Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-08-24

anil l IN the 18Th inst, the following striking and
CsLU ,,ont letter was read, from Hon. A. r. Butler
eo?toJ States Senator in Congress from South Caro-
Ina SroNELANDs (near Edgefeld c. H.,)
August 9th, 1855.
l,rnr1EMEN Your communication OF the Sd inst:
go me to attend meeting of those citizens OF
nth Carolina who believe that State rights, South
s obts and the liberties of the people are enGah'
cru 5r the existence and progress OF the knoW-No-
geIeu Jdnr and in the event of my inability to at
tnlpsI rponestng such expression of my views as
slen~' link proper 10 communicate" has been re-
Whilst the state of my health will not allow me to
b. with YOU on the occasion to when you have
DC ;.J mo 7 fear in the few remarks which shall
uL,;t cannot do Justice to the subjects on which
sum ;sb nv oninion In the threshold OF these
you Give It as my belief that the tairpIay spirit
ma INDICATED provisions of constitution cannot
bn assaed. with success, by the daggerpower OF Sc
cret and irresponsible associations.
II illustrate whit | shall say hereafter Will
ato from memory sentence of Washington IT.
49,. g Our ancestors not only proclaimed but prac
,;sai ha7dg morality that feared no contact lhey
,rusted to the courage and power OF Clu'" Ill Iner
anti. proscriptve constitutions and OPINIONS lhey
we're willing 10 trust their desInles on the arena OF
a lair and omen trial They thought they could trust
sbo cansp nj retgion SO far there should be pO-
I;t;coI Jurisdiction over it, to the following clause of
our federal constitution
Congress SHALL make law respecting an establish
mont Of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof
Jng the freedom of speech or ofthe press the right
# the people peaceaby assemble and petition the govern
And by the same constitution, Congress was in
listed with the power of establishing uniform rule
f GENERALIZATION. Now, | understand ii, the
Know Nothing organization is TO make war upon
both these provisions in their true spirit suppose
hnr aim will not be avOwed TO establish religion or
n exclude foreign immigration, but under the as
.nmnton of Protestant purity and American patriot
;ro il is the purpose of the order 10 take voluntary
iursdictou over these sub ecs-tha is, 10 put into
ofce themselves under the names of Protestant piety
and American devotion and if they should succeed
in their designs by the influence OF these heterogene-
ous and irresponsible alliances they will have subst-
uted their conventional obligations for the constu-
ton of the confederacy.
believe have left out another one OF their avow-
als-a common purpose TO preserve the Union as they
understand it should be preserved
acknowledge no pe!y that is proscrptive, re-
cognjse no patriotism that is unCvilZed and exclu-
sye and want no Union that is not under the con.
troll of an operative constitution The Declaration of
independence and the federal and State constitutions
of the United States were made under auspices and
Influences to rebuke the bigoted and ConCeited spirit
that would invade them in the nineteenth century,
when the different parts of the earth near rs
the different provinces Of the same empire were for
merly.
regard the Declaration Of independence and the
federal constitution the great and enduring pillars
of an altar erected in this New World to federation
an altar that owes its construction not 10 Jews nor
Catholics, nor TO PrOtestants only but 10 the united
Iabors of all who had sought here a refuge from
transatlantic domination. While Protesants may
have borne the first and largest share in the work
American Independence, others, of whatever religious
education, were scarcely behind them in zeal and
activity for the hallowed cause. Even the Jew was
no idle spectator of It's advancement. | remember to
have heard it stated-indeed, ample evidence of the
fact was on several occasions before me while upon
the bench-that young Salvador was the first person
who publicly read the Declaration of independence
our 96 district He fell shortly afterwards battling
for American freedom. And who was this Salvador
A gallant and dashing young Jew.
But pertinent inquiry, in the consideration of this
question: relates to the origin of Know N othingism
Where did it originate, and why! 1t is certainly
not Indigenous at the South. There were no such
pre-eylstng virtues. 1t was, and is foreign to our
necessities whether social or political: 1t was nc
southern in lis inception than it is in its deVel
opment The North was it's birthplace. 1t arose
primarily, as an antidote TO evils which were there
brought about by abuse OF the naturalization laws
The introduction of foreigners was permitted, in dis
regard Of the several constitutional requirements ae
to three years notice, five years residence, &c. Mis-
Cmet is now resulting from the practice But 1t is
their own fault. They have mingled the waters Of
the Or0nes and the 1iber, and it is theirs 10 drink
them. At the South these abuses have not prevailed
Aproper observance of the law has had the effect OF
bringing amongst us a different class of foreign popu
IatOn from that at the NOrth-One, at any rate, o.
which we do not complain.
Another reflection here suggests itself Where il
the necessity OF any such interference with the cleo
1--WE franchise as now proposed by the No
things which the State governments have, after all
llenary control OF the whole matter Not only
have they this control in regard to the privilege o
voting, but the power exists in them even 10 determine
who shall enjoy the rights of inheritance within the
borders If we were really apprehensive that foreign
immigration was about TO endanger in either OF
these respects, in any other, the true woulC
surely be 10 seek remedial action through the State
governments themselves. To demand it elsewhere
would be to contemn the rights of the States.
shall regard Know Nohingism, if introduced al
the South, as but another Trojan horse brought in
BY enemies, and to be accepted only by the shallow
and incOnsiderate. Like that horse, it comes herald
ed as an object TO call forth praises and enlis
our adherence, when it is really but the daring
Sratagem of those who not for our welfare and
respect not our rights My conviction is that the
doctrines and tendencies of Know Nothingism are
not only insulting to such foreigners as adopt our in
Sttuons from choice, and with the honest resolution
OF rendering implicit obedience to the laws we have
oCamed but they are IN grossly bad faith with the
provisions OF the constitution and especially uncalled
!o[ by the South That voluntary associations oil
INDIVIDUALS should seek 10 supersede the constitution
OL our country is a degree of arrogant assumption
T cannot contemplate without aversion
whatever may be the fate of the Union, let not oul
southern honor be furnished by any the least viola
ment.
n. A'ler what have said, gentlemen, you may ex
pSOs olStinct summary of my opinions have NJ
ueslIanon IN giving it. | am neither Jew nor Cath
o oT, pul an humble, and trust sincere supporter
u OIL n1oseStant Christianity. In politics. no whig
ro an 10 consoldatlonist. | am a democratic repub
oeH9Nng in the rights and dignity of State au
s" uUIny - am willing, hope with patriotic zeal, tt
fpPGlt me federal government while exercising it,
4C"o'S within constitutional prescriptions AS