Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-13
NUMBER 81.
From the Richmond Penny Post.
Know-N othingIsm- Wise's Letter.

Mr.. Wise must evidently have felt himself In
quite quandary when he wrote his recent famous
six-eolumn anti Know Nothing letter. He pom.
dered wen, doubt, his position, and the course
II was best for him to pursue. He unquestionably
must have dreaded the power of the Know-Noth-
ing organization, connected with his gubernato-
rial prospects, trifing and insignificant as he
would represent II to be- or else il could not have
had the effect of calling forth from him such
high wrought, laborcd production, in order, If pos
sible greatly to dsparage IL II not utterly to que
II. III II is to be regarded, in every respect SO
obnoxious to public censure and rcproach why
4 was he not willing to trust TO the good sense and
intelligence ofthe people to arrest its progress and
put II down without such flourish of trumpets
and arms on his part in opposition to Il? Ought
he not to have recolected that it was part
nay, fundamental principle of his avorite demo
cratic creed, that the people are capable of taking
care Of and protecting their own interestsg IT. the
writer repeats, the Known Nothing organization was
so utterly odous and rcprchensible as Mr. Wise
would make IL out to be 40 much so, that any
one, il would SEEM with half an eye, at single
glance might see its extreme political as well as
moral deformity, and its mischievous tendency,
why snch a long and abored efftision in order TO
denoralizc and demolish ite Why ocean into
tempest wrought to watt feather or to drown
/ fyy" No, no; Mr.. Wise evidently saw that If he
should determine to assume attitude of oppos.-
ton to this organization, he would have to encoun-
ter rather formidable enemy. He, no doubt, had
discernmcnt enough to perceive that such were the
ostensible and avowed principles OF this organiza-
tion, or as made known in its recent acts, thar
when fully explained and understood, they could
| not fail to commend themselves to the reason good
sense and approval Of an intelligent community
and hence, no doubt, he concluded if he did ven
ture to encounter it, the result would be- that If he
did not say IT, II would most assuredly slay him.
He therefore determined to call into requisition his
l. nj m md who ctr noth nf =
gantic mind, in order at once, if possible, ito crush
| it out"
With this view he extends his researches back
into remote ages brings into review various his
torical events, as bearing upon the question: espe-
cially expatiates 1uently and eloquently upon
Magma Charta rights, the freedom of human action,
will and thought; wrings the changes upon civil
rights, religious tolerance and the sacred rights Of
conscience, and the hideousness of prescription,
political or religious, in every shade, aspect and
form.
The great bugbear, II seems, in the imagination
of Mr.. Wise, or as he would have it to be as con-
nected with this organization, Is the secrecy in
which its conduct and proceedings are to some
tent, involved. BY this acting in the dark, he
says, and stunning the light, ii affords the strong.
est indication that its deeds are evil. But ought
not Mr.. Wise to have adverted to these notorious
facts, that this organization has now been In ex-
stcnce for considerable time, especially in var-
active part and been signally successful in the cleo
tion of officers to important public stations
And, what let it be asked, has been the result
to such elcctonsg Has 1t elected or avowed to
elect to Office, base and untrust-worthy men, such
as Mr.. Wise would venture dare to denounce as
such? Oh! no, ifit had done 50, Mr.. Wise would,
no doubt, have proclaimed IL upon the house-tops;
would have triumphantly referred to II as proof,
strong as holy writ that the tree must be corrupt
because the fruit was So This no doubt he
would have done. But the reverse happens to be
the fact, and it is to be presumed that Mr.. Wise
knew it, and hence his profound silence on that
point
II is credibly reported and believed to be fact,
that, in every instance in which the organization
has selected as candidates, or succeeded in cleo
tions IL has selected and elected perfectly trust
| worthy and unexceptionabc men TO Office, and
generally admitted TO be such This then is the
fruit Of the tree and be ii remembered, that the
immaculate Saviour Of the world, in his sermon on
| the mount, said
"The tree shall be known by It's fruit; and that
good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither
can corrupt tree bring forth good fruit"
| IL IL therefore hoped that Mr.. WISE upon fur
ther reflection, will consent, not only to abate
somewhat from the severity Of his animadversions
upon the Know-Nothing organization, but that he
i will have the candor and the charity to suspend
| his further denuncations Of II, until he can see
more Of its overt acts-unt he can condemn the
tree with more propriety.
And now as to the mighty matter Of proscrip-
fion---the horrible monster about which Mr.. Wise
seems 80 deeply concerned, and whose mercilefs
ravages he so feelingly deprecated Let us see TO
| what il amounts.
Ifthe Know-Nothing organization has II in view,
or has announced the intention now, shortly or at
any time hereafter TO attempt 10 procure the pas
sage of any law, the effect Of which shall be TO
prescribe, either foreigners or Roman Catholics,
as TO the exercise Of the elective franchise or any
privilege connected with it, or TO prevent or dis
qualify either class, from holding any Office or Of.
fees under the government Except such restric-
tons as TO the former are usually contained In
naturalization laws the writer is entirely unap.
| priced oft Then, IL such intention does not e1-
list, has not been ayowed, and there Is any pro-
scription In the case, II must be very anomalous
| one not legal not an affirmative positive pro-
scription; but mere negative, moral prescription;
that is TO say the Know Nothings, alias Native
Americana, claim the liberty individually, or by
acting in concert, If they choose, as body, in
| common with every other member Of the commu-
nifty, or political party or parties, Wing, Demo
cratic, orany other In the exercise of the elective
| franchise, TO bestow his or their suffrage suf-
| fragcs on whom, Just in the manner he or they
/ may see fit and would Mr. Wise wish 10 deprive
them Of this privilegeS This boasted American
| birthright?
| If So Il Is he that would be the real proscrip-
tionist his would indeed, be prescription Of the
deepest dye, OF prescription with vengeance
and do the Know-Nothings contend for anything
more than this? Not all all. Would Mr.. Wise,
the writer repeats wish native Americans to sur
render the privilege OF voting for whom they please
or have them to bestow their suffages on foreign
ers, matter Of courtesy, national hospitality;
or upon Roman Catholics, In Difference to their re-
gion, or lie principles, whether they have any
spcct for or confidence in them or not; or whether
they are disposed 80 TO vote or not BY no means,
the writer Is aware would be the prompt and ready
reply Of Mr.. Wise TO the question. But then, per
haps, he might say, why combine and confederate
| IN body, in order to bestow such suffrage? Why
not each individual vote separately and alone, to
suit his own particular views or fancy as is usual
IN most casesg And especially, why should these
associations, he might say, think Il necessary TO
throw around them veil Of secrecy or act so much
in concavc If all Is intended to be fair and rightg