The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-03-20
From the Richmond Enquirer
THE VOICE OLE AN HONEST WIG.


We hear from every quarter that there wings hon
esy devoted their principles who rebel against the at
temps of their political managers to trade them off into
knownothng ranks They have fought the democracy In
fair and open field and in the broad light of day and
they cannot to the miserable ckery of gaining
victory by machinaton and with no principles at
stake They have hattled honestly, for the spos but
for principle and, like true and good citizens, they
will afiation with set Of secret conspiraors
who have introduced into Virginia q ism from the
hohed of aboltonism and whose success will lead to
the most demoralizing and miscellaneous results.
Many Virginia wings, however strongly under the in
huence and prejudice against the democracy have high
regard for the honor Of the State and for frank and
~ bearing be seduced into the underground councils
Of know-nohingsu. They cannot understand why any
party aspiring success should conceal their purposes,
and, mole-like burrow in the ground. They justly
pect the honesty and the wisdom of secret eonspace
and have sympathy for the bold attitude and public
avowas of faith the part of the democracy than for the
insidous and crawling manuuvrngs Of the know-noth
iugs Their noble and patriotic motives will induce many
honest wings only shrink back from the embrace Of
the order but prove their honesty by manly
support Of the democratic ticket hear they do
ing in all portions of the State.
But there is another view of the question taken by many
wings. They what they gain for the
of their od-fshoned principles by claudestine a
with the order Upon this point there is
4
old and influential organ of the wing party of Virginia
II refers the understanding between the opposition for
the purpose of defeating Mr. Wise" and adds that the
surrender Of the wings be Unconditional There can
be but contracting party the knownotbngs in
visible The Chronicle then appeals 10 the wings of Vr
gina in the following language which, based is upon
honest and sound sense must produce responsive vbra
ton OF the know-nothings 1t says:
" Their principles are kept concealed from YOU while
bastard platform is published to which you have but
little objection BY this deception two sets of prnc
Piles they expect to seduce and deceive the wings and to
the democrats in Virginia To this despcable trick
you to lend your influence We would beat the demo-
in Virginia if we could do tarly and the square
but victory under such circumstances would attend
the putting Of knownothngism into power would rebound
nothing to advantage wings We place party in
power whose principles to mind vastly more OBJ
lectonahe than those of the democracy and with whom
we can never act in concert because they conceal from us
their intentions and movements They act in secret and
exclude from all participation 10 the benefits of the vic
tory Unless place better party in power patriotism
requires should let the democrats rule vet awhile
They boldly and above-board, and understand
them and perhaps defeat them in many things But 1t is
different with know-nothingsm II concocts everything
secret and jumps ii upon before prepared
act This is reason of its success and strong objec
ton with us to the order.
If the wings then, form alliance with this party
and 1t must be confessed that such thing utterly mpos
sblethey should be cautious eeyatng il power We
should oppose alliance If il possible to effect
and TO those wings who keen to defeat the
democrats that they would Join with almost any party
effect their object we would venture word of advice
You opposed TO democratic principles and wish
your own party in power and principles put into
laws. In this feeling with you heart and soul
But must consider whether effect this object
through know-nothngism. We think cannot Neither
effect II through the democratic party How then
effect II BY preserving our organization, BY
remaining neutral and BY casting votes for the
whose internsl-improvement principles the
eeptsble. Know-nothingisfn in power may be
difficult 10 Dust than the democracy Not knowing any
thing about H. willing to place tin power
It's principles may be than those Of the democ
racy, and II may be difficult from office
Will you, then, wings place II in power in the face Of
these facts We hardly believe IL possible IL the
whg party Is dead never be revived, wings will have
to choose between democracy and know-uothingism In
making this choice should allow party preju
dices influence in the least Let make choice
pariocaly and with view purely 10 conntrys good
know-nothngsm may get the asccndency, end retain i
for awhile bat we believe the people win ultimately fall
back the love Of their fathers and their fathers insu
tons The present popularity Of that order should not a
feet choice in selecting between i and democracy,
locofocoism II you please Between the two though
are wings all over, and every inch an American and
friend Of American Institutions wc infinitely prefer The prtR
eples and organization q' de daoraey @ hose n kao~
nothiagisras'