The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1855-06-23
CLINTON, La. SATURDAY MORNING, JUNE %, 1856.
Tbt feIitiana 4sn,otrat.
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM
PRESIDENT LONGSTREET.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM
PRESIDENT LONGSTREET.
In July last l had just heard of new
organization in the country--sccret in its
movements, and going under the name OF
Know-Nothings. Its principles, / under
stood to be, opposition to Catholics and
Foreigners. to be planned in the dark,
strengthened by oaths, and manifested at
the ballot box. 1t filled me with alarm.
l saw in it the elements of rapid expan-
sion and awful explosion. exhibited them
to the class that graduated in that month
and forewarned them to have nothing to
do with it, Had been inspired, | could
hardly have forshadowed its history more
accurately than did. OF my prediction
nothing remains to be fulfilled, but the out,
pouring Of more blood. My forecast in re.
lation to it ought to ensure respect for my
judgement, in and about Oxford at least;
butitis the very forecast, which.is raising
q buzz Of discomfort against INC in this vi
cinity now. This is the sin which brought
out against me the recondite Presses which
| have named above. 1t is called" "dabbling
in politics." but its true name is I" Unpalata.
bic truth" This is the sin for which am
soon perchance to be sacrificed They that
stoned the Prophets of old, are yet alive
and why should l expect better fate than
theirs? Well do not know that better
use could be made of my old carcass, than
the offering of it up on the altar Of this
" .Anaerican" Baal. An incense might arise
from it that would do more to purify the
Church and the State from this modern
abomination, than any thing which can
emanate from my poor frost covered brain.
The public has now the sum total of my po.
litical sins, public and private. / shall
speak at large of the new order, in appeals
to my Church at some future day, if may
be allowed to do SO. l am committed against
it and | shall oppose it forevcr-not in the
class room but everywhere elsen- OF as par
tisan but as q christian. This the patrons
of the University should know. Forall the
honors and emoluments of earth could moi
be induced to assume position of neutrality
iu regard to it, If all experience be not
a falsehood and all history fable, ii will
throw this country into ceaseless convul-
sions, if it be not crushed and that speedily.
In my view, every man who has scruplc's
influence, should rise against it--now-im-
mediatcly, ere it be forever too late. Indeed
it allows no neutrality. With its professed
Americanism, it assumes an absolute die
tatorship. 1t will allow no man to ques.
tion its purity or its policy. 1t gathers
within its pale, men of dignity, talent and
piety, preachers and teachers, and with them
the most depraved, abandoned, desperate,
God-defying sinners upon earth; binds them
by oaths in bonds of fellowship, and sets
them all to work in politics and nothing
but politics. find christian brother
among them-I read to him III Cor. VI, IA
and on, and implore him to come out from
such connections; and it addresses me in
tones Of dcspotic authority on this wise:
" Sir, my name is Politics-you are Cler-
gyman, and Clergymen should have moth
ing to do with politics." Right" cries
my brother, " old man you'll ruin yourself
if you meddle with politicsp say to him
your oaths are against the laws of God
and your church" "Sir," it responds do
you thus denounce the pious of my order.
Have you no respect for the church or your
placer" denounce the sinners of the band,
and the Saints reprove me. / rcprovc the
Saints and the sinners dcnounce me! The
Saint shields the sinner, and the sinner the
Saint. If such combination is not enough
to make the church and State both shudder,
l Know not what would. slsa.-=
On me the Order bears with intolcrable
pressure. 1t rises Before me like the ghost
Of Banquo at my every step in the path
way of duty.
l ann a preacher: If preach upon the
sanctity Of oaths, it regards itself insulted
and attacks me accordingly. III preach
to christians to come out from the wicked;
it insults me for assailing Known Nothings.
If preach that the love Of Christ is not
bounded by State lines, it charges me with
attacking the article Of its creed against
foreigners.
an, a teacher: If teach that unlawful
promises are not binding; shall be charged
with justifying the exposure of Know-Noth-
ing secrets. If | set the lesson to my pu-
pills wherein J. B. Say says, that every ac-
cession of a man to country is an acces-
sion of treasure; am to be published to
the world, as indoctrinating my pupils in