Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-09-08

ame ReOplea-A Lesson 10 the Democracy
The conduct Of the Know Nothing party in the
lste contest should convince the Democracy that 1t
il necessary to guard our rights with sleepless Wig
lance, while we have such foe in our midst. A
deliberate attempt has been made TO thWart the will
Of the people by q secret and corrupt combination.
A dark ana dishonOrable plot has been formed to
control popular election by strstagem and fraud.
A scheme has been set on foot to Wrest from the
people the power which is committed to them By the
constitution and place ii in the hands Of organ
ized band of conspirators. And this has been done
through the agency Of the Know Nothing party.
The very danger which was apprshended from that
organization at its origin has been realized here in
our own State When men secretly combine TO-
getber for the purpose Of controlling the politics
of the country, there is longer any security Tor
our free institutions Such combinations give TO
the minority the power to defeat the wishes Of the
majority, and they always viii exercise that pow''
for selfish and dishonest purposes. The conspiracy
Of Cataline was not more dangerous to Tie noeIisS
Of Rome, than this sworn and secret Ano" NO'1ins
I1agUe mas been 20 the libertir' Of InlS county
Already in many Of the lave cltles' the Ieign VI
outNthroats and roWdies las been established
the agency of the Know Nothing order In Ne"
Orleans riot and murder stalk unpunished through
the streets under the patronage and protection OF
this secret organization. The city government has
ham viveu up to outlaws, bauditti and Thugs, who
commit any outrage upon the rights of the citizens,
and perpetrate every species of violence. under the
sanction of its authority. In Louisville and Balti-
more, the voice Of the people has been stifed by
Know Nothing mObs, who drive free citizens from
the polls by violence and determine the result Of
elections by fraud.
The Know Nothing party has nolonger national
existence, but its bsneful influence like spectre
still bsunts the scenes Of It's former power. The
pestlsnce has passed away, but its foul breath still
hOvsrs around US and POisOns the political atmOs
phere. Hopeless Of obtaining the dominion in THU
State by the consent Of the people, it attempts t.
creep into power by craft and deception. 1t at
tempts to fix its shsckles on the limbs of the PEG
pie, while they sleep, and place rulers over them
not of their choice.
We have learned from various sources that tn
wire-wOrkers of the Know Nothing party have bee
busy for several weeks organizing their forces 70
the purpose of electing Judge WAIKER. Letter
we're sent into various parts Of the State informin
the initiated of the movement and COunseling theI
to be active and secret, that they might by keepin
the honest portion of the people in ignorance Of III
movement secure partisan triumph. In man
places the agents of this secret movement, informe
the people that WALKER was the only candidate an
thus induced them to vote for him. In ever
part Of the State the faithful we're mustered TO tn
polls, and placed their ballots in the box secre
ly as ifthey had really been ashamed Of the NEAR
ness they we're committing. If they have not SUI
ceeded it is because the trick was contemptibl
that the more respectable portion Of their own
bers would not participate in it. The Democrat
were anticipating opposition to Judge WRIGH
and very few of them went to the polls. The
could not conceive that any party would be guilt
Of such pusilanimous attempt to steal into powe
But they have been taught lesson which we hOI
will be profitable to them in the future. They ar
the guardians Of constitutional liberty. Let tbel
not slumber at their post Aseoret enemy is skull
ing around always ready to take advantage of thei
supineuess to steal in to pillage and plumber.
hope the Democracy will always be on their guar
hereafter. They should always be at the polls, an
should always inform themselves with regard t
the claims of the candidates that they may INTEL
gently give their support to the man who is be'
qualified for the Office, and who will carry out thei
principles