The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-10
Know Nsthing Movements-Re-Election OF
Seward.

hno" Nsthlng -Re.Election OF
Seward.
we publish elsewhere the constitution Of the
"N.ew York State Council being that braIch
OF the Know Nothings which was organized in
October last at Utica, and which is understood
to be favorable to the Hon. w. II. Seward, in
opposition to the Barker section of the order,
which opposes Seward and all anti-slavery agi-
tators. There is little in the document that
calls for particular notice. Like the Legitimate
order, the "New York State Council' opposes
the preferment to Office of foreigners or Ro-
man Catholics; requires all its members to be
native born citizens; and adopts the usual pre-
cautions for ensuring the secresy Of its pro-
ceedings and the inviolability OF its debates.
The whole mechanism of the organization is
calculated to insure unity of action, and con.
centration of purposes and bears close resem-
blance to that of all the other secret societies
which have existed in modern times
Though this branch of the order has been dis
avowed at headquarters, it has nevertheless
succeeded in establishing some fifty odd lodges
throughout the State, and exercised some little
influence at the last election. Its object is of
course to decoy Know Nothings from their par
ty by presenting them with platform analo-
gous to their own, and thereby tricking them
into voting for the Seward candidates. How
far it will succeed will be seen before long.
At present the great point is the reelection
Of Seward as United States Senator. The real
Know Nothings are not to meet at Albany till
the LIST ofFebruary; but we learn from circu-
lar which has been sent u.s. addressed in dis
guised hand, that the false order-the "New York
State Council"-meet today at Schenectady,
near Albany to take counsel of matters con-
corning their interest. The meeting Is called
'the first annual session. but it needs but lit
tie penetration to discover that it meets at
that time simply because Mr.. Stewards reelec-
ton is on the tapis at present. Whatever pres
sure can be exerted by the false Know Nothings
will now be brought to bear on the Legislature
in favor of his reelection; and those who know
the skill with which the honorable Senator is
wont to compass his designs will readily be-
lieve that the chances of his cajoling at least
a few Of the Know Nothings in the Assembly
are very great. In this conjuncture the friends
Of the Know Nothing order will be apt to in
quire where are the officers of the Barker sec
ton, whose business it is to watch over the
party interests, and to counterfeit the wiles Of
the sham Know Nothings? The answer is that
they meet on the first Of February, by which
time, in all probability, the question Of the Sen
atorship will be decided. The delay has not been
for want Of warning Over and over again, they
have been reminded that much Of their own
power and prestige depended on the defeat
of Mr.. Seward; that If he was reelected a severe
blow would be given to the order its moral
character injured, and the wavering repealed
from its ranks; whereas, il he was defeated, the
defeat would be universally ascribed to the
agency Of the Know Nothings, aud would do
more to establish their empire than any tri
umph they have hitherto gained. Nor were
they ignorant of the fact that there was false
order, organized at Utica in October, which
would bestir itself actively to ensure Stewards
reelection by every possible means; and that
victory gained BY this spurious association
could not but tend to weaken the genuine one
Yet, notwithstanding all these considerations,
SO little vigilance has been displayed that it
is highly probable the question will be de-
cided before the Know Nothings have brought
their forces to bear.
Our accounts from Albany point TO Mr..
Stewards reelection as . thing not only pro-
bable, but almost certain. Yet to defeat him,
itwould only be required that twenty five out
Of the forty five Know Nothing wings should be
true to their order: the others could be spared
1t seems that so actively have the false dele
gates bestirred themselves, SO supine have been
the agents of the true order that even these
twenty-five cannot be counted upon, and the
objects of the order are to be defeated If so,
the event will do for Know Nothings to mo-
ralise upon.
The TRICK CoMPLETE.-Some time since we
stated that it was the intention of Governor