Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1855-03-07
For seTae Star Of the K,nawha yaliey?'
II ID. Fois1 ulilc tllaCoBgressloEal District

announced 10 you by q few partial friends,
!, asa suitable person TO represent you in the
ssrt Congress Of the United States.
4 Attlfis pecuIiarjuncturc ofafiairs, when
Il seems that tie public mind IS alive {,
some great commotion inthe political world.
when .democrots are waycfing. and wings
With aew honorable exceptions are con.
signing tllernsclves over, body and soul,
10 the dictation ola secret society. whose
designs aud principles they arc endearor-
ing to keep hidden, il Is expected that
every one whose name is brought forward
asa candidate for Office. should cxplisitly
define his position. |I
y As for myself never entertained any:
political or religious opinions which was
not ready at all times andall proPerplaces,
10 ayow and defend if necessary with my
life. And as / never entertained any Ill
will against others for differing with me in
opinion, hope and believe no one enter
tains any such feeling toward me. .
First then. and foremost ] will define
my. position as regards this sec:ct political
society, called "Enow.Nolhings, ifthis
name IS taken. from right motires;aad With
an eye 10 the true condition Of poor fallen
man, ] will 20 with them, for dob oftoM
said 1--WE know nothing and flee away as a
shadow and the same good book tells Us
e'that the beginning of wisdom is 70
know ourselves to be fools" J, But if il is
assumed for the purpose Of deceiying the
ignorant an uuinformed by designing kna-
YES, who have not the abby and manli-
ness to come out and avow theirprinciples,
openly and above board then say, "oh,
mr. soul 20 not in their Ways That spch
is the origin and design ofthe order,
have no doubt, (thati is Judging from the
written and ayowed disclosures Of Its adj
vocates. -. i. 4 I
In ihe first place they exact oftheirmem--
bcrs an oath which is in conflict with the
laws and constitution under which we@liye.
lfiti is asked how / know this my replyfiss.
that / have read it in tlieir accredited or.
Rans, both in the eGtorial and eorrespon-
demo. accusing persons ofporjury who did
not vote as they say their pledges. before
their election required hem to vote. And
the New York Herdl d'' apaperaTowed-
" their leading organ in the United States,
in commenting upon he.eleetion of VIM,
H. Seward by the ''know-Nothings," To-
the United States Senate, says. Their
= oaths Of submission arestwo rigid-their
dicipline too de&petic long. to hold indie
pendent free born men together. n" f.,
Secondly, 1t is arraying the religious
opinions Of one set of American citizens
against another, and it is degrading the
pure and holy teachings.of the gospelb
holding gu. to ambitious and unprincipled
men Inducements 10 useit formere world
y aud selfish, purposes, and it is melan-
eholly sight@.o see and here men (and
many, too WHO have spent their tllreescore
years and ten, in the open. violation Of the
teachings Of every religious denomination,
and Of the precepts the bible itself, rush
forward in pursuit Of what they esteem
worldly honors, Is champions ofpfotestant
i'm and proclaim themselves. ready todq
battle unto death for its defence.
Thirdly, L isprosenptiye, The editor.
efthe American Crusader. . their leallhg
organ. has publicly declared Tint he will
not employ any one in his Office without
they are initiated membersof the order
,rFourthly, 1t is contrary to the teach
ings Of the fathers ofthe country-of the
hosts of illustrious names l might point
you too, to substantiatc this charge, /
will bring forward but one, and he will be-
sufficient for my purpose, in Washingten'sl
farewell address, apaper which should be
read and engraved upon the heart ofevery.I
American citizen. in, speaking Of such
societies he says. "fhe~ constitution
which al any time exists until changed byII
on explicit and authentic act OF the whole
people is sacredly obligatory upon, all"
Now this party is in conflict with this
teaching, because their avowed object is
30 disfranchise portion Of the people Of
the United States who have equal prive-
lagos under tie constitution, with them
selves. =
Again, he says. in speaking Of these
societies. "They serve to organize fac tion;
to give il an artificial and extraordinary
forcc:.to set in the place of the delegated
will ofthe nation the will of a party;often
. small but artful enterprising minority of
the community" And he also shows us !
the end Of such combinations, -.
However combinations or associations
81 the above description may now and then
answer popular ends, they ale likely in the
course Of time and things 10 become po-
tent engines, in the hands of cunning,
ambitious, and designing men who will !
be enabled to subvert the power Of the !
people and to usurp for themselves the
reins ofthe government, destroying after |
ward the very engines which have lifted !
them 70 unjust dominion" -. !
And lastly they are in direct conflict
with the American platform which is dear
TO the heart Of every American citizen,
aud upon which this secret order are en-
dcayoring 10 ride into power, ..S
lst. Americans should rule Ameri. .
sa.n = ~. |
They give the lie 70 this doctrine by
prescribing not only all American born cl-
tizens as well as naturilizcd, who are Ro-
man Catholics, but MI Protestant citizens
also who have the timerity to say they are
wrong in doing SO. T.. -
end. Equal and exact justice to all
men, without distinction Of politics or re-
ligion." - 'Lln - .... ~.
The answer to The Grst gives the lie to
this. n H. v
srd. "Afflee common school SYSTEM