The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-01

and the e1ferm6nAtion Of the Catholics from the
country. True, among he speeches ct the
two meetings under consideration, we msot
with an occasional ding Of severe prescription
against Catholics aud fore gaers, and against
the institution Of Southern slavery; but the
general tone, spl IL, and drift Of the pro-
ceedings In question are remarkably coa-
servative n reference 70 foreigners born and
Catholics, and eminently consistent with the
doctrine OF non-intervention upon the vital
and paramount question Of Southern slavery,
as we shall presently sbow.
The essential act must not be overlooked in
connection with these Know Nothing festivals,
that Massachuset.s il the nrt State In which
they have broken down, roos and branch, ell
We old parties and factions, separately and
collectively in detail and in the lump. The
work has been done as effective y for the anti
slavery free soil party as for the wings or
democrats. They have al been overwhelmed,
and the new party, in the fst brush, by
moet astounding ma ority over the combined
forces Of all the old parties and factions, is mas
ter of the State. From this result, we see the
Massachusetts, Know NothiDgs assuming the
lead In national politics, as they have the right
to do, in behalf Of their party as o national
organization. Hence the importance Of their
revelations, their principles and purposes ia
connection with the national campaign Of
1866 campaign which will probably decide
the policy of the general government and the
lines between the political parties Of the coun-
try for many years to come.
We have said that there is nothing alarming
to Catholics or adopted citizens In the platform
of the Know Nothings, as disclosed in the
speeches at these Massachusetts, banquets-
nothing alarming or dangerous to the South. Mr.
Gardner, the Know Nothing Governor elect
says substantially that the new party is not
organic upon sectional or local principles
but upon national principles Mr.. Simon Brown,
the Lieutenant Governor elect, has mo denun-
Citations for the South" He recognizes, as
common interests between us all, the eleva-
ton of man, and the perpetulty of our institu-
tiops." Mr.. Comins in substance declares that
the Know NotbiDgs are decidedly opposed to
the present administration, which Is nothing
very surprising or dreadful; but whether the
Know Nothings run Northern or Southern
man for President, is matter Of perfect indif-
ference The Rev. Mr. Trafton, Know Nothing
member of Congress elect, 80 far from repelling
all foreigners for the future, says We hive
room enough still for them-"come IL you
like; but be as we are''--be Americans--tha.'s
oil H. III 81
in so many words--"I do not believe that the
rights of our citizens, foreign or native, are in
danger from this new party" Neither do we.
We agree with Mr.. Haynes. Mr.. George s.
Boutwell, says-"Tnere will be peace when the
nation reats slavery as 1t treats other local
State institutions" and so on.
Such are the boldly defined landmarks OF the
new party OF the Know Nothings as q great
national party. They contemplate the Amari-
caDizing our fellow citizens native and adopt
ed-they propose the invasion Of no rights
guaranteed in the constitution, to individu ais
or to the States; end they propose to act upon
the simple policy Of hands oG-non-nter-
venticn in the local institutions Of the
several States in the politics of the
Presidency They have adopted the po-
icy of MIR. Webster, as laid down in his
ipeech o. the eth Of March, IS50--the policy
npcn which was secured the saving compro-
niise measures of that year, through the JOINT
labors Of such men as Ciay, Calhoun, Webster
aud Cass. H. could hardly be expected after
Tie violent agitations of the slavery question in
The North Of the last thirty odd years, and e.
pecially in Massachusetts, that the public senti-
ment of that State could In single day be
made rs sound upon the subject Of slavery As
tho South might desire. But when we consider
the late terrible anti-Nebraska abolition excite
ment, particularly in Massachusetts,, infamed
even TO mobs, and threats Of armed nulliNca-
ton OF the laws of Congress, we may safely s.y
that this sudden uprising Of the Know No
things, and these Massachusetts, disclosures Of
their principles, are conclusive Of o wholesome
reaction in the public opinion of the North
upon the ubect of Southern slavery.
In Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and other
States, the cooperation Of the Know Nothings,
more or less, with all the other opponents u
The administration wings, free sellers, TEN
pHrnnce men, aud what not, was naturally cal
culatod to mislead the South to the conclusion
that this new American party had really joined
the league OF the Seward auti-slavery coalition.
But, having finished Off the administration,
we next find the Know Nothings in New York
turning their batteries against Seward and his
disunion party They took the field at the
eleventh hour, or it is very evident that they
would have done the work as effectively for
Seward and hia coalition in this State % they
did it for the administration in Pennsylvania
and Ohio. In Massachusetts,, however. with
the most unqu, stionahle impartiality, they have
iepudisted wings, democrats, AM free s0ilers,
and have taken the State and the field on their