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THE STANDARD.
”.'■'” ■ • . .
I fiOM \ ‘ A. luRKb, )
< ’,\ssV I LL.E, GEO.
THURSDAY MORNING :
AUGUST 2, 1555.
FOR GOVERNOR,
HERSCHEL Y. JOHNSON,
OF BALDWIN. ‘
FOR CONGRESS.
HON. JOHN H. LUMPKIN,
OF FI.QTD.
FOR SENATOR,
HAWKINS F. PRICE,
FOR REPRESENTATIVES,
ALFRED M. LINN,
Z. G. TURNER.
FREE B A RBACUE!
The democratic party of Gordon county will
give a Free Barb: I .cue,
AT CALHOUN,
ou Friday, August 10th. A number of distin
guished speakers are expected, and everybody
is invited to come aud hear the truth.
3f~Reniembcr that we furnish the Standard
until the first of November, for the very low
price of Fifty cents. Circulate the documents.
Judge Lumpkin’s Appointments.
Williams’ Store, Sanders Town, Aug. S.
Fairmount, Gordon county, “ 4.
Dalton, Whitfield “ ’ “ 9.
Calhoun, Gordon “ “ in.
Adairsville, Cass “ “11.
Dallas, Paulding county, ou Tuesday, 14th
August.
Villa Rica, Carroll county, on Wednesday,
15th August.
Carrolton, ” ” Thursday 16th
August.
Cedar Town, Polk county, on Saturday, lSth
August.
Cave Spring, Floyd county, on Monday, 20th
August.
We were unable to attend the late Com
mencement exercises of the Cassville Female
College in this place, for reasons well known to
our readers in town. We were, however, prom
ised an account of them from the pen of a friend
who,sometimes does a little in the literary line,
but he has failed to hand it in, and we must
apologise for the .omission. Wc shall probably
have the report of the Board of Visitors next
week.
The Democracy cf Gordon--An Error
Corrected.
In the proceedings of the democratic conven
tion in Gordon, published last week, it appears
that Col. Dabney was nominated on the third
ballot. He was unanimously nominated on the
first ballot.
We have the most cheering accounts from Gor
don. The democracy have a free barbaeue at
Calhoun, on Friday the 10th inst. A friend
writing to us says: “We shall have a glorious
rally of the democracy. Sam is rapidly on the
wane in Gordon. Nuinbe's of old whigs refuse
to go into the order, and if withdrawals contin
ue at their present rate, there will not be a cor
poral’s guard of democrats left in it by the first
Monday in October next.”
New York Day Book.
It gives us pleasure to say a good word for
this excellent Democratic paper, which has been
corning to our sanctum for a week or two past.
We havo long known the Day Book as one of
the best of the New York weeklies—and probn.
bly the only one which h.:s fought boldly and
heartily Hr the South arid Southern institutions.
It opv lly bold and fearless in its advocacy of
the great principles of the National Democratic
party, and we most heartily recommend it to
Southern Democrats, who wish a safe and relia
ble paper from the North. Terms, for the daily,
- -fur the weekly, 12 aycar, N .It. Stimson,
publisher.
Hass Meeting in Cherokee.
“L . 1) •■7H',cr?.ry of Cherokee county had an
entbus-:', ric nr -s meeting, on Thursday last, at
Fields’ Cross IP a Is. There were- about four
tJioif. ‘rti persons present. The. Barbaeue was
glvrn by the Democrats, but a discussion was
Invited. The Know-Nothings were represented
by George X. Lester, lw;., of Cumiaiug, For
syth county, and James Milner, Esq., of t’ass
viile,
Tueanf-Know-Nolhlngs ware represented by j
Judge.l. 11. Lumpkin, of Koine, the candidate 1
lor Congress in the fifth district; by Ex-Gov. ;
Cobb, and John W. 11. Underwood, Ksq., also
of Home, Floyd county.
The Democratic Ticket for Congress.
The Democrats have now made nominations
in every district in the State, except two—the
seventh and eighth. In the first, the nominee
is Hon. James L. Seward, of Thomas; in the
second, lion. M. J. Crawford, of Muscogee; in
the third, J. M. Smith, Esq., of Upson ; in the
fourth, Hon. Hiram Warner, of Meriwether; in
the fifth, Hon. John 11. Lumpkin, of Floyd; in
the sixth, Hon. Howell Cobb, of Clark. No
nomination b'ts yet been been made in the sev
enth, but the Convention is culled for an enrly
day. Linton Stephens, Esq., will probably be
the candidate. In the eighth district, Hon. A,
11. Stephens will be supported by the Demo
crats and anti-Kuow Nothings, without opposi
tion, we imagine, as the K. N. Convention ad
journed without making a nomination.
The Know-Nothing Ticket for Con
gress.
M e notqp that the Know-Nothing Ticket for
Congress in this State is now almost complete.
In the Ist district they have nominated S. M.
Varnadoe, of Liberty; in the second, Willis A.
Hawkins, of Sumpter; in the third, Robert I*.
Trippe, of Monroe; in the fourth, 11, 11. Hill, of
Troup; in the sixth, Young L. U. Harris, of
Clark; in the seventh, N. G. Foster, of Morgan.
Col. Lewis Tunilin, of this county, is the candi
date in the fifth district, and there will probably
be no nominat’on. In the eighth, the Conven
tion adjourned without making a nomination,
wisely concluding not to try to beat Mr. Ste
phens.
£3?'The Sun (Columbus) is a capital daily.
Let it be Remembered,
That Garnett Andrews, the candidate of the
Know-Nothing Party of Georgia, for Governor,
decided, while on the bench, that the oath of a
Universalist was not admissable in a court of
justice!
Let it be Remembered, That Garnett Andrews,
the present candidate of the Know-Nothings, in a
speech at Milledgeville, in 1850, compared the
Southern Rights men of Georgia to Tories !
I.et it be Remembered, That the Know-Noth
ing party of Georgia are trying to defeat Govern- 1
| or Johnson, hv circulating what they know to be
, base and slanderous reports in relation to the
management of the State Road.
Let it be Remembered, That they are using in
tins district, against the lion. John 11. Lumpkin,
the Democratic candidate for Congress, a foul
! misrepresentation, which is as contemptible as
the one who gave utterance to it.
Let it be Remembered, That the Know-Noth
ing Convention which met at Macon on the 27th
and 2Sth of June, adopted a resolution which
says “ the American party utterly disclaims any
intention to prescribe a religions test as a quali
fication for office,’’ and that this same Macon
Convention ratified and approved the Know-
Nothing Platform laid down by the Philadelphia
Convention, which excluded a delegation of
slave-holding Know-Nothings from the State of
Louisiana, because they irere Catholics!
L.et it be Remembered, That the Know-Noth
ings, at the Philadelphia Convention, said that
tin* “Union of these States is the paramount
political good, the primary object of patriotic
desire,” and that at the Macon Convention they
said that the “ Union■ is secondary to the rights
which it is designed to perpetuate /”
Let it be Remembered, That the Know-Noth
ing party cannot be denominated a National
party, because nearly every Northern State
withdrew from the Philadelphia Convention, and
repudiated the platform of the party.
Let it be Remembered, That in erery Northern
State, whose delegates to the Philadelphia Con
vention voted for the majority platform, the
Know-Nothing C'uncils are divided, many of
them entirely repudiating the action of the Con
centum !
L.et it be Remembered, That Kenneth Raynor,
a Southern delegate, from the Southern State of
North Carolina, to the Philadelphia Convention,
and oue who voted for the National platform,
upon which the Southern order lias planted it
self, siid in a speech before that body, that the
“ repeal of the Missouri Compromise was an un
called for and unnecessary act, an outrage upon
the North, and he would hare seen his right arm
wither, and his tongue palsied before he would
have voted for it!”
L.et it be lima inhered, That there wero but
two Southern Senators and but nine Southern
Representatives who roted against the Kansas-
Nebraska hill, and that both of the Senators, and
nearly, f not quite all of the Liepresentatir.es thus
voting, are now members of the Know-Nothing
party!
Let it be Remembered, That the two Senators
who voted against the Kansas-Nebraska bill,
were John Bell of Tennessee, and Sam Houston
of Texas, amt that both of these men are spoken
of by the Know-Nothing party for the Presi
dencj !
Let it be Remembered, That E. B. Bartlett,
President of the Philadelphia K. N. Council, is
not a tUn tuck ion, as alleged, but a Massachu
setts clergyman—one ot that “ unjust, unrighte
ous and damnable?’ class of Yankee Deputy
Preachers or lecturers, who ‘ anathematized the
President, Congress, the South and Senator
Douglass, in the hope of thus defeating the en
actment of the Nebraska Bill.’ ”
Let it I>e Remembered, “That the Know-Noth
ing party at the North is thoroughly abolition
ised, and that every Representative elected to
the Congress of the United States from the free
States by the Know-Nothings, is either an abo
litionist or a frec-soilcr; and further, that all of
them arc in favor of the repeal of the Nebraska
bill and the fugitive slave law.”
Let it /*> Liemanbered, That Judge Loring
was removed from office by the Know-Nothing
Legislature of M assachusetts, because he decided
that Burns, a fugitive slave, should be delivered
under the fugitive slave law.
Let it be Remembered, That this same Know-
Nothing Legislature elected to the U. S. Senate,
the notorious abolitionist and higher-law man,
Henry Wilson, who introduced a bill there for
the repeal of the fugitive slave law—and fur
ther, that Southern Know-Nothings met in Con
vention at Philadelphia with this same Henry
Wilson, and tried to construct a platform upon
which they could stand with him !
Let it be Remembered, That Northern Know-
Nothings arc in f.ivor of proscribing Catholics,
j and are at the same time in favor of allowing
the rght of suffrage and full civil liberty to
free negroes!”
l.et it be Remembered, That the negroes in
the Northern States vote with the Know-Noth
ings, and that K. N. papers in Ohio have lately,
complimented them for it, declaring them tube
better citizens than foreigners !
Ist it Ik Lianeinhered, That the principles
and practical of the Know-Nothings arc oppos
ed to every principle of religious liberty, to com
mon justice, and to the Constitution of the Uni
ted States; that they are dangerous and despot
ic, and calculated to subvert the government,
and render our glorious republic a scene of an
archy, worse than that which characterised the
reign of terror in France!
. Why did you join the Know-Nothings?
Because you were made to believe it was the
, popular side! Don’t all say yes, at once! Wc
: do not intend, in earnest, to sav that you went
into th s dark-lantern concern because you be
lieved it would carry everything before it!—oh,
no! We know von never would have submit
ted to such severe oaths, risked being s unite-hit
and have lost so much sleep, these short summer
nights, just simply from a desire to be on the
popular side. No, you were impelled to these
severe and hazardous movements by a patriotic
desire to save our beloved country from threat
ened destruction by the Catholics and Foreign
ers. Yes, the Dope of Rome, with his hulls, al
though he is now shorn of all his temporal
power, save his being nominal emperor over the
i city of Rome, stood staring you in the face, and
you feared Catholicism, founded, as we believe,
in superstition and ignorance, would soon root
| <mt Protestantism, and become the established
| religion of the once free and intelligent Ameri
ca. Ignorance and superstition has never yet
triumphed over intelligence and freedom. Hut
wc frequently hear friends of Know Nothingism
cautioning its opponents hi beware of their po- j
sition, ns they would certainly be overpowered. ’
The argument has been frequently used, and !
that too successfully, we fear, that all who look
ed to political preferment, must join the Know-
Nothings. All we have to say to those who
hove joined it (if there are any) with the belief
that it was the popular Bide, is that they will be
disappointed, and find themselves after the first
day of October in a sickly minority.
Periodicals Received.
We have on our table, Putnam's Magazine,
Oodty's Lady's Booh, and Dickens’ Household !
Words for August, and Blackwood's Magazine)
for Juiv. They are all capital issues, but we ‘
are unable to say more now for want of room.
OTIt is raining as wc go to press.
Why do Democrats Become Know-
Nothings t
We have frequently enquired of ourselves the
reasons or motives that bad induced Democrats
to quit their old party and assQciatc with the
self-styled American party. In looking for a
reason, we just ask it the Democrats have either
forsaken their principles or made false pledges
to the country ? We think they have done nei
ther. The Democratic party have never forsa
ken a principle since its organization, under the
lead of Thomas Jefferson, down through the
administration of Madison, Munroe, Jackson,
Polk and Pierce. They have redeemed every
pledge made in their National Conventions.—
Their position on the national bank, the tariff,
the sub-treasury, the veto power, distribution
of the proceeds of the public lands, and the
bankrupt law, have all been carried out and be
come the settled policy of the country. What
other principle have they pledged themselves to
the country to carry out? It is that great Dem
ocratic Republican principle that the people of
each State and Territory have th<* right to make
their own laws, and regulate their internal pol
icy as they think best, and that Congress has
no power to legislate for them This principle
was first established by legislative action in
the Compromise of 1850, and the last Baltimore
Democratic Convention pledged the party to
this truly American doctrine- Have they re
deemed that pledge? Look to the passage oi
the Nebraska-Kausas bill, containing the pro
vision that the people of those Territories should
have the right to come into the Union as States,
with a Constitution either establishing or pro
hibiting slavery, as the citizens thereof might
decide.
And not only did these Territorial hills con
tain this important principle, hut there was an
other provision, repealing that unjust restriction
known as the Missouri Compromise, which pro
hibited slavery from going north of the line of
3G W 30'. This unjust restriction against the
South had existed for over thirty years —was
repealed by the Democratic party, with the as
sistance of a portion of the Southern whigs, and
by it the South has obtained the slaye Territory
of Kansas. The Democratic part y has proved
true to the South upon this question, which is
of vital interest, and by its action the South has
established slavery upon what was before free
territory. Is this a reason for Know-Nothing
Democrats to quit tlieir old party ?—wc can sec
no other, and from the company they arc in,
this is the presumption; because the first sue.
cess of their party was the downfall of the sup
porters of the Nfcbraska-Kansas hill. Now, we
do not intend to* charge the Democrats who
have joined the Know-Nothings with being op
posed to these hills, but we do say that their
hasty withdrawal from the party soon after this
great triumph of the South, subjects them to
suspicion. But if they really rejoice with ns as
they say they do, iip*'u the passage of these
bills, in the name of all that is good, why do
they denounce their old party and try to defeat
it bv that mixed, many colored order, called
Know-Nothings ? For one, wo can neither see
or imagine a single reason that could influence
men of primrple to the course of these Know-
Nothing Democrats. They have not, we fear,
acted from a devotion to principle, and a patri
otic love of country. As the Democratic party
h.ss done nothing to drive any of its members a
way from it, it must have omitted to do somt
th'ng which was for the good of the country. —
It is true, the Democrats do not desire to annul
or modify the naturalization laws—neither do
they desire to proscribe a man because lie be
longs to the Catholic Church. This, then, is
the offence—let us see if the complaint can have
any influence upon an intelligent man: the K.
Ns. desire to prevent the poor and ignorant for
eigners from emigrating to our shores, and they
seek to accomplish this by extending the term
of naturalization to a period of twentv-onc years.
Such an alteration in our naturalization laws
would prevent intelligent foreigners—such men
as Gen. Shields and John Mitchell, from select
ing America as their home, but upon the igno
rant criminals it would have no influence —all
thev look to is to obtain bread, and as many of
this latter class would come among us were the
naturalization laws entirely repealed, as they
do under the present law. Their proposition
would not remedy the evil they complain of,
but would have the effect to confine the immi
grants to that class to which they object.
Again: they propose, or did sometime ago,
to exclude Catholics from office, by refusing to
vote for any member of that Church for any of
fice. This, the second principle of their faith,
has become so unpopular on account of its un
constitutional bearing, that the Louisiana K.
Ns. have abandoned it, and the Savannah Re
publican approves their course. This two idea
party has forsaken, or will soon do so, their op
position to Catholics, and are preparing to
whittle down their op|>osition to foreigners by
making distinctions in the classes of immi
grants. Since their organization they have
been constantly yielding some features in their
order, and changing their platform to satisfy
the complaints of the people—firsi, they have
permitted the existence of their order to Ik* i
made known, aud the place of their meetings, j
and allowed the members to tell that they be- j
longed to it: they soou will forsake tlieir oppo
sition to Catholics, make such a distinction be
tween immigrants that they will be able to ap
pease every class of foreigners, by showing that ;
tlieir opposition does not extend to others—so |
that soon this great self-styled American party j
will he like one of its members told us the other j
day that he was, when he awoke of a morning,
that it required about half an hour’s deep study
to determine what party he belonged to!—and
with them in less than one year they will be ut
terly unable to tell a single principle of their
faith.
The Prospect in Cherokee Georgia.
A stranger would think, to hear the Know-
Nothings talk, that the Democracy of Cherokee
Georgia were dying out so fast that there would
scarcely be a Corporal’s Guard left on the day
of the election. At every meeting of their
I Councils, say they, from twenty to fifty are ini
-1 tinted into the secret order, nud nearly all are
Democrats. Now, we don’t intend to say that
these wiseacres are disposed wilfully to mis
represent the truth, but wo believe only ns much
of such stories ns wc please, and please to be
lieve but precious little. It may be that nil of
them desire to tell the truth, but we wonder
how it happens that their reports arc so con
flicting! Our opinion is that the number leav
ing the order in this county, at each meeting of
their councils, is much larger than that attach
ing themselves to it. Wc have a personal
knowledge of a large number who have with
drawn, and are now bitterly opposed to the
concern. One Council—at Alatoona—has been
disbanded, for want of members, and we learn
that several others in the county are likely to
die out soon. Wo have accounts from other
counties, quite as flattering to the Democracy,
nnd can assure our friends, in the middle and
lower counties, that Cherokee Georgia will be
at! right on the day of the election. We shall
carry this county, by from two hundred to two
hundred aud fifty votes-aud the district by a
large majority. Gov. Johnson’s vote in this
district will be largely increased. The editor
of the Atlanta Examiner closes a long account
of the late enthusiastic mass meeting in Chero
kee county, by the following statements:
“ First, we are. and were, before leaving the
ground of debate, assured that our cause had
triumphed there, and that nttttty had declared
an intention to nbanduh the Order, and, thence
forth, to battle against it.
“Second, a number of oltf political friends,
from various portions of the Fifth District, a
semblcd together during the evening, and after
a careful comparing of notes, authorized the as
sertion, through the press, that Gov. Johnson
and Judge Lumpkin would defeat their antago
nists in that district by a majority of not less
than two thousand votes, and that in the Blue
llidge Circuit, Col. Brown would beat Judge
Irwin at least sixteen hundred rotes.
Hopes ate entertained that these majorities
will be increased, by the day of the election, as
the cause gains ground every day.
In Cherokee county, the following ticket for
our State Senate and Legislature, has been put
out, and will be supported with a zeal not ex
celled any where else by the opponents of K.
Nothingism:
For the Senate: M. J. Camden.
For Reps.: Lawson Fields, Lit. Holcombe.
This is a strong ticket —one which ought to,
and will carry the county by a handsome ina*
i jority.”
Absolution by the Know-Nothings.
Previous to the meeting of the Philadelphia
Know-Nothing Convention, each member ot the
party had taken an obligation not to reveal the
existence of the order, but that body, assuming
some supernatural power, has at length permit
ted them to make public the fact of their connec
tion with it. How a man can be released, bv any
human power, from the obligations of an oath,
we are unable to see! But this Convention of
the Know-Nothings of Philadelphia have in
their supremacy absolved and released each of its
members from the solemn obligation not to re
veal theexistenceoftheorder. This is assuming
power never before claimed by any man or body
of men ; and yet these same men who can bv
a simple resolution permit its members to do
that which they had sworn never to do, are loud
in condemning the power claimed by Catholic
Priests to absolve or forgive the sins of the mem
bers of tlieir church: we believe that this power
claimed by Catholic Priests is ridiculous, hut
not more so than the assumption of the Philadel
phia Know-Nothing Convention in releasing its
members from the high obligations imposed by
a solemn oath.
What a Know-Nothing thinks of the
nomination of Andrews.
A Overby Know-Nothing, writing from
Atlanta to the Editors of the Temperance
Banner, thus puts it to the Macon Conven
tion and its nominee:
Messrs Editors —lt is known that the
New Party irregularly misrepresented in a
recent .. jumped up” convention at Macon,
has now imposed upon it, by convention,
Garnett Andrews, for Governor.
It is for the sensible men of the order to
say whether they will submit to this gross
deception—this unexpected, unthought of,
irregular, unlawful unhallowed, demagogue
movemeut! Sir, they will not, in my opin
ion, how to such a stupendous, inglorious
fraud, such a flagrant outrage upon republi
can patriotism!
1 apprehend the several couucils of Geor
gia never dreamed of such a movement in the
face of the solemn resolutions of the May
Convention ; and 1 understand, from a relia
ble source, that scores upon scores are with
drawing than the order rather thau submit
to the intolerable intrigue.
In this place, dissatisfaction, division and
uncompromising hostility seem to be the set
tled risults In Newnan, I understand over
50 have withdrawn from the order.
Do n’t be Bamboozled.
The withdrawals from know nothing coun
cils in Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi and
other southern States, continue on such an
alarm.ng scale that some of the couneds have
resolved to hold no more meetings until the
election is over. In view of this wretched
dodge to arrest the ebbing tide, the editoi of
the Nashville Union gives the following ad
vice to such of the members of the order as
desire to assert tlieir independence and to
show their freedom of action :
-* We hear that, to prevent the stampedo
from the know nothing lodges in this State,
it has been determined by some of the coun
cils to hold no more meetings before the el
ection. It is thought that by this trick
some withdrawals may be prevented. Not
so! Let no man who wishes to withdraw
from the conspiracy imagine himself thus
caught in a trap from which he cannot be
extricated Let him, if he finds such a game
attempted to be played, write his withdraw-
I al, direct it to the president of his council
I through the post office, and then give him
self no further trouble, but consider himself
out ! If the council will treat him fairly,
and give him a chance to withdraw accor
ding to the forms prescribed at the time of
his initiation, then let him adopt those forms.
But if he finds a trick attempted to be play
ed off on him, by which he is to be detained
a prisoner to the order in spite of himself,
then he is absolved from the use of those
forms, and has an honest right to freo him
self from illegal duress by the se of those
means which God aud Nature have put in
his hands.
.. We repeat, let all those who wish to
get out, and who find the trap shut down on
them by a failure to hold meetings, write
their withdrawals, and consider such acts,
when deposited in the post office, dclara-
TIOXS or INDKPENDEACE !’’
From Santa Fee.
New York, July 25.
Advices from Santa Fc,e states that Cap
tain Fauntclroy has defeated a body of the
’ Utah Indians, killing 40, and capturing 5.
Major Brooks nnd one of the whites were
killed. Indian depredathm continue.
From Xansas.
New Yor k, July 24.
Advices from Kansas state the Governor
Reeder refuses to recognize the legislature
as a legal body. The legislature has adopt
ed the Missouri code of laws. A meeting of
| the people has been called, and steps will bo
taken to ascertain from Washington the de
cision of the cabinet relative to the contin
uance of Iteedcr in office.
From Mexico.
• New Orleans, July 23.
Tho steamship Orizaba from Mexico, hns
arrived at this port, having sailed on the
10th.
All was quiet at tho Capital when the
Orizaba left.
Santa Anna's fathcr-in-law, it is said, has
been appointed Minister to the United States
in place of Almonte. Santa Anna's family
would leave in the war steamer Iturbide.
He is reported to be willing to make amica
ble concessions to the revolutionists.
Secresy and Oaths of the Know
Nothingism.
The lion. A. IL Stephens has written out
for the Chronicle & Sentinel a speech deliv- j
cred by him at Appling, on June 11th, on I
the occasion of a dinner tendered him by ;
the citizens of Cblumbia county. It is a ,
most powerful argtimeht and effective ap- |
peal to his constituents oa the character of j
the new secret organization.
Mr. Stephens commences by an expression
of Confidence in the principles of our Re
publican institutions as they were original
ly founded. Departure from them with the
hope of getting something better, would be
an evil hour. These institutions be believ
ed weie in danger at the present time:
I believe this secret Order of Know Noth
ings—with its great head—and affiliated
societies all over the country—spreading as
a spider's web from Maine to California—
throwing out its fatal meshes in every di
rection—-concentrating a vast amount of
power assuming the attributes of govern
ment—-the power to tax and punish without
limitation or restriction—the power to settle
by a National Council all political matters
for the United States, and taking hold of the
consciences of men—and swearing them to
yield implicit obedience to the mandates of
the Central Head, even against their own
free will: is the most dangerous and mis
chievous organization that has ever yet a
risen in this country. It is already an
*< Emperium in Emperio *’ A Government
within the Government. And when we come
to consider the principles upon which its
secret operations are based, the mischief and
danger to be apprehended from it is infinite
ly increased. These principles I consider as
in direct warngainst the fundamental prin
ciples of the Constitution of the United
States, and if carried out. will end in a to
tal subversion of some of the great and most
vital objects which should bo dear to ever
true heated American.
Mr. Stephens then proceeds to the analysis
and discussion ofthc Constitution of the •• or
der.” He quotes at length formula, obliga
tions and ritual as it is called on the third
degree: for this institution proceeds by de
grees. It lias its first degree, its second de
gree, and its third degree. The first and sec
ond seem to be for the . workers” the third
for the office-holders, or office-seekers : for
all who hold office with them must be third
degree men. The fourth degree, or fourth
step in the development of this organiz tion,
has not yet been taken, so far as outsiders
know.
Rut let us examine the first step. It is a
leap in the dark to all who take it; or at
least it was at first an l would have been to
tho present time, if accident had not brought
these things to light. The object originally
was perfect secresy. Each initiated mem
ber is sworn net to communicate even to any
candidate for admission anything nbout its
! principles until be is brought to the book tn
Bwcar to do, or not to do, something of which
he has no information before: without a
moment’s thought or reflection upon the pro
prietv or impropriety of taking the obliga
tion. Now, why this secresy ? Why entice
and allure nun ; young men, often : into
such a position, where they may take such
a solemn obligation instantly and without
time to think of it and consider of it: If
| freemen cannot he trusted : if their honor
cannot be relied on : if an oath must be tak
en by them, to bind them to obey y> ur bid
ding, as • liege serfs,” are sworn by their
haughty lords, why not do jt in public; why
be so private and secret about it ? Does it
not look ao if the object was to take advan
tage of the unwary ? What s the greatest
boast as well as glory of an American ? Is
it not that he is a freeman, and can and
ought to vote as he pleases, according to the
j untrammelled dictates of his own judgment ?
I Why not allow his judgment to be free un
j til the last expiring hour of clec'ion day, if
he so pleases? I have seen defences made
j in the papers of this secresy feature, and
heard some made tho other day upon the
; stump, which, I think, for the honor of the
I order, it would have been better if they
had never been made. These defences a
amounted to this: that such was the ty
ranny of old parties that the members of
this < new order” were compelled and driven
to this course as a matter of necessity.—
Does this speak well for the manliness and
independent spirit of those men who consti
tute the Order, and who sot themselves up
ns such Americans as are entitled, above
all others, to rule America ? men so abject,
in this free country, where every man can
do as he pleases, as to have it put forth as a
defence for them that they were afraid to
avow their sentiments, and were driven in
to secresy ! compelled to hide from their fel
low men, and made to take an oath not to
let it he known that they were ever in coun
cil ? Is it so that the party is composed of
such men, so weak and frail in spirit, so tim
id and chicken-hearted as this defence rep
resents them to be ? such craven-hearted
miscreants ? Ido not believe it: I think bet
ter of them than their defenders do: and well
may most of them exclaim, .. save us from
: our friends,” if no better defence than this
j can be made for them or thesecresy feature.
I If that defence bo well founded, a bold set
: of Americans there would be to rule Atneri.
j ca, wouldn't they be ? Had I represented
I the party as composed of such men ns it
must be, if this defence be true, I should
doubtless hnvo bcencharged with having
most outrageously abused then*.
The truth is, the defence is only a pretext.
For this I expose it and denounce it. In this
country no man having in view any good
object is afraid to speak his sentiments or
avow them: all know it, but the most
shameless part of this pretext is the tyranny J
of old parties. What party on earth ex
cept this and that got up in Romo by Cate
line, over presumed to exercise over its mem*
lers the tyranny of every sovoignty over
his subjects in requiring an oath of fealty
and secresy ? I present these views simply
for your calm consideration ns intelligent
freemen
After discussing at length one of the pe
culiar oaths of the order, which, in the face
of the Constitution, imposes & religious test,
Mr. Stephcus proceeds :
But I cannot dwell upon this first degree
obligation. It would take an hour to ex
pose the mischievous consequeuccs that may
be expected legitimately to flow from the
practical operation of several parts of it.
Suoh, for iustanco, as that which swears
every member of the party, in these words ;
You will, in all political matters, so far
as the order is concerned, comply with the
will of the majority, though it may conflict
with your own personal preference,” &c.
And again:
..You will not, nnder any circumstances,
expose the name of any member of the order,
nor reveal the existence of such an associa
tion.” r■-
Jfork this lilflgtiage—tinker at)? circum
stances.” Suppose public du‘y should de
mand of a good citizen, ..unwittingly” drawn
into it, to make known, not only the exis
tence of .uch an Assrciation, but the vows
of its members, would good men, with no
objects but good objects, ever want such a
protection against exposure and discovery
ns is here most solemnly provided?
But again.
..That yon will answer an imperative
notice issued by the proper authority; obey
the command ofthc State Council, President
or bis Depnty, while assembled by such
notice, and respond to the claim of a sign
of a cry of the Order, unless it be physically
impossible ”
Fellow citizens nnd my friends who are
..Know Nothings.” I do not wish to say any
i thing calculated to wound your feelings,
but can you imagine anything more incon
sistent with that- manliness of character
which should characterize freemen, than
this obligation—this oath to obey the com
mand of the President or his Deputy? Sup
pose that command should be to raise ft riot
—as was the case in Cincinnati. To scatter
-.red papers;” bloody symbols to light up
civil war in the land! Ought a freeman then,
in advance, to swear that he will obey the
command of any man on earth? Did not a
; vow thus inconsiderately taken and much
j more inconsiderately kept by Herod, present
j the head of John the Baptist on a charger,
j nnd may not a similar occurrence happen
; again ? And to respond to the claim of a
| sign or cry of the Order unless it be physi
j cally impossible!
Now what liberty of thought or right of
judgment is reserved to a man as a freemen,
after taking;, or while under such an obliga
tion ? I speak plainly, and I tell you one
and all, if I had ever taken it, or if I were
now under it. I would not let yonder snn go
down before I would throw off this restric
tion upon my own right of judgment —this
bond upon my own free will, and this l-.eavy
yoke upon my independence ns a man—
unless it should be ..physically impossible “
I would break the bonds ns Sampson did the
. withes ” A freeman's strength lies in his
sovereign independence!
[A gentleman in the crowd; Mr, Green:
interrupted, ami asked Mr. Stephens if he
had read the admonitions given in charge,
after the obligation taken just referred to
by him ]
Mr. Stephens; I have read the obligation,
and the whole of it. What follows in the
ceremony of initiation, I intend to read.
What the gentleman calls the admonitions
comes after the third degree, I expect. That
I will come to after a while, if my -tre igth
|to speak so long will permit. This is the
! ceremony which follows initiation into the
| first degree. But one word as to the con
eluding part of this oath.
. Binding yourself in the penalty of ex
communication from the order, the forfeit
ure of all intercourse with its members, and
heing denounced in all the societies of the
same, as a wilful traitor to your God and
3’our country.”
Now who commissioned yon. or any of you
to denounce any man as .. a traitor to his
God or his country.” Whence is your au
thority derived ? What Star Chamber Court,
worse than Spanish Inquisition, ever gave
you such power over your fellow citizens?
But what follows is in these words:
.. The candidates are then invested by the
Instructor with everything appertaining to
the first degree, with the signs, countersigns
and passwords, with the .. sign of recogni
tion,” the .. answer,” and the ..grip,” with
the means by which public notice of a mee
ting is given, the . cry of distress,” and
.. sign of caution ;” after which the Presi
dent impresses on the initiated the impor
tance of secresy, the manner of proceeding
n recommending candidates for initiation,
and the responsibility of the duties which
they have assumed.**
A part of this, it is true, may be consider
ed admonitory; but the most of it relates to
the signs and countersigns, the pass words
I and the grip” with the . sign of caution,”
I and the *. cry of distress,” all of which the
; new disciple, or neophyte, is given to under
stand he is bound to respond to unless it be
physically impossible”—and under which if
some worthy brother abolitionist at the north
should come out here, and be taken up, and
be about to be lynched, as lie ought to be,
he would confidently expect to be protected,
if there were any members of the Order
about. For the . cry of distress” must, un
der the obligation, be responded to, • • unless
it be physically impossible.” Is that the
admonition the gentleman wanted read ?
[Mr. Green, again inturrupted, and was
understood by Mr. S. to say, if he expected
to be sustained by the people of Columbia
county he bad better make no points with
him ]
Mr. S., continuing, said:—My object,
sir, is to present to the people here the
principles of a party which 1 think radical
ly wrong, exceedingly mischievous and dan
gerous to the Republic. This I shall do,
without any reference to the effect it may
j have upon my being sustained either by you
or by the people of Columbia county, or
without any regard to the effect it may have
either upon your vote or your influence. I
have no soft phrases or honeyed words to ut
ter, either to gain your vote or that of oth
ers. lamon no mealy-mouthed expedition
in addressing the people of this District.—
’fcOtull speak respectfully, but frankly : can
didly, but boldly, let the consequences be
what they may. I ask no favors and shall
shrink from no responsibility.” A man who
would flatter the people to get office, would,
under different circumstances, lick the dust
from the foot of a monarch for the same ob
ject. As I would scorn to do the last, I e
rjully scorn to the first. So we may just as
well understand ourselves and our positions
in this particular beforo proceeding further;
and so far as my election is concerned, I do ,
not intend to swerve the sixteenth thou
sandth part of a hair's breadth from my j
principles and my convictions of duty, to get,
any man's vote. lam quite as independent
as you are, and I think more so, for I have
not sworn to comply with the will of any set
of men against my own ; whether you have -
or not, is known to yourself. Should I be
elected, I shall not only feel grateful for,
but gratified at the oontinued confidence of
the people of the district. Bat if by the exer
cise of their own free will: untrammelled or
unshackled: or even under trammels and
shackles, voluntarily on their pan assumed
and worn, they eignify at the polls a prefer
ence for another 1 shall not utter a murmur
From that independent spirit with which I
Was born, and with which lam tb : sdnysuj.
tained, I shall at my quiet home draw, even
in defeat, more pleasure, peace and content
ment, than success with all its honors could
possibly afford, if attended with a conscious
ness that they had been acquired by the
slightest sacrifice of principle. I have no
selfish or venal terms to offer or accept by
which I shall ever hold office. Had I been
base enough to enter into .. stipulations,” as
some have reported, they know Tery well
where I could have got it upon much better
.. terms” than those I choose to stand upon
before you. My terms are those of an inde
pendent freeman: unawed by power, unse
dneed by flattery, and incorruptibl* by the
rewards of office or .the hopes thereof.” If
you or your party had the world in a swing,
and all its kingdoms at your disposal, a*d
were to offer the whole of them to me. as
Satan did Christ, on the condition I should
bow down and worship at Jour Unholy
shrine. I would sp>urn your proffered honors.
This I wrote to one who professed to be a
fi-ieud. and who presented the temptation of
silence. This I say to you : I shall never be
s: lent when I believe my country is in dan
ger. No, never ‘ If for this you strike me
down, strike me down !
Joseph E. Brown, Esq., of Canton,
Cherokee.
The gentleman is guilty of an unpardon
able sin, it seems in the opinion of someof tLe
Krow Nothing friends of Judge Irwin. He
has dared to yield to the wishes of a Urge
number of his political associates, nnd to
his own, if Lis enemies will have it so, we
care not which, to become a candidate for
Judge of the Superior Courts of the Bluo
Ridge Circuit, in opposition to the present
incumbent! What temerity is this? And
; Low indignantly *s it frownt and upon by parti
: zans and fritn -snf Judge Irwin! WLat! op
| pose our Judge, our favorite, and our party's
great leader when divested of tLc retea of
; office ? And make the Judical contest in
| the Blue Ridge Circuit, a political oner—
Fie upon it, Joseph E Brown! You and
1 your friends get out of the way,” and
su r.nder .ll independence of thought md
act on to the Know Nothings and otlie-s of
Judge Irwin’s friends ! Bolides, democrats
and anti-Know Nothings have nothing to do
with tlie office of Judge—all the talent, in
dependence and integrity of the learned pro
j session of the law in the Blue Ridge Circuit,
rest with your political adversaries, and a
democratic Judge would be an imposition up
on the people ? Besides. Judge Irwin is tn
honest man. a good man, and a good judge
therefore, come duwn, Mr. Brown, and
le* us alone!
Now we have a word or two to say to all
tliis flummery and gammon in tho mouths
and press of the Know Nothings in the B.uo
Ridge Circuit. Ag; inst Judge 1: win, as
Jmtge. we have not a word in this article to
say. But in f'acor of Joseph E Brown’s can
didacy nnd election we shall have a litiie
now, and much to say ere that event trans
pires In Col. Brown's case, it Appears, that
the rule of ..what is sauce for the gi-ose, is
sauce for the gander.” must not app’y. I! i
s n is, that lie is a democrat an l anti-Know
i Nothing. Hence, in the Blue Ridge Circuit,
! he is assailed for being a candidate— hi.- r<t
p-ibi/ity and honesty, at the same time Ik ‘ls
[ admitted—on the ground that, in electing :i
! Judge politics should not bear upon the con
test. This, we say, is the argument in the
Blue Ridge Circuit It is sauce there fir
the Know Nothing. The reason is plain—
the democrats and anti Know Nothings arc
in the majority in that circu't, and can.
whenever they please, which we are sum
they will do, elect their candidate. Demo
crats, therefore, and anti-Know Nothings m
appealed to, not to make the contest a par
ty one, and sophistry of every description to
sustain their candidate appears, column, af
ter column, in the press that su-taius Ju lge
Irwin Here, then, •is sauce for the goose,’
(Wc beg pardon of both the candidates for
using such terms as •> goose” and .. gamier”
—we of course mean nothing disrespectful,)
but where is the *• sauce for the gander’ ?
Unless the Anti-Know Nothing Democracy
of the Blue Ridge Circuit will it otherwise
there will no sauce be left in the dish fir
them, nor their cand.date. It, the disih
will be as clean licked, as ever was a Jid>
before.
The reader now will mind how odioos it
considered in the Blue Ridge Circuit, to
mnke party opposition to Judge Irwin.—
Democrats aud Anti Kuow Nothings m*> st
not do this, in that circuit! Such conduct
lis altogether wrong, and hath an evil ten
dency ! Well, be it is so if they will b* Tt
it so; but what do we hear and see esie
where in our State ? Let us look at the fob
lowing for a moment, democrates and anti-
Kuow Nothings of the Blue Ridge Circuit!
..The KNOW NOTHING PARTY hats
nominated D A Yason, of Albany, as
candidate for Judge of the South WesterJt
Circuit. They have also fixed upon Wilß*|
A. Hawkins, Esq., of Americus, as the can
didate for Congress from the 2nd Congrf*’
sional District.”
Now, here is a party, the Know .VcMi*,’
Party, met for a political purpose, a
ty purpose. It nominates its candidate & /
Congress—good ! Does it stop here! *
so ! It nominates its candidate for JuJp-
More <* sauce for the goose.” But none
Judge Perkins, the presiding Judge of & 1
circuit.
We trust that the Anti Know NothW
and democrats es the Bluo Ridge CiK“’
will see to it that they are not trapped i" 1,
a false position and seduced by the wp* l1 *
try of their adversaries. They can
their candidate if they will, and we do
not that they will do so. Without anV
paragement of Judge Irwin, Joseph ,
Brown, will administer the law. if f
Judge, as much to the people, and as
ly in accordance with justice and
Judge Irwin, or any other Judge ‘ < :
them; with them; of them; aud
them. That they will rally around sn ‘
tain him, we have every coufi lence.
ta Examiner.
E. H. Bartlett, of Kentucky, ** -
dent of Philadelphia Coua c | |kl f
The name of this worthy is signed
. pretermiting’ platform as preside 1 0 J
conclave which adopted it. When** ( .
announced that Wilson, Garden &