The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-08-10

North or South, unless he is an Abolitionist
is connected with the Order, speaks volumes
in support of this opinion.
Was l here to conclude, YOU would be
Warranted in supposing that I regard tho
Know Nothing movement as a iu,ubvo,
which can DO us neither good or harm
Except IN its calamitons consequence of
producing division among the people of the
South, | do so regard it. But in that aspect
1t is formidable in the extreme. We of
the South have no politics but the negro
and upon this Question the language Of the
glorious old TRoup should IN. the language
OF the South -"The argument q isexhausted,
we we will stand to our arms" Tllere Nean in
future exist but two great parties in tifs
Cn'on-the Pro-slavery and the Anti
slavery parties. All others will be eplem.
cral. IT we are united, we are safe; if wa
split up into subdivisions, on any question,
we arc undonc.
Party divisions have heretofore been orr
curse, and now, for the first time in half a
century, when there was brigh: prospec.
OF nnanimity; when the pleadings wefs
made up and issue joined between the North
and the South on the only question which
can dissolve the Government-the great
question whether the slave States are. as
e4aats, to remain in the Union, or. q.
equats, to destroy it; this hybrid Of Whips
gerry and Abolition intcrposes to cast us,
and squeaks out, in plaintiye notes, that
The Union is the paramount political good"
This sentiment will surprise no man. when
he IS Informed that Mr.. BARTLETT, of Ken,
lucky, the President Of the Southern branct,
OF the Order, avowed his hostility to the
Nsbraska bill, (Which simply restored to
the South her lost rights in the common
terrltory,) as also did Mr.. Pitcher Of tho
same State, Mr.. BRowN of Tennessee Mr.
llorGHroN and Mr. KENNETH RAyNrn If
North Carolina-the latter of whom de-
nounccd the bill rs san outrage upon tn.
North" Will you trust your dcsttinies in
the hands OF these men, who are the heads
ana leading spirits of the Order, even in
the s'aveholding South? The very circum-
stance OF the Order having taken root for
n time at the South will do Us injury at
the North. Our friends who, like ToUcEy
and the younger DODGE: have fallen before
1t, tor no other cause than that they wcro
true TO the Constitution, and therefore truo
to the South, will be mortified and discour-
aged, when they find Southern men afilia-
ting with their enemies. But worse than
this, every Know Nothing victory at tho
South will be claimed at the North as an
Abolition victory. The Abolition teachers
tell the people Of the North that there is
strong anti-slavery feeling at the South
with the poorer white population, and say
1t Is because they are jealous of the com
petition of the negro. They then reason
IN this way: "You knov aoAat hnow
Noth'ngism IS here: Know NotAinq;su
ss the same everywhere." And thus men
are converted into active partizans against
an:'nstitution which, if they believed was
universally approved and universally sus-
tanned by those who had better opportuni-
ties Of witnessing its practical operation
than themselves, would at least be quiet.
Tho only argument of the Know Moth
ings South which addresses itself with
much force to the Southern mind is, that
the Immigrant population come to our
country prejudiced against the institution
OF slavery; that they hasten the settlement
and admission Of new States, and thus in
crease the political power of the FreesoiI
and Abolition party in the National Legis-
lature.
1t is but just and fair to admit that the
preJudlces of the European immigrant are
generally averse to slavery; but there is a
reply to this specious argument which coun-
terbaances its force, and invites as grave
consideration as any aspect in which have
been able to present the question.
think I have shown that the Know
Nothing organization, even if it could ef.
feet an extension Of the probationary peri
od now required before naturalization.
would not prevent immigration. The tide
would continue to flow into the free States.
where the Abolition party is now predomi
1ant. In whatever State ninety-two thou
'and Of these Immigrants may locate, to
hat State will be secured an additional Rem e..
esentative in Congress. Observe the third
,lause of the second section first article of
he Constitution, which is as follows: "Ren-
and direct taxes shall be ap-
,ortioned among the several States which
bay be included within this Union accord
ng to their respective a,unabers, which
hall be determined by adding to the whole
lumber Of free persons, including those
ound to service for term Of years, and
xcluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths Of
II other persons" The immigrant being
leligible to Office, could give us neither
enefit or aid, let his sympathy be ever so
.rongly with us or in behalf of our insti-.
ltions. Having no voice in the elections.
1ey, would be represented by native Ab.
litionist; and thus the result will be to