The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-06-22
AMERECAY JACODgNlS1I.

]
The Know Nothing organism has been ftly com
pared 10 the Jacobinisn of the French Revolution,
which drenched that country with blood, and for >
time, overthrew all law and order. The history and
operations OF the two organizations very similar
The following brief description OF the proceedings Of
the latter well describes aim and tendency oftbe
Know Nothing order of this country:
ss1he first Jacobin Club was organized in Paris on
the 9Th November l7s9 under the aIluring naue Of
the 'tuends OF the Constitutions, quite speclouS
that hear Of, sAmercans shall lule Amer
ica Many OF the best men and truest patriots in
PaTiS joined t--and thousands of the same sort Of
men loned the affiliate clubs alterwards--iitte e
dreaming of the deadly angs of that viper they were
! Hurtnling in their bosoms.
Many Of these men afterwards went 10 the guillo-
tiae, by orders pasedsecrety in these very clubs.
Nh legislation settled IN these cub~--members
OF the National Assembly and Convention, all OF
them, or most Of them, were members OF the clubs,
for they could not otherwise be elected And, after
the question settled in the clubs the members
next day went to the nominal halls OF legislation,
/ nothing bat trembling automatous, 10 register the
edfcts OF the 'ofder,' though It were 10 behead q
monarch. cause the blood of the best OF their
own number To flow beneath the stroke of the
Is history OF no use Or do people vanly ina
sine that Americans would not do as the French did
under like circumstances ~
There are some points of similarity between the
Jaeobn clubs of the French Revelation and the Know
Nothing order of the present day, which will arrest
the attention OF rejecting Of all parties One OBJ
ject of those clubs TO take all legislation from the
hands of the delegates and merge Il in secret
order, the proceedings OF which wrapped in
gloom and mystery. In this way the cunning, IN
principled and inscriptions of all parties mana
ged 10 override The will of the majority and up
practical desPotism. TO be elected a member OF the
National Assembly, it necessary that man
should belong of these clubs, and when elected
he was bound by MS oath to that club not by that
of office. All his votes were cast as directed bY the
secret order. All legislation was settled and ast-
mined IN secret order, hot in the manner whasn
the laws OF France required it should be. Is noE
this pecfect picture OF the know-nothiug order? :
Are men required to belong to that society be-
fore IFS members support them for Office, and
when elected are they not required by oath to obey
the mandates Of the order matter how reasonable
anti-repubIican in spirit and effect The history
of The Know-Nothine order proves most conclusive
ly that the parallel complete and perfect. IN our
State Legislature the members Of the order were
mere tools for the lodges 10 operate with. The most
minute matter made the subject of lodge super
vision and instruction, and the members obeyed like
slaves. So, too, in the City Councils. From the
election of President to the appointment of turkeys,
all is determined in the of the order. All the
free action of an American citizen is repudated aud
each IS compelled 10 bow with meek submission
TO the oath fortified order Of the organization. ltbe
French Jacobin clubs were tyranuical and opposed
10 that freedom OF individual action which is the
basis OF all just government, the Nothing order
is equally in every particular.
But the action of the Grand Council OF the ORDER
now assembled in this city, has developed another
feature Of this plot against the peace aud perpeuty
OF Inc Union, which is still more dangerous and
alarming. The New York HrraH, one of the ac-
credited organs of Know-Nothingi>m, says that lis
Philadelphia correspondent suggests the probability
Of the adoption by the National Know-NothiDg Csn-
yenton Of plan of settling the slavery question:
descrbedb by it as follows:
awe refer to his letter for the particulars. Here
we may say, briefly, that il is proposed To leave the
slavery question open until after NoveRfer,
1856 m order that The order may carry the inteve-
ming State and the proslavpry
men IN tie South aud anl-,lapery men in the North
agreeing 10 unite Oh some fair man for President
That when Congress meets, after the election the
slavery question be iairy opened and discussed and
II possible understanding had between the North
and the South 10 the admission of future States
and all such other matters may be likely To IN
volve the question IN the future. If an understand
ing which both sections OF the conntryare likely
to acquiesce peaceabiy, cannot ehrrived al on the
basis OF the present constitution, then that Congress
adjourn and convention be called composed of dele
gates from all the States, for the purpose of ascer-
tanning whether or some other constitution cannot
be framed which will settle the point ia Gispgte; in
other words, 10 amend the constitution spas 10 place
II IN harmony with the magnitude Of nt8fesfs and
conflict al opinions existing in the present day. And
finally, after due and earnest discusson il sfhuBd
Impossible to !nyeut any compromise which can be
received willingly by both sections of the country
that peaceable separation be effected between the
North aud South, and such treaties passed as may be
suitable TO their future independent condition.
Here is deliberate plan being concocted and
discussed for eifeetng separation between the North
aod the South. The intermediate steps are all sketch
ed out with precision. Congress is first to be at
tackled If there is too much patriotism IN that body
TO be controlled by this villainous faction, then
Convention is to be called composed of delegates
from all the States, with hope that such material
will be malleahle. But the fact which over
tops all others is that here, for {he first time in the
history of this Repablie have party an organic
feature of whose constitution is a systematic disso-
luton of the Union. Other factions have talked of
this matter wien the blood hot, and pass ion had
H>urped the OF mental and political government
bat until the meeting of this Jaeobin faction, the
announcement Of party platform based on such