Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-06-09
MYSTERIES OF THE DARK LANTERN.
Questions and Answers about KnOw-Nothing-
ism--its doctrines, objects and tendencies.

scheme failed for the reason that these mechanics
seek our shores mainly for employment that they
may their bread, and the exclusion referred to
! did not lessen their numbers
| Q-What then?
| 4-Why corrupt party leaders, mainly from the
| ranks of the old Wing party, in the prejudice
against foreigners and Roman Catholics chance of
renstatng themselves in popular favor and of gain
! ing power; and so they obtained possession of the
organization changed of its features added
others, and, by means of paid agents. organized
lodges and rapidly spread the Order throughout the
free States
Q-How did the Order reach us of the South?
1T imported here for selfish and political
objects, just abolitionsm imported thr-
ty years ago into Boston and New York from Exeter
Hall, Lond m and it has been spread in this State
mainly by the same means employed North
Q-What has been its effect in the free States?
A-In conjunction with the abolitionists, and with
freesoers cast out of the Democratic party, and
with the remains of the old Wing party, it has
red every no-slaveholding State in which elections
have ntly taken place. Processing to be true to
the federal Constitution and friendly to the rights of
the South, it has, in every instance, elevated free
sellers and abolitionsts to office Processing to be
no-party organization, it has fercey assaulted the
administration of President Pierce; and protesting
State rights and strict construction of the Const
tution it has uniformly opposed the Nebraska Kansas
act which opens those territories the shareholders
of the South and guarantees the right os the people
there to have slavery or not as they may choose;
and in Massachusetts, it has nulifed the fugitive
slave law upon the ground that it is unconstitutional
and that it is the duty of that and other free States
as States, to deliver up the escaped slaves of the
South. 1t has sent to the House of Representatives
holt nd he Gan
ate eight of the same stamp. In no
case has it elected a Democrat recognized by his
party such, to office in has it chosen to
Congress from the free States, office in those
States, any sound upon the question of slavery
in favor of the fugitive slave law 1t struck down
Shields, in Illinois, because, though he here in
infancy, he happened to be born in Ireland and is
Democrat; and this, though he had long served his
State in the Senate of the Union and notwithstand
ing in the war with Mexico he distinguished himself
the bravest of the brave leading the regiment of
saveholding State in the " forefront of the hottest
battle, and falling shot through the lungs at Cerro
Gordo. 1t defeated the Democrats of New Hamp-
shire and Connecticut, and put in abolitionists in
their places; and it did this upon the strength of the
anti-slavery feeling, the Democrats of those States
being then, they now in favor of the fugitive
slave law, and the admission of Kansas into the
Union without reference to the question of slavery
1t elected ninety -ninehundreths of the late Legs-
lature of Massachusetts,; and that body elected to
the Senate of the United States Henry Wilson,
vulgar, denomneeri g, and radical abolitionst, who
proclams uncompromisng hostility to the fugitive
slave law, to slavery in the District of Columbia and
in the territories, and to the admission of any
slavehoding States. 1t voted, by large majority,
to request the Governor to remove Judge Lorng
frOrn on tbrb enc
sioner of the United States, he acould not perjure
himself by refusing to deliver up Anthony Burns,
fugitive slave, to his master it enacted what it call
ed personal liberty BILL" making the fugitive
slave Jaw, passed in pursuance of plain provision
of the Constitution, null and void within the State
of Massachusetts,; it appointed committee to visit
the nunnerfes and the committee, under legislative
sanction obtruded themselves into private Catholic
school kept by females at Roxbury insuted the fe
males, smelt about in the bed rooms and sinks for
Papal horrors-one of the committee having with
him lewd woman, who entertained at the
Hotel at the States expense and the members of
the committee generally though when in their seats
in the Legislature pous to all appearances any
Praise Barebones, and Jealous advocates of the
Maine law enjoying themselves with the estlquors,
and having good time of it in their work of in.
tolerance and bigotry. They afterwards expelled
the member-One HlSs-Who had the woman with
him at Roxbury, upon the principle that his sin
found out but not very deeply deprecated for even
Hiss had threatened that he would expose his
rades for that, in truth, the kettle as black as
the pot. So they hustled him out. This Legsla
ture was led, in it's assaults upon foreigners, upon
Catholics and upon the constitution of the country
by sixty Protestant ministers of the Gospel, who in
their blind fanaticsm, have forgotten the mild pre-
cepts of the Son of God who died for their redemp
tion and who instead of teaching Catholics, if they
in this country need such teaching the virtues of
Christian forbearance and charity, are themselves
following the example set in Europe in the dark
ages of grinding down and torturing those who en-
deavor to worship God in their own way.
Q-Who arc the leaders in this Know Nothing
movement in North Carolina?
A-This will be stated more fully hereafter; but
one of these leaders is the Hon. Kenneth Rayner,
who, twenty years ago, in the Convention to amend
the Constitution of North Carolina, delivered
answerable argument against the position he now
occupies with reference to Catholics and who voted
to give the Catholics the right to hold office
that Professionals enjoy.
Q-But does not Mr.. Rayner and his associates de-
clare that they are for religious federation and that
in voting to exclude Catholics and foreigners from
Office they no more prescribe them than you do in