Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-07-14
WE WILL HOLD THEM TO THE RESPONSE
RITTTY

WE WILL HOLD THEM TO THE RESPONSE
~ BILITY
The Patriot is absolutely shocked-and it takes
much to shock the Patriot-that Gen. Harris should
refer to the oaths and secrecy of the Know Nothing
organization In its opinion, it is absolutely
dignifed to talk Of these things It says that the
secrecy, oaths, &c." of the Know Nothings are
''efets"-the dictionary meaning Of which word is,
incapable of producing young; worn out with
age" We shall not dispute the proper application
Of the word. But Know Nothingism is efete from
no concession of its founders and advocates We
take issue with the Patriot its statement that the
"June convention of 1855 removed all secrecy that
then or had before attached to the organization -
We have had no evidence Of this, but all the sur
rounding circumstances contradict it. Even the late
National Council only authorised the State Councils
to dispense with the Oaths and secrecy, and there
has been no evidence whatever that the State Coun-
Gil Of Tennessee has awaited itself Of this permits
sion. If this has been done let the evidence
The Patriot has doubtless access to the books of the
concern and can furnish the proof if it exists The
oaths, so far as we are authenticity advised, are
eTse only as they fail to win new converts to the
society, and not being no longer binding those
who remain in the organization The swindler, who
has cheated the community, at length finds the
tricks and arts which had awaited him sfets. But
the fact that he is longer able deceive does not
necessarily make an honest man of him. The com
munity will be apt to watch him quite closely as
they would were he to set up pretensiOns to hon
esty. The mere exposure of his misdeeds will not
atone for them. He will have TO bear their disgrace
and the suspicion which they will cast upon him
until he has atoned for them and shown sincere
repentance.
Know Nothingism has made no atonement for its
sins. 1t has made no voluntary concessions of any
Of its obnoxious features If it has partially aban
doned its secrecy and its oaths, it is because the
public sense would no longer tolerate the abomina-
ton If it has ceased to urge of races and of
religions, it is because of the overwhelming popu-
lar rebuke which the attempt has met. The country
owes its safety from these dangers to concessions
on the part Of the Know NOthings, but to the stern
resistance of the Democratic party. But it owes no
more debt of gratitude to the Democratic party
for saving it from the mad and reckless designs of
these demagogues, than it owes condign punishment
to the leaders of the Know Nothing party for the
dangers in which they involved the Republic.
Mr. Hatton, as we understand the reports of his
speeches, admits that he took the Know Nothing
oaths and that he is still member of the organi-
cation. He processes no repentance for this sin
He thus proves himself disqualified for the position
of Governor Of a State of freemen. He must repent,
and bring forth fruits meet forrepentsnce. He may
try to laugh off the reproaeh, but it VIII abide by
him. The only question of principle which the
IN do Tu I'm
Nothing question. Our opponents now try to dodge
it. The Patriot thinks it is very uadgnifed to raise
it. But if Hatton were to be elected, the result
every where would be hailed as pure Kno'o Nothing
triumph, and every cant phrase about SAM" and
Americans ruling America" would be revived.
We pity the Patriot and we pity its candidate for
having to bear the odium of Know Nothingism. We
no more wonder the writings and twistings of the
Know Nothings when we hold up before them the
oaths and secrecy and religious tests of the order
and fix on them the responsibility of these things
than we wonder at the writings of a venomOus
snake when we impale him. But the public good
demands the exposure. This whole generation of
Know Nothings viii be required to expiate the sins
of two years of the order. The youngest man who
took the oath will be disqualified to hold responsible
Office at the hands Of freemen the last day of his
life, should he live to the age of Methuselah without
sincere and public profession Of repentance
Mr. Hatton has not done that, and that is all the
people care to know about him.
We are glad to see that Gen. Harris is holding his
competitor to the full responsibility of Know Moth
ingism. 1t is the issue Of the canvass masked and
concealed by our opponents undermany hypocritical
pretences. When the people know that, there is
danger of the result than there would be in an
attempt to supplant free institutions with the
despotisms of the dark ares