New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-15
THE EVENT OF THE DAY.

The spirit shown by the mass Of Northern
delegates in the Know-NothiDg Convention at
Philadelphia is not only honorable to them per-
sonally but affords q new evidence of the state
of feeling which pervades the North. AS men,
bers of political association aiming at certain
special ends by peculiar means hitherto I'M
known in our politics, we have no feeling to-
ward the Know-Nothings but repugnance and
hostility. We oppose that policy toward
foreign immigrants which they have sought to
inaugurate; We revolt at the mechanism of
secrecy, oaths and passwords by which they
propose TO control our public affairs.
But while processing these sentiments, we can
not withhold our applause for the manly and
gallant conduct Of the men of Massachusetts,
Indiana, Ohio and the Northern States generally
in the proceedings Oh Slavery in that COnven-
ton. There has never been similar collection
Of delegates from all parts of the Union where
so cheering a spectacle could be witnessed.
Never before in any political Convention has
the South thus boldly and manfolly been
met. Hitherto on such occasions that part of
tie Union has had everything her own way
without breath Of opposition. But here she has
heard the truth uttered in defiant tones which
will not soon be forgotten, and BY men whose
pluck and firmness could not bat compel her re-
spect 1t is true, she has carried her resolu-
tions, such as they are, but carried them ut
the expense of a breach which can never
be repaired. The upright and courageous
representatives of the Free States might be
outvoted by the help Of delegates from the
District of Columbia or Arkansas, or the Hin
docs of New-York; but they could not be
compelled to remain in a Convention where
the at rogatiOn of the Missouri Compromise
ard the conquest Of Kansas by an armed mob
were approved and Endorsed. They accord
ipgly shock off from their feet the dust Of the
false ard impossible alliance into which they
had Temporarily been led. They went oat of
the Convention like men, because they were
unwilling to sacrifice the highest interests Of
the country to matters which all must admit to
be Of inferior moment. They went out of the
Convention because they were unwilling to be-
| come accessory to the extension of the Southern
| Institution over the new Territories, and to
rendering Slavery the only supreme and perma-
nent power in the Government. They went out
of the Convention because they were high
| souled men, and not cringing, heartless dough-
| faces.
We are confident that not only the great body
of the people but the particular associations
| from which the seceders were sent will approve
and support them in this wise and noble course.
For, whatever be our opinions on the dangers of
fut no,aihilitv IF ha
Pope's becoming Autocrat of America, it is
clear that the dangers from the spread of
Slavery and from the domination Of the negro
trading Oligarchy are infinitely greater and
more imminent Whether few thousand more
Irish Catholics or German nfdels shall have
votes may be very serious question; but it is
of the most vital and solemn consequence that
the entire Republic, Free States and all, shall
not be governed and administered by and for the
Black Power alone. Some of us may desire by
legal and pacific means to check the Importation
of foreign paupers; but is that reason why we
should look on 10 submissive silence while our
own brethren, sons like us of revolutionary and
| pilgrim fathers, asssied by armed mobs in
Kansas and denied all share in choosing their
| own representatives, making their own laws and
forming their own institutions When this
/ greatest of all questions is up, other subjects
must be postponed and no party can have inau-
ence at the North or hope for power which does
not understand that truth and proceed accord
ingy. On this ground the Northern representa-
tiyes have left the Convention, and we congrat-
uate them and congratulate the country upon
their act.
This event of course ends the attempt to make
the kIow-Nothings a national party, with the
Presidency and the spells of Office as perpetual
stimulus for loud-mouthed Natiysm aud siren
uous negro. hunting. An unpromising attempt it
was, indeed. Without a single Southern State
preposterous this parade of putting the Order
on Sonthern platform and pledging il TO slave
catching and tie system o. carrying elections by
the rifle and bOwie-knife The truth which we
have so often insisted on, that the Know Nothings
can only be powerful and successful when they
aim to cooperate with the predominant senti-
mcnt of the North, receives a new confirmation
from the result of this effort to transform them
into slaye-driyers. Henceforth it would seem
that the mary opponents of Slavery who have
attached themselves to the Order in the Free
States vii! be safe against doughface sedu:-
tioDs and temptations. Even in New-York,
whore the leadership of the Order is in the
hands of incorrigible and hopeless Silver Grays,
We may now anticipate greater degree of inie-
pendence on the part of all those of its members
who still retain something Of the instincts Of