Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-03-21
spEECH on THE HOS. THoMAs RuFFIN.

the state of the Union, Mr.. RUFFIN rose and said:
Ms. CHARMAN--I rise in my place for the first
time since have had seat upon this floor, with the
view of submitting few remarks do not propose
to discuss the question Immediately before the COM
mittee and shall avail myself of the privilege now
accorded me, to consider another question. Since
have been member Of this House, it has acted upon
many important questions. Being 10th to trespasS
upon the time of the House, / have cOntented my
self by giving silent vote upon all of them. These
were questions which had heretofore entered more
less into the political discussions OF our country
and upon them my opinions were not unknown to
my constituents Since the commencement OF the
present session of Congress we have heard discus
sions in this Hall upon questions which were thought
to have been settled long ago. apde more partic-
ularly those great questions of religious liberation
and naturalization had thought that the question
Of religious federation settled by the Constltu-
ton of the country, and that American citizens had
always proudly Boosted that here, every man had the
right to worship Almighty God according to the die
tates of his conscience, and that this right was
not only guaranteed by thefundamental law of the
land, but regarded as inherent and inalienable
And, Mr.. Chairman, had thought that the natur-
azation laws passed under the administration OF
Jefferson, amended and perfected by subsequent leg
isation had given general satisfaction to the country,
with the exception of small faction. Throughout
the country, discussion these questions has been
revived of late
To keep pace with the spirit of the times early in
the present session honorable gentlemen were strug-
Cling to get the floor bring them before the House
for its consideration. The honorable gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Taylor more fortunate than his COM
petitors succeeded in his efforts and having obtain
ed the floor, introduced bill proposing alteration
of the naturalization laws.
Sir, that gentleman is responsible for the intro
ducton Of the subject here, if he prefers It. he is
entitled to the distinguished honor of having been
the first to introduce this into the House at
the present session of Congress.
And again, Sir, not long since a series of resolu-
tons embodying certain principles in relation to
these questions was offered by the honorable gentle.
man from Pennsylvania (Mr. Witte). l was called
upon to vote for the suspension OF the rules to en-
able the House to consider those resolutions, and it
is not out of place here that should give the rea
SONS which influenced me in giving the vote which
gave on the occasion. These are generally known
rs the Nothing resolutions.
can conceive of evil, either real or imagin-
airy, existing supposed to exist in this country,
which will justify American freemen in the forma
ton of secret oathbound political societies. They
may do for the despotsm of Russia; they may do
for Austria; but there certainly be necessity
for such in our land.
No, sir in our country where every man has the
right to speak, print, and publish whatever he may
fit, only being liable for the abusk Of that prv
lege, and where, to the language of old rcvo
lutionary writer, 1.-The press glows with freedoms
sacred zeal, here, sir, there can be necessity
for resortng to institutions of this kind with view
of controlling the legislation of the country. Those
who framed government wisely provided the
means of altering such laws needed amendment.
Thoy are open to repeal or alteration; but sir, this
of broad day. Our institutions depend for their
cess the virtue, intelligence and patriotism of the
people; and when the time comes in which they
will desert the usual mode, do away with the open
action of day and these cabas to in
hucnce the legislation of the country, then, in my
opinion, the days of the republic numbered. He
has read history with but little profit, who has not
observed that in every country where the people
have lost their liberties they have brought such mis-
fortune upon themselves. When they have become
demoralized and ready for change then the turmoil
of the times has given birth to some adventurer
who boldly usurps their liberties, assumes the
agement of their affairs, and concentrates all po
cal power in himself Learning lessons of wisdom
from the records of the past let US strive to escape
the calamtes that have beiallen other republican
governments.
What master spirit devised this organization? 1
do not know that this is question of any great inn
portance do not think that the author is entitled
to any great credit for originality do undertake
to say whether it is taken from the forms and
monies adopted by Catane and his co-conspraors a:
Rome, whether it is like unto the societies form
ed in certain districts Of England to protect labor
agrlnst capital, whether, most probable,
it has for its prototype the order of religious esuits
as depicted in the "WanderinS Jew, :" and that the
federal treasury is the Renepont inheritance which
1t IS using its appliances and secret machinery get
possession Of
was forciby struck with the similarity between
the two orders, the religious jesuits and the Know
Nothings, in the speech of the honorable gentleman
from Alabama (ir. Smith,, and am sorry that he
cription in his defence of the Kaow-Nothing order
we sec that il makes of the same appliances to
accomplish its objects the religious esuits which
order he set out to denounce. In one portion of his
speech, he says, that the Know-Nothngs are formed
for the purpose of making against the religious
jesuts. Both seem to be the same in organization.
Each is afte" power and spos Each is enshrouded in
the garb of mystery. One hides its iniquites under
the cloak of religion; the other under most exalt-
ed devotion to the country Each teaches the prac-
tice OF falsehood, craft and deceit Each binds its
members by mighty OATH the violation of which
they assume to punish. The one claims devout pe:y
the other intense patriotism.
The gentleman from Alabama saws that "When
you fight the devil you have the right to fight him
with fire. " That seems to be in fact an acknowl-
edgement on his part that the new order was taken
from the other But will this principle hold
good? Fight the devil with fire-perpetrate an evil
20 obviate the consequences of another one-commit
one fraud to nullify anotherl The gentleman is a
distinguished Lawyers, and fRoald ask him whether
he would consider it right to meet forged bond
with forged release? The principle is the same
That was said to have been practice at one time
quite common among the British lawyers in the East
midas 1t has never been introduced into this coun-
try, and trust it never will be. It is unsound in
morals 1t is sentiment unfit to be proclaimed in
the presence OF the representatives of the people
here in this Hail.
He also in the course of his speech that these
religious jesuts were organized by thwarted military
aspirants after the reformation. I would ask whe-
ther this order of political esuts Of which the gen.
tleman is champion upon this floor was not organi-
Zed after the great political revolution which swept
federalism out of power in 1852. Until this power