Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-09-20
prytown correspondont.
DRYTowN, Sept. lOt

thV Nho" -'pthi"s pun y "hith 10 ~ Itpul-
sive to republican government. that it should
cause a man to consider well the result which
may arise from it, before he enters into full
communion with those who are covered with
its somber pail; and that is its secresy
Now they need not pretend that all secresy
is done away with, for it is not so in fact, as
YOU may see the Knights Of the order skulk
ing along the dark alleys to their places of
meeting, as though they had been stealing
sheep, trying to avoid being seen by those
whom they have failed to lead into their dens
/ by spurious pretenses.
4 We are always tempted to question a
mans honesty of purpose, and know his ac-
tions are culpable when he attempts to hide
/ them from the scrutiny of those who have
an interest in knowing what they are, and
especially is it so in political affairs In all
nations since the Golden Age of the Roman
Empire, have secret associations for political
purposes, been condemned as being subversive
of government and destructive of the iber-
ties of the people, aud it is an indisputable
fact that wherever they have been found, the
most injurious results to the welfare of the
people have arisen.
Can it be supposed that the members of
the Know Nothing party are so immaculate
that they would not abuse the powers which
secret political action gives them no, their
course proves conclusiyely, that they would
not hesitate to resort to any means, however
dishonorablet they may be, to obtain power in
the nation. All citizens of the United
States feel, or ought to feel, an interest in
knowing what is transpiring in our govern
mental affairs; nor should they be denied the
privilege; is it right then for certain portion
to meet in secret conclavc for the express
purpose Of depriying them of knowledge
Of their proceedings the devil him
self could not adopt better plan to
accomplish his nefarious schemes; and there
is no doubt he held grand jubilee in his
dominons at the time of the organization of
the K n. party, on account of the success
which had attended his efforts to instill into
the minds Of some of his followers in the
United States the necessity of a secret politi-
cal party; for be was well aware that such
would be the surest means of bringing both
the party and the government to ruin.
There are many who, without due consid-
Grafton were inveigled into its dark portals,
butnow, seeing the enormities ofthe institution,
come out boldly and denounce it as one of the
greatest impositions of the age; and they
ought certainly to be enabled to Judge, hay-
ing tasted the bitter fruits that this political
apas bears When tho Know Nothing party
was first organized it was said (with how
much truth those know who were then mem
bers) that man to be admitted had TO
swear on his bended knees in the presence of |
Almighty God, that he would support no
man for Office in this goyerement who was
not native born American citizen; that he
was not a Roman Catholic and other obliga-
tions equally obnoxious to free government
and the spirit of our Constitution; and now,
with the most unblushing impudence, they
insult foreigners by asking their support to
elect the Know Nothing ticket
Were foreign born, and one of these
dark anternites should ask me to become
member OF their order, should consider it
the greatest insult that could be given me-
What, after attempting to rob me Of all my
treasured rights, then ask me to assist in rails
ing him to power the proposition would be
perfectly shameful and abusive; yet some of
them are so lost to proprety and decency
that they not only ask foreigner to Join
them but insist upon his doing so, giving as
a reason, that his rights will be more surely
protected by that party than any other; out
upon such base hypocrisy. Their cause must
be desperate indeed or they never would re-
sort to such desperate means as to call for
help from those whom they have heretofore
so vllely abused. Let them writhe in their
agony and howl in their despair, for they de-
serve defeat, disgrace and ignomny for try
ing to impose upon the people by their false
pretences of pure Americanism. Their doom
10 sealed and their requium will be sung this
fall if there are any who will then have sufii-
a