The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-09-08

from the same law of party ethics, which he is at
tempting TO impose on otherss
As to the obligation to ''come prepared for the
emergency" when an American is called, it is such
as would be felt and responded TO By every true
American citizen whether member of the Order
or not. In discussing these subjects we must not
lose sight Of the objects and origin of the party
1t was formed for the purpose of counteracting al
once the political influence and lawessness Of those
foreigners in this country, who unacguainted
with the true spirit of our government, and who
are prone to those acts of violence, which they have
so frequently practised in the fatherland. 1t was
really dangerous to oppose them openly, so easily
exasperated were they by what they foolishly re-
garded an invasion OF their rights Hence the se-
crecy and mutual protection of the American Or
der ask Gov. Brown, whether, if he beheld an
American citizen assaulted by a band Of lawless
Foreigners on account of the exercise of his poti-
cal opinions and rights, be would not answer his
all Of distress and rush 10 his rescue? must
believe that he would And this is the sum-total of
this obligation, which has been much perverted
md misrepresented II does not extend to the pet
quarrels between man and man. The American
could feel himself under DO peculiar obligation to
terfere in the personal difficulties of his friends,
rising out of the ordinary transactions of lfe nor
ould his friends have right to call him under such
circumstances. For instance, to illustrate what
-lean, suppose some high-souled American should
undertake to fog his Excelency for his very out
1geOus speeches and letter, | assure him would
ot interfere till thought he had received enough,
Notwithstanding American COsncil should be
Ealing me through one common trumpet
But his Excellency's great weakness is fondness
20 see himself in print How many inconsistencies
lie might avoid if he would be little more discreet
One would hardly suppose that Gov. Rrown, after
reading his many sermons on political ethics would
sdvse man to do anything wrong And yet
Will convict him of this, provided his own premises
be true, for which, however, do not wish to be
understood as being responsible. Speaking of the
nature and obligation of the Order, he uses this
'lnguage in his Dickson letter. mo good man can
'ail 10 see, that perpetual po1Oer the object :
and perpetual oath was the means of securing it,"
IN his Gallatin speech he says: Say not that in
the event OF nomination that is so fatal to all that
IS near and dear ID the South, the Know Nothing
leaders would call upon their followers to disband
and renounce the horrid and Internal oath they
have taken. Be not deceived. The conscientious
and good man may doubt whether he can renounce
that oath, after it has once been recorded in the
High Cnancery Of Heaven" The Governor is evi
IDENTITY arguing to show, that the American obliga-
ton is perpetual" He is doing this for purpose
but he can advise to the contrary, when he has
another purpose to subserve. Certainly must his
Excelency have forgotten his letter and his pam
phlet wheG he said at Columbia al therefore call
Ipon them, this day to come out these lodges, aud
never return to them; at all events never to
return to them until all secrecy, all their bits
# red paper indicating 6Lo0d evenly the Sc
lection of color,p lis it that tide Of noble blood
which his Excellency once protfered to hold in
woman's thimble p call their signs and sig
nals are utterly abolished and dispensed with
: call upon them 20 do this, aud to do it forthwith
by their hopes of Heavenly their obedience to
.le word of Colby their allegiance to the con-
5titution and laws Of their country-to come out
from any party which has adopted mode and plan
of organization fatal to the peace of society and
to the progress Of true religion" But, while the
Governor is taking care of =" the peace of society
snd the progress Of true religion what is he do
ing with the honor OF those, whom he would adjure
and advise? That perpetual oath" 80 has once
been recorded in the High Chancery of Heaven"
and by what presdypower will his Excelencv recall
it? II ''rhe conscientious aud good man may doubt
whether he can renOunce that oath" the question
fecurs, Why does the Governor urge his friends to
renounce it? There can be but one outlet to this
quandary-either his Excellency was joking in his
famous letter-or, he is not addressing "couscien-
tious and good" men-or, he is urging ''conscien-
tious and good to do what according to his own
ethics, conscientious and good men may well
doubt their authority TO do. The inconsistency may
oe presented in another form either the oath is
not "prpet1aal," the Governor asserts it to be,
or else he is urging men to disregard and renouuce
An obligation, which he proclams to be "perpetu-
al :" and leave him to choose that horn of the di.
lemma, which cores him the less.
If you will bear with me, promise to make but
one more quotation from this remarkable speech.
He declares that unless in six months you Of the
American party assemble and do away with ali that
is peculiar in your organization 'yOu will be CON-
PEELED to yield TO this sentiment. If you do not,
the fountains Of the great social deep will be broken
4p. Your family relations will be destroyed; faith
Srs and sons separated by secret obligations I'M
SHOWN to each other, will become estranged. Your
.hurches will be severed in twain--Onehal of their
Ongregatonsrefusing to sit under the ministr4ton
f one who, by oath, holds a secret brotherhood to
The men OF the world paramount TO the one which
ne feels to his brethren in the church Your schools
sill be stripped OF half their patronage, and the
whole moral, religious and intellectual progress Of
The age thrown back for more thaa half century,"
Why does the Governor postpone these calami-
ues TO period so distant? gentleman occupied
he same stand with his Excellency only the other
ay, who, as have been credibly informed by more
snan one, advised his Democratic friends not to
lend their children to schools controlled by MEM
Jers of the American 0rd,r II is 10 uncommon
hing for our opponents TO dissolve their connexion
Sith churches because their pastors have espoused
me American cause. The American party is not
responsible for these things. And vet the men
vac pslptuale lneul, cry diOuu, Win upturneu
ands and shocked sensbilities, Prescription Pro-
clptionl If the time has come when freedom
# thought cannot be exercised in American church.
and American schoolhouses, then is the great
attic for religious liberation to be fought over and
- direct adversaries will be those whe have thus
IT reaped its blessings. II there be those in our
hurches and school houses so confident of their
..wn infallibity that they cannot brook contradc.
lion or tolerate adverse opinions, the sooner they
Isaye both the better. He is a strange champion
OF civil or religious liberty, who begins his warfare
~ requiring every else TO conform to his faith
he Governor is the prophet OF his party, and be
70 ioreshadowng the policy they intend to pursue.
.es them pursue it, and the American party will
ave the stronger motive 10 infuse their peaceful
doctrines into the popular mind, so as more per-
iectly TO cement the bond Of families the ties of
i.Sciety and tho hallowed union of the churches.
The Governor is profuse in his use Of the words,
"horrid oaths." Well may they be horrid TO bis
Sxceleney. Every member OF the American Order
ss~esrs that be viii maintain the Constitution as il
g the Union il exists; that he viii support those
who support them, and that be will oppose those
Who oppose them, or either OF them. | can well
understand how n is that such an oath as this would