The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-05-28
LETTER OF
The Hon, EDWIN G. READE,
OF NORTH CAROLINA,
TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.
(Concluded.)

i (Concluded.)
i proceed now to state my remedy for the
evils in the land: il is to cooperate with the
American party.
/ do not claim for il perfection either in its
origin, its practices, or its principles. for il
is human. but do claim that il is thoroughly
patriotic. Its secrecy and its oaths, which
have been so much misunderstood, and so
much abused. am under no necessity TO JUS
tiiy, because, out Of respect to those who
i thought them objectionable, they have been
abandoned. Just as Gen. Washington, who
was a member Of the Cincinnati Society,
recommended the abandonment Of some Of its
features, which he himself originated, not be-
cause he thought them wrong, but because
he was willing to yield something to the pre-
JUDGES Of those who did. But | must say, in
passing. that the secrecy which characterized
the organization Of the party, by no means
shows that it was wrong. Secrecy is not
crime. The purposes and the circumstances
must determine its propriety. The earliest
organized resistance to England was a secret
one. band Of men. painted aud disguised
themselves as Indians, and went on shipboard
and threw over the tea. The were denounc.
ed at the time as lswless rebels. Aud vet
which one of you now would not feel proud
To trace back his ancestry to these same Sc.
crct, disguised, lawless rebels! Noble men
They knew that they would be denounced,
but the interest Of their country required il;
aud their patriotism enabled them 10 rise
above every consideration, and subject them
selves to censure and suspicion. The brave
man does his duty in that way that seems to
him to be best, aud takes the consequences,
hoping the best; the coward hesitates, to see
what will be thought OF it. fearing the worst.
They thought the circumstances justified that
secrecy aud disguise, which, under other r-
cunstanrcs. they would have condemned.
And so those who originated this organiza-
tlon thought that the circumstances required
secrecy. and they determined to incur the
censurc for the public good. Noble men
Tie deserves but little praise vho stands by
his country and her interest only when he
can do it in sunshine. and sailing smoothly
down the popular tide without ripple or u
wave to impede his course. but lie who stems
the current and braves the storm, whether il
be danger or reproach, deserves, ami will
receive, sooner or later. his counlry's highest
concentrations. And when this country shall,
through the means which these men origina-
ted. be freed from injurious foreign influence,
they will have the same praise which those
disguised men have WIN originated rcsis.
tancc to foreign oppression. But be that as
il may, It now stands before the country a.
any other party.
Now. why should you not cooperate with
il! will notice the objections urged by Mr.
Clingman. because YOU will be satisfied that
he urges the best thai can be urged, aud that
Il they are not sufficient, then there are none
that are. lie first addresses himself TO The
" old Wing part" aud says:
You, as such are OF course not under the slirh,cs
obligations to go for the nomination Of the Know
Nothing Convention, because that Convention de
nounccd both the Wing and Democratic parties as cor
upt, and proclaimed that il had arisen Oh the ruins
both. add in spite Of their opposition"
Now, I answer, first, that the Nominating
|, Convention said no such thing. A former
convention did use language Of that kind, ant
. conless that always thought that that wa
one Of its faults; triting one, 10 be sure, AM
. just such as any party, and many partisans
! are too apt 10 commit. They will not be con
, tent with setting forth their principles, bu
I must abuse somebody else. Hut am happ,
! 10 say that. like tie other alleged faults, i
J has been abandoned. Even Mr.. Clingman
! with all his experience and prudence, is no
: free from the same fault. Hear him:
"Thc old Wing party las you remember predicie,
some years ago would be the case1 longer exists"
Observe Tue difference. The Americans
only proclaimed the Wing party dead altel
il was dead; but MIR. Clinglnan pr0phesied Il,
. death years ago. when IL had the vigor o
health on It's cheek. And who can tell hnu
much that prophecy had tn do with IFS DEATH
Every prophet is jealous Of his lame; and tht
prophecy having gone forlh. either The part,
OF the prophet must fail. And who can tell hUw
: much stronger is ambition than love? Ant
who can tell how much harder lie pressed
down with one hand, than lie upheld with
the other. even when he thought he vas up.
holding with both! DO not know AZ to al
that; but this do know, that would as sOon
have attempted 10 stay the destruction o.
Babylon. alter tie prophet had cursed il, a,
TO uphold the Wing party, after Mr. Cling.
man had pruphcsied its downfall! Bot i you
: will not cooperate viih tic Americans, VII,
simply Told you Of your ruin. how will you
cooperate with Mr. CIingman, WHO caused
III Bu, Mr.. CIingman proceeds to say:
"Bu. some Of you may feel reluctant saer having
acted agans. the Democratic party long, % g. in,s
union with IL"
) answer no. We feel no such reluctance
We are not reluctant to unite with Dem0.
Gratis. On the CONTRARY. We desire It. We
have offered TO do 80. aud still oder to do So
Yea. We urge Il with carnestncss. Mark Mhat
n - L.. H. al.
uife with Us, and require surrender e
their party organisation. Our objection i.
not to uniting with them on common plat.
form respectful to both; but Il Is 70 a hu.
initiating surrender TO their dietation. We