Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-08-15
From tho RIchm ond Enquirer.

|
From tho REchm ond Enquirer.
TRICKS OF KNOW-NOTHINGISM.
SECRET CIRCULARS FROM THE "CUL
VERT."--WARNING TO THE DEMOC-
RACY.
We have been for some timo under the
impression that the resolution Of the Know
Nothing Convention abolishing all secre-
cy and oath bound pledges was trap to
gull and deceive the Democratic party,
and TO lull them into apathy and security.
We have been furnished with ample evil
dence to demonstrate that we were right
and we intend to expose their deception.
and hold up" ,Sam'' to the cxccration he
merits. We call upon the Democratic
party to note tho documents we publish
below, to put their mark upon the men
engaged in this underhandcd plot. and to
ferret out this underground movement
We present this rich expose of the last
trick OF Know Nothingism, the latest
phase of " Sam and the CuIvcrt, to warn
our friends agninst apathy, and to stir
them up to rcdoublcd ex'rti0ns to crush
on. this abominable party. We call upon
all honest men Of every creed to unite to
put down such secret political organlza-
tonS, composed Of men who conceal their
objects and ends. pry into their neighbors'
sentiments and actions. convert them
selves into aliens and strangers, and es-
tHblish a system Of espionage upon the
very thoughts Of voters, more detestable
than the proceedings Of the Spanish In>
QUESTION.
The proceedings on their face exhibit
unmistakcable evidence of genuincness.
| The names Of the officers Of the League,
Of the supervisors, and the intended thor
ough organization Of the subordinate
Leagues, the division Of the Congression-
al districts, and everything connected with
it, leave no room fer doubt, and will cons
vince the most sceptcal. But we are
authorized when necessary to give a re-
sponsible name to prove their authcntl
| city.
We ask, are the Old Line Wing orators.
who, while they deny their connection
with The order, are sympathising with
them, and are leaving no stune unLurncd
to sustain their nominees, aware OF the
existence Of this ncfarious league? We
ask are they Of those " who will keep in
violate the proceedings Of the League, as
its existence is only known to those whc
are octivc and energetic friends ofMc causc7"
Have they taken the pledge ito perform
cheerfuliy al! duties assigned. and to labor
unremittingIy in behalf OF the election of
Fillmore and DonelSon 2" Will any man
bind himself "to perform cheerfully all
dnti'.4 rs signed" without knowing who arc
to assign them. or What may be the char.
acter of those duties ? We know the peo-
pie Of Virginia too well to believe for a
moment that when their attention is called
to such slaviSh subScrviencies to party
loa1ers. they will lend themselves to such
IA service.
We invoke every man in every county
and city 10 keep sharp look out for these
persons who are preparing ga careful
register OF every voter residing within the
jurisdiction Of tho League" See how
she Registers are 10 be kept. They arc
to have three columns, " Americans. De>
mocrnts, and Doubtful" There is no
column for Whigs-they are set down as
Americans-no distinction-they are
fused. Note the fact that the doubtful
column" is to be sufficiently large to i'm
cIude every votor who can be Swcrvei, Ell
ther to or from the support of the Aneri-
can ticket. What sort Of appliances are
to be used to S1ccrre the doubtful? How
are the charter fees and the membership
fees, and the contribution fees to be ap-
! piled Is bribery part of tho scheme :?
Is intimidation to be used?
Note again the fact that " at each meet~
ing of the League, the doubtful list is to
be rcsd by the Secretary. and such as can
be influenced, put under the charge of a
member OF the League" Is this abomi-
nable system espionage to be practised,
and our citizens placed. without their
knowledge, under the guardianship of cons
mittees, and watched and practised upon,
with money, with promises Of office, with
threats of destruction in business, some
aattered and cajoled, some scoffed at aud
denounced Put under the charge of
member Of the League and the League
itself not all to be informed of what is to
be done.
Mark, too, the standard to be applied
to applicants for membership. 1t is not
is he upright. is he honest, is he faith
full to the Constitution 90 the only true
test of political faith. But it is to be "is
he active, untiring and devoted to the
cause ?" and will he pledge himself "to
perform cheerfulIy all duties assigned p"
If the people of this land will encourage
such League as this, will give it counte-
nance or aid, then are they prepared to
become the veriest slaves upon the earth.
1t is impossible. They will denounce and
ferret it out and scorn those who are its
fathers, the god,fathers, the sponsors in