The Placer herald., 1855-09-29

oath bound organization of political parties
1t is unnecessary. dangerous, hostile to the
! fundamental maxim OF republican liberty, and
in its existing aspect, demoraizng in a high
degree. 1t strikes blow at that great fun
damental maxim of the xvernment-the
intelligence of the people-an essential ee
ment of republican liberty. What matters
it how much intelligence the people may
have, if political men will conceal from them
the elements upon which to employ that in
teligence, in the foundation of an opinion
and the adoption of policy! The duties OF
a man are correlative. If it is the dntv OF
the people to require knowledge of any party
claiming their sutfrages, before they endorse
them it is the duty of that party to give it.
No party has the right to retire into the dark
bind itself to secrecy under oath, unfold what
they please and conceal what they please
from the people; nor have the people the
shadow of moral right to give their sanction
to that, of the propriety of which they are
not informed.
Moreover, this principle of organization
will prove utterly sulversive of the Constitu-
ton of the United States, hv placing the
legislation of Congress in the hands of an
irresponsible association of its members; in a
BODY totally unknown to the Constitution,
distinct from Congress itself, existing within
but independent Of and independent Of all
responsibility to, any public or recognized
law The Congressional Council itself at
war with the Constitution, will be under the
control of the National Council; and the re-
suit will he: that the Congress of the United
States will become, under the full success of
of the knowNothing principles, a mere re-
g'stry of DEGREES to Il body in the heart of
the country. unknown to the Constitution
existing no one can tell whcre-aiming at
no one can tell what. 1t is a principle of a
party organization, which, by demanding the
unlimited Submission of the minority to the
majority. annihIates the balance power of
Parliamentary opposition. and all the advan-
tages that belong to it. 1t extinguishes the
personal independence of the voter. destroys
the jurisdiction of conscience over the politl-
cal conduct, and makes it "A condition to the
preservation of his integrity, if a voter should
happen to scruple measure or a man pro-
posed hy the Order. tha, hc absolutely aban-
don tie party altogether
Lastly: if this principl of secrecy and OBJ
legation under oath is legitimate for one
party, it is Legitimate for ALL every party NAV
adopt it; Sag Aicht" clubs of the foreigners
of the West are wholly justified; and the
whole political desinies of the country may
be controlled 10y secret, oath-bound organza-
tion--a hybrid mixture of masonry and poll
teal caucus, with all good in either spoiled
by the conjunction. Can any man in the
nation contemplate such prospcct-the
Legitimate result of the principle of organza-
ton adopted by the Know Nothing party
without emotions of alarm amounting to ter
ror' 1t is a principle legitimate in a condi
ton of society where the lives of men ara
dependent upon the fidelity of their political
associates; it is utterly abominable i'll any
other. Yet, the accomplished writer in the
critic for May, would place such a principle,
in point OF political morality on the same
footing with the vote by ballot.
We have only to add, that if the Nation
alitv. the Federal Union, and the Protestant
Civilization of the country, are dependent
upon the conservatism Of this new political
combination, its past acts indicate most fear
fully that gloomy times are ahead.