The true Democrat., 1855-07-03
Light Out of Darkness,


 Memphis i. Little Rock R. R. O.
 
 Light Out of Darkness
 The mystery which has heretofore enshroud- ed the objects and action of the know nothings has at length been dispelled, and their plat- jorms are published to the country. Their au- thorized organs favor the world with this ln- formation by producingi in their columns the pro- ceedings of the majority and minority of their Philadelphia convention. Henceforth no one (though a know nothing) will be excusable in protesting ignorance of the designs and prin- ciples of "Sam' and his disciples; nor can any one of those disciples consistently or creditably conceal his membership. By the ukase of the National Council'' secrecy is ignored,-t principles are to be "openly avowed, d,"-mem- bcrship may be admitted and places of meet ing are no longer to be concealed. This sweep ing change has been Jorced on the dark lantern party by the denunciations of the democracy, ap- pealing to that manly American sentiment which scorns subterfuge and conct alment. Change af- ter change will be effected by like causes until, by continual subtraction, know nottingham will swallow itself and disappear among the wrecks of similar humbugs.
 The majority of their National" counci,- representing some sixteen States and casting eighty votes, adopted platform for tue south the minority,-reprcsentin twelve Sates and casting tfty-seven votes,-adopted a platform tor the mo,th Whether the majority or minori- ty differed Honestly or by preconcertea a'range- naent admits of argument and is problem to be solved by the action of the know nothings themselves. If their division was pretended in order to avail themselves of sectional issues and thereby seize on federal power and patron age, their delegates were band of consprators and traitors, deserving only the hangman's rope. And if northern and southern know nothings, while ostensibly differing, shall hereafter in effect act together every patriot in the land will execrate their aim and their work as dangerous to the Union and as infamous.
 But, if the alleged division of the order is a reality, 1t must be admitted that nnow koth. ingiSm is not national but sectional and that, for that reason, its continued existence endangers the peace of the country. There are already sufficient grounds of irritation between the north and the south; one by one the ties that connected the two sections have been severed mutual bitterness and hostility begin to prevail the dark cloud of dissolution overhangs the Un- ion How is this cloud to be dissipated, ,-how can this estrangemcnt be removed? By the creation or support of parties purely sectional? Certainly not Yet this is the panacea which these latter day saints of the know nothing school offer the friends of the republic! What patriot can deny the folly-the wckedness of their course?
 We have said that there was northern and southern know nothing platform, and so say the organs of tie order throughout the Union. To the material parts of both, as published in our paper of today, We call special attention.
 The northern platform denounces the Kan sas- \ ebraska bill and demands the restoration of the Missouri restriction. The southern plat form pledges the order to "maintain and abide by existing laws" but expressly preternaits any expression of opinion upon the power of Con- gross to establish or prohibit slavery in any ter- rtory." This is the exact language of the platform for tie soutA. How many southern men endorse it? What true and reliable south- erner will "erpressly pretermdt' saying that the Willnot proviso is unconstitutional Yet this is the tenor of the platform which southern know nothings are called on to approve -- It Is but more guarded admission of that which Kenneth Raynor conceded in his speech, to wit: that the Missouri prohibition was just that it ought not to have been repealed-and that the Nebraska bill was fraud This issue cannot be evaded, and 1t remains for the peo. pie of the south to say whether they will sus- tain a party which virtually condemns laws passed for their benefit and virtually endorses a law passed for their injury
 Is it matter of wonder that, when the dele gates from the south thus voluntarily and igno- bly, yielded so much, the delegates from the north should have insolenty demanded further concessions, and, not obtaining them, have se- cedcd from the convention? To the trucking Of delegates from her own soil the south owes an indignity never inflicted on her before-a position that amounts to confession of weak ness, to an acknowled edgment of wrong, and to an invitation to fanatics to become yet more insulting and arrogant. This is the work of know nottingham, these are the first fruits of the mis- called American" party!
 or We neglected last week to notice the editorial change in the Gazette. Dr. Borand has mounted the tripod of that paper, and in a