Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-12-13
Picture Of Know NOthingiSm.

The following extract is from speech de .
liyered by Reveady johnson, Esq, of Bal
timore, before the Young Mems Democratic
Union Club, at the Astor House, N. York,
during the late canvass 1t presents hor-
rid but truthful picture of Know-Nothing-
ism. For this speech Mr. johnson was
burnt in efigy and his house fred into by a
k n. mob in Baltimore
And, blessed as we are by heaven, with
institutions of unequaled, but regulated
4 freedom-with every variety of climate and
of soil, fitted to the production of all that is
necessary to supply human wants, or con-
tribute to human happiness-with apopula.
ton of unsurpassed skill, enterprise and pat
riotism-our career whilst defying the rival
ry, will challenge and command the respect
and admiration of the world A word as to
my own State, and shall have DONE There
the conflict is between the supporters Of Mr..
Buchanan and those of Mr.. Fillmore.
That these last should possess the strength
they have had in that State would seem to
be anaecountabie.
With but two ayowed distinctive princi-
pies as party, and each clearly unconstitu-
tional, because warning with the very ele-
ments of our liberty, and one of them a
practical denial Of religious freedom to the
Romish sect, they yet have strong organi-
cation in State settled by Catholics, whose
first landing, and whilst in possession of un-
limited power, was signalized by proclaim
ing religious freedom as the birth right of
all. In the words of our national historian,
they thus give such elderly its homeland
its only home in the wide world"
The first chapel was an Indian cabin, &C.
ded for the purpose by the Indians, and
here was erected the first altar to it on this
continent, and in the language Of an accom-
plished historian of our own, now living
with us in the fullness of his fame and the
maturity Of his intellect, and heart and soul
with us in this Struggle, "the first fires
kindled in it ascended to Heaven, amid the
blessings Of the savage"
The supporters of Mr. Fillmore, less char
table than the poor benighted sons of the
forest, would erase, if they could, this great
charter Of religious freedom, and with ut
ter forgetfulncss Of the true christian spirit
in which it was granted--with an assumed
better knowledge Of the will of God, and in
disregard of that charity which is equally
proclaimed by nature and revelation, sacri-
legiously assert the right to stand between
mans conscience and his nature, and deny to
him, except under temporal penalty the priv
ilege Of worshipping his God, as he thinks
necessary to his eternal salvation.
Whilst in almost all the older nations of
the world the Turk included the shackles
on conscience are being stricken off, and be-
tween man and his God, human force is not
suffered to interfere-these misguided cit
isens, reconcile to themselves their own
practical return to the days of religious big
otry and persecution under the plea that to
the extent they carry it, it is necessary to
the safety of our political freedom without
charging this to be mere hollow pretence,
it is consistent with truth to say of it, that
if such an apprehension really does influence
them, is the merest Pigment that ever en-
tered weak and deluded brain. There is
one consolation to those who properly re-
gard the sacred freedom thus cruelty assailed,
and truly love the memory of our ancestors.
that the day is fas. approaching, when the
mad and unchristian warefare will have ter
minated, and in Maryland, as elsewhere in
cur happy land, man can pray to his God
and without question, in that form which
his conscience dictates to be right-when in
every chapel within its borders, and in eve
ry household, his invocations for mercy and
protection will ascend to Heaven amidst the
blessings of all-when the delusion of the
day shall have been passed and its victims
be glad to have their follies buried in the
darkness of perfect oblivion.