Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-08-03
CL a r. K 8 WILLIE
Friday, August 8, 1850.

EI17- No one needs to he reminded Of the savage
vindieiveness with which the democrats pursued
and prosecuted the Know Nothings. In the annals
Of political warfare there no parallel to the vitu-
perative and Icing assaults they made upon the
motives and objects of party organized for the
noble purpose Of maintaining the purity of the bal
lotboSand securing to the natives of the soil theiI
inherent right to regulate their domestic affairs
In their own way, without the Intervention of any
foreign elements. The Know Nothings boldly pro-
claimed their determination TO vote for no foreigner
for any political Office, for any IMAGINATIVE or
foregn-who owes TO the Pope higher allegiance
than he accords to the Constitution of the United
States For these sentiments, founded in justice and
sustained by wise expediency-by the law of self
preservation itself--the party was denounced as
perscriptive-as setting up religious test, and
undermining the very basis of civil and religious
liberty. The prejudices of every foreigner in the
land were appealed to, in terms Of partizan bitter
ness, and lies the most barehced were inventea to
strengthen those prejudices and array the entire
foreign and catholic elements against party hon
estly striving to save the government by cleansing
the ballot-box ofthose impurities which have diff
used foul corruption into every vein and artery of
the body polite. And what are the democrats now
doing to prove the sincerity of their opposition to
Know Nothngism? They are supporting candi-
date for the Presidency--John c. Brecknridge-
who, in Cynthiann KY, on the 9TH of April 1855,
said, in his speech
1T was natural for man TO prefer those of his own
religious faith, in voting and he himself would vote
for Que of his way of thinking in religion rath-
er than for another, all other things being equal
just as he would vote for native in preference to
forcign-bom citizen other things being equal"
Not only, then, is Breckinrdge--for he has never
disavowed this sentiment-an advocate of the fun
damental principles of the American party, but he
goes bow-shot beyond it, in religious prescription
The doctrine of that party was to vote for no cath
ole for civil office, and not because his creed was
so and so, but because he owes allegiance to for
eign poentate, which allegiance is higher than that
which he owes to the United States Government
Mr.. Breckenridge, however makes no such distnc-
ton or qualification, but "woud vote for one of his
own way Of thinking in religion rather than for
another all other things being equal" that is as
Presbyterian, he would vote against Methodist
not because the latter allegiance to a foreign
potentate, but because he is Of different sway of
thinking in religion" from Mr.. Breckenridge. The
American party never contemplated an assault upon
the vital principle of religious liberty, and no dem
ocrat with the least regard for TRUTH ever charged
they contrary and us an evidence that the leading
democrats never believed their own lies against
that party they are now supporting for the Presi-
dency, man who not only endorses the leading
principles Of Know Nothingism, but press one of
them to point so extreme that no American would
follow whittier he leads.
win forcign-born citizens vote for such Know
Nothing? win catholics or Protestant Christians
vote for man who is prepared to make religious
opinions test of fitness for civil Officer Oh, yes
foreigners, and members of every denomination of
Christians will support him because the mantle of
democracy covers up his sins-thc devil, under the
same cloak, would receive the same vote.