Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-04-06
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~ s''i iAI.'' A'F
That Know Nottingham Ia it now exists in Virginia
is really Il political scheme designed 10 restore thc
Whi- party 10 power, by cntrappir- un-nsl."tli-
Democrats into the support of the Winchester ticket
i. n fact nho;t which nearly al rejecting Democrats
are perfectly agreed. There is, however, reason {,
fear that tho Kuow-Nothing Organization still con
tuins many good md true men, who chcriShing now
as fundly as ever. their old political faith, are ye
placed in al attitude of hostility to their party, from
sincere and honest desire to and i'll carrying out thu
professional principles of the so-called American
creed.
Nor is it at all strange that such should be the case
ReuuIsiyc aa Know nthinGism IL 10 the instincts and
feelings Of every true Republican, and unmanIy and
uuiUsrifahlc IA the means are. by which its aivn-
Gates seek to accomplish their purposes, II must still
be confessed, that there IL II spccioasii'''a about ticiI
nvuwri principles, AMI Their party watc!Iwords, ca
ccciinglv well calculated "a dccciv" tie u'iSuslIcIol-
and tn. uurtdlrciins. That Americans should ruic
America" tlnt "prrtcstant7 should pr"tcr: md de-
frid Protestant interests aud nu: permit the Jc-uIts
ard other mimi"rS al the Pope Ia subvcrt the lIi,t.'u,
tiors of the country aye, Ia say the least, exceedingly
tah'mg phrases, aud admirably adapted /" command
the approval Of those VINO have never taken In.
trouble 10 enquire whether the allegations nf Know
NOthingism are true nr false, or whether the dangers.
which il 50 cIOqucrtly depicts, really in fact cNis:. Ii
il not surprising, therefore, that even utter n" de-
vclupmcntS ut Winchester, some Democrats are still
10 be found unsispiciouslv acting in close nllianC"
with the bittcrest fues OF their political faith, ana who,
regarding the established measures OF the Democratic
party, as tho settled policy OF tie country, are dis
posed To abandon, for the present, their old party or
ganiIatlon, and combine with their hereditary inrs, in
pursuit nf the imaginary blessings winch Know.
Nuthirgism holds ont 10 their view.
II anv OF our Democratic readers are to be found
in this category, We rntrent them before casting their
votes against the Democratic nominees To ask them.
selves tins Siinpl" question: What will knuw-NOth.
inglsm gam, admitting It's principles IL be true, by
tie, SIcc,r- 81 I'll" Ninchcsicr Ticket III Virginia
Grant. if y"u please, TINT The manifold platforms Of
he order land their name i. legl"n) all confirm princi-
pies lust. reasonable, Giih"doX, and Indispensable 4"
The prosperity md advancement, Of the coun;ry.-
gran, that foreign immigration should be checked.
nmi that Catholics should be prescribed, or, III other
words, that only native-borm pro;cStants should hay"
n voice in the American government rHnncric All
;lis, for the sake al the argument, nnd then can any
Know Nothing Democrat tell, for his lU", what lracil-
cal influence the election Of Mr.. floUruoy nnd no
know-Noilling as-priGtes can possibly exert towards
the accomplishment "t these objects!
The right of sulirage and qualification for Ollie"
are not tuc creatures Of legislative will. These a:r
questions Of too grave import 10 fall within the scop"
I'll the legislative power, aTi they can oniy be settled
bY the representatives. al the people IN M,tr CoHcctit'
capacity, IN cOnEcEisoR 0iSs1atisd. Such benz the
admitted fact, villa; pnssihi" motive have even
kunw-No;hing Democrats ~ induce them 10 MD III
destroying the Democratic Organization, and in
clcctiig Il Wig 10 ill the highest Office i'll the gift Of
the people Of the State!
Whai cTuiva!rn, can they possibly receive Tor thus
rfStilN hbuiiiu!iill, al we VI .I' 'l't' " nv IVY nav
prniessoi AMI hattlci los heretofore, and far aiding t"
throw The "Oid Dnmiui"I" int" tn" arms OF those
whose political creed Sic ias ever scorl;.d.iy rcpudIa-
TOD, even when upheld by her greatest a'iis'
Suppose FiOurmnv l. circtcd Governor, how mucil
nearer viii! the Know "lliim.s be towards the re-
compIishmcnt of their p,oIrSytd tno; the real Oh
.icc;s, than they are al present! Inc constitution of
Virginia can only be changed by Il convention duly
convened, and nu one dreams tIni such n convention
will DC called until 1861. The right ut su.tigc and
tho rnUuriiy 10 hold Office LGIllr Guaranteed Ia la.iIo-
lies and foreigners by IL constitution, must remain IN.
changed for years Ia cuuEc, no matter what may be the
political creed OF the Governor, nr the political com
plrXion of the Legislature. 1t can therefore make 10
possible difference, go far as these matters are con-
ccrned, whether Wise or Flournuv should be elected to
the tiubrrratoral Acknowledgements aud Catholics will
still remain in the enjoyment al every right OF which
kuow-N othinglsin seeks 10 deprive them, until the
constitution OF ' irgIria IL changed by the same power
that created little people themselves. fthG Know
Mornings were really honest III their professions, they
would ~ once attack The constitution %; the STATE
which guarantees 10 Foreigners and Catholics, under
certain restrictions, these ubuoxinus ri.his, instead OF
attempting 10 Use their organization Ia secure TIM
election ui men, whose election 10 office can have
no practical influence ~ the questions NJ issue, ON"
way or the other. The course they have actually
pursued III this matter, proves ccncluSlvrly that they
ac more intent upon ~grnsping the spills Of office,
than upon ctIrcting .ic sncini. political and religious
reforms they PROMISE, mad demonstrates with mHt!c-
matlcal precision, Tie hul!owncns and lulsity of their
hypucrirCul prctrnsiors.
We trus. thar every Democrat who has been en-
trapped into the k~mow-N Nothing associati"3 will pom
der these things, AMI before placing Nh !mpas-ublc
grll between himself and the great mass Of the De-
mpcratic party. ask himself this plain qnestion-.ini
] iustiliUbic in abandoning the creed whirh | have
pr"ics,cd md contriIlrd Tor d,riag my whole BE,
when my vote cannot possibly avail Tor the PURPOSES
tor which it was intended y calm consideration
of this question will prevent many an honest De-
m"crat tron casting n vote 10 be ~remembcrrd with
sorrow and contri,ion for the balance Of his lie.