Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-01-06
From tho National Bra.
THE OPPONENTS OF SLAVERY AND THF
KNow.NoTHINGs

)fhe Northern mind against Slavery, ,as has never
jeen aroused Iefore, and the consnmaton OF that
outrage inspired it with the firm resolve to punish
those who had efe ted it, and at the satne time TO
redeem the Federal Government from ysssalage TO
Slavery.
THIS movement of the Northern tnRd com
menced the moment the Nebraska Bill came under
dscussiun and began to show itself OF the ballot.
box in the elections of last Spring The election
in New Hampshire was held before the bill was
! passed the most strenuous efforts made to
relieve the Administration from all responsibility
| for it; the Democratic Party was assured that IL
was Tot regarded as test issue in the canvass;
but despite this trckery, tie People saw through
the deception, and returned to the Legislature an
Anti-Administration majority, pledged against the
Nebraska nquiy
This was accomplished without the inter-en-
ton of Known Nothingis.- The secret Order has
not yet assumed an independent organization in
New Hampshire.
In April, elections were held in Rhode IslsrAd
and Connecticut the issues were those raised by
the Nebraska Bill and in both States, the Anti
Administration forces carried the day triumphant
ly In Connecticut, especially, Toucey. the ne
braska Senator, rebuked, Gillette, Free DEM
ocrGt, was elected United States Senator for the
short term Foster, Anti-Sla5sry NLig, for lifelong
term.
THIS revolution too was achieved without ths
intervention Of Known .Nothingisin.
Deeper and stronger ran the tide of Anti Slavery
feeling; and Iowa the next State in order that
felt its renovatng power. Thoroughly Democratic
welded to the Administration, trained by poiti-
clans devoted to the South, it yielded to the pre-
vailing sentiment Wings, Free-Soilers, and In
dependent Democrats united, and elected an Anti
Nebraska Governor and an nti-Nebraska Leg
islature.
This too was done without tbe Intervention of
Known othingisni.
Then came the elections in Maine and Vermont
hold in the early part Of September. The issues
raised by the Nebraska Bill were here also the
sole issues. The People thought of nothing else.
would hear of nothing else; and they demanded
a union of the friends of Freedom without distinc.
ton of party. Their demand was at last complied
with. Wings, Liberal Democrats Indep5ildcnt
Democrats united in one movement, and the result
was, greater revolution than had been ac'
complishcd in the other States. The Administers
ion erwhelmed-lIunkerism and Slavery
received stunning rcbuke.
All this too, was effected without the nterven-
S ton of Known Nothngism. The Secret Order had
not yet manifested itself as distinct organiza.
e tion. Tie People were left to take their way
of dealing with Pro-Slavery Administration
7 Here, then six States, all of them Demo-
cratic but one in which, the naked issues raised
by the Nebraska Bill, the Popular feeling had
broken down party difference. and united the mas
ses in direct opposition to Slavery. With what
eXultation did the opponents Of Slavery record
these successive victories. With what hope look
forward to the regeneration of the free States, and
the redemption of the Federal Government from
Slaveholding Tyranny!
Was there anything in the circum stances or char
acter Of the People in those States peculiarly favor
| ing such Il revolution? Not at all. So far from
1t, the antecedents of all them except Vermont,
gave no ground for anticipating wonderful o
change. Ant-Sayery sentiment more widely
prevalent and active in Massachusetts New York,
Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin, and the Anti-Ne-
braska feeling was, to say the least as strong in
all the other free States. Nor was there in these
any greater devotion to the old parties. Had the
People there been let alone, had there been no new
element thrown into the canvass, had the Anti.
Slavery sentiment been allowed to act alone, with
out the Intervention of Know-N othingism would
not the revolution in the remaining nine free States
have been just decisive and overwhelming
lie who doubts ii must have reid the signs of the
times and studied human nature to little profit. Is
there true friend of Freedom who does rot regre.
that the Auti-Slayery sentiment not left un-
disturbed in its actiUn-that the People were not
left free to act upon the simple issues raised by
the Nebraska Bill Popular action had broken
up all party lines in the March, April, August.
and September elections. Popular action would
have broken them up, just efectually in the
October and November elections and then we
could have pointed to the results clear victories
Of Freedom, of the Anti-Slavery sentiment, achie-
we'd in an open, manly q direct struggle with
Slavery and lunkerism.
But the People were not left to act simply upon
the nt-SIavery issue. Power had been
insdousy mastering its forces maturing its plans
and it did not hesitate to introduce issues into
the canvass, and to ignore the Question which had
given the first impulse to healthiul and united &C.
ton among the masses. Where it could hope for
impunity, it opposed this action where it felt un-
equal to this, it favored it, although at the same
time it took care to secure as much of the substan-
tal fruits it could, for ITSELF and to claim as its
own the credit of the results. In the three States
where, owing to unwise or selfish counsels the de-
mand Of the People for a union of the opponents
of Slavery had not been complied with, and some
disafe elton was TIE result it openly appeared
distinct party, and by its crooked policy showed an
utter want of principle on the Slavery Question
for example, by electing in Pennsylvania the Pro-
Nebraska, Administration candidate for Canal
Commissioner by running in New York Silver
Gray llunker Whig as candidate for Governor,
and defeating several Anti-Slavery candidates for
Congress; and in Massachusetts, bs overriding
the Republican movement, and eecting for Cover
nor whose antecedents were Pro-Slavery,
but who at the eleventh hour felt obliged, by pub
lie sentiment, to come out with an Auti-Slayery
confession of faith.
Now, is any one 60 enlightened as TO tell us how,
much of the results in these three States is to be
attributed to the Anti-Nebraska feeling and how
much to know-NOthingism How many of them
can be trusted to act upon the subject Of Slavery
All the Congressman elect from Massachusetts, arc
Know Nothings but how many of them will pros
ecute the Anti-Slavery reform at the hazard of
weakening their Order, or impairing the prospects
Iof some fayorite aspirant for political honursf
l We have ceased TO trust in professions The
inclination or opinion of man may be way
his circumstances or party allegiance dictate an
other way. We would not trust angel in a
wrong position. Lead us not into temptation"
is part of the only form of prayer taught by
Inspiration We have no doubt that General Cass
was as indignant at the first proposal repeal the
Missouri Compromise, as Henry Wilson of Massa-
chusetts; but the false position of the General
prevailed against his generous impulse. We will
trust the Anti-Slavery action of no man. bound by
$ an organization which aims at national power by
# ignoring the Slavery Question.
d Mr. Banks Of Massachusetts who won the con,
e dence Of AntSlayery men generally by his course
ION the Nebraska Question last win.n- s.A-.' --i7-,