The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-08-29

object of the new party0 platform was
adopted tchich tcould obtain The greatest num-
Der Of adherems. If that platform had have
contained one plank less in advocacy of
Southern slavery, the Know-Nothiug Party
would have obtained no foothOld 10 the
South. 1t is true, the party lost some of
Its first Northern supporters-this could not
be avoided. The whole amount of the
matter was, the question was singled down
! to this: Not that we love the North and
Northern abolitionism less, but we love
numbers more. Give us the numerical ma.
jority, and success will be ours. We will
rule the country-we will place our own
members into offices of honor and profit
Let us construct platform. which, the
planks, though loose, will keep together
until the next Presidential election, and we
are content. What then? The party rail-
lied and adopted the motto: "Americans
shall rule America" What plea!
Nearly one hundred years have passed
since this country has been declared free
and independent; political issues have arisen,
and even in our own State, party spirit has
ragged with fury; political strife has estranged
father from son, neighbor from neighbor,
and yet, in that space of time, and until very
recently, have we never been told that
" America must be ruled by Americans"
How Inconsistent. Americans not indigenous
10 the soil, descendants OF foreigners, and
yet, we must discard all connection with
those of other climes.
Since the Philadelphia Convention, the
party, we believe, have settled upon the
common platform OF denouncing the Roman
Catholic Church and prescribing foreigners.
AS matter Of news, desiring our readers
to see both sides, we give in another column,
The Principles and objects of the Amer.
can Party in South. Carolina" II il very
carefully worded, this new platform, and
sounds very well. 1t does not lead one to
suppose that they are embittered against the
Catholic ChuIch, and yet, almost simulla-
neously with this, appeared in tho Charles
ton News, the organ of the new party, the
following communication, which is in rea.
tion to Mr.. Reynolds n natiue Protestant of
Charleston
"lf twcrc well done, when it were done, il
were well, il were done quickly."-,Shdkspeare
Messrs. Editors We desire to say
through your paper TO the now-Nothin- s
OF Charleston, that we entirely disapprove
the nomination Of Col Reynolds as the
candidate to be supported by us. 1t is true
we have the power, and TO us belongs the
victory.
We have nothing to urge against Col r.
ns citizen, or n gentleman, but we think he
is one OF the very last to be recommended
TO our support. Having in his employment
a Catholic clerk one of his brothers hav-
ing married n Catholic lady associated in
many ways with foreign interests mum.
beriny amongst his personal friends many
foreigners, especially amongst the rish and
Germans; educated at the Catholic Semi
nary, and an especial favorite of Bishop
EngIanu nHnsen,In nIs nIe-pme--we think
we can more safely put our trust in some
one who was IAN old Native American"
and we hope that one of the gentlemen now
before US, who can be relied upon for carry
ing out of our principles, will be nominated
quickly.
We II know the characteristic energy
and determination Of Col. X, and il is for
that very reason, we would not give sup
port to man who might defeat US in our
dearest Object, by putting in Office Foreign
ers and Catholics
Let Americans rule America.
CONSISTENCY.
The very signature to the communication,
Consistency" tells the whole story. Con.
sisiently with their principles, the Know
Nothings cannot vote for any man who is
even in any way connected with the Catho-
lie Church-no, even if his friends and en-
ployees are Catholics. We have reason to
believe this is the aim and object of the
new misrepresentation Of the Catholic
Church and foreigners, in order that the
Wing party may be so increased that the
elections will be placed in their hands, and
then the spoilsof Office be theirs
We have before given our readers our
opinion on this subject. That We have any
thing TO fear from the Increase of foreigners
or Of the Romish Church, we unhestating-
ly deny. One thing is very certain, perse-
cuiion of the Church will but give it greater
strength. The historian Hume says in re-
lation to the persecution of Protestants du-
ring the reign of Queen Mary" every mar
tyrdom was equal to hundred sermons
against Popery.' So it ever has been in al
religious tests. The religion prosecuted,
will but derive the greater strength The
government Of this country has nothing to
do with religious scets. Congress shall
make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof" No religious test shall ever be
required as qualification to any Office or
public trust under the United States" So
says the Constitution. In the framing of
this instrument, Jefferson well knew that
in the former governments of nations, re-
ligion was the chief cause Of their political
strifes. Let religion be disconnected with
State matters. The assumption that the
Pope losing ground 10 Europe, would seek
to establish his ecclesiastical sovereignty in
America, and bring the United States under
the dominion ofa poItico-religious hierarchy,