Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-03-28
For The Standard
THE KNOW. NOTHING CoNsPfR st5

The KNOW NOTHlNG %CONSPtkAC4.
In nay essay upon the conspiracy of the Know
Nothngs propose to deal fairly and Justly, to
que nationally with those of our fellow citizens who
have been induced to join this modern olligarchy on
accoant of supposed danger to our free institutions
FROM foreign influence Or the Pope of Rome.
will lay down the following propositions as my
premises, upon which viii comment and dedUce
conclusions$
l. That secret, cath bound political Societies
dangerous te free institutions.
2. That foreigners have made this country what
1t IS
3. That sae temporal power Of the Pope will aev-
er be acknowledged to any extent in this country
Il YARt there was necessity for the order OF
Know Nethings; and that it was organized by bro
ken down political hacks o all parties solely for the
sake of spoils; that it is founded upon crror ius
tice, tyrannical oppression iatoicrant bgetry, and
the prejudices of the people,
will discuss in the order in viii IN have
stated them, my scvera! propositions to which i'm
Ste the particular attention Of the people OF North
Carolina, Whenever any secret societies are formed
IN WHICH herrd eaths are administered against pub
kctS those societies certain to be organized for
the express purpose of beneiitng some and inurtng
others. If not why epjoin secrecy Look for nc
ment at the secret order of Jesuits. The members
of this nolerant order take oath that savers
OF bigetry than even the Know Nothing oath, For
what is this erGr iusttutedS To root out every
ligOus faith except their own. They Swear eternal
opposition and hatred to every religion except
that Of the Romish hierarchy. So it is with the mo-
eternsl oppositionto all foreign born citizens and
Roman Catholics Their object is to discriminate,
in n free country-yes, free country! between
who SHALL and who shRllnot hold office; and between
who shall and who shall not be allowed to vote.
Is this republican equay9 Is it fair? Is it right!
Yet this is their doctrine. They arc for placing IN
the constitutions of the different States, provisions
that will virtually sfranchse foreigners and forever
prohibit Catholics from voting or holding office Is
this compatible with the principles of free govern
ment? Certainly not. This is so manifest to all
CHAT no man Of intelligence will cOntrovert 1t. 10
carry out the principles of this order will he to
change our SYSTEM of free government from a repuh
lie to ariStocratc oligarchy. Viii the people
favor this fundamental change? Don't they see dam
ger in it to free institutions:
now come to my second proposition, that foreign
crs have made this country what it is And VIII"
denies it? The Indians the aborigiucS of this
country, and those who fought the battles OF the
revolution foreigners 1t was the CORY hlo"d
of ancestors that matted the soil of this contii-
cnt and their bones that wfitened its plains Who
was Dckalb? \ foreigner. Who was Lafayette?
He, too, foreigner! who nob'y volunteered his
services in our behalf And who was our whole ar
my but the deScendept Of foreigners: ithout the
aid of the great and good Lafayette our liberties,
probably, would never hive been achieved. And
yet all such men arc to be hunted down like beasts
of prey, by set of newborn patriots. Are the Pcu-
pie ready TO tolerate such policy? Nay, will they
do it? No! never.
will proceed to discuss the temporal power
ef the Pepc In treating this subject shall give
the doctrine q two prominent t!vSloiS al tile l"iS
Church: the Called the Ultramontane and fine !
other the Galcan doctrine. The Iitramomtancs
contend that the Pope hastempora power, " by rca-
of his spiritual power while, on the either hand
the Gaiicans contend against the temporal power,
either directly indirectly account of the spirit
nal power. The Hon. Joseph r. Chandler denies !
the same power, no doust many other Catholics !!
10 in this country.
/ am as much opposed to putting Catholics in Of !
fee any member .ofthe order but neverthe- /
ess enter my solemn protest against the sweeping
crusade of~the Know Nothings. Moreover, l will !
give my support to no man who will mctc out official
to those who believe in the temporal pow
er of the Pope. This faction is Doubt very small
IN this country, and am in hopes that it is daily
growing smaller still, by degrees and beautifully
esS. +"
[ now come to my fourth ard last proposition, /
which is follows That there necessity for !
he order Of Row NOthings3 and that it organ
zed by broken down political hacks Of all parties.
solely for the sake of the spoils; that it is founded
Ipon error, injustice, tyrannca oppression, intoier
INT bigotry, and the prejudices of the people.
Ny harsh words do not apply to the masses Of the
Know Nothinss, who have pure intentions; but to
he orginators and leaders of the movement. They
ire the mon to he blamed for this fanatca cru ade
lpon the rights Of the people. All the rcproach
mould rest upon their heads. But to 1t is
ny candid opinion that there not only neccS-
ity for the new born order, but that there is
essHy now for its humiliation.
Secret political orders never did and never will do
ny thing to perpctuate free government. But. on
he other hand, they have done and are now doing
much to undermine the ground work Of our beaug-
al system Of republican government. This order
Ias elected its candidates in several States of the
Mon. In the State of Massachusetts, where it has
ompete control of every branch Of the government .
me of its members has made proposition. offer
Il an amendment to the constitution by which every
nan that cannot read and write is to he disfranchiS-
d. Is this rcpublicanism Does this look like an
quail republic? aristocratic oligarchy? Reader
rhich does it resemble?
This new party Of persecution and prescription
1as originated. and is advocated by tne odds
nd ends-the expelled of al parties. 1t is made I'D
# heterogeneous compound from all sections, all
ects OF religious denominations Except the Catho-
les, and probably some of then) and above az claims
o he the only simon pure party in the country!
Now it is obvious TO all, that party with such
conflicting opinions tfis could unite only for the
axe of the spoils. Moreover, every rejecting man
bound to see that it cannot long remain together.
never can be national in its policy; but admitting
hat it Is, if it were to triumph it would survive
/. Neverl Why? Because when ''Sam ~ would
ut with him and leave the lad shorn of his power
his will be the rock upon which Sam " will split,
he eyer gets in power.
contend that this order is founded upon err
OF, injustice, tyrannical OPPRESSION ntolerant big
try, and the preudices of the people.
take this broad denunciatory position because
here is no principle for which they contend upon
rnciple. They appeal to the fears of the native
orn citizens against foreigners and the preudiccs of
II protestants against the Roman Catholics Here
the ground work Of this new party and the secret
4 its success. Any party that appeals to the pref
diees of the people, instead of their better Judge