Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-08-23

laws ana CUSTOMS, the luu Vi Clu1SuoAP'
He proposed to let such . foreigner vote the very
first day his foot trod on American soiL Nine
tenths of those who are now SO clamorous for
e Americans to rule America" were the warm
friends Of General Scott, defended this letter from
the attacks of the Dmocrats, aud gave to the peo'
pie as many assurances of his soundness as they
now give of the soundness Of Mr.. Fillmore. SO mucn
for the foreigners in 1862
The Roman Catholics were equally counted. One
of the reasons urged by those who are now Know
Nothngs against the election of General Pierce was
that the Statein which he lived (New HAMPSHIRE
excluded them from Office. The Louisville Journal,
then one of the leading Scott papers, and now one
of the leading Know Nothing organs, said
"They the American people, will not consent
that the New Hampshire Democracy, who recently
voted, by an overwhelming majority, in favor OF
Catholic disability to hold Office, shall have the hon,
or to give President to the nation. They would
greatly prefer that this honor shall be accorded to
some State not disgraced by such abomlnable
bgotry."
General Pierce's friends proved that he was OPP
posed to excluding Roman Catholics from office on
account of their religion, and that he had done all
he could to get the disability removed; thereuPon
the same editor said:
eff that was all that General Pierce could say or
do towards RELIEVING New Hampshire of disgrace
that causes her to be regarded soith scor By ecey
liberal minded man IN the United States and IN the
aoorI we ask if he is fit to be President ?"
The constitution of North Carolina had, at one
time, like that of New Hampshire, contained q
clause excluding Catholics from holding office L
find in the National Intelligencer of 4th September,
1862, defense of Governor Graham, the candidate
for Vice President against whatw then CONSIDERED
by his friends most heinous Charge suspicion
that he was in favor of excluding Catholics from OF.
flee. read from it an follows:
"GovERNoR GRAHAM AND RELIGIOUS TEsTs.-Sev-
era of the Democratic presses, perceving that their
candidate for the Presidency is likely to be preu-
focfs IN, fhoa f1fGtIn
of New Hampshire, affect to believe that Governor
Graham, the Wing candidate for Vice President, is
not as tolerant as he should be, and one of them
has even gone far as to declare that Mr.. Graham
was opposed to the reform in the constitution OF
North Carolina by which similar restriction was
abrogated" Il "In an address to the
people dated June, 1888, while the election Of Gov
ernor Graham was pending, they (his friends) de-
clared that it disgrace to any free people to
tyrannize the consciences of others, and pro-
nounced the obnoxious provision an odious restrlc-
ton upon conscience"
The article quotes, in his further defense, an adj
dress signed by Governor Graham and others, dated
January, 1884, as follows:
"The thrty-second article of the constitution
excludes from civil Office all who may deny the truth
Of the Protestant religion. This has no practical ct
feet for the plain reason that there is 40 tribunal
established by the constitution to determine mans
faith. 1t is odous badge of prejudice which the
enlightened berality of the present day should
scorn 1t is uni ust n,putation against the
Catholics of this State attach to them any such
disqualification. The patriotism, personal virtues,
and ability and the disnteresed public services OF
single individual in the State, brand with fasehood
the idle fears that implied by this paper restrict
ton How far it is consistent with the spirit of Pro-
testantisn itself-how far it is compatible with the
bill of rights which declares that all men have
natural and nalienable right to worship God accord
ing to the dictates of their conscience we leave
to that bigory which would perpetuate this stigma"
Up to this period Catholics and torei gncrs were
in high favor In two years from that time we find
these same persons swearing voters, on the Holy
Bible, to exclude from all offices all Roman Catho
lies, and even those having Roman Catholic wives
parents inflictng on the rebellious member who
should vote for Catholic, continue one in office
under him" cruel and unusual punishments," such
as the Constitution forbs the courts to inct, and
such as no humane juryman would prescribe for a
thief or robber; posting him from council to coun-
Gil as liar and traitor, as dangerous and out
lawed runaway negro would be posted from cross
road to cross-road; demanding of every true and
faithful brother" to shun and despise him, and to
use every possible effort to reduce him and his
family to beggary and starvation. The. foreigners
and Roman Catholics refused TO take the bait held
out to them, and, as was alleged by General SCOTS
friendS. generally voted for General Piercc-thus
proving that a Glass; they not easily duped
by politicians and misled by demagogues as the
Know Nothings alledge.
Having WOOeQ warmly, Ueneral OcOuS rleHuS
hated intensely the classes who had thus innOcenty
their part been made the object of so much lust
The individuals who had endeavored, two
years before, to bring about such change in the
naturalization law As to permit fore gner to be
turazed on one years service in the Army or Navy,
proposed in 1854 that foreigner should ever be
permitted to vote. And those who, in 1852, had
contended that General Pierce ought not to be eec
ted President, because his State retained in its con-
stitution clause excluding Catholics from Office,
endeavored, in 1854, with just much appearance
of sincerity, to convince the people that to permit
Catholics to hold office was in effect to place the
country under the dominion of the Pope of Rome
Such was the origin of the party; and there is too
much reason to believe that it arose from spite
and disappointment, than from soicitude about
institutions or our religion.
The party sprang up in the North just previous to
the passage ofthe Kansas and Nebraska bill in May
1854. In the midst of the excitement produced by
the passage of that BILL the election for members of
the present House took place; and availing itself
thereof, it defeated the Democratic party in every
Northern State. Of the one hundred and fortythree
members of this House from the North, ninety-one
were elected as Know Nothngs and of these nine
tyone, seoenty1fUe voted for Mr.. Banks also know
nothing, for Speaker. Every black Republican
ted with them; not sing gle Democrat voted for him.
list of the names have been read this floor in
April last by my friend from Tennessee, Mr. Smith
and properly corrected, will append it to my prn-
ted speech as authentic.
On. the 26th January, the gentleman from Indiana,
[Mr. DUNN, now at the head of the Fillmore elector-
al ticket in that State, introduced into this House
the following resolution which, it will be observed
goes futher than the Black Republican platform:
Resolced, That said restriction (the Missouri
compromise) ought to be restored, act of JUS
tce to all the people of the United States, as pro-
per vindication of the wisdom, patriotism, and
plghted honor of the great statesmen who imposed
it. and as necessary and certain means of reviving
that concord and harmony among the States of the