Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1856-07-16
For the Standard


MEssRs. EDITORS: l have few remarks to make
which, if you think worth publishing you can do
So ami 10 candidate no asprant to office but
| am friend to Democracy, and am willing to cast
in my mite, and am ever ready to defend the great
principles that Democracy is based upon and to
oppose every measure and principle that has been
and is in opposition to what think is near and
dear to every friend Of liberty and republcanisrl.
The question is often asked, why has Know Moth.
ngism produced so much more party bitterness than
was ever before seeny This question may be an.
swered by reference the objects aims and ends of
the new Order, and by reference to the means made
use of to accomplish the enils.
Office, power and dominion beiEg the objects; ig-
norng merit, fitness and all former qualifications be-
ing the practice Making certain oaths, passwords,
grips and signs the test for office, portion Of So
ciety seeks to subjugate the rest, and make them
hewers of wood and drawers of water for them
Tyranny is none the less Calling because exercised
by u number of men united in one common pur-
pose, instead of by man. If the laws are to be
made, aud the offices filled, and the manner of exc
cutting the laws to be determined on by clubs and
clans secretly associated together meeting by night
secret separate and hidden from the rest of society,"
who doubt that the portion not affiliating, not
in the secret, not cognsant OF what is going on, will
be tleeced and preyed upon by the initiated2
Put the whole power OF government in the hands
of this secret Order, of and what will the ber-
ties Ot the people be worth? A Know Nothing Leg
islature can pass law arranging the judicial dis
hands of the Order.
Such Legislature can pass law arranging
the senatorial and representative districts that they
can always elect q majority of the Legislature.
This new Order have their constitution, oaths of
allegiance, laws regulating the organization and 9TH
business Of the Order they have their 7Teasu-
rer and modes OF raising money; they have sys-
TEN OF arms (as they say) for defence; they have
officers to execute the law of the Order; they have
trials and modes of punishment for violations of
their laws. 1t is government set up by portion
of the people in free country, not to control the
conduct of such only belong to the Order but to
control the affairs of the whole people.
Is it supposed an intelligent people, composed Of
men who know their rights and dare maintain them,
will submit to such things? Is it right or even
suferabe that portion Of society," "a part of the
voters) often minority, shall rule the whole, when
the whole voting po oulaOn have not equal voice
in making the laws2 Are we friends to our present
constitution and form of governmehtP If We are,
why do ne want Another TO shape and mould the
one made by all the people, to advance the purpo-
ses and to promote the interests of the new Order
in politics?
And now, what has been their acts ?-"6y their
fruits ye shall knop thsna."
The first Know Nothing Legislature that exercised
the aw-making power was in Massachusetts, The
leading measures of that Assembly were,
ls A law called the personal liberty /" law, ma.
king highly penal in any person within the limits Of
the State to aid in the execution of the fugitive.
slave law.
I'd. resolution passed by the Assembly depri-
wing Judge Loring of his office for executing the fu
gitive-slave law in the case of Burns; which only
failed for want OF the approval of the Governor.
Sd. The raising of committee to examine the
Catholic school at Roxbury, one Of which commit
tee while on his visiting tour created charges against