Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-05-09
For the Standard.


DEAR SIR-Several months since caused to be
published in the Louisburg News short piece rela
tive to Know Nothingism, in which called it
zolutionary party, and for it denounced as
republican. And now give to it what its advocates
claim and what can they name it? What, that the
government of the nation is to be influenced and
managed by secret order organized with oaths
passwords, signs, grips and keys, not revolution?
For what is the government but the effect of election?
For ours is democratic representative government
if understand it, carried and carried out by the
will OF the people, by and through their representa-
tives acting with Constitutional powers and under
Constitutional checks restraints, and it the cleo
tive franchise is to be thus changed they say is
and there is too much to fear is will be the
case there can be question about the name, for it
certainly is not the influence that has governed the
elections through all the republican administrations
from Washington to the present, inclusive. But the
effects of this revolution is the matter of interest
whether we have not a right to dread from present
indications that the mighty ism may in its onward
course crush and destroy our fair fabric of Consti-
tutional liberty.
But to the secret Orders. Whatever is capable
of doing much good is alike powerful for evil and
these societies from ancient Masonry down to the
commencement of this last, were no doubt intended
and have to some extent extent effected, humane
and phianthropic objects-and SO long their
ton kept aloof from law and religion there could
be no objection raised to them. But then what
ever oftime, talent money was bestowed on those
special Orders it diminished the'means and ability
just that much to bestow and employ in general
charity and good will to man-and, therefore, where
the aggregate benefit? And if in masonry there was
this great good for architecture, &C., and in Oddfel
lowship that great fidelity, why not let general
benefit be derived thererom, and not secree it for
the benefit of few? And on to the Sons of
Temperance. What benefit has secrecy been to
that order? venture the opinion that there is not
individual in a thousand who has been influenced
by the novel secrecy of the order to attach himself
to it who has not either left will leave, be dis
advantage while he remains in it; and believe that
the secrecy is impeachment to the progress of so
good cause; for people accuse it of being money
making machine and that there is something carry
rying dangerous to their liberties, but they say
they don't interfere with the laws of the land, what
deny or rather deny their want of desire to do
For don't they ask legislation? And they
pected, and the community have right to suspect,
when they desire change in the laws which gov
all and keep their mannoeuvring secret, that
there is something wrong, else, why conceal it
And then those VOWS and pledges (Which are not in
instance in a thousand tulhlled,) and where is
the worthy virtuous member of one of those orders
who don't find himself put down to level WITH and
have to fraternise the most worthless of Gods
ton-hence the question whether the whole cata-
logue at least the secret part thereof is not rad
caly wrong, at least being in the way of as
much good they have accomplished. But all
might be borue until this last ism which is said to
bind its votaries by solemn oaths, and those oaths
administered by political gamblers-placing IN IL
dicue this very practice which should never be ex-
ercised but by those legally authorised to administer
them, and intended to bind mems consciences
perhaps to ruin their country. l am Son of Tenn
perance but Just say that all that have witnessed
in the order that's bound to be kept secret is just
what should like abolished, and the secrecy
at least gives good for outsiders to suspect that
the part not avowed shown is all wlio-the-wlsp
concern which wont bear the scrutiny of inte
gence-and l shan't deny it. l said in my last that
I feared the day would come when every patriot in
the nation would wish that such institutions as Sc
societies had never originated, and now fear
that time is close at hand hope some other hand
will take hold of this subject-politcay what amt
fit to see amt fit to be.
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO ALL.