Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-09-19
Speech of Ex-Governor Aaron V. Brown,

OF TENNESSEE,
against the Organization of the Knoec- Nohings at
Columbia, August H3, 1866.
GENTLEMEN AND FELLOW ITIzENs: In looking
over the late field of battle there is object that
strikes the eye more distinctly than all others 1t
peers our vision, like some huge mountain top
which we cannot lose sight of. 1t is that lawless
violence that has characterized the election in a
neighboring State and the reckless detraction that
has distinguished it in our own. Look around you
at the honored objects of Know Nothing defama-
ton who chance now to be present You, sir Cpolnt
ing to Gov. Johnson,) after life the most exenpla-
ry have been denounced from one end OF the State
to the other. Another gentleman present, (Mr.
Nicholson,) unexceptonabe and amiable, as every
one here knows him to be, has been pronounceBa
knave who wished to rob the public treasury: Yon-
der is another, (Mr. Payne) who was actually &C
cused of being a hired emissary of the Pope! am
not sure that they did not make him Bishop or
CARDINAL As to myself the public will doubtless
have noticed the fact that during the last four weeks
of that intense conflict which has Jnst ended have
been an object of unmeasured abuse by many OF the
Know Nothing journals of the State Some OF them,
/ believe have not joined in this Yitupel alton.
They have had intelligence enough to know how to
conduct discussion OF public affairs, ana honor
enough not to descend into the nauseous depths OF
vulgar abuse where they knew no true gentleman
could condescend to follow Them Some of these
attacks have never seen. Their faint and feeble
echoes have scarcely reached me; but as lar as
have seen or heard of them they have only excited
nv ineffable scorn and contempt. l have lived to
but little purpose, if it be necessary, whist
engaged in the discussion of any great subject to
pause in it to notice every puppy that snal ny OUT
and bark at my heels.
did not enter into the discussions of this
Tass without expecting there would be many DOCK
heads who could not understand my arguments, and
MANY knaves who would misrepresent them; but at
the same time expected that there would be found
a sound and healthy body ofmy fellow-citzens, both
in and out of this ORDER who aooutG appreciate
any far and courteous address which mlght de-
IL, Loot
proud to know that have not been at all dlsap-
pointed Hundreds of the order have declared
that they listened to me with satisfaction because
they stated, did not deal IN harsh expressions
abusive language in relation to them
AS these attacks have been continued upon me
after the election, have alternative left but to
continue my defence against them. They 90 not
annoy me- as nv assailants vainly expect them to
do but they furnish with opportunities, which L
desire to have, to exhibit to my countrymen some
new and horrid features of Know Nothingisln more
revolving than any which they have ever yet con-
tempated-so revolving that, when seen they must
and will oyerwhem the present organization OF this
party with universal eXecration.
These attacks me, and on all others who nave
attempted to expose the deformities of Know No
thingism whether in out of the State, the dl-
rect consequences of the wicked and unlawful form
and mode of their organization. Mutually bound
to stand by each other, | shall presently show
they are sworn to do. they feel secure and exempt
from punishment, either at the hand of the indIvd-
,1al aggrieved or even at the hand Of the public
laws of the land | speak not of the good men who
may have joined the order, and who have not yet |
withdrawn from it to such men the law OF truth |
of Justice and honor, will always be 1.-THE higher
law governing and controlling their actions; but |
speak of the protigate and unpr:ncipled ones, who
cad on in these attacks, either to bets which
thew or their friends may have made on the election,
Dr. to crafty boundess lust for the offices OF the |
country with their high salaries What is there to
.estran such men as these but the fear of punish |
nen private and public? And yet these restraints,
which all other men feel and which exert the most |
,alutary influences on any society, removed and |
nnfelt under this Know Nothing organization. What,
nowadays, do such fear or care for what they
nay say, or do, or publish, against any man, even
he purest and best, when they know that, by drop
ping few bits of red paper, and giving shrll cry
IF peculiar intonaten, they can call around them
host of their comrades, all armed for the occasion,
o stand by them, and bear them successfully and
safely through the danger? They hnoV that " hen
alled they must come that they are bound by
heir oaths to come uDless it be physically inpossi-
DE and to come prepared tor the emergency What
hauce has any one man, or indeed almost any num-
Ter of men, unless acting under similar organiza-
ion assert his opinions to maintain his rights
IS a citizen in the midst of secretly armed body
# men, bound to collect at moments warning,
nd to stand by each other, by the most solemn OBJ
igations2
That such is the dangerous character of this
Know Nothing organization, no one not of the or
Ter can possibly knoac but in the Louisville Dem
crat of July 21st, and in the Southern Banner OF
georgia, OF August "a, 1900, anu lnOeed, III the
'ue Book that have seen, the oaths, and signs,
nd the cry of the order have been published, with
ut ever having been authoritativeiy otherwise
ontradcted, SO far as has come to my knowledge.
therefore, refer to these publications 1or the fol-
owing oath:
&c You do solemnly swear, in the presence of AL
Mighty God and these Witnesses (after several 9TH
r things) that you will respond to the claim of
ign the cry of the order, unless it be physically
npossible"
Such is the oath. What now is the sign9 The
anne authority informs u.s.
That if the color of the paper be red, it will de-
ote actual trouble; which requires that you come
repaired to meet it. "
How prepared to meet it? How does any body
repare to meet DANGER? With arms, of course.
Such is the sign now what is the cry of the Or
err the cry of distress. used in different SEN
,nces, and which | understand as meaning the same |
hing? The authorities say:
1.-The cry of distress, to be used only in time of
anger, where the American interest requires
Immediate asssmblage of the brethren, is OH Oh!
hi The response is Hio Hio! H-i-or"
Now if these be the oath, the sign and cry of the
der, and said in my Gallatin speech about the
ord social pray God they may not be-then
hat complete and perfect system of armed Or
anization do behold, in time of profound
eace and in the midst of the most civilized nation
the world! Who has seen, or heard of any
ling to compare with it? l know not whether
ch organization has yet been carried out in ac-
al practice or not that is not the question. The t
undation has been laid for it and, from the law
ssness of the times, may well apprehend that
may be, at distant day. When it is, we shall
surrounded by it every day and everywhere-in