The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-03-01

at upon the late letter Of Senator wilson whoso
position know nothing and aboonist IN eonnex-
ion with his election to the United States Senate by es-
a,ure known TO be under absolute control Of know
nothngs has furnished proof OF the close
affinity il not OF the complete identity between the two
orders Senator Wilson's letter prepared break the
force Of this proof and furnish plausible grounds
on which the adherents of the secret organization the
South could stand II its face the evidence that
/, eanaes not alone from Mr. Wilson but that speaks
alike the sentiments Of those prominent and inhu-
entail leaders Of abolitonsm Chase and Sum
ner 1t H. therefore, important document, and
think furnishes the key by which the ultimate designs
the know-nothing managers may be unlocked.
For the purpose Of making impression the south
mind the doctrine OF estate rights in put forth with
prominence and with emphasis. Ar Wilson says Il fully
recognise the doctrine Of State rights in its application
slavery well any other matter Of public concern
and by way of giving additional force the declaration
and Of quetng the mads OF the southern knownothngs
he endorses the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions Of 1893
lie next declares his belief in the hgheraw" doctrine of
Mr. Seward but like Mr. Sumner evadcs the consequence
Of moral perjury in swearing to support the constitution
by assuming that he understands that instrument there
is nothing in II in conflict with the "higher law" He
then defines the position Of the know-nohings Of Massa
chuseits the subec, Of slavery admitting their oppos
ton the institution, and declaring that most Of the
members of the organization in this sentiment and
are aagaia,t he support aiowanee 9, slavery BY
tonal legislation and that the question should be left
the States where il exists.
We give this synopsis of Senator Wilson's Positions that
our southern readers may exactly the present phase Of
know-nohingsm authoriatively presented and that
they may Judge integeny of the comments and deduc
tons which we propose make. But that there may be
no controversy as the fact that Mr. Wilson has promu
gated the platform of knownothingism and abo
onism for the South, the following hearty endorsement
of his letter by the Boston Telegraph abolition organ
published in Massachusetts, is important:
Mr. Wilson's letter in his usual direct and manly STYLE
and expresses opinions State rights and the powers
Congress with regard slavery in the States which held
by the great body of the ansavery of the country
The platforms of the soil republican party have
aby been based the ground, which is also held by
the American AnSlavery Society the Garrisonans call
themselves The contrary doctrine held only by
siderable number of aboltionsts of whom Gerr Smith and
Frederick Douglass are the most conspicuous"
There is longer any difficulty in understanding what
the leaders and organs Of know-nothingsm when
they claim nationality characteristic of their organi
zaon They mean that although they opposed to sa-
very and its support allowance by Congress- yet
that they recognise the doctrine of State rights and
for leaving the subject of slavery the ts in which it
exists. This is not only the platform Of know-nothng-
ism as now promulgated, but of abolitionism put
forth by its recognised leaders As natonal these po
sitions may seem to be first blush it will be apparent
upon closer observation that they involve in their practical
consequences the weestablshed designs and objects
abolitionism The doctrine Of State rights is resored
justify those abolition congressman who seek to repeal
the fugvesaye law, and protect those State egsa-
who seek to nuy and resist the execution of that
abundantly sustained by the late proceedings in the
Senate in which the effort to repeal the fugtveslave law
and prevent its execution in the free States sustain
cd by the leading abolition senator's Mr. Wilson amongst
the number upon the avowed ground that they
ryng the doctrine of State rights II is clear therefore,
that in the first grand object Of aboonismtne repeal or
notification of the ngitive-slave awknow-nohingsm
its cordial and efficient ally Yet the leaders and organs
of the order claim that their organization is national
and SECTIONAL and southern expected to toer-
because seeks hide its dangerous designs under
the popular doctrine Of State rights
After the repeal of the fugitivesave law the
obvious purpose Of abolitonsm is to abolish slavery
the District of Columbia Upon looking carefully to the
platform it will be that there nothing in it which
conflicts with this purpose IL does profess to leave the
subject of slavery the States in which it exists but il
contains no such declaration in regard District
Columbia any other territory which the federal
government exercises jurisdiction On the contrary the
platform contains the joint pledge Of abolitonism and
know-nothngism against the support allowance Of
slavery by national legislation" This is virtual
laraon against the continuance Of slavery in the District
of Columbia any other place where it exists by the a.
torrance Of national legislation Yet the leaders and
gans of nothngsm proclaim to the South that their
organization is national and designed interfere with
the the institutions of the South and they
prove their sincerity by the evidence of their abolition
allies
Prominent amongst the recently avowed objects Of abo
onsm is the purpose of excluding from the Union any
additional States whose constitutions tolerate allow
slavery II will be seem upon examination that there il
nothing in the joint platform Of aboonsm and know.
nottingham promulgated by Mr.. Wilson and endorsed
by the abolition leaders which in conflict with this
purpose The doctrine of State rights understood BY
them is applicable to slavery il already exists in tn,
States The Union but applicable to the admission
of States which only be accomplished by nationa
the aboitonsss and kncwnothings against the supper
or aiowance of slavery
We have made this brief enumeration of Of til,
known objects Of aboonsm for the purpose Of showing
sscYo