Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-04-26


crty man. ED.
For the Green Mountain Freeman.
KNOw.NOTHINGIsM AND SLAVERY. e
Mn. EDIroR II notice, in various journals,
discussions on the relation the new American
order sustains to Slavery. Some look upon its
progress with fearful forebodings. Others con-
olude that as there is at the present time, at the
North, strong and growing sentiment against
the aggressions of Slavery-that as in the late
elections in Massachusetts,, New Hampshire,
Connecticut and Rhode Island the two elements
have combined and worked in harmony-elect-
ing, in nearly every instance, Anti-Slavery men
of decided stamp-that We have nothing to
fear.
That this state of things affords ground for
encouragement freely admit. But, as friend
of Liberty and the State, wonld earnestly call
the attention of every considerable, thoughtful
mind to one feature of the American Order,
which to my mind is portentious of evil What
ever Of secrecy wells its plans and objects, it is
no secret that on the subject of Slavery the Or
der, as a.uholc, has no declared opiiioas s,ers
sentiments. Not but that each section may ex-
press such opinions, and elect men holding such
sentiments. as they pleasc--proyided that all
prbing questions shall be confined
strictly at home for State and local purposes.
This arrangement may work very well three
years out Of four. But how will it be at
the Presidential Nominating Convention of the
Order in lo56-when men of antagonistical
sentiments shall grapplc--when Greek meets
Creek
The naughty Southron, ever vigilant for
Slavery interests, has but to point to the Consti-
tuition of the Order--(see various papers claim
ing to speak by authority land bid defiance
and the dicomftted Northorner finds himself, as
at other Baltimore Conventions, on Baltimore
Plat(orm-of REORGANIZATION, shall say E.
Nay; worse than that. Communicable Slavery
TO take things as you find them-to Slavery
MS it is-to Slavery, greedy for other conquests,
with its struggle for other countless acres of vir
gin soil, on which to revel and debauch, and to
curse with its hateful presence. Yea commit
ted, by position, to Danish every disturbing in
fuence, on the plea of sectionalism and side
issues, threats of dissolution of the Union, hyp-
ocrtes and traitors, and all the appliances that
Slaveholding Hunkerism knows SO well how to
use. He is shorn of his strength, because he
has yielded allegiance to an association that, as
a National Party, ignores the whole subject, as
one destructive to the harmony and success Of
the Assrican Order--as the old parties have
ever done, and for the same reasons
And one reason that will offer for my opin-
ion is, that about one-third of the Massachu-
sets legislature, led on by the editor of the
Know Nothing and Crusader, paper published
OF Doston--the editor himself a member--oppo-
sed, with bitterness. the election of Mr.. Wilson
to the U. S. Senate, on the ground that he was
sectional, and not national, in his views; and,
therefore, offensive to the South.
This paper has very extensive circulation in
every State in the Union, and is down, with d
vengeance, on any man who would remember his
i - zxeedom, as part of his National
Platform. 1t doubtless does not represent the
opinions Of the majority of the Order in New
England and some of the Western States hut
in most of the Middle States fear it would be
different and at the South its policy is appro-
we'd, of course-as it seems to be timely relief
to their present embarrassing position.
Do then despair Of good results from the
organization By no means. 1t has been eff
cient in destroying the slavery of party. That
is one great object gained. If the leaders of
the Southern and Middle States should succeed
in their darling scheme to servilize and Hunker-
lie the Order, 80 as to thrust Shareholder or o
Doughlace, as u nominee for President, upon
the people-that moment Will date its certain
downfall, and other instrumentalities more tue
to Freedom will arise to reform our land. Bat
if the American party be faithful to Freedom
planting itself squarely on the principles of
truth, justice and right, on all subjects-it will
command the admiration of the world. If false,
she will richly deserve to meet with an inglori-
Gus overthrow.
1t is to be sincerely regretted that the Amer
lean organization had not originally planted its
hopes, and reared its noble structure upon the
immovable foundation Of true Republicanism.
1t is hoped that there is even now virtue and
patriotism enough inside the Order to guide her
safely over the breakers If not, then there
must inevitably succeed dissolution and, pos
silly, reorganization of the party.
Permit me to say to all, whether within the
pale of the Order Or not, who are sincerely de-
sirous Of coming to correct conclusion on this
vital point, to read the paper above referred to-,
and they will know, as far as one able and indu-
entail journal can indicate, land there others
at the North of the same tone,) wherein our lib
critics by that Order are imperiled; and can
judge for themselves whether Freeddih has any
Ithing to hope from sa oh connsclloss
r. would freely accord to our Southern breth-
rem all their rights, 10th State and Constitution
al,and while they, seconded by their Northern al
lies, ring so loudly the changes Union Union
National-National-it may be proper to exam
inc, briefly, the grounds Of this cry. too 60
for National American Party, based upon the
immutable principles of the Declaration Of In
dependence--for National party founded upon
the Constitution of the United States, upon the
Constitution as interpreted by Southern men,
} not the Southern men of 1855, but by Southern
patriots Of l776-our Fathers, Washington,
Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, and host Of
other worthless, both North and South--the
0 Constitution makers hemselyes--whose writings