read TO him II Cor. vi. IA
and on, and I Iimplore him to come outfrom
sueh connections; /; and he, addresses me II
tones of despotic authority in this wise
uSir, my name Is Politcs--you are q Cler
pytnan, and ClergYmen should have: nothing
e e do, with Politics r. "Right,n cries my
.sbpothsr; sold pan youth ruin Yourself ]
youmeddle With polisiesr = ! ;ssy TO hin