Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-06
HON. ROBERT w. JOHNSON, oF Ar
KANSAS.

The letter of MIR. Johnson, which we publish
below, is one Of the most pointed and powerful
articles we have seen for long time. In style
and sentiment it is Characteristic 1t is just like
him:
letter from Robert w. johnson.
PINE BLUFF, (Ark.) Aug. 90, 1855.
GENTLEMEN: Your letter OF the 10th ultimo,
inviting me to address the Democracy in mass
meeting at Camden on the 26th of July; now
acknowledge. Its very late arrival previous to
the day fixed for your meeting rendered it impos-
sibe that ! could attend consistently with other
imperative engagements.
The fattering illusions made to my own hum
Bile career in the service Of the State give rise in
my own heart TO the most grateful feeling, and
lead me to assure you that | regard the public
approval as the only lasting and estimable reward
OF a life which all men who have tested it pro-
nounce to be lar from satisfactory, if not unhappy.
The American or know-nothIng party TO which
you allude has sprung into existence and at
tanned importance in this State since our last
elections. The exertions of its partisans have
been unparalleled in that period, and l acknow
ledge the obligation you expect at my hands
public man, and one having had superior OPP
portunites for information, and reasons through
which to arrive at a sound Judgment upon its OBJ
Jects and its worth, to declare the position oc-
cupy, and some at least Of the which
govern me.
The unnatural efforts now making by this
party, the insidious and sacrilegous means
availed OF without scruple, and the rapid ad-
yances made by it, SO long and SO studiousy con-
cealed, imperatively require that those who con-
denim and oppose it should rally together and de-
clare themselves in the most public and unequivo-
cal manner. 1t is a party more insidious in its
movements, more selfish in its objects, sacrile-
gous in its obligations, and dangerous in its ten
dency to public peace, TO private and social rela-
IONS TO Tree government, and to the continued
maintenance and preservation of the consttu-
tional rights of the South, than had believed it
possible for the genius of man to invent and re-
duce to practice.
The know-nothing party, whether North or
South, is the old Wing party enveloped in other
forms, and shrouded in secrecy. There were but
three great parties in the county, to wit: the
Democratic, the Wing, the Freesoil parties. The
Democratic party still exists, and the Wing party
Is notOriOuSly erlinct.
What have become of our feow-citizens Of
the Wing party They have not Joined the
Democratic party; if they had done SO the cleo
tions at the North which have resulted in the de-
feat OF the kansas-N ebraska Democrats. and in
giving to the Freesoilers the control of the House
OF Representatives OF the next Congress, would
have shown widely different result. They have
not joined the Democrats at the South; if thew
had, there would have been no contest in the
recent elections in Virginia, North Carolina, Ten
nessee, Kentucky, Alabama, and Texas.
In all those States the Democratic party, with
the exception of a few disappointed ambitious
embittered renegades, and of the same voters,
has presented her regularly nominated ticket for
candidates for office. On the other hand. in
neither of those States was there Wing ticket
presented or ever proposed. The Know nothings
and the Democratic party in all recent elections
have been the two great rival parties in the
South. The Accommodating party has been led
by the old Wing leaders, and supported by the
same old rank and file Of the Wing party, with
rare exceptions. This will not be denied by apy
honest, honorable, intelligent man. Some there
may be who are ignorant of these facts, but there
are none who aspire to the position and dislnc-
tioh OF leading that party, or any other party,
who do not know them.
The Democratic party has not changed its
principles The know-nothng party is composed
OF Wings, and governed by the same old leaders:
and we have never heard that they, individually
or collectively, have abandoned their Wing prin-
cples, but only that they have added to their
creed lew additional and yet more odious tenets
warning upon the rights Of conscience, proscrib-
ing the naturazed citizen, exciting religious per-
secutlon, and mingng in strife and bitterness our
religion and politics.
In view OF these facts, we must conclude that
those who have abandoned the Democratic party
have abandoned, also, its principles, (for they
constitute at best but ptiful squad in the Know
Whigs;) and that they have either been deceived
and msled to do so by plausible misrepresenta-
tons, or that they have sold out their PRINCIPLES
with full knowledge of the facts, and have been
governed in so doing by ambitious hopes, plausi-
Die promises OF promotion to public honors, past
political discomfort, and embittered disapnoint-
ments personal to themselves
Of the class who have been deceived. when
they shall have seen plainly the tendency and d.
recton oil TINS new party, we may con identIy ex-
pect rithdrGicai, and daily see il exemplified
IN the published lists declaring their reputation
OF The hnow-nothing party But of the well-in-
formed, well-read political renegade, no one ex-
poets return to the Democratic party; and as
the act Of abandonment denotes the poIiticallv
dishonest man, of INSCRIPTIONS ambition, re-
vengeful feelings, overriding his principles and his
patriotism, no one could wish the return of such.
since none could regard it as sincere and trust
worthy. None could anticipate aught from il but
discord, reorganization, intrigue, and party dis
aster The loss of all such will be matter OF little
regret, if not actual cause for rejoicing. with
every sound and rational man. In the lanpua ge
OF the Hon. A. b. Greenwood, our able and
faithful representative from the first district:
1T cannot be denied that the order is composed
OF men who have always been hostile to the De-
mocratlc party; in fact, it is the old Whig party
with some honorable exceptions) banded together
under new name, aided by few dcluded demo-
hce-seekers, and are ready to Join any orpaniza-
ton that may perchance place them in power If
the order is successful in elcctng President in
1856, and those office-loving gentry should again
be disappointed in their aspirations, they arc
ready to join any other new party that may spring
up with the smallest hope ofsuccess. The coun,
Try Is ~ no danger from such political adventur-
ers."
IL y the attempt Of this new party TO delude
the southern people into the belief that they are
Inc true southern party, and that, as SUCH they
are national, and that they have strength al the
North to aid them in sustaining the constitutional
rights OF the South, that the democratic pa rty at
the North IS thoroughly abohfionized. This rep
resentaton is bold reckless and shameless false
hood; and those who originate il know It TO be
such, and those who repeat it are in the same
shameless category, or are so ignorant of the
everyday facts of our political history as TO be
deserving OF no notice. The well-informed poll
ncIan who will assert il inspires with pity and
Senator Benjamin, Of Louisiana, an honorable
man, but an intolrant iohig, and bitter foe Of
democracy, declares in his recent address that he
repudIates the know-nothing party, and says:
"ln the debate which occurred in Tho Son.,o