The true Democrat., 1855-12-18
FROM THOS. FLETCHER.


 FROM THOS. FLETCHER.
 Rel Fork, r. O., Nov. Sd. 1855.
 Gentlemen:-I had anticipated the pleasure of complying with your kind invitation to at tend mass meeting of the democracy and those opposed to the odious measures of Knoay Nothingism, to be held at Pine Bluff on the 5th and 9th inst, but regret that it will not be in my power to be with you on that interesting occasion.
 l feel the liveest interest in the questions now so seriously agitating the public mind, from adeed conviction that there is rapidly approach ing crisis in our political history, of eminent danger to the south, demanding our time, ta- Tents, energies, and perhaps the sword, to vim dlcate our rights. In the north we are threat ened by the abolatlonists and Klao,U Nothinqs combined, whilst in the south every insdious effort IS being made to prostrate and defeat the old democratic party-(the only party worthy of the name of natioaaD-by a faction assum- ing the modest appelation of American party! The open and persevering opposition of the abolitionist to our peculiar institutions we may admire, much as we detest the object of his fendish desires, but there is scarce a redeeming trait in Know Nottingham
 Of all associations ever formed in our coun- try, there is none 1 view with more adherence than this secret political order,-the leading features of which are repugnant to the spirit that animated the fathers of the revoluton- repuSnant to the principles contained in the immortal declaration of Independence, and in opposition to the very letter of the constitution itself, that secures every American citizen, Wherever born, ln the enjoyment of his religious opinions without persecution.
 And why the necessity of this secret organi- zatlon, designed to embrace within its poison- ous folds the pure and honest of aU parties, and especially those Jealous patriots who de- spise the alluremcnts and honors of office? Ii it had any grand object in view, which could not be accomplished either by the old whis or democratic party, 1t might command our atteu- ton. But, pretermtting all great questions that have divided and a5itated the country since the adoption of the constitution, these political didappers, who wish to dive into of1ice and have been careful to wipe out all tracks leading to or from their dark cavems, tell Us with tears Tn their eyes and gravity that excites smile, that the old political partcs under whose proud banners they have fought so many battles, ARE NO MORE.
 Behold scene of misery and woe,
 Here Argus soon might weep himself quite blind,
 Evn tho he had Briareuss hundred hands
 To wipe lis hundred eyes"
 Jefferson, Madison, Jackson and Polk, who defended and Illustrated by their genius, learn ing and eoquence, the principles of the demo- cratic party may be dead-but the great polIti- cal truths they expounded will be perpetuated and so long as the constitution is permitted to exist, the principles they advocated will be opposed by all other parties and particularly by the American party.
 The two parties, which have so long divided the country, can no longer agree upon the con- structOn of the constitution, or the disciples of Jefferson and Hamilton act in concert in the administration of the general government. The democratic party ever firm, consistent unwa- verng III her course, and true to the constitu- ton as the needle to the pole, can never coun- tenance religious intoeration-the cornerstone of hnoao Nottingham She protects alike the rich and the poor, foreign or native born, and recognizes all bearing the christian banner, with equal love and confidence. She has no terrors for the Pope of Rome, and doubts not the fide- lty of the Catholic who has sworn allegiance without reservation, to our government She will never consent to degrade the foreigner or Catholic to the level of a southern slave, bv de- pnvlng him of the exercise of one of the dear est privileges of a freeman-thrusting him from
 
 ful and true to the consttution"-and much less restrict him in the natural and inalienabe right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of his own conscience. She would not repulse the foreigner, though clothed in the rags of pauper, who fees from starvation or religious and political persecution in other less favored lands, but with outstretched arms well come him to our shores,
 < The home, the port of liberty"
 God forbid that any other feeling or senti- ment should ever pervade the heart of any true American, who loves his country, or respects the time e-honored principles of democracy!
 If there be any necessity for change in our naturalization laws, it can be made without the formation of new party-without bloOdshed and murder--without arraying one class of our citizens against anOther-without arOusing the bitter anlmosty of fanatics and bigots--and I would fan hope, without bestowing the small est office of trust or honor upon those political renegades driven from the democratic ranks. who now fill the councils of Kno,v Notl.aaq- ism.
 In our own State, we have nothing to fear from those protesting the Catholic faith, or the power of the church. The whole number of Catholic churches in 1850 was only 7, with an aggregate accommodation ofnearly 16OOpersons Exceeding the communicants of that church in this State,) and total value of their church pro- perty, $65O. Still less have we any reason to dread the foreign born population or their infu- ence in Arkansas. The total number, accord ing to the last census, was only 1471, and to swell up this startling number out of popula- tion of 2O9, 1897, the Marshal was compelled to include three free negroes-one son and two lovely daughters of Diaval! Can any good democrat see any cause for alarm, or the ex- hibition of such "intense American feelng?' Can we doubt that the order of Know Nothing ism is whig trick, designed to cheat them out of their votes, by appeals to the lowest and basest prejudices? Will those friends of civil and religious liberty, who have been deceived and deuded, longer engage in this unholy war fare against weak church, insi gnificant as re- gards numbers or wealth, and few foreign born citizens, so inconsiderable that in 1850, adding three free negroes, the whole number did not exceed 1471.
 How much more patriotic and useful for them to invest their labor and means in the construction of railroads and turnpikes-in the improvement of the navigation of our rivers and bayous-in the development of our rich and varied resources-in the cause of tempe rance and education and sound morals, and thus uniting all in the bonds of friendship and broth erly love, and pushing on our beloved State, to her high and brilliant destiny.
 Respectfully,
 THOS. FLETCHER.
 To Messrs L. B. Lucke, Read Fletcher and others, committee, Pine Bluff, Ark.
 FROM E. c. HARLEY.
 Princeton, Ark Oct. IS, 1855. Gentlemen:-I have received your letter in-