The true Democrat., 1855-07-03
From the Columbus (tia.) Times Letter from Hon. Robert Toombs On Know Nottingham.
Boston, Moss., June 9th, 1855.

VII SAAA0~ W
 Boston, Moss June 9th, 1855.
 DEAR S1R:-More than three weeks ago. in compliance with my promise, I wrote to you, giving my opinions of the new political organi- zatlon, commonly known as ''know nottingham" or the American party. l did not learn until reached Augusta, on my way here that you had not received it. If it should yet come to hand, wish you to publish it. as it was a much fuller and more carefully prepared exposition of my opinions than this letter can be- Ishal embark to-day for Liverpool, and, for want ot tune, must conhne myself to a very brief statement rather than an argument on the sub- ject.
 My first objection to the new party is one in- dependent of it's principles. I am opposed to It because It IS secret political society Society has right to know the men, and the princi- pies, and the policy of the men, who seek to direct It's affairs and controlit destiny. Publ- city Is the ltc-b,ood of a representative republic. Without 1t, public liberty must soon perish, and no necessity. short of that which would justify revolution, can justify the surrender of this great security of popular government. All par ty associations are constantly liable to be used by the cunning, the unprincipled and enterpris. Ing members for the promotion of personal ob- Jects rather than the public interests, and it needs no argument to prove that secrecy great ly increases the tendency and facilitates the ac- mpllshment ot such unworthy ends. Secre- cy Is the natural covering of fraud, the natural ally ot error and the enemy of truth. The patriots who framed our constitution gave it fatal blow, by provisions which secure the freedom of speech and the liberty of the press.
 The objection to the new party derives ad dltlonal force from the obligation which is said to De imposed upon the applicant for admis- sloh, that lie will carry out its decrees whether his Judgment approves them or not. If this be true' It IS surrender of the dearest rights of lreemen, and IS crime against society 1 My next objection to the American party is, that It proposes, in some way, to invade the rights ot conscience or to call men in question for the free exercise thereof am opposed to all religious tests of every sort and for every purpose Our constitution protects us against the putting of such tests upon the statute book. but the prlnclple IS founded on truth and jus tlce, and onsht to be the rule of the individual actlon as well as of tho public conduct of every citizen. Centuries of unavaling persecution taught our fathers the tolly as we'll as the wick edness, o attempting to control mems conscien- { therefore, put the sting of disability into the temptation to disgrace our statute book with this sort ot legislation. We will defeat their noble objects, in part at least, by cnacring a different rule ill the exercise of our political rights.
 1t is charged that the Roman Catholic politv is cruel intolerant and despotic The charge Is not wholly untouuded. If it be true, 1t is greatly to be condemned and deplored, and, above all things, we should avoid initiating their vices, and thereby justly subjectins ourselves to this great condemnation. We can neither con- quer nor eradicate the vices of Romanism, Whatever they may Dc, by initiating them, or by persecution. The world has tried these re- medles for centuries past, and tried them in valn Let us rather oppose her cruelty with Kindness, her intolerance with free federation. Gin substance as we'll as form) her despotism With freedom, and then we may reasonably look for different and better results The mo- ment that the simple, vet sublime truth. got it. self acknowledged by our government, that the citizen responsible to the State for his civil con- duct, but to God only for his religious faith, the unholy bonds which unite the church to the State, were broken, persecution for conscience sake became impossible here, and religious to- leration entered upon its career of universal do- mlnlon. Its great triumph was to strike the fetters from the consciences of the Irish Roman Catholics. It has begun q similar good work for the Protestants of Spain and Sardinia, and for the Greek in Turkey, and it will 20 on conQuering and to conquer" until the Demon Of persecution-blind, deaf, and stupid-shall have no more abiding place upon the face of the earth
 The naturalization laws are greatly complain- ed of by the American party. think them founded on just principles, and are, in the main, wise and good laws To naturalize an intelli- gent foreigner of good moral character, and at- tached to free government, and the principles of our constitution, and who has resided among us long enough to test these qualifications is d great benefit to the State, as we'll as to the indi- vldllal who receives the high privilege. These are the conditions and safe guards which our laws seek to throw around the right of citizen. ship. These laws are, no doubt, frequently vi- plated; they are, doubtless, imperfect and do not fully effect the objects intended by them Let all proper additions and amendments, ne- cessary to carry out these objects, be made, and then let the law be faithfully administered, and these things can be done without tho aid of se- cret societies
 There IS another objection to this party which should put it under the ban of southern opinion. We have had great struggle, for the last six years, upon an intensely exciting sec- tional issue. This issue has been settled by the wisdom of the representatives of the peo- pie. This issue found its solution in the legis- lation of 1850 and 1854. The peace and safe. ty of the republic demand that this legislation should not only be undsturbed, but vigorously upheld by the nation. The American party, in the north, whenever it has had power, has shown the most vigorous hostility to this legis- lation. The know nothngs of Massachusetts have attempted to nullify it, and have shown a total disregard of their public oaths, and therefore, are wholly incapable of giving any pledge, open or secret, that man of honesty ought to accept. Political association with these men is moral complicity with their crimes.
 The true policy of the south is to unite to lay aside all party divisions; whigs, democrats and know nothings should come together, and combine for their common safety. If we are wise enough to do this, to present one unbro- ken column of fifteen States united for the pre- servatiOn of their own rights the constitution