The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-08-30
Was Wilson a Know-Nothing ?

Was Wilson Know-Nothl
The following letter was written by Mr..
WILSON, candidate for the yice-presidenoy on
the GRANT presidential ticket, to number
of German citizens of Brooklyn who had in
terrogated him upon the subject:
"NATICK. MASS, August 2G, 1872.
"Messrs. bernhard, Ficrcri, and others:
Gcntenen,-I am in receipt OF your
honorcd favor in which you inquire whether
the reports that was once member OF the
KNOWN Nothing party are founded i'll truth
or are tictions created by political enemies
Let me say to rtaSslIre that have never been
II member OF the Know-Nothing party. and
have never voted with it, but that ] have
always excrted myself to fight against its de-
trimental principles from the beginning OF
its existence, both by word and action, anti
upon every OCCASION. From the sullolncd
extracts in my speeches, which have APP
pcarcd in several German papers. you may
gather that have always declared free and
openly the principle that adopted citizens OF
our Union ought to enjoy the same rights rs
the natives, and that whatever of oppression
Of any class of citizens exists because they
differ from some other GLASSES, and primer
pally because they arc torciSn-born. is III
striking contradiction TO the principles OF
true religion, the fear of God, and the spirit
of our enlightened age. and that such war
ring against our immigratrd citizens Is most
uni uSt, inhunan, and impolitic.
"TilcSe utterances are i'll perfect accord
with the liberal views which have always
entertained during my long political career.
On this basis rests the whole fabric of our
powerful Republican party--tlie purity of
,.,hn ip,mnruhI, ,,illu.S n.y.
dom, equality, and fraternity. This now is
and will be my watchword rs long us live
and labor. With the greater energy, there
fore, must dCnounce such Il caltlmnious
SANDER, and declare it a contemplate cleo
ton lnanGuvre, which, though without sue
cess, has been used against me several times,
especially in the years 1896 and 1858, by the
opponents of the Republican party. AS you
honored gentlemen are well able to di>tin-
gllish truth from falsehood, you will, hope,
sirs, favor me with your kind confidence i'll
the future. In this agreeable expectation,
and thanking you most heartily for your frank
letter, subscribe myself, with all due re-
spect, your obedient servant,
"HgERY WILSON"
Upon this question General ALBERT PIKE,
of Arkansas, has written the following letter,
which has already been extensively pub
lishcd. General PIKE is a gentleman whose
veracity has never been called in question, as
far as the public knows. He conyicts Wiz
SON beyond dispute Of having been Know
Nothing, and therefore of ialsehood i'll the
letter published above:
"Sir,-Was Henry Wilson a Know-No-
thing? You say that you are constantly re-
ceiving letters asking an answer to this qles-
ton. l will answer It. / was delegate to
and q member of the National Council of the
know-Nothing party in the summer of 1850,
at Philadelphia, and one of seven delegates
from southern State. found present Sen
ator Wilson in that body when entered.
He sat in it during the whole session, and
helped settle the platform, being of the seven
delegates of Massachusetts. TO be there he
had to have the sign, word, aud grip. and
necessarily had taken the same oath that we
had all taken on entering the order; i. e.. not
to assist in any way in elevating to any Office
of trust or profit any person of foreign birth
or any Roman Catholics. The oath is as bind
ing on him now as 1t was then. My name
will assure you that l know that of which
speak. I object to Mr.. Wilson's sneaking
out of the sclape, both suppressio rc,1 and
suggesf'o Jdlss. 10 ALBERT PIKE.
Washington, August 1, 1872"
We can add to the statement made here by
General PIKE that in that national council
held at Philadelphia question was raised
whether PIERRE SoULE, of New Orleans,
should be admitted or not. He was Catho-
lie, and objection was raised to his admission
on that account. After an excited debate it
was decided that he should be admitted, and
HENRY WILSON and gentleman of this city
were appointed a committee to inform DR.
SoULE Of the fact and escort him into the
hail.
Now, Of the gentlemen who were MEN,
bers Of the Know-Nothns Order some have
changed their opinions on the subject, and
some have not. But we have heard of no
prominent man who, having been member,
now denies under his own signature that he
ever was, except HENRY WILSON. Hestands
convicted of faisehood. and he has the unbltlsh-
ing impndence, in denying bis association
with know-Nothings, to pass severe censure
upon those who were members Of the Order.
This exceeds any specimen ofimpndence and
trcaebery which has been presented to the
world for long time.