The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-07-06
LETTER FROM REV. A. h. L0NGSTGEET
ON KNOW NOTHING -lSlI!


pi. Tie name Of Augustus B. Isongstrret is
rndeared 10 the people OF Georgia by many ties
m the history Of the past. Il is naiae which
we were taught to revere in early youth as
synonomous with all that was bold and fearless
in the character of the advocate, with all that
was parental and dignified in The sage instructor,
and with all that was pure and honest aad up
right in the minister OF the Gospel. The old
men of Georgia have been accustomed 10 love
him as a hiothrr: the voung men, scattere,
throughout tn'. State, who, from bis lips, have
heard the lessons Of " isdom, continne to revere
tIm as father. There is man in Georgia VINO
will dare stand up and say that a. 3. Longstreet
speaks from impure motives. The indignant
frowns of an homes. people would raralyzp tie
sacrilrgionS effort. Judge Longstreet has been
forced from his retirement to come out and speak
upon this QUESTION; but having come ont, he has
net the issue with that holdness and honesty
which characterizes the man. He speaks TO the
people in the voice of warning wisdom, and tells
them to beware OF an organization, which must
lead to religious intolerance and persecution
The circumstances which led TO thr publica-
ton OF this letter arose from an attack made OPP
on the Jadge BY the .iiemPais Engie md I'm
qaire1, charging him with preaching ANTI
KnowNolking doctrines.
After aludng to the editors Of that paper.
who have aSsail;d him as the head Of the MisslS-
sippi University, he proceeds to condemn the
order in The terms to be found in the extracts
below. Let every Georgian Iead them care
fully and ponder over them well, whether he be
Kuow-Nothing or Anti-know-Nohing
ain July last had Just heard of new organ
ization in the country-secret in its movements,
and going under tbe name OF know-NothngS.
its principles, | understood 10 be-, opposition to
Catholics and foreigners, to De planned u the
dark, strengthened bv oa!hs and manifested at
the balIot-box. Il filled me with alarm.
"a saw in il The elements Of rapid expansion
and awful explosion. l exhibited them 10 the
class-that graduated that month, and torwarnrd
them to have nothing 10 do With it. Had
been inspired, / could hardly have foFeshadowed
its history more accurately than did. 0imy
prediction nothing remains to be fulfilled but
the outpourng of more blood. My forecast 10
relation to it ought to insure respect t"r my
Judgment, in and about Oxford at least but It
is that very forecast which is raising huzz OF
discomfort against me in this vicinity now
This is the sin which brought out against ne the
recondite presses which I have named above.
It is called sdqJbling in politics : bat ITS true
name is sJnpalafajie Truth = This IS the SIN
for which ] an soon, perchance, 10 be sacrificed.
They that stoned the prophets nl old are yet
alive, and why should expect better fate than
theirs Well, do not know that better use
could BE- made ofmy old carcass, than the o!ter-
ing Of it upon the altar of this .3mericqa Baal.
An incense would arise from it that would do
more to purify the Church and the State from
this modern abominaiion, than anything which
can pmanate from my poor tros-coyeFed BRAIN
ssThp public has now the sum total ct my
political sins. public and private. shall speak
at large Of the new order, IN an appeal to my
Church at some future dav, il may be allowed
to do so. I am committed against il, and shall
oppose it forever-not in the classroom, but
everywhere elSe-n0 as a partisan, bet asa
Christian. This the patrons Of the aIvrrsiiy
shonld know. For all the houoFs and emolu-
ments Of earth / could not be induced to assume
position Of neutrality in regard to II. il all
experience be not ialsehood, and all history
fable, ii will throw this country into ceaseless
commissions, fit be not crushed, and that speed
lily.
ain nv view every man who has scruplr's
influence should rise against it-uow --immedi-
ately, ere # be forever too late Indeed, il
allows no neutrality. With all lis professtd
AmegicanSm, it assumes an absolute Dictator
ship 1t will allow no man TO question lis
purity or its policy. 1t gathers within lis pale,
men Of dignity, talen; and piety, preachers and
teachers and with them, the most depiaved,
abandoned, desperate, God-dplyng sinners upon
the earth binds them by oathS IN the bonds Of
fellowship and sets them all at work in politics
and nothing bnt politics. | find christian
brother among then,-I read to him II Cor. Vi.
IA and on, and imporp him TO come out from
such connections and it addresses NE in tones
of despotc authority in this wise: Sir, NY
name is Polaics-you as a Clergvmpn should
have nothing to do with Polificsn Right, cries
nv brother, sold man YOU will ruin yourself il
you mpddlp with politics. | say TO him, 'your
oaths are against the laws of God and your
Church." ssSir,n It responds, edo you thus de-
nounce the pious Of my order have you no
respect for the Church or your place ] de-
nouncp the sinners ofthe band and the SAINTS
reprove ne. I reprove the Saints and the sim
ners denounee me. The Saint shields the sinner,
and the sinner, the Saint. II such combna
tion is not enough to make the Church and
State both shudder,I know not what would.
ssOn me the new Order bears with intolprable
pressure 1t rises before me like the ghost of
Banquo, at my every step 10 the pathway of
duty.
ssI am preacher I'll preach upon the sane
tity of oalhs, it regards itself insultpd, and
attacks me accordingly. If preach to chris
tians 10 come out from the wicked, it insults me
for assailing Know-Nothings. II preach that
the love Of Christ is not bounded by State lines,
Il charges me with attacking the article Of It's.