American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-03-01
MORGANTOWN MONONGALA COUNTY VA SATURDAY, MARCH 1856

/ ance with the advice given to you on
the subject, which was to present your
AFFIDAVIT, taken before proper
officer, as you stated you could consci-
entiously do, that you did not belong to
the Order commonly denominated
Know Nothings;" that you never
had been member thereof; and that
you have no sympathy with the prim-
ciples, objects or designs, usually ascrib-
ed to such Order. Respectfully, &c.
CHAs. S. FRAILEY, Actg'. Ch. elk.
Mr.. Robt. L. Foster, East 18th st.
The following pledge or declaration
is required to be taken and subscribed
to by the members of the Democratic
Association of this city, before they
are admitted to full fellowship:
81 do declare, upon my word of
honor, that / am not member of any
secret political organization, or of any
other association or society, whose OBJ
jects are antagonistic to the objects of
the Democratic party, as declared in
the resolution of the Democratic men,
bers of the House Of Representatives
of the 1st of December, 1855"
1 think it ill becomes those gentle
men who are supporting the admins
tration which requires these oaths and
pledges to object to oaths. 1 ask them
not to sink their party Organization
not to leave their party associations
not to ignore their party principles
but to try and effect an organization of
this House, which it does seem to me,
every lover of his country should de-
sire. think that they can, for the
time being, unite with US in placing in
the Speakers chair gentleman who
is as sound on the subject of the consti-
tutional rights of the South as any man
on this floor. Is it, Mr.. Clerk, be-
cause the distinguished gentleman from
Pennsylvania Mr.. Fuller] believes
that it is better that native-born citi-
zens, acquainted with the genius and
spirit of our institutions, should con-,
troll the destinies Of this country rather
than foreigners, that he is objected to.
Sir, think that the Democracy should
not object to him on that ground. -
The resolutions of 1898 and 1899, a.
dopted by the Virginia General Assem-
bly,, have been considered orthodox by
the Democratic party; and now, sir, r
read from the Statutes of Virg inia one
of the resolutions adopted at that mom-
orable session by the House of Dele
gates on January IL, 1899, and agreed
to by the Senate on January 16, 1799:
Resolvcd, That the Constitution
ought to be SO amended, that NO for
cigner who shall not have acquired
rights under the Constitution and laws
at the time of making this amendment,
shall thereafter be eligible to the office
of Senator or Representative in the
Congress of the United States, nor to
any office in the judiciary or executive
departments"
So thought the General Assembly of
Virginia in 1798-'99. So thought
those patriotic and wise men whose ex-
positions of the powers Of this Govern
ment have been considered orthodox
by the Democratic party from that day
to this.
Now, sir, the country desires an or
ganization. The condition of our for
eign affairs, if the press is to be bcliov-
ed, requires an organization. The leg
islative department. of this Government
(as remarked yesterday, seems to be
paralyzed. The very existence Of the
Union is probably hazarded by the
continuance of this state of things
And, without endeayoring to throw the
responsibility upon any party or upon
any gentleman on this floor, [ hold it
to be the duty of each and every mem
ber of this body to do all in his power
forgetting for the time party ties,
and uniting with all conservative men
Ito effect an organization.