Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1855-08-18
Political.
The Annapolis Republican
on Know NofEingismr.


We, to-day, give our many readers
the following article from the Annapo-
lis Republican, the old Wing organ of
Anne Arundel, of June Odd, on the
subject of Know Nothiugism, and ask
fer II calm, considerate perusal:
eve spread before our readers to-day
the Platform recently promulgated by a
segment of the philadelphia Know Moth
ing Convention. Many of the princi-
pies enunciated will command the APP
provai of good and patriotic men through
cut the length and breadth Of the land.
There is nothing, however, novel or ini-
tial in them. They are such as have
heretofore been announced and acted on
by every political party that has swayed,
or essayed to sway, the fortunes Of the
country from the foundation of the Gov
ernment. These principles animated our
Fathers, who fought for freedom, and
who, after conquering that freedom,
erected and sustained the political and
civil fabric, under which we happily have
lived, and by means of which we have
attained to our present proud position Of
prosperity and glory. We say by every
political party that has swayed or es-
sayed to sway our fortunes; of course we
do not mean to include the miserable
Abolition fanatics, and their conductors,
who for the sake Of maintaining an alb
straction or dogma, would despoil the
Constitution itself, incite to Instruction
and discord, and drive to despotism hon
est, intelligent and patriotic Southern
communities. Nor do wemean to include
unprincipled and thoughtless fillibusters,
who from time to time have sought the
acquisition and expansion of Territory
for selfish ends and purposes, in the face
of plighted faith, Of international law,
and of the respect of the civilized world.
Thank God, such mischeif-makers have
been heretofore comparatively inconside-
rable, and have been Indignantly ana
successfully rebuked either by the majes-
ty of the law, or by the deep rooted SEN
timent of the American people. But
we do not mean to include every great
party that has arisen since the Adminis-
tration Of Washington, down to the pres
cnt time. We cannot, therefore, take
issue with the Know Nothings in regard
to the principles, to which we are al
luding, for they are the common proper
ty of,genuine American patriotism. We
are free to confess, too, that the princi-
pies and policy enunciated in their Sla-
very Resolutions meet with our cordial
approval. They are sound, Union-loving
Constitutional. But, be it remembered,
they are the doctrines alike Of Democrats
and Wings. Neither Of those parties,
as party, has ever assailed or repudia-
ted them We all know and feel that
no National party could ever pass with
any degreeo Of respectablesuccess through
campaign, VIII; 7 would dare to en-
blazon on its banner opposition to them
Here our culogy must cease. When
these Know Nothing Fright Or left
wing) declare that Tie systematic agita-
ton ofHc Slare,y question By THOSE
lPdRTIE,S( Democratic and Hhg) hare
etemted sectional hostility into a positfre
clement Of political po,ecr and brought
or Institutions into peril we take leave
to tell them they lose sight alike of the
truths Of history and of contemporaneous
truths furnished by the arguments of cx-
allied statesmen, and by proceedings ema-
mating from primary assemblies and
from the Legislative Halls Of the Coun-
try. Weare not allowed by time or
space to argue this point. We assert
the fact, and invoke contradiction from
any man ofany pretension ofintelligencc.
" Why, whence arose the fell spirit
Of Abolitionism Who first agftated
the slaEee::yjf question and carried the
hideous monster into the Houses Of Con
gress? The Wing party? The Demo-
craticparty? MOI Who then? Who,
but those very men, and the like Of them,
who seeded from your Council the other
day rather than subscribe to the sound
doctrines you yourselves have put forth?
The very men, whom you, recreants
from these same parties, invited and en-
Outraged to counsel secretly with you on
the safety Of the Union Need we ar
l.tasARis question: surely not. 1t is
as apparent as the MONDAY sun. What
have Southern men (Whigs and Demo-
crats) always said to these Northern fan
atics? Hands of'--let us alone; you
are not only jeopardizing our property,
but you are warning against our domcs-
/ tic peace and the lives Of onr wives and
children Tlsose postieS have brought
our institutions into peril forsooth 1t
il a calumuy, foul fdsclood. Who
settled the agitations Of 1902 Whc
originated and advocated and carried the
compromise acts? Who, with undaunt-
cd courage, asserted the vital and i'm
| mortal principle that every sovereignty
on this continent shall decide for itself
under what institutions each shall live
4 Who but Wings and Democrats, co-op-
Grating in a spirit Of union, harmony and
self-sacrifceg Now. yoit seek to pro-
claim their destruction? Now, goa
would annihiIate them. Wherefore /
Wherefore, but that goa may construed
your own power on their downfall Yes
and we have no hesitation in dinging In.
to your faces the charges ofbase motives
and bnrefaced ilnpudoncc. In this you
\ brief hour you are pandering TO what
4 you esteem the passions and prejudice,
Of the people Let US warn you that
you win find at no distant day yom
condemnation in the intelligence and in