The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-07-09
COLfaX's KnOW.NOthingism.

IHe NeW 1ork IFtOune, Win great We
hemence, denies the knownothingism of
Schuyler Colfax. We are astonished that
philosopher Greeley should exhibit such
ignorance of the political history of his
protege, but we think it wilfull. Schuy-
ler was one of the leaders of the bigoted
and proscriptive know-nothing organiza-
ton. In 1854 lie was unwilling that the
intelligent farmer, although he came to
this country to make it his home, and
identify himself with our people, should
vote until twenty years probation, or
hold any Office under the american Gov
ernment. TIE Tribune of a late date de-
hies that Colfax was a know netting. Ii
says:
"The last charge against Mr.. Colfax is
the following, in the Washington Consti-
tutional Unaon of June II:
The following is an extract from a letter
writ en- by Schuyler Colfax:
Il once registered solemn oath never
to vote for foreign-born man for any of
fee under the American government, and
to remove all foreigners, aliens, and Ro-
man Catholics from office whenever |
might possess the power to do so.'
Who was this letter written to, and
'ehem.? No one can answer, for it is a
base coinage"
In 1854, ct South Bend, Colfax was in
itiated into a known othing lodge, and
there registered the following oaths:
"FIRsT DEGREE.
"In the presence of Almighty God and
these witnesses you do soemnly promise
and swear that
you will not vote, nor give your influence
for any man, for any Office in the gift of
the people, unless he be an American
born citizen, in favor of Americans ruling
America, nor if he be Roman Catholic" !"
"sECOND DEGREE.
"In the presence of Almighty God and
these witnesses you do solemnly and sin
cerely swear if it may be
legally done, you will, when elected or ap-
pointed to any official station comforting
on you power to do SO, remove all foreign
ers, aliens, or Roman Catholics from office
or place in your gift"
These were the obligations of Schuyler.
He swore not only to prescribe man on
account Of birth, but also On account of
his religion. He not only pledged HIM
self by solemn oath to vote against any
man of foreign birth, or Catholic, but to
even remove those thus designated from
office fit could be accomplished through
his agency or influence. The letter of
Colfax to which the Tribune refers was
not 'base coinage" 1t may be conven-
lent just now for the friends of Colfax to
make that impression, but he will never
deny that he registered the solemn oath
20 which he refers in his letter
In 1854 Colfax would prescribe intelli-
gent white foreigners for the accident of
birth and the exercise Of the natural
right to worship Almighty God according
to the dictates of their own consciences," 4"
and now he votes and lends his influence
to the degraded, ignorant and hcathenish
nesro, incapable Of appreciating the obli-
cations and duties of freemen, the right
of suffrage. Why was Colfax so bitterly
opposed to foreign born whites in 1854
and in favor of depriving them of the
franchise of citizens? And why is he
now in favor of giving the southern negro
all the rights and privileges of white citi
zens? Why does he discriminate in fa-
vor of the blacks and against his own
race? Party considerations prompt him
He is governed by party prejudices and
hates. He wishes to elevate the negro
and degrade his own race to crafty party
rancor. He would put the intelligent
whites under the foot of the negro because
they do not think and act with him polt-
ically. The same intolerant spirit that
controlled him as a know nothing in Is.
81, influences him now. Free speech and
free press and free opinion he would
trample under foot 20 secure the triumph
Of his party and his own aggrandizcmeut
He would rejoice to see the sceres of the
bloody Monday in Louisville re-cnacted,
if necessary to overcome his political enc,
mics He was ready to put the foreign
born under foot in 1854 because he did
not sympathize with the whig party, and
he now hugs the negro, if not as degraded
as his progenitor, just about ready to rel
lapse into barborism. because he. hopes
through that agency TO control the polite
al destlnies of the southern states, and
continue radical rule and supremacy in
the federal government. We assure the
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