Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-22
COMMUNICATIONS

MEssRs EDITORS I'm reading the pro-
eeedings of what is termed the Opposition
Meeting held at December Court, our at
tentlon was arrested by the striking contra
dlctlon between the resolutions and the or
ganization. The first resolution, declaring
"Ihat as Wings and Americans, we have
adopted and cherished our political princi-
Piles from an honest conviction Of their
truth and patriotic virtue, and such conyic-
ton is neither weakened nor strengthened
by the circumstances Of temporary defeat
or FINAL triumph
Here our Know Nothing friends reiter-
ate t, an undated and undyiing love for, and
adherance to their principles. Since they
nave emerged from the culvert and not
sought .sae shades Of night to conceal them
rom their fellow citizens, they have adopt
ed the name of Americans, in contradistinc-
ton from foreigners and naturalized citizens.
One of their first and fundamental princi-
pies is, that Americans shall rule Ameri-
ca, Put none but Americans on guard, .
''None but Americans in office" None
but American born were ever admitted into
the order, but to our great surprise, just
upon the reiteration of their former tenets.
in primary meeting when we might have
expected Americanism pure and unadulter-
ated, we find them unanimously electing to
the most honorable and responsible office of
the meeting, fat, chunky, old-fashioned
Irishman. 1t is true, that the President of
the meeting is most excellent gentleman,
respected by all who know him, and no
doubt he filed the chair with ability and
credit. But the direct and stultifying con-
tradiction between the resolution and the
practice is amusing. But this is not all !:
the worthy Irish President is not simply
honored with the distinction of presiding
over the deliberations of these intensely
American Know Nothings, who alone would
rule America, but not content with this.
they elect him delegate to their State Con-
vention, and 10 what else,-this foreigner
is invested with plenary and absolute pow
er to appoint just such persons to their con-
vention as he may chose. Would it not be
still more complete if he were to appoint
entirely foreigners to the Convention p
Suppose all the counties of the State were
to follow the example of this influential and
leading K. N. county; we would see in the
Convention to assemble in Richmond, in
February, illustrated Know Nothingism in
all its richness? The Secretary Of the
meeting might not be able to find enough
Americans to put on guard.
The Wing and Democratic parties were
denounced as grossly corrupt for counting
foreign influence and votes. Why this
change in opinion, this appointing foreign
ers to rule over Americans 2" Why place
it in the hands of foreigner, and at his
arbitrary will and pleasure, to appoint the
intensely American delegation from one
of the strongest K. N. Counties Of the
State
The only indication from the proceedings,
of the participation of an cold Line Whig,"
in the meeting is in the case Of the son Of
Erin, who presided, and he doubtless would
have been an American if Sans ritual
had not refused him admittance into the or
der. "OLD LINE"