The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-04-14
KNOW. N0raISGIsM IN KENTUCKY.

Tie kno w-nothing leaders of kentucky are now at
tempting to rally their broken and disprited forces in
view Of the approaching congressional elections in that
State but their efforts thus far have been attended with
very indifferent success, although they have erected
platform which they quite confident is adapted to the
straits and eIgencies to which they have been reduced by
the sober second thought OF the people" Their grand
State council met Louisville the I'd instant and after
due deliherAon programme in the shape of series of
resolutions, put forth in The hope OF securing the
waverug, Strengthening the weak, mparting additional
courage to the faithful and of bringing back to the secret
fold of Sam all schisma,ics, sraggers, and deserles
II may be mentioned, as q most sgnif ;ant sign of
the times, that in these resolutions there is not the
slightest alusicn to foreigners or foreign infuence-not
denuncatory word of the Irish the Germans. No
mention is made or Catholics of the designs of the Pope
against the liberties Of our countryno apos,rophss to
the American flag to the American eagle-not whis
per about Americans ruling Americs The FIRST four
buttons of the series afford instructive illustration of the
spirit of ohingsm in the year 1851 Let us
slider them for a moment
Is That the election OF Mr. Buchanan not rejec
ton by the people the United States the controlling and
fundamental principle of the American party"
At the last presidential election the know-nothings
clearly and boldly enunciatei their principles and nom
mated for the chief magstracy Mr.. Fillmore the cham
pion and representative of those principles. Mr. +
c.eded in obtaining the electoral vote of out of the
hirty-one States The rejection of know-nohingsm by
the PEOPLE of the United States not only most en-
p',atic hut it came near being unanimous.
aga. That large majority of our countrymen are Of the
opinion radical change in the naturalization laws il
to maintain the purity OF our institutions and to
preserve nationality"
This the old story and longer impose upon the
ignorance creduity considerable number Of our
fellow citizens In the lower house of the last Congress
the know-nohings and their allies had large and undis
pu,ei majority. They had the power to pass bill prov-
ding for the most radical changes in the naturalization
laws; and notwithstanding the alleged wishes of large
majority of countrymen serious attempt was made
to exercise that power to meet those |" wishes
/" That the American Union being the only safeguard of
American liberty every patriot should devote his best
energies to its preservation"
True patriots have long been of the opinion that 10 the
democratic party and 10 the democratic party alone must
look for the preservation Of our glorious Union lnu
enced by this opinion Mt the last election they voted for
Buchanan and Breckenridge and since the inauguration Of
the new administration they have been furnished with
to doubt but everything to justify the wisdom of
their choice and the patriotism of their acts
lth. That the systematic agitation Of the slavery qae
every American patriot interfere with the Institutions
of other States which he has legitimate control
The fairly stated in the above resolution, and the
doctrine enunciated is only entirely unobectonabe
but 1t has long been part and parcel of the democratic
faith But this sound constitutional plank out OF place
in know-nothng platform for is msinly owing to the
selcstyled American party that indebted for the
present systematic agitation of the slavery question:
Know nothing votes elected to the Senate OF the United
States such snsavery agtsors Hale and Bell of New
Hampshire Wilson of Massachusetts, Foster Of Connect
cut Wade OF Ohio, and Seward OF New York. The
Bankses and Burngames of the last House of Representa-
tyes were know-nothugs well as black republicans.
The high priests of Acknowledged in Kentucky
may for weeks change 'front.' ignore ssuss and trade in
borrowed or stolen principles but revolutions seldom
go backward we cannot for moment doubt what men
and measures will be supported and sustained by the intel
gent and patriotic citizens Of Kentucky in their coming
congressional elections.
MESsRS. ARNOLD AND BISHOP.