The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-05-29
From the Mobile Daily Register, May 20.
LETTER or MR. STEPHENS, OF GEORGIA.

At the expense of the usual variety which it is aim
to impart to columns feel constrained to publish
this letter We thought of cutting il into extracts but
find we rannot without mutating its effect This is a
paper ha will be read with by all persons know
nothings as well as those who differ with them for we
take granted that the former has yet fully
mastered the philosophy Of this movement and are
fully apprzed Of the consequences that to flow
from it, We iud it impossible to pass this subject by,
desire do because IL is the slavery question:
the topic Of the times absorbing attention, and
aught with greater results than any other with the
ceplion above named.
We think the rise and spread of know-nothingism in
the South has been great misfortune Its first and worst
effect destroy here that reputation for moral sead
which made unsuscepble to The influences Of
Heretofore have been exempt from the dangerous and
crazy excements which perpetualiy being evolved
like perncious gases from the boiling cauldron OF free
thinking which in the North has degeneracd into widest
license in OF morals politics. and religion Fourier
ISM anti-rentis Mlerism spirituasm and the thousand
other vagares which have unsettled the and shaken
the moral perceptions Of northern society, have had
oohod with us, and we have reioiced at immunity,
aud hopefully believed that in it the pledges of a
high Of national character 6rmness Of mind and
cearness and soldty Of Judgment which could se-
curely rely for safety The advent Of know-nothingsm
has sadly shaken this confidence and the thought win
force itself minds that the abolitionsts must
oiee at it, and gather hope that their detesabe also
may yet in due take and expand in the soil
which has proven so congenial to know-noibingism.
PROFESSIONALLY the South has lost and character
by The spread Of this deluson for deuson it is without
leg stand upon without any sanction in he
prophecies Of situation sustain it. II is wild
and contagious excitement caught sympahecaly from
the North with of the conditions paiatons which
might eeby it there Except in few Of cities
Foreigners have appeared in sufficient numbers az
ford ripple Of offence to the broad expanse Of native
southern cp and for the handful of Catholics among
u.s. have only known them the only religious
whose brethren the North have wholly escaped the CON
tamnation Of ahoonism, and the parents Of
Gus charities that do credit the religion they profess and
the age in which live delusion baseess must we
think pass rvay but will leave IFS sting and It's
behindperhaps its unbealed wounds, TO torment Ameri-
society for ages Already il has worked great
moral evil II has unsettled the general reverence for
truth it has made evasion equivocaon and double deal
ing necessary practice with honorable men who would
otherwise have scorned such instruments OF mposure
selfadvancement
II has blow struck down that spirit Of manly indie
pendcnce and ouspokcn hodness Of thought and express
sion which the browning virtue southern character
II has destroyed confidence between aud that
talk together the great subject OF our
defence and safety against tho serpent Of abo
ton without being conscious Of the chilling influence and
restraints Of secret obligations II has excited ia the
minds Of the ignorant the spirit o. mob violence thus turn
ing loose and sanctng 10 such minds the danger
aud lawless passions Witness the riots 10 Cincinnati
and Louisville Witness city where for three
successive nights houses pulled down and their In
habiants were flying in for life under yolley a
bullets and imprecatons Witness the outrage against
harmless Catholic priest the high road accompanied
b. threats Of stu violence IL he dared to undertake
again his sacred functions.
Whence come these things We do not sa, that they
are the doings Of knownothng the instigaons q
know-nothng lodges but We do say that they are the
efervescenee Of vicious excitementthe fruits Of moi
seed taking il vicious minds and aour,.bino
there With virulent luxurance which are as disaseal
and as astounding we trust 20 the well-oriered know
nothing as 70 any other citizen in Mobile these ransac
lions passed without notice No Investigations were II.
stuted-no arrests made-no osers os reward Cor
the guilty by the legal authorities Even the press was