The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1855-10-11
From the Mississippian.
AINTECEDENTS OF KNOW
= NOTHINGISM.


= NOTHINGISM.
In . recent article ~ showed tha,
when Beselist AFRAID betrayed the
eea6dence ofwas hinston and Joined
the British army, in his address to the
oisccr and soldiers Of the army he
had deserted, he plead in extenuation
Of his viilainy the identical reason
which 10 now urged by the Know
Nothing leaders in defence of their
conspiracy against the constitution
and laws Of the land.
We again copy from his celebrated
proclamation:
~What 10 America but a land Of
widows, orphans and beggars?-and
should the parent nation cease her
cxertions to deliver you, what securi-
ty remains TO you even, for the enjoy
ment Of the consolations Of that relig-
ion for which your fathers braved the
ocean, the heather and the wilder.
ness? Do you know that the eye
which guides this pen lately saw
your vssan and proaigate Congress Al
Mass for the soul Of q Roman Catho.
lie in purgatory, and participating in
the rites Of church against whose
anti.christian corruption your piou.
ancestors would have witnessed with
their blood"
Thus in the conduct Of Arnold, we
find the first development of Know.
Nothingism on this side Of the Allan.
tic.
1t next exhibited itself during the
second War oflndcpcndence. While
Jackson & Harrison were fighting the
battles of their country in vindication
Of the great American doctrine Of the
right ofexpatriation which the British,
Government had practically denied by
irnpressing into her service American
citizens who had formerly been sub
jccts Of Great Britain, the Know
Nothings Of that day met in secret
conclave in the city Of Hartford to
plot measures in aid of the enemies of
the country and to make war on nat
uralixed citizens &c. We have be.
fore US q concise sketch of this infa-
nous assenblage Of conspirators.-
Its acts bear 80 striking . resemblance
to the principles cnunciated by the
Know Nothing conclavcs Of the pres.
ent day, that the likeness will not fail
to strike with force the most casual
observer.
The convention met on the 18th Of
December 1914.
On the 10th, it WAS
Resolved, That the MOST INVIO-
LIABLE SECRESY SHALL BE OBJ
SERVED BY EAcH MEMBER OF
THIS CONVENTION, Including the
secrsy, o. to all propositions, debates
and proceedings thereof until this in
junction shall be suspended or alter
ed.
On the 25th Of December, 1914.
tho committee appointed to prepare
and report . general project Of such
measures - may be proper for the
convention to adopt, reported among
other thinys-
That il v cxpcdient to recommend
to ths several State Legislatures GER
tain smeadncnts to the constitution,
viz:
THAT tho power to declare Or
make war, BY the Congress Of the
United States, be restricted.
THAT it is expedient to attempt to
make provisions restraining Congress
in the exercise Of an unlimited power
to make new States and admit them
into the Union.
THAT an amendment BE- proposed
respecting slave representation and
slave taxation"
On the Goth Of December, 1914,
il WAS
Resolved, That the easy admission
of naturalizcd foreigners to places Of
trust, honor or profit, operate a. an
inducc,nent. to the malcontent sub
iects Of the old world to come to
these States, in quest Of executive
natronave and To repay il by an alb
jcct devotion to executive measures.
They further
Resolved, That no person rho
shaN Aereefer n .Atnralised shall be
eligible ~ . member Of the Senate or
House Of Representatives Of the Uni
ted States, ssr capo0e efAddisg any
eivl Office sadsr tie satAo'Ity Of nc CH'-
tei Ntotes.
In justification Of these rcsolu-
tons they argued rs follows:
That the stock Of population al
ready in these States il amply suf
hcient to render this nation in due
time sufficiently grest and powerful,
y not : controveetible question
Nor win il be ssriously pretended,
that ~ nstioaal de6ciency in wis
dom, arts, sciences, arms, ~ virtue,
needs Is bs replopished rom tsreign
ossasriss. Still 4 Is agrssd, that .
ibcrsl policy SHOULD oder the rishts