Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-08-29

1
of Mr.. Rayner, against the following extract, which
appeared first in the Alexandria Gazette, and was
| copied into the Baltimore American:
"a letter from an intelligent in North Car
olina written just before the election, says the
needless introduction of religious questions into poll
| tics and the action of the National Convention in
rejecting the Louisiana delegates will lose US thou
the contrary, notwithstanding. Why do not the
true Americans in the South, everywhere, prevent
such leaders from injuring the party and the cause
which, otherwise would Triumph"
The Register charges that the above written
by some personal enemy of Mr. Rayner, if the
writer be, in fact, friend of the " Know Nothing
party.
There are two points in the Registers article to
which desire to call attention. The first is, that
Mr.. Rayner did not attempt to induce the Philadel
phia Convention to reject the Louisiana delegates
because they were Catholics; for says the Register,
g so far from this being so, have been informed,
that Mr.. R. introduced proposition to admit them,
on condition they would take the obligations requir-
ed by the national or sanization of the American
party, and give pledge that they would endeavor
to conform the work of the order in louisiana to
that of the national organization. 5" We remember
distinctly that it was stated in the newspapers at
the time, that the Philadelphia Convention dis
posed to admit the Louisiana Delegates but that an
appeal from Mr. Rayner, in which he elaborated the
question at length and referred to the consequences
of such course, turned the scale against the Louis
lana Catholics and they were thrown out. Now, it
seems Mr. Rayner is not responsible for their exclu
sion.
But how was it possible for the Louisiana Catho-
lies I" take the obligations required by the nation
al organization of the American party, and give
pledge that they would endeavor to conform the
work of the Order to that of the national organiza-
ton "-how, ask, was this possible, when it is
expressly provided in the first degree council"
OF the Know Nothings that candidates for admission
even shall be solemnly sworn to exclude Roman
Catholics in particular" from office, and when in all
the forms of proceeding, the rule of opposition to
Catholics is alike inteXible and paramount? An
swer that, Mr.. Register.
But, adds the Register:
1.-The fixed and decided belief of many is, that if
there wire any Roman Catholics in the Louisiana
delegation, as has been stated, and they had been
admitted into the Convention Philadelphia or, if
the principles of the order had been SO changed as
admit bona fde Roman Catholics into the same,
that, far as North Carolina is concerned, Ameri-
canism would have been numbered among the things
that WERE"
What does that mean Why, simply that the
only principle of the North Carolina Know Moth
their religious opinions! That is t-nothing more
and nothing less. We are obliged to the Register
for the admission. The influence OF oreigners-the
Union Of the States the paramount political
good -" America for Americans ~ resistance
to foreign influence" by preventing the coming
hither of ''paupels and criminals, " and by extend
ing the time within which foreigners may be natu-
ralized-all these considerations, 1t Is admitted By
tile Register, mnaterial and unimportant that
if they alone had been the issues in this State Know
Nothingism would have been numbered among the
things that were" And yet, according to the Reg
lister, Mr. Rayner willing to abandon this ground
was impossible, " conform" themselves to the obi.
cations and the work of the national organization
What medley of contradictions and absurdties
On the 3Oth of June, 1852, speaking of Gen.
SCOTS religious opinions, the Raleigh Register
said
"DISGRACEFUL AND RUINOUS WILL BE
THE DAY WHEN THE RELIGIOUS TEST
SHALL BE APPLIED TO OFFICE IN THIS
COUNTRY. "
Now that paper declares, that but for this cery
religious test" which in 1852 it considered dis
graceful and ruinous the cause which it advocates
to wit, that of Know Nothingsm- would be use
less and worthless, and no hope could be entertain
ed Of it's success in North Carolina
Does the Register speak for Mr. Rayner? Is the
article under consideration to be taken as "by
authority" defence of Mr., Rayner? If so, that pa
per would do well to explain its defence. Indeed,
so far from benefting Mr.. Rayner by such articles,
it is absolutely njuring him.