Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-03-02

Tie ,.i.tct and irrecoucilable antagonism between
the Federal and State Constitutions and the IohS''
tuition and ritual OF knowSothingisu, Ia papao'e u
the plsinest understanding. The objects ana uee'a
rations of this Order conflict not only with the ap
stract principles but with the actual provisions OF tile
government. Know Nothiugism dOss prescribe re-
ligious test as qualification to Office. Know.So'
thingism does molest and burthen men. and does d.
minsh their civil capacities on account Of their rcll-
gion.
Is not Know Nothingsm conspiracy against tbs
government and tne Liberties OF the people! Docs It
not propose to violate and perver the essential spirit
Of institutions, and does il not aim to destroy free
dom Of conscence--thc dearest ofrights TO gener-
GUS and enlightened poople' And this end it seeks t"
compass by dividing tho community int" two distinct
classes, OF enfranchised and privileged citizens, and
of persons disfranchised and degraded below even
the social statn, OF free negroes.
An open and avowed attempt to change the lnstlti'
tons ofa government by the agency OF public discus
sion and popular agitation is 2srfeet. lsgit:maehow
ever reprshensible on the acore of policy And the
ostensihle aim oi Know Nothngism was to effcct an
alteration of the Constitution, to prescribe Ca
thocs and foreigners from Office, it might provoke
conspiracy, and of treason against the country But
the know-Sothings protest against any change III the
Constitution. They discaim any deaign OF sn0vert'
ing modifying the Fundamental lazy Of tho land
They affect great respect for the sanctity of the Con-
stituton, and affirm that they can carry out their
schemes without touching its provisions This then
is the state Of the casc:-Ihey 0re organizing
movement, which ahsll eiectualy arnai and abro-
gate the Constitution without repeating itsproyisons
They 60 not publicly propose reform OF tue Con-
stitution, but they secretly copspire to set it at
nsugh Observation-Disclosures, IS Notification. is the
nullEcatian OF the wislst aud dearest guarantees Of
the Constitution, that Bigotry and Intolerance may
despoil American Liberty Of its fairest flower. An
open and violent resistance to law ID rebellion which
implies some faith in cause and some courage in
IS service A claudestine attempt to subvert he
Constitution, concocted and s-y-ssd In secrecy by
nes Tho g1a,d themselves againat tee penalties Of
exposure with all the care Of cowardy conscious
ness or guilt, is conspiracy-consDnGc. sgs"ii me
goeecumct and hs ..se,,te, ot ne peot!e-a conspi-
,acy in comparison with which the undisclosed
scheme of Aaron Rurr was laudable enterprise Of
smbton--a conspiracy towhich we can only hnd
parallel in character and etroity IN the combination
of Northern ,anacs to sqpersede the Constitution by
the supremacy OF higher lar. -Nothlngsm
is colossal conspiracy which envelopes the whole
country in it's COIL and threatens TO smother the in
fant giant Of American liberty in its embrace
But the nvincibe spirit Of the people will rise in re-
VOLT and repsl the assault Of this mott nsiaona and
most fatal loo Of republican iastitutiops.
The design Of the qualification Of the Know-No-
thing Obligation which the Wig reios to retuto
our argument, is sufficiently obvious to intelligent
minds. 1t s intended as snare to the unwary, and
salyo Ia the conscionce tat is not yet hRrdeued by
the yoke OF Know Nothngism. Persons without in
telect enough to comprehend the scope and general
effect OF Know. nottingham, will DO attracted by this
particular clause, and the guilty will take refuge un
| der its shadow