The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-05-25
A Patriotic Whig.


Poft- Office Department, May 10, 1855.
A Patriotic Whig.
In a letter declaring his inability to address the
Democratic Association of Richmond during lie
present canvass. Thos. J. Niche, Esq, of Staun
ton, one ol the foremost men IN Virginia, uses the
following powerful language:
"Nothing, | assure you. would give me more
pleasure than to address The intelligent people of
Richmond on The interesting questions Of The pres
ent canvass-to tell them how bIighting TO The
spirit OF our country the secret mystery of Know.
Nothing ism must prove how demorazng 1t will
6e TO our children, the hitherto high. minded, open
hearted, bold youths of Virginia, to be educated in
the sneaking arts OF secrecy and espionage; 10 be
taught by their fathers 10 spy out all the political
actions of their fellOw-men, and yet to keep their
own actions and OBJECTS, in reference matters
which necessarily concern all, profound secret !;
to publish platforms OF pretended principles, suited
to every latitude and every taste, for the purpose
of gaining proseytes, while they feel the degrad-
ing consciousness that they are prohibited, by
horrible oaths, from revealing their real OBJ
iects and principles out side OF their order, and
while disguised world is forced to conclude either
that their platforms filled with false proies-
sIons, intended to misIead, or that those who pub
lished them rjured
Has any party right to political secrets ? ln
private associations men may conceal matters
which concern themselves alone. But politics.
relating necessarily to the affairs or conduct OF
government, in which ever citizen has equal
task, how party be tolerated in Withholding,
from any portion of our citizens, information
subIec, which vitality concerns every one of them?
In small partnership il portion of the partners
were to conceal from the rest their designs in
ference TO the social funds. their associates,
cluded, would be justified in forming conclusion
of dishonesty, and court of Justice would inter-
fere In the ordinary intercourse Of life, hon.
est man of ordinary humanity, possessed Of
secret which concerns his neighbours interests,
feels bound by high moral obligation to disclose
it 10 him " hom il interests. Yet here is polili.
cal party iniermiddIing in the clark with the affairs
OF government which involve your and my life,
liberty, and property, and those of our children,
and Of millions Of others, and yet they cody refuse
to let US know what their objects until we shall
be informed by such results as they may hereat-
ter produce. BY their own showing thy enc.
mics Of popular government; for in such gov
ernment the whole community participates.
But they show their enmity in various other
FORMS They practically deny the capacity Of the
people 10 govern, and therefore establish "r's'o-
cratic councils with great consolidating and
controlling head. located, most ftly, some where
near the Five Points, in the city of New YorK.
Power with them, instead of being vested in the
people and emanatiDg from them, is vested IN these
arislocrHtic councils. The theory of our govern
ment requires appeal from arisocracy TO The
people Know-Nothingi>m reverses that theory
by providing in all cases an appeal from the peo-
pie 10 the arlstocracy.
eff The people had capacity for seIf-govcrn
ment, this seIf.slyed American (query ahorrgn-
al y party deny their honesty; therefore they
are never trusted except under oath. And again:
while the spirit of our institutions requires every
citizen TO exercise his own best judgment IN voting
for all officers of government, this wonderful in
ventiun of Yank"edom requires bun 10 bind him
self by solemn oath not 10 exercise his own Judg
ment at all, bot 10 give his vote TO The majority of
Ca ucus itself subseryent the mandate Of
superior caucus, may order. These are startling
novelties TO an American ear. Yet know-Noth-
ingism, bold in this respect alone, in all others
skulking. denying lis name, denying lis associa-
ton, refusing to maks known its ot}ecrs, hiding
in dark caverns with bats and owIs denounces all
as ant. American who will not adopt It's dognas
| should like to discuss and d:ssect the monster,
not only under the preceding head, but many 9th
ers, especially its federalism. | should like to
show the people Of Richmond and the whole South,
the cunning device of he Know. Nothing nominee
for Governor, insred into hun. no doubt. by the
sa me masters under hom he learned his Amer
icanism,' by which he asked the people of Virginia
10 deprive themselves OF oil ground Of resistance