Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-02-06
For the Standard,
a. s ro;rHE pus1ao.

ratons and with desire to render myself conspic-
nous by appealing to the public, or by engaging in
unnecessary controversy 1t is true, that since l
came to years of discretion have never been back
ward in expressing my views upon the political is
sues before the people, This have done fearlessy,
and with what little ability possessed but that
have committed one political error is too true in
joining the Know Nothing party falsely called by
its adherents the "American party" did this Us
the result of misrepresentation most insidious md
false, made to Inc by of the leaders Of that
| ganization previous to my becoming member;
l shall now proceed to show.
When Know Nothingism was first introduced into
| Johnston County, l was urgently solicited to join
the party. At first refused to do So stating that
| as the Wing party was nearly extinct, having met
| with an overwhelming defeat in the Presidential ell
ection, and as believed the leaders, the most of
them, would still struggle retrieve their fallen for
| tunes regarded the Know Nothing organization
as an ingenious continuance to distract and destroy
the Democratic party, to which l belonged; that
had ever been devotedly attached to Democratic
principles. and saw no reason for abandoning them
| was then most positively assured that, in becom-
| ing Know Nothing, l would not be required to
abandon my principles Democrat that this new
| organization was composed Of the pnre, conserva-
tive, and patriotic Of both the old parties; that its
main objects were to avert from government the
banefu influence of sectional issues and sectional
! agitation-to oppose the emigration hither of pau.
| pers and criminals, sent by European governments
and to meet and restrain the aggressive power of
| the Pope Of Rome Thus being assured and dep
recating above all things else, the threatened evils
of sectional strife. and believing in this new
organization power to allay this strife, restore
cord, and pcrpetuate the Union according to the
Constitution Joined it; but how egrcgously have
been disappointed! 1t is true that during the last
! Congressional campaign l advocated Know Moth
ingism with some Zeal was in earnest, because l
then felt that was right; but soon learned that
the high-sounding professions of the leaders
ma to 1nfn tho
Democratic party, so that they might reach place
and power. In all of the public speeches which
made, as my friends who heard mo will bear witness
distinctly declared that had surrendered none of
my Democratic principles; that l was still Demo-
crat, and expected to live and die one This did
IN all sincerity, and was applauded at the time for
SO dong by Know Nothings who had been Wings
in name, and who were still at heart; this did,
because when joined the Party was assured that
was not surrenderlng any of my Democratic prn-
cipIes; this did, as Know Nothing with the ap-
proVai OF the persons referred to; and vet when
thought proper to withdraw from them, as did un-
aer stern sense of duty these very persons, who
"aa gwen me these assurances and who had en-
couras. q me IN declaring in my speeches that was
Still a Democrat, Immediately went about denounc-
ing me as traitor to their organization. How
traitor, when had acted out my own honest scnti-
mcnts, and that too with their approval ?-how
traitor If they sincere in their assurances to
me, and in their sanction of my before left
their Order? Let the public judge between u.s.
But IT is not my purpose now to enter into de-
fence of ny course during the late Congressional
campaign nor do intend to expose any of the Sc
crets of the Know Nothing organization. Fortu.
nately, | am now out oft. I know something about
it from close observation. and from experience and
though now denationalizcd, and apparently over
thrown in nearly all quarters except in the abo'i-
ton States fear that much evil to the country will
yet result from it. Know Nothingism, it is known
had its origin in the free States-KnOw Nothingsm
and freesoilism being in those States synonymous
terms: and in the last Congressional campaigns in
those States the Democratic party adhering 10 the
constitution of the United States and to the princi.
pies of the Kansas Nebraska bill, was defeated by
this combination of isms. 1t is fresh in the memo.
~ of every reading man that while Know Nothing |
ism thus joined with Freesoilisrn, sweeping
~ thing before it in the free States the leaders of
the Order continued their efforts to create the i'm
preston at the South that their organization was
suppressing all sectional agitation. And the more
cffectually to cntrap Southern men into their organ
zation, and to hold on to those whom they had al
ready entrapped, they assembled in Convention in
Philadelphia previous to the Southern elections and
adopted platform pledsing themselves "to abide
bv and maintain the existing laws upon the subject
Of slavery, as a final and conclusive settlement of
that subject, in spirit and in substance" In the
course of very few months, however, this guaran.
tee of Southern rights repudated and set aside
by the Northern Know Noth;ngs; and at this time
there is not State council order in all the free
States which adheres in good faith to the slavery
portion Of the platform adopted at Philadelphia
Instead of restraining and allaying sectional agita-
tion this organization has really added to instead
Of benefting the country, it has injured it and all
the talk which have heard by the leaders, about
foreigners and the Pope of Rome, I verify believe
to have been designed to inAame popular pref
udicesand passions that they might build up their
party and attain Office and distinction. I now feel
satisfied, and have felt for months that the DEM
ocratc party of the country is fully able to preserve
the Constitution and to the Union; and that it
will not only do what is right in relation to the emil
grafton of paupcrs and Grim nails but that it will
sst with all its power, if necessary the aggressive
movements of the Romsh Church, of any other
Church, aiming at temporal power
have thus stated frankly how it was Joined the
Know Nothing party; and have given the reasons
why I withdrew from it. l could say much more,
but it is not necessary that should do so now
Hereafter, If assailed, shall defend my to
the best of my ability-fecng and knowing, as I
do that my motives from first to last in this matter
have been unsefish and based upon sincere aftec-
ton for my native State and the Union of the States
An error Of judgment, such as committed in join.
ing the Know Nothing organization, will not, feel
sure, be visited heavily for long of years
upon me, by my political friends; and as for my
political opponents, and my enemies-if have any
fear their attacks.
SIDNEY A. SMITH.
Smithfied, Feb. 2, 1856. ..sy. .r
Try IRA PLAN FOR READING THE BIBLE THROUGH
EVERY YEAR.-During January, read Genesis and
Exodus; February, read to 10th Deuteronomy
March, to 10th of LIST Samuel April, to 18th Of I'd
Kings; May, to 9Th Nehemiah; June, to loOth
Psalm; July, to 5Oth Of Isaiah; August 70 goth of
Ezekiel SeDtcmhcr n the nd of Hld I,oct oroo,,