The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-05-09

thanks OF ADtI-SlavPTv men in all parts Of the
country. Within two days thereafter, these
gentlemen turned around and elrcted Gen. Cui-
iuTi, OF Tennessee, Shareholder, their Clerk
and for this they may Claim the thanks of the
other side. But you are told that the Terrl;o-
rY OF Kansas has been Invaded by the people Of
Missouri, and the voice OF the bona fde citizen
has been snothered. It is quite clear to my
mind that excrsses were indulged at the eiee-
lion; that the ballot box has been abused; that
nlen have voted who had no right to vote
Bitter conflict, if not actual violence, was the
certain consequence OF the circumstances sur
rounding the organization. The attempt to cramp
the Territories, Oh the one hand, and the eoun-
teracllng efforts on the other, could scarcely fail
to lead to abuse Of the tight of suffrage. But
this Is not fatal TO the theory OF the law, nor to
It's ultimate workings Al sides are nping
pledged TO the protection Of The ballot box in
future Southern men as well as sAorthern-and
think il may be safely assumed that the next
election will bp fair one. That uncontrolled
and unawed, the voice OF the bona lide citizens
Of the territory will be expressed III the free
/ State party are in the majority, as is 50 conf
IDENTIFY claimed. they wIl elect the next Legs
lauFe and repeal tine Objectionable laws, and
shape The policy oithe territory to suit them
selves.
shall now speak oftbe Know-Nohing or
ganlzation. THIS is a party OF bad principles
and worse practices. They propose to make
birthplace and religious belief lest for civil
oHlce, and 10 accomplish the end through the a.
gency of secret and oath-bound societies. At
IpaSi such is their plan Of operations in my State.
/ They profess TO believe that oar institutions are
IN danger from the influence OF forcing born
citiz~ns and the power Of ihe Cahoic church.
! They fight under the motto, that t'Amefcans
must rule Amercp." They complain OF grrat
evils and then determine TO practice then.-
They Claim 10 be peculiarly American, but
maintain doctrines distinctly anti American.-
Processing deep concern for the stability OF our
. republican institutions, they make war on the
ao5lest characteristics OF our whae system, civ
81 rights and religious freedom. Depreciating
secret and cIannish movements in others, they
have adopted the practice themselves. Discar-
ding, IN terms OF bitterness, Jrsuitsm in matters
ol religion, they have determined to try 1t in
politics. Protesting peculiar reverence for the
name of Washington, they have chosen plan
OF political organization against which that COED
man admonlshed the people.
Alarmed about the power ofthe Catholic
church Why, according 70 shs. census. NJ;
TO over $4,000 Protestant uinis{ers-ihirty OF
the latter 10 one ofthe former. There is sure
" no Of alarm in such state of facts, nor
can there be any sincerity in the pretenson.-
According 10 the same census, we have twenty
three natives 10 one foreign born citizen. Is
tins startling? Can't twenty-three Yankees
take care Of one Irsbman or Duichmane Bot
/ deny the premises and the conclusions. Oar
institutions are in danger from no such cause
We have more 10 fear from elements longer in
the country than the much dreaded foreigners.
But who originated this new scheme, and
what is its nature? II is san old enemy in
new garb,'' one whose long ears the lions skin
does not entirely conceal, as it goes about Ia
! scare people. The lradiug spirits in getting it
up are the same who denounced The Democrat
ic candidate IN 1882, as a bigoted Protestant,
and attempted TO prove il By certificate signed
/ bv Wing Catholics in New Hampshire the
same who circulated the famous pictorial biog
raphy Of Gen. Scott, their candidate, display
/ ing him in the midst oi raw lTishmen, listening
to their complaints, and mniStrr!ng 10 their
wants, and all this TO prove that he was gem
erouS man, who would not neglect the poor
down-lroddrn foreigner. II was he candidate
Of these knowNothing leaders who travelled
/ the country in The last Presidential contest 10
win the votes Of the foreign-born citizens by
rIdicuiauS tWaddlv about the s'rich Irish brogue,
and the '1SWeet German accent" il was tbslr
candidate who proposed 10 interpolate new
! plank IN the platforms. 10 The effect that any Spe-
+ cleS OF humanity mastering 10 the army lor one
/ year should have the right OF suffrage. Not
/ wtilSianding Gen. Scotts identity with the
Catholic church, these Know Noihings voted
/ for him, and they would bave done had the
! Pope been his daily companion. But Scott was
not elected. These much courted people voted
as heretofore. snme for the Democratic, and
/ some for the Wing candidate, thns vindicating
+ lthemStives against the charge OF claunishneSS
now so freely made. Bot change came over
+ The views OF their former admirers, the Know
NothIngS The foreign accent lost IFS charms,
and the groups of Irish with whom Scott had
mingled, as We'll rs the church with which he
was identified, have been converted into hide
ons monsters to alarm the weak and ignorant
aud hence Know Noihingism.
But is It not uoiuS TO disirapchise man be-
cause of his place OF birth? He could not help
/ it. Geography is not understood in the pre-
istent state. Birth a standard for office Why
the idea is only worthy Of ridicule Birth IS
4 not virtue. il is an accident or circumstance.
I /, NAV be good thing 10 BE-. born in this favored
/ country but il would be better were II a matter
/ ol choice il is lhe virtue of the animal. The
buffalo and caiamount have II. The Indian
apd the neare have il. Tiger-tail. the Indian
chief, can boast better title 10 i: than the oldest
of the Know Nolhings II may be a God-send
to political bankrupts TO 81 up standard OF po-
lnical virtue, which equalizes The meanest with
The best bv which MIR Hiss would out-rank
John Wesley, and Benedict Arnold would be
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