The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-08-22

O..
The Order Of Know Nothings have violated
the letter and spirit OF The VI Article Of the
Constitution OF the United States, which de-
cares that ''.Ao religious test shait euer be re-
quired as q qualification to any Office or Pub
he Trust under the United Sfates :" they have
established secret societies, secret oaths aud OBJ
legations With these principles the Wing par
ty in lis days of power and numerical strength
had no sympathy or attillation, and there is no
part Of the Union where the Wings were more
nfexihle in opposing these political hereses
than in the State Of Pennsylvania.
Ia l845, when the Wing party met in the
City of Philadelphia, after the defeat of Mr.
Clay, the duty of opening the meeting and set
ting forth their principles was committed 10
me. held in my hand at that meeting, the
charter of Rhode Island, granted to Roger Viii
liams, which contains the broadeSt and most
comprehensive declaration of religious LIBERTY
AND EQUALITY ever yet prnned. / read It's el-
oquent and energetic platform and said, ''This
is thu doctrine Of tae Wing partq," and point
ing to the ruins of the Roman Catholic Church
Of St. Augustine, burnt during the disgraceful
riots Of 1914, and which lay within few yards
Of the place OF meeting, / added, ''there is its
desecration." There is not nook nor corner
in the vast region of our country which does
not contain old-Iine Whigs who are willing to
stand by the Constitution and the Union. But
their numerical strength is far exceeded BY their
patriotism, talents, and public spirit. This is
the body to which have been attached, and
feel the deepest interest in the course they shall
pursue.
The Republican party is sectional, and its
success must, in my judgment, lead 10 a sever
ance of the Union. do not believe that the
great mass OF that party anticipate this result;
but if il should be consummatrd, their regret
viii be no equivalent for the damnng injury
thereby inflicted upon the great Republic. |
appeal to every Old Line Wing in the Union
to avert this calamity. The South cannot and
will rot remain in the Union, unless their
rights are guaranteed to them. If we were in
the same situation, we would demand our rights
in tones as Imperative and mandatory as those
which are now used by our Southern brethren.
How is this great evil to be avoided |
swrr. BY the election of Mr.. Buchanan. Eve
ry vote given to him is check TO the progress
of the Republican party. / know there are
many Wings who approve Of the administra-
ton Of MiIlard Fillmore, and are willing to
trust him again. Every vote given 10 Mr..
Mr. Fremont Every vote given to Mr. Ru-
chanan potentially seals the fate Of Mr. Free
mont. But Millard Fillmore in lS4S, 80. and
%, IS not the Millard Fillmore of 1896. When
be WAS elected Vice President in lS4S,-when
he hpcame the acting President in lS50,-and
when h4 was candidate for denomination hq
the Wing Convention in Baltimore, in 1882,
he profrSsed 10 be Whig-notbing more, Moth
ing less. The Native American party at that
time was IN existence and proclaimed primer
pies in terms far less eXcertionabr than those
now avowed by the Know Nothing party. But
Mr.. Fillmore then had neither part nor lot with
them, he stood upon the ground occupied by
Clay, Webster and Sergeant. What is he now
He has been initiated into the Know Nothing
Order taken upon himself lis secret oaths aud
obligations, and this at time when his friends
were presenting his claims to br elected Presi-
dent of the United States. He has since be-
come the candidate and accepted The nomna-
ton of the American or Know Nothing Ma
tional Convention. In a correspondence be-
tween the Order Of the United Americans Of
the State Of New York and him, under date OF
Jolly 25th, 1886. they say
"Both from your past official acts, and from
the assurances and views expressed by you on
many occasions, as having similar sentiments
in reference to these subjects, to them of so
much seeming importance. the succeSSinI estah-
lsh'nent Of theS" principles, the fundamrn-
tai Rules Of our Government, they believe IS
svniaI for It's tranquility, aud continued
progress iG the development Of all lis great
ness"
Mr. Fillmore in his answer, dated goth Of
july, 1896, acquiesceS in this statement and
rePIirs-
ANY position before the country is well
known, admitting neither OF disguise or equiv
ocation i am the candidate Of the American
party"
Mr. Fillmore here proclaims himself the A
mrrican candidate, and adopts the creed, and
oaths and obligations of that party without
'.dsguise or equivocation." In the Secret
Lodge of the Order of Know Nothings he has
sworn that he will neither vote for nor appoIn;
a Roman Catholic to office. If elected and in
aagUrated President of The United States, he
would be compelled TO swear that hp would rc
quire stno religious test as a qualification TO
any Office or Public Trust under the United
States" l ask, under such circumstances,
which oath would he violate? Are the Old
Line Wings prepared TO endorse Mr. Fillmore,
thus presented for their sufiragrs by himself!
know no difference between an individual Join
ing the Order and giving his vote 10 sustain its
candidate except that the latter is more efec-
tive in carrying out the tenets of his party.
The friends of Mr. Fillmore have aSsailed
Mr. Buchanan for his Ostend communication
Without admitting or denying the soundnpss of
the doctrine therein contained, would remark
that the correspondence of Mr.. Everett, as Sec
retary of State under M. Fillmore, after the
death of Mr.. Webster, relative to Cuba is more