Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-09-28
rur nFCE,SED WIGS AND THE SOUTH
' spy kSOW-NOTUISGS


rur DFCE,SED wIllGS AND THE SOUTH
'''' ERN KNOW-NOTIIINGS.
W. 49,, moi sure that the late reported demise Of
., ,yb, marty was 10: frint mud political rusc;
,-,.,br they lid not intend by n mere change Of
| ,amc IA thing 10 which they accustomed, and
| never avrrse,) to absorb the Know. Nothing party
Certain it ia, that very few intelligent and influential
mcn o the party entered the lodges, took the oah,
or adopted but Of the distinctive features o( the
Know NoihinSs. They nre willing to become nein-
bers OF the party, provided it will dispense with
its whole organization, and only retain much
Of its platform distinguished the old Native Ame-
rican Wing party. Wing in America, is an unlucky
term, and conscious they would snel swec, with
any other name the old Wings will agree to be call.
cd Know Nothinss on condition that this latter party
will surrender all their distinctive principles anu
practices, upon entering into the partnership. 1t was
excellent plot, probably allowable ole III o'ti
cal tactics but il is only good fortune that wins repu'
tation and hence this deep laid scheme will but blns
rdicue on It's authors. Since the Virginia election
the old Wing party hae discovered unmisaknb!"
signs of independent vitality. Nay it undertakes /"
rate and advise the Know Nothinrs, to whom 1t pro-
icsscd buiatcly entirely TO have succumbed. In.
Know -No;.nsr must abandon the prescription "i'a
holics," "ihcy must give up their unSentich"'l"!
| practices Of secret uatEs and midnight meetings
! The old line Wings are too stiff starch and said' cF'r
to give the fra;rrua hug to ambiguous characters
who hnppcn 20 belong To the same political purity
know -Nothingism proposes socal lcvclling OF IN"
good and the bnd the learned and the ignorant sucl
us was never proposed in the South before The old le
I,., in world In berOluc me
subjects Of this leveiiins downwards
No party can succeed permanently IN ms or "''!
other country, that attempts, as the ha'l' ol ls
strength TO sink the social distinctions between VII
tue and vice. between intelligence ana ignorance II
js az first; an excellent means %! bearing up recruits
In the fcrvor of excitement, just before ana on eiec
t;ou d,v il works beautifully But the sun has har'!
10 sc, unou the polls, ere the chilly frost Of rcpulsve
d;,;,v n,,,s with cold saua;ou the drunken "r the
criminal friend of yesterday. Ii ia well that 1t Ir 81"
1, deers from vice and ieness and inc'"S to vir'"-
ous industry. There other distinctions IN s"cicy,
not founded on such just grounds, which we !cplo'e
as much as any The hn"w-NothinS or
canixa,ion never was intendad TO bring about suc!!
results. At first it profe.scd o1clusiveness. Nome
were to bc admitted into the lodges, bu; u"eXccpii"n
ALL, men. Soon, il WINS found that aimj'rs would
whin respcc,a!,ty at the polls and, then, all were
invited 10 come in This enforced social equality hc-
gan. lust before the Virginia elections, 20 drive oil
,brce rosnccrnbls members wi,.re it gained one
worthless convert This close secret organizat"n IS
,r .;,.,,,icIs,i ruyqps," al will Kill the part% il
NOT surrendered. Surrender that, and surrender III"
prescription of Catholics, aud II - merely IL" " "5
: par:y under ncw nan'r.
W. think from all the ldi,a Of the n. : 'hal
if III. Whiy party does succeed III absorbing IL i""
Niles il will immediately attempt IN actv" P'"scrp
i,.u Of ali foreigners. Such policy, under any c'r-
.ouc.s wnulI he wicked and destructive al The
growth. the wealth and prosperity CT '"e COUNT!
but it is rendered d"ubly injurious by thr h2'hr!
which will be invoked 10 perpetrate II. lhe'"e P''
Ecy and the interest, of the new S'aic' IN! Inc "d
Static of the slave S,ates und Of the free States rs
TO Immigration, NAV become very different and
conflicting; vet these allies propose 10 contounn
them all in system OF proscriptivc legislation t" b"
carried on bv the Federal Government. Their" is n"
subject that needs much local con''o NJ ihis non"
on which Congress is untitled TO lrcs!"'e Eacil
State is far the best judge Of the prorr regulations
which should be established within it' own Jur'sdIc
ton in this particular und, III instances, we are
not certain TIM, large corporations couI" not manage
the subject better than Congress.
Ara Boston, New York and Phin e!phia, willing
10 surrender to a Southern and We-r:r us:ory, the
sole control and regulation OF Immigration to their
ports. 1t is a matter of more vita. Importance L"
them than all other legislation whatever for /" lnin'
grafton they owe most Of their growth and wciiIlll'
And yet, to deal properly with Immigrants conlhS
over in vnst numbers requires much experience ana
skill Congress would be sure I" .cglslatc wr"iig'
because it would legisate gnornny. For ourselves,
We would not undertake the task Of such legislation
which involves tho fate of millions, because
our inexperieuce and iSnorance Of the subject
would make us play the mischievou. tyrant, howcv-
or good our intentions. Will the sparseiy settled
portion. of the West, who need immigrants, be will
nr 70 leave the control Of the subject to majority
in Congress pledged to discourage .nmigraon' In
the South we have nothing to complain OF the laws
as they now stand. Neither too many, nor too few
foreigners settle amongst us. They are generally
men OF good character aud Intelligence. Yet the
time may come, when it will bc oi vital importance
10 hold in our own hands the rn,irs control Of this
delicat. matter. Itc should be tn" last men in the
world to aid in investing the Federal Government
with power that might, under changing circum-
stances be employed for ruin When the terri
tories are peopled, there may be rush Of undcsrn-
BILE immigration to the South. Then our ruin ia GER
tain, unless we have the power oi prevention in our
own huuds. We see no present evils in immigration
North, South East or West hu; greatly over
balanced by the advantages and benefits OF such i'm
migration.
Did such evils exist they w0rt present the strong
cst of ull possible arguments against N1'o"al
Know Nothing, Or Native American party, because
such pnrtyproposes to oinvcst tkr General Government
with the regulation Of matters, which States and even
Corporations are much better qualified understand
in-ly, TO regulate. With our vast uuoccupcd do
mains it il absurd and inhunan to talk about pro-
hibiting immigration. For our phst growth and pre-
sent wealth and prosperity, are largely indebted
to the encouragement of immigration; and at no
time have we possessed much urpcoped territory
M now 1t is true, that it is subject thn: requires
LEGISLATION and regulation, but wise und prudent
laws can only he made by local Legislatures, whose
knowledge aud experience fits them for the task. 1t
is complete 'non sequitur, tin, because imnigra-
ton needs regulation therefore, the power regulate
should be taken away from thos. most interested and
best acquainted with the subject and given TO those
who know nothing about it. II i'm migration ever
becomes an evil the evil can n"ver possibly be cor
rected by National purity. Each State must man
uye the matter for ITSELF else the attempted cure Will
he worse than tho disense. As States Right, NEIL,
even il come good were TO be attained BY this n-"
party, we should drprecae lis success, which would
be too dearly bought by the surrender Of Slatc'
Rights. and investing the Feicra Government with
! new and dangerous powers; but. hooking even I"
nero temporary pocy and cNpci"ncy-iookiig 10