The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-09-27
AEJDg2L LA5a3
OF THE
Democratic State Central Committee
To the People of Pennsylvania

|
our duty, we lately addressed you on the
subject OF Know-No,hmgism. We warned
you against the insidious appeals of party,
one principle OF which establishes religious
test for office, thing expressly prohibited
by the Constitution of the United States, and
by that Of Pennsylvania. a. party which
seeks to practically disiTanehise one class OF
American cizens, because of their religious
creed; another class, because oil The place OF
their birth, and to prescribe still more nu-
merous class, because they will not deny 10
others the rights which they claim for them
selves. We reminded you that these States
had been founded by immigrants who fled
hilher for self.protechon from The same per-
scouting spirit That by mutual toleration
in matters of religion. and by an equal Parti-
cipa,on in the common concerns OF social
life and government, these rights OF each
were guaranteed, by all; that to wrest them
from any citizen, however weak or humble,
was to substitute might for right, and thus
subven the great principle of political equal
ity, on which alone rests our common secu-
rily aud general welfare.
That 10 do this in secret, and under mutu-
al pledges and oaths, and above all, 10 do 1t
under the name of Amercanism, was 10 de-
stroy all confidence in the capabily OF men
for sef-government to coEfound local preiu-
dice with the virtue of patriotism, to exalt the
profession of creed above the practice OF
genuine Christianity, 10 bring Democratic in-
stilutions into contempt, and 10 cover their
founders with reproach.
If the ranking halrsds and fierce fsuds, the
social wrongs and lawless outrages, which
have characterized this secret party, had
been in like manner occasioued by all others,
society itself coull not have existed. Brief,
therefore, as has been its career, ii has con-
vinced every rejecting man that It's tenden-
cies are counter 10 the genius OF our govern
mens and opposed TO the teaching OF their
founders. We have, therefore, seen 1t over
thrown by the Democracy in the South, aud
disorgauized and broken-or blended with
AboIi.ionism in the North. Such has been
the secession from its ranks by the deceived
ant. ening men who joined it, that noiwilh-
standing its aoaied pre:enslons and the at
tempts made TO liberalizs its principles, its
possession OF local offices and The foIlorn hope
of political places and rewards III 1856, alone,
keen it from utter annihilalion as National
party.
At the present, therefore, there is more oc'
casion 10 call your attention to anolher and
purely sectional party, which threatens TO
subvert the Federal Constitution, aud TO de-
s,roy the Union of these States. The Know
Nothing pary-miscalled Ameriean-iends to
occasion civil discord among neighSors, and
between oilizens of the same State, but this
self-styIed Republican party, tends TO add to
this the horrors Of negro insuuecion IN The
States o! the South, and civil war between
the several States of this Union
We do not say HAT this is the design OF all
or even the majority Of It's members, but we
do charge that to bs the only avowed design
of some, and those not few of its leaders d;
and we iurlher charge that such is the clear
tendency, and would be The inevitable result,
of its success. Ii is in vain for its paftizans
TO say that they intend no i'll the question is
not one of intention, it is one of practical con-
duct and the principles of American govern
ment and of Constitutional law are the sole
tests by which il must be tried. We have
al edy seen the Legislature Of one State
/ openly and desgnedly pass an ACT in defiance
| of the Constitution of the United States and
The laws made in pursuance thereof, and
when the Governor of that State-and par
! ,izan Of this very party-vetoed, and attempt
ed TO arrest the course of lhe Legislature. we
saw them defy him also, and repass This act
We have seen the same State openly remove
an upright and learned Judge because he da-
red TO keep his oath and support the Cons,i-
tuion of the United States In our own State,
we have siEce heard delibera,ive body ol
the same party, vehomenlly applaud mo-
| lion 10 mob and beat Judge and still later
in this State, and in the Convention of this
whole parry, Reverend member of il pub.
licly advocated the destruction OF a public
Prison. and The rescue of prisoner, because
they had considered and adiudged him TO be
wrongfully imprisoned. If these things are
now done and advocated, and by such men
and IN such places, both under color of law
and in avowed defiance off who will or can
ass,,. The public that they would stop there
or that otber-sssd The most faial--violallons
of the law would not b. commllied BY olhe'
men and mobs, and in other plaessf Whei
men thus disregard the Constitution and isw'
of their country, and seek 10 organize togelh'
er one section of The Union. that they may
The more successfully overawe or subdue the
other, they reduce the whole question TO one
between force and law, Union OF disnnlon
domestic tranquility or civil war.
Ii is absurd for men TO praie about liberty
while al the very same time they are encour
aging resistance TO law. There can be NJ
liberty wi,hou, law, and there isnot and can
| not be airy law higher than the Constitution