Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-05-31
LISTEN TO HIM!


who remains unseduced, talk on the
present position of parties. Such
men talk as though they feel what they
say. The following extract, being
the conclusion Of a long article from
an unchanged wing, that appeared in
the columns of the Nashville Union, is
worthy Of attention at the present
time.
The writer, after detailed account
Of the origin of the wing party, its
objects, and achievements, and his con-
nection with, and labors in it, says:
81 am uncertain now how precise
ly it becomes me to act. My objec-
tons to the know-nothing order are
of too grave a character to allow Of
my acting in any way with them; the
greatest objection being the very fact
that / know nothing at all about
them. This much I do know, that
there exists an order, or association,
composed of members, pledged to act
together in their designs, who repu-
date all party obligations, and bind
themselves to keep secret their very
connection with the order. That their
objects are plausible and national, may
ali be true. They claim to be par ex-
cellence the American arty, and that
may be true. myself will yield to no
man in my Americanism in all prop
er and patriotic senses Of the word.
IF it means love Of my country, an
ardent desire for her prosperity and
glory, and the happiness Of all he1
sons and daughters, am an Ameri-
can. IF it means to have drawn my
first breath upon her soil, and never
for one day to have been out of hel
boundaries, / am an American. If il
means to have a line Of ancestors ma
tive-born running back into the times
of our colonial history, I am an Amer.
lean, for although an obscure one,
can trace that too. If it means tc
have a wife and children who dwell il
peace and security under the shield
of our Constitution and laws, to be
grateful therefor, and devoted to then
maintenance, l am an American
Within the soil of Tennessee repose
the remains of a father, there repose
the remains of a child, the reverence
of the past and the hope of the flu
ture have mingled there. What neeG
have / for a secret association tt
make me feel assured of my Amer
canism2 / can be nothing else.
If to be an American means te
pledge my sacred honor, to prescribe
SO far as lies in my power, all honest
citizens, from the enjoyment Of office
who may be of foreign birth, I am nc
American. IF to be an American re.
quires me to put a ban upon the Cit,
zen, native-born or foreign, who may
entertain particular set Of religious
views, however honest and capable he
may be, / am no American. If to be
an American requires me to submit
to the dictates of secret order, un.
known to the public, and unrecognized
by the laws, to cast my votes in ac-
cordance with its behest, or failing in
that, at least, to hold my peace, l am
no American. If to be an American
requires me to conceal from my bo-
som friend the fact that [ am con-
nected and bound by secret obliga-
tons with an order, hostile perhaps to
his interest, compelling me against my
more magnanimous nature, to entrap
him into an open and friendly conf
dence, 1 am 10 American. If all this
constitutes Americanism, and the
time has come when all this is neces-
sary, to be recognized as an Aneri-
can, I must back to my prayers again,
for Rome needs it sadly.
The accomplishment Of even a
worthy object by means of secret as
sociations, deserves apprehension
All bad precedents originate in this
way. The next will be less worthy,
and once known IS an element of
strength and means of success, they
Will be adopted for the transaction Of
all sorts of yillainies. The whole sys-
tenn of confidential intercourse between
man and man viii cease. Selfish
ness, and mutual disrust, and timid
fear, will overnn the land The mere