The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-07-13

may have if political men will conceal from
them the elements upon which to employ
that intelligence, in the foundation of ar
opinion and the adoption Of policy. The
duties OF man are correlative. If it is the
duty of the people to require knowledge O
any party claiming their suffrages, before
they endorse them, it is the duty of tha,
party to give it. No party has the right tc
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
proprety of which they are not informed.
Moreover, this principle of organization
will prove utterly subversive Of tile Consti
tuition Of the United States, by placing the
legislation of Congress in the hands of an
irresponsible association of its members
in body totally unknown to the Constitu-
ton, distinct from Congress- ITSELF existing
within but independent of, and indepcnd-
ent OF all responsibility to, any public or
recognized law. The Congressional Coun-
cll, itself at war with the Constitution, will
be under the control of the National Coun-
Gil; and the result will be, that the Con-
gress of the United States will become, un-
dei the full success Of Know Nothing prin-
cpIes, mere registry Of DEGREES to a body
IN the heart of tho country, unknown to
the Consttution-existing, no one can tell
where-aming at, no one can tell what.
1t is principle Of party organization,
which, by demanding the unlimited submis-
SION OF the minority to the majority, ami
hllatcs the balance-powcr of Parliament
ary opposition, and all the advantages that
belong to it. 1t cxtingushcs the personal
independence of the voter, destroys the ju-
risdiction Of conscience over the political
conduct, and makes it condition to the
preservation of his integrity, if voter
should happen to scruple measure or a
man proposed by the Order, that he abso-
lutely abandon the party altogether.
Lastly: if this principle Of sccresy and
obligation under oath is legitimate for one
party, it is legitimate for all every party
may adopt it; the Sag Mitch" clubs Of the
foreigners of the West are wholly justified :;
and the whole political deatini';s of the
country may be controlled by secret, oath
bound organizations-a hybrid mixture of
Masonry and a political caucus, with all
good in either spoiled by the conjunction.
Can any man in this nation contemplate
such prospect-;he legitimate result Of the
principle of organization adopted by the
Know Nothing party-without emotions
OF alarm amounting to terror? 1t is a
principle, legitimate in condition of soci-
ETY. where the lives of men are dependent
upon the fidelity of their political associ-
ates; it is utterly abominable in any other
Yet the accomplished writer in the Critic,
for may, would such a principle, in point of
political morality, on the same footing with
the vote by ballot!
We have only to add, that il the Nation
ality, the Federal Union and the Protest
ant Civilization Of this country, are depend
ent upon the conservatism of this new po-
litical combination, its past acts Indicate
most fearfully that gloomy times are