Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-04-20
THE KNOW-NOTHING PLATFORM.

Pary,is the frequent subject Of euogy with thor
orators and presses We have carefully and repeat
edly read it, and if there be clear ennnciaon OF
more than one debateable, political principle OF
practical moment at this time, viz: the policy oi eN
cuding all naurazed citizons from oilice-holdhG aS
indicated in the first section, we have been unable
to discover it. Even upon the subject OF the aussio
of foreigners to the exercise the elective franchise
the platform speaks in Drlphic language. IL u'es
not in terms or it may be, III the estimation Oh many
of tho adhercnts and sympahzGrs of the new order'
| advocate any amendment of existing laws. we copy
the clause upon that subject,enre
40 That no foreigner ought to bs allowed to exer
cse tho elective franchise, till Inc shall have resided
within the United States sufficient length OF time L"
enable hun to become acquainted with the principles
and imbued with the spirit OF our insttuuons' ahe
until he shall have become thoroughly ldcnthed WIN
the great interests of our country.
What term Of years constitutes the sufficient
length of time" herein required Is it five, seven,
fourteen, twenty.ore! The present laws OF Virginia,
land we have no power to affect the laws of other
States,) require five-and. if this platform had been
written with any other view than to deceive or mis-
lead would any thing have been simpler than to sug
gest the necessity of amending the law it stands,
and extending The preliminary term of years now re-
qured leaving the number, if need be- open for far
ther discussion?
Upon the great question Of religious freedom it
speaks no less oracuary, unless its language be so
construed as 10 imply necessary and unavoidable
contradiction between two clauses Of single sem
tence The fourth article of the platform in the fol-
lowing words:
4. That the American doctrine of religious tolera-
| finn Dnlu nahs pf tprDD H.
| ions sake, should be cherished rs one OF the very
fundamental principles Of our civil freedom, and that
any sect or party which believes and maintains that
any foreign power, religious or POLITICAL has the rGht
to control the conscience direct the conduct Of
freeman occupies position which is totally at war
with the principle Ut freedom OF opinion, and which
is miscevous in its tendency, and which principle II
carried into practice, would prove wholly destructive
of our religious and civil liberty.
The American doctrine of religious federation is un-
known to The concession Of liberation implies
the right to withhold it, and American political science
denies to government any authority to intervene be-
tween the conscience of the citizen and his God
The Virginia statute of religious freedom asserts the
freedom Of all men ito profess and by argument
to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion" rs
one Of ''thc natural rights of mankind" "The Anne
rican doctrine OF igious trccd0m, it will not be de-
MED, embraces Roman Catholics who recognize the
authority of the Pope of Rome as binding in religious
matters and therefore, tile two clauses Of this arti-
Gle necessarily conflict unless we interpolate after
the right to control the conscience or direct the con-
duct of freeman" the words, Sin temporal affairs,
which Interpolation is always practically made, as
we have observed, by Know Nothing commentators
and organs. With this amendment the article may
be subscribed by Romanists who dony the temporal
power of the Pope, well as by Know Nothings who
assert it. Joseph Il. Chandler and Thomas S. Flour
noy might subscribe ii in common, as Charles Car
roll and John Witherspoon subscribed together the
| Declaration of Independence.
But the especial beauty of this PLATFORM which is
commend i, to the confidence and support of the
South, is its alleged ultraism upon the question of
State rights. Let us examine its preensions in this
respect. First, have, in Article 2, tho following
euuncihton:
9. Tint the sovereignty of the States should be
supreme in the excrcse OF all powers expressly
delegated to the Federal Government, and which may
not be necessary and proper to carry out the powers
so delegated aud that this principle should be OBJ
served and held sacred in all organizations OF the
American party.
Now, will any one BIO good enough to tell U.S. what
party or what politician ever held creed which they
deemed OF war with this sentiment The advocates
of the Alien and Sedton Laws, Of the Force Bill, Of
the Bank, of the Protective Tariff of Internal I'M
proyements OF the abolition of Slavery in tho Dis
trict of Columbia, of the Wimot Proviso, Of the
abolition of the Slave Trade between the Ststos, &C.
Sc, and Of every other measure OF Federal policy
ever discussed since the formation of the Govern
ment could and would have underwritten ths decla-
ration uf political opinion. Indeed, they could not
do otherwise for the language of the Constitution is
embodied in good measure, in the commentary
upon its meaning. If the authors Of this p!etscrm
had wished to present to the people OF Virginia an
nolligibe eiprO.sion OF political opinion, they would
have announced what powers, now claimed to be ex-
ercised by the Federal Government, they did, and
what powers they did not, design to admit as "ex-
pressly delegated or necessary and proper To carry
out the delegated powers"
Nor is the ll.h u,ticle ht all mere distinct Our
reaa,.s ma" Judge ior themselves
H. That whilst the perpe.ui,y Of the present form
Of the Federal Government of the United States is
actually necessary for the proper development of all
the resources of this country. yet tho principle Of
nonintcryen,ion both the part of the Federal Co
vernment and Of the several States of the Union in
the municipal affairs of each other is essential to the
peace and prosperity OF our country, and to the well
being and pernanence OF our insti,utios md, at the
same time the only reliable bond of brotherhood and
union,
In this latitude those words may be construed to
mean one thing-in another latitude they will receive,
they are susceptible of very different nerpreta-
tion We Of tho South believe that all legislation
upon slavery By the States or the General Govern
ment, except such may be necessary to secure us
in the recovery of our fugitive slaves or the safe
keeping OF our property while IN hanstu through the
r. States is unwarrantablp intervention in our ,nu-
kalk,
Know-Nothipg opponents say thcir brethren in the
North and our own, too, are Abolitionsts,l believe
that the General Government, in enacting and in en-
forcing the Fugitive Slave Law, is guilty of unwar.
rantable intervention in their municipal affairs.
Either Gun subscribe this article. Henry Wilson, and
Gov. Gardner, and Gov. Pollock, and John 2. Hale,
can stand, check by jowl, on this plank ot the plat.
form with their most ultra Southern ally and yet
these cnunpisors OF principle are held up to South
eu men as evideucing tho fidelity Of this new party
TO their rights and to their interests II this be not
"paltcrnc in a double sense" we know not what
would be-
These two last articles are designed to cover the
Slavery question-and we ask, in all candor, fthey
may not 10 endorsed by friends we'll as foes ofthe
Nebraska bl-by those who will vote for, and those
VI. ''o against lis repeal Saniu' '''' A'"'
-,''"'s delegation in the next Congress from Massa-
cnuse''S' who are committed, according to Mr. Bur-
one OF their number, to vote for the res,ora-
Nv" VI .e Missouri Compromise, for the repeal OF
'''e "e"'Ve save Law, and the abolition Of Slavery
IN Inc DISTRICT "t Columbia, and the Slave trade be-
tween the States, stand upon this platform consis.
tenily with their known hcrctical opinions! And this
too, be it remembered is given out 70 ,hs world M
the platform OF tho know-Nothings of Virginia. Is
it not circumstance OF pregnant moment, ,ba in our
own midst the adherepts OF this political sect ear