The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-11-23

1t will be seen that the Know Nothing vote
has gained nearly all that the other three par
ties have lost The Wing Party loses one half,
the Administration Party two thirds, the Free
Democratic, three fourths of its numbers.
The facts we have presented show clearly
enough that Free-Soilers, Free Democrats, Re
pubhcans, call them what you will, are extern
Now, it is not for us to charge them with apOs-
tacy from Anti-Slavery principles, with disloy-
atty to the cause they have so long maintained,
with any dishonest purpose whatsoever Mr..
Wilson, the candidate of the late Republican
Party in Massachusetts, in his letter declining
the nomination, (which was not accepted de-
clared that he had assumed no obligations
inconsistent with the strictest fidelity to the
pledges he had publicly given; and he add
ed
~ wish, also, to say that belong to no or
ganzaton where | have been required to mod
ify or qualify in any degree my anti-slavery SEN
timents or to repress their utterance. For more
than eighteen years, on all fit occasions, | have
fearlessly uttered those anti-slavery sentiments
in the face of friends and Of enimies, and shall
continue to do so while | live"
Other Know Nothings like Mr.. Wilson, will
doubtless hold the same language, asserting
that they are not required by their organization
to modify or qualify in any degree their Anti
Slavery sentiments. In fact, it would seem
that majority of the Congressman elected by
the new Party in Massachusetts, are or have
been " Free-Soilers,' so called. Damrell Co
minis, Burlingame, Banks, Knapp, De Witt,
and Trafton, seven out of the eleven elect, are
so reported. And Mr.. Gardner, the candidate
for the Governorship, deemed it expedient, in
reply to the charge brought against him by
Judge Allen, to place himself openly on Anti
Slavery ground before the election.
1T is not true" he wrote, +" that am or have
ever been in favor of the Fugitive Slave Bill.
/ never voted for man who favored il, knowing
such to be his views, and | must very much
change before ever do. | never, by word, act,
or vote, favored its passage, and | am an advo-
cate of its essential modification, or, in lieu
thereof its unconditional repeal. Returning
from Canada last June, read in the cars that
there was a petition for its repeal at the Ex-
change news room, and on my arrival, before
even going to my place of business, fastened to
the Exchange and signed the petition.
TO the general assertion, that my life is
covered all over with the badges of the slave
holder, | can only interpose general denial.
You have been very much misled in your esti-
mate of my character. Were it not a little
| egotistical, might say my heart beats as ear
nestly for the rights of the North, and my de-
| examinations are as steadfast to oppose the ag
| gressions of the South as yours or your inform
ants. But am not content with asgeneral de.
NAL. ask that the particulars be given-poini
to the place, the time, and the act-state the
words, the votes, or the deeds, wherein this
charge is based. And if those on whose su
thority you make it cannot furnish them, / ask
you, in common fairness, to recall this state
ment, so untrue, so unjust
"To the charge of being a pro-slavery man
and an old bunker l state single fact. was
not elected by the Wing Convention member
of the State Central Committee of that party
but several vacancies having occurred, | wa:
verbally invited by its secretary to attend q
meeting held soon after the passage of the Ne
braska bill. I was present and offered a reso
luton; which | sustained in speech, to the eff
feet that the Wing organization would call Q
Convention of the opponents of the Nebraska
bill, without distinction of party, to nominate
fusion candidates for State officers, as was done
In Ohio, Vermont, Michigan, and other States
This resolution was, however, lost and its defea
was one of a series of events which placed me
In the political position this day occupy.
l II headed the petition for the use of Faneui