The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-02-12
PATRIOT

Sidney A. Smith, Esq, heretofore lead
ing and influential Know Nothing, of john
son County, n. c., has given his reasons,
in communication to the Raleigh Standard,
for abjuring Known othingism, and uniting
himself to the Democratic party. We re-
greet our want of room for his entire com
munication. 1t concludes as follows:
1T is not my purpose now to enter into
defence ofmy course during the late Con
gressional campaign nor do intend to ex-
pose any of the secrets of the Know Moth
ing organization. Fortunately, l am now
out of it. l kRo1c something about it from
close observation, and from experience:
and though now denatioralized, and appa-
rently Overthrown in nearly all quarters,
except in the abolition States, fear that
much evil to the country will yet result from
it. Know Nothngism, ii is known, had its
origin in the free States-Know NothingiSm
and freesoilism being in those States syno-
nymOus terms; and in the last Compression
al campaignsin those States, the Democratic
party, adhering to the constitution of the L.
States and to the principles of the Kansas
Nebraska bill, was defeated by this combi-
nation of isms. 1t is fresh in the memory
of every reading man that while Know
Nothingism, thus joined with Freesoilism,
was sweeping every thing before it in the
free States. the leaders of the Order contin
ued their efforts to create the impression at
the South that their organization was sup
pressing all sectional agitation. And the
more efectually to entrap Southern men
into their organization, and to hold on to
those whom they had already entrapped,
they assembled in Convention in Philadel
phia, previous to the Southern elections,
and apopted a platform pledging themselves
''to abide by and maintain the existing laws
upon the subject of slavery, as final and
conclusive settlement of that subject, in
spirst and in subtance.' In the course
of a very few months, however, this guar
antee of Southern rights was repudiated and
set aside by the Northern Know Nothings;
and at this time there is not State council
or order in all the free States which adhercs
in good faith to the slavery portion of the
platform adopted at Philadelphia. Instead
of restraining and allaying sectional agita-
ton, this organization has really added to
it ; instead of benefting the country, it has
injured it; and all the talk which we have
heard by the leaders, about foreigners and
the Pope of Rome, verify believe now to
have been designed to infame popular pre-
JUDGES and passions, so that they might
build up their party and attain office and
distinction. | now feel satisfied, and have
so felt for months, that the Democratic par
ty of the country is fully able to preserve
the Constitution and to save the Union !;
and that it will not only do what is right in
relation to the emigration of paupers and
criminals, but that it will resist, with all its
power, if necessary, the aggressive move
ments of the Romish Church, or of any 9TH
er Church, aiming at temporal power. I
have thus stated frankly how it was joined
| the Know Nothing party; and have given
the reasons why l withdrew from it. l
could say much more, but it is not neces-
sary that should do so now"