The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-06-01
70 Gen. GFo. w. BowNAx,
Editor tiazette.
Bedford, Pa.
HCE. 4. II. STEPHENS on KNOW MOTH
IXGEAn.

Mr. Stephens, Of Georgia, declines a re-eiec-
ton TO Congress, and assigns as his reason there
for the fact that large number Of his old po-
litical friends (whigs) sermed to be entering
into new combinations with ne,c objects, purposes
and principles of which he was not informed,
ard never could be, according to the rules Of
their action and the opinions hr entertans.-
Hence be concudes that they have no further
ust for him as their representative. MIR. Steph-
ems then proceeds TO give his views at full length
TO Nothingism, condrmning and r'pu-
dating the organization and IFS principles and
objects Sooner than surrender his national
principles by joining the Kaow- Notbings, br
fssrts ffoTra position wtTic MS Splendid tatents,
as we'll as his devotion TO constitutional princi-
pies, had 50 long adorned We extract the
following from his letter:
'.In my opinion, no man is fit TO represent
free people who has any private or secret objects
or aim that be does not openly avow, or who IS
not ready and willing at all times, when required
or asked, candidy and frafhfRliy to proclaim to
the assembled multitude not only his prIncIpieS,
bot his views and sentiments upon all questions
that may cone before him in his representative
capacity 1t was on this basis that representa-
tive government was founded, and on this alone
can il be maintained in purity and safety And
if any secret party shall ever be 50 far successful
in this country as TO bring the government m
all lis DEPARTMENTS and functions under the bane-
ful inaurnce OF It's control aud power, political
ruin will inevitably eBsue. No truth in politics
can be more easily and firmly established, either
by reason or from history, upon principle or
authority, than this These are my opinious,
cauddIy expressed.
but | have been anticipating somewhat.
was Oh the preliminary queStioa-that is, the Sc
cfecy hich lies at the foundation Of the party
thal atmosphere of darkness in which 1T lives,
and moves, and has its being, and without which
probably il could not exist. do not, however,
intend to stop with that. | will 20 further, and
give nov my opinions upon those questions
which are Said to b. within the range OF It's secret
object and aims. The principles as published Tor
those principles which are attributed to the order,
though no body, as an oIganzed party, avow
lhrm) have. as | understand them, two leadtng
IDEAS, and two only. These are a prescription
hv an exclusion from Office of all Catholics as a
class, and prescription of all persons oftoreign
birth as cass-tbe latter to be accomplished
not onlv by an exclusion from office of all for
elgnerS who are now citizens by naturalization.
bull to be more eflectually carried ont by an ab-
roratIon OF the naturalization law for the future,
or such an amendment, as would be virtually
tanamount to it, These, as we are told, are
the great ostensibIe objects for all this machinery
these oaths, pledges, secret signs, equIvoca-
tions, denials, and what not. And what have
10 say of them is, that if these, in deed and in
truth be the principles thus attempted TO be
carried out then am opposed 10 both OF them,
openly anfunqu qualidedly.
s.But TO pass to the other view OF these prin-
cires- that is, the consideration ofthem as ques-
tions of public policy. With ne they both stand
in no better light in this aspect than they do IN
the other The first assumes temporal jurlsdlc-
ton in forum coaScieRtia.-to which am quite
as much opposed as | am TO the spiritual Potcers
controlling the temporal. One is as bad as the
other-both are bad. | am utterly opposed to
ningling religion with politics IN any way what
ever; and especially am opposed to-making It
test in qualifications for clvil office. Religion
is matter between a man and his Creator, with
which governments should have nothing 10 do.
In this country the constitution guarantees TO
every citizen the right to entertain whatever
creed he peases, or no creed at all, II be Is so
inclined and no other man has right 10 pry
into his conscience 10 inquire what he believes,
or what he does not believe. As citizen and
as member Of society he is to be Judged By his
acis, and not by bis creed. A Catholic, there