Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-05-22

they will vote against every man who shOu
prefer dissolution Of tho Uuion to unmit
/. gated tyranny!
Look at tho oath also. iin what is Gale
the first degrcc.) 'beforc Almighty God,
that those who are admitted, will nercr IN
der any circumstances, mention the name {
anr person present, Though il should he re
qucstcd. | NAV suppose in tho course of
judicial trial.) nor that they know such a
organization to be in existence: that the
are willing 10 vote for native born citizen
for ali Offices Of honor or trust IN the gift G
the people 10 the exclusion of all foreigner:
and of Roman Catholics in particular: tina
80 long as they are connected with that or
ganization, if not regularly dismissed from ii
they will in all things political or social, (s
far as the order is concerued,) comply viii
the will of the ma jority when expressed III
lawful mann"r. though 1t may conflict wit
their own Pcson0i preference. SO long as i
does not conflict with the grand State D
subordinate constitutions, the Constitution o
the United States. or that OF the State it
which they reside: and binding them, under
the penalty Of having their names posted
IL per urers and traitors 10 God and theiI
country; as being unfit to be entrusted III
auv business: unworthy the confidence of all
good men; and persons at whom the finger
OF scorn should ever no pointed. This is
quoted from what is affirmed TO be genuine
document. should hope, fo' the honor OF
Old Virginia. at least, that it is not. Is
democratic "discipline,' or even the curse
Of ErnaIphas. much worse than this
Remember, fellow citizens, that these are
Il. If Ep IA
seek TO govern the State. Bear III mind
that there is moral. ii not legal obligation
on every citizen to give his vote for men the
best qualified in his Judgment to serve the
country; and then ask yourselves, how Is II
that good and honest men can be so dcIuded
us to come under the solemn obligations SAID
TO be administered in tho dark comclaves Of
the Know Nothings
If their oaths and their acts only concerned
,hcmseives-like those Of the Masous or the
Odd Fellows-no one might desire 10 disturb
them. But they affect us all. We the
people. have some Interest i'll the question
how and by whom we are 10 he governed.
No members of our social c0partncry have
"A right 10 Withdraw themselves in a corner,
and pledge themselves by oaths in advance
To vote on any other objects or for any other
persons than such as III their own couscIences
and judgments they think best calculated TO
subsrrve tho common interests Such oathS.
III a moral view at least, are prohibited: and
hy obligations To the same effect, stipulated
hy the most solemn covenant, could not be-
enforced III Il court of justice.
Ii will not do 10 say, this IS IA great move
mcnt''--"a gigantic movement n!urtu-
natcly there have been too many instances OF
gigantic movements--set on foot too with the
very purest mOtives-whch have evcniuatcd
in Subvertiug the best rights and interests Of
mankind. Large communities, as well as IN
dividuals, Often act under strange decisions.
The French Revolution was one Of these
gigantic movemcnts-in its origin, possibly.
as pure AS our own. The order OF the
Jcsuis-the religious Know Nothlng5 OF
Spain-was great movement. The papal
powcr-now so dreaded by the american
PARTY Of irginia-doubtess succeeded many
great movements.
Before the dark proceedings Of the new
order were disclosed. We were told there
was to he no prescription for opinions sake.
That principle is still retained in the " Ba-
sis"-{arlicle the fonrlh.) Has it been pre-
served in practice The exclusion of all
naturaIzed citizens, and Of all native born
Catholics, from office, is said TO be no pro-
rrip,ion. II this exclusion be rig in Itself.
why not sanction it by law Why not IN
corporatc il in orr Bill Of Rights Nay--it
the Know Mornings prevail, will they not.
bound as they are 10 do all IN their power I"
promote the objects Of the order. strike out
the 18th art. OF the Bill Of Rights and the
act of religious federation, and iuscrt their
own Losmas amon- the Fundamental princi
pies of our government!
Exclusion from office they say ii no pun
ishmeut. Would they he willing it should
be applied 10 Know Nothinss do they
not know that 10 deprive large bodies Of
men of all hope of acquiring well merit"d
distinction by serving their country, is re-
gar,lrd by all honorable men as srlevous
penaty Do they not know that this very
penalty had more effect in supprcssing the
practice of dnclliDg in Virginia, than any
other ever before devised-than death Itself
Is it not. in respect to Catholics, the direct
application of Il RELY ious test !--naklng them
politically a dIsilOnored cast driving them
pcrhaps to become enemies of the State. Or
what is worse, religious hypocrite5 Reh-
giuus tests, il has been well observed, Keep
out of Dilice only the conscientious and STU
ccrc thew are never Il bar 10 the admission
of the uuconscicntCus and umprIncipled. Are
men of peace, ministers OF the gospel. To
UNFOLD an order whose doctrines are 10 pro-
duce these inevitable results Already fresh
seeds of bitter hatred have hccn sown he
tween the native aud foreign populations;
aud between different political parties aud
religious sects: anl prescription, personal
ourrag-s and hloodshcd are the first fruits.
The crv of mo popcry," in effect, Is thun-
dcred from the new Vatican, and echoed
through the land. Placards are stuck up
AZ the corners Of our streets, "Io hell
with the Pope TO he'll with the Calho
lies" Yes. in Virginia. Here in Richmond
in the middle Of tie 10Th century. Aud yet
no man in his sober senses has any more
fear, here in Virginia, of the Pope or the
Catholics than of the MormOns, or the man
in the moon.
The Know Nothings were to put down
prescription. Well, when was more UNI
initiated prescription ever Witnessed than
that pract:rel Ivy them III our late municipal
elections. when officers elected for many
years before, whose faithful services were not
disputed were hurled from office under the
relentless cdcts of their secret councils. And
for what! For no other offence, SO far as ]
can learn. hut that they would not JOIN the
new order: and gel! their conscieuccs for the
bride Of Office.
But it is said, this is only what was always
done by the Democratic party. Grant itI>
to lie 80. Prescription was one OF the evils
the new order was pledged to correct "es
have corrected it with Il vengeance: or IS II
that according to their creed, Democr.,c pro-
scrption only, is siu--and Know Nothing
prescription Il great virtue.
4 similar defence is set up for the oaths 10y
which the new order binds ts members. Ne
pledges Of the Democracy to obey their eau
r, :, ,.,;J - ho eouallv as bad. Well,