Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-04-05
THE. MINORITY REpoRr

THE MINORITY REPORT
Of the Committee on Secret Societies"
submitted to the House of Delegates of
Maryland during its late session, makes
the direct and irreconcirabEe antagonism
between the Constitution and Ritual of
Know-nothingism and the Federal and
State Constitutions palpable to the plain
est understanding. The objects and de-
elarations of this Order conflict not only
with the abstract principles, but with the
actual provisions of government; Know
nothingism does prescribe a religious test
as qualification for Office; Know-noth-
ingism does molest and burthen men. and
docs diminish their civil capacities on
account of their religion No man can
rise from the perusal of this Report un-
convinced that -nothingism is a
conspiracy against the government and
the liberties of the people; that it pro-
poses to violate and pervert the essential
spirit Of our institutions, and aims to de-
stroy freedom of conscience the dearest
of rights to a generous and enlightened
people. And this end it seeks to com
pass by dividing the community into two
distinct classes, Of enfranchised and privi-
legged citizens, and of persons disfran-
chised and degraded below even the
status of free negroes.
An open and ayowed attempt to change
the institutions Of u government, by the
agency of public discussion and popular
agitation, is perfectly legitimate, how
ever reprehensible on the score of policy.
And if the ostensible aim of Know-no-
thingism was to effect an alteration of the
Constitution, so as to prescribe Catholics
and foreigners from Office, it might pro-
woke opposition, but would not be liable
to the reproach Of conspiracy, and of
treason against the country. But the
Know-nothings protestagainstany change
in the Constitution they disclaim any
design of subverting or modifying the
fundamental law of the land; they affect
great respect for the sanctity Of the Con-
stitution, and affirm that they can carry
out their schemes without touching its
provisions. This, then, is the state of
the case. They have organized move
ment, which shall effectually annul and
abrogate the Constitution, without re-
pealing its provisions. They do not
publicly propose reform of the Consti-
tuition, but they secretly conspire to set
it atnaught. Know-nothingism is nulli-
fication is the Modification of the wisest
and dearest guarantees Of the Constitu-
ton, that bigotry and intolerance may
despoil American Liberty of its faires
flower
An open and violent resistance to law
is rebellion, which implies some faith il
a cause, and some courage in its service
A clandestine attempt to subvert thu
Constitution, concocted and arranged ii
secrecy, by men who guard themselve
against the penalties of exposure with al
the care of a cowardly consciousness o
guilt, is conspiracy-coaspirac agains
the government and the Liberties Of tn
peoples conspiracy in comparison witt
which the undisclosed scheme of AARo,
Burr was a laudable enterprise of am
bition--a conspiracy to which we car
only find a parallel in character ant
atrocity, in the combination of northern
fanatics to supersede the Constitution b.
the supremacy of higher lar. Know
nothingism is colossal conspiracy
which would envelope the whole country
in its coil, and smother the infant gian
of American Liberty in its embrace. Blu
the invincible spirit of the people is ris
ing in revolt, and will repel the assault
of this most insidious and most fatal fot
of republican institutions.
The Report shows that the essence o
Know-nothingism is hatred of the Cath
Ole name and faith--organized opposi
ton to all foreigners, and implicit ODE
dience on the part of every member tt
the edicts of those who rule the order
whilst among the leaders, it is wranglC
for Office and a continual fight for the
spoils. The order at the North is com
posed of men who are seceders from all
parties-blind advocates Of all kinds Of
isms-men of no fixed principles Office
seekers and suckers. The free-soil
platform and the doctrine of the Adolf.
tionists is the only creed there which
they have in common; and the institu-
tions of the South have no deadlier foes
than the Know-nothings Of the North.
In every aspect Know-nothingism is a
preposterous movement. Affecting an
apprehension Of hierarchical domination,
it assails church which propitiates pity
by its very weakness and helplessness.
Declaiming against an alliance of Church
and State, it drags religion into the arena