Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1855-02-28
&ris. No ;. .

MEssas. EprroRs: My fourth PROPOSE
ton is, chat those who connect themselves
with die "Know Nothing" association,
| delegate away the i'Serty Of a FREQ and un.
biased Vote by such act.
This proposition is SO reytlting to the
populaeSnotion Of American Independence;
that It spquires more than . simple ayow-
al 10 sustain it, or denial to refute 1.-THE
evidensse should be justly required, and
as the advocates of the organization have
admited that the applicants are introduced
through pledged fidelity torthe order, and
that yalious grades in Office are essential
| to the existence and government ofthe or
ganiza,ion, and as they have argued the
utility ef such course Of procedure. it is
onfN necessary toexamnie the facts argued
and pleaded for, in evidence to sustain the
proposition. i. In doing this however, am
not to bs understood rs censuring the f.
deity of men, \ OF as objcdting to system
in the ,formahoh> of any government; for
upon tits, my argument Is based. And
that thesobiectGftheN association is prima.
rily designed to cause or induce men to
delegate away the free andlnbiased rights
tof F6iiffsal flrrc.nsr, r proeTu 1cShow:.
The tading question, then isswhat does
the organization propose to govern or con-
troll and the answer, however sTarious
| in the modes Of expression, comes from
all the public organs Of the party, saying
that thJsobjectis to govern the elections
to ofics, in all the various departments
which bte known to be the gifts Of the
peoples Then how is this to be accom-
plishedaby the association, but by pledged
unanimity Of action upon the part Of all
the mehbers? lfthe association is'com-
posed a discordent sentiments in this re-
spect, q must destroy the object Of theor
ganizaton. This is SO obvious to every
reflectitg mind, That It is unnecessary to offer
any argument To- sustain tit is propo-
sitisn Tat must stand upon its simple state
ment TAnd.as this pledgeinyolving unan-
unity @action must be secured before the
applicant can be admitted, he commits
himsellto an act before he can gain a
;. knowledge Of the subjectof action; hence
, "KnoW Nothing, 'yis a name which Justly
|, represents the lnl.latory service OF the or
der.-i5ptnlng aetnitely known. but mueh
pledgea butas the action involves the SUD-
sequens votes ofthose who are thus introdu1
ced, the votes are virtually cast before the
candidate is announced in by the COM
mon Suck OF the order, 70 De disposed q
. according to thePieasureo OF the supreintenr
:: tenden;s into whose hands ethey are com
! mlttedh Thus they delegate away ING
. right te think and act Tor themselves, on
. subject that haseyer been the boastof free
men. ,lt is said however, by way OF pal
. liatinsfhis objectionable feature Of the or
der, that any who become dissatisfied are
Q permitted towithdraw. This may be con-
s siderec an exercise q the rightot redemp.
E tion--h must most certainly be apprecia-
= ted by9a people who have always been
trainefto boast 81 their civil and political
+ libertiSs. But some may over look the
fact, that, the declaration Of right to with.
draw iaeyidence q the retrenchment q
the members Of the association. For i
they sse proper 70 think and act indeden.
dent III regard to issues involving the wea
of theft country, they have the right +
withdraw for that purpose. And the or.
der may retain the right to cause public
f censum to follow such for their withdraw.
3 al. TIE subjectthen resolyesitselfin thin
! question, whether it Is the most wise poll
Fey fora freeman TO lay down his politica
. liberty, under ASSURANCES that be may take