The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-01
ELECTION OF SENATOR IN MASSACHUSETTS,.


lature of Massachusetts,, a paper was circulated,
containing sundry extracts from the speeches
of General Wilson in the Constitutional Con-
vention of that State, repudiating all distinc-
| tons on account of race or color. This rather
| troubled several of his supporters, and letter
was addressed to him, inquiring whether, as
| the extracts stood, they fairly represented his
ideas now; suggesting at the same time, that
from the general scope of the speeches. they
| probably contemplated only the colored race.
We publish the correspondence, as we find
it in the Boston Telegraph. 1t will be OBJ
| served, that the writer who propounds the in
quiry, holds that the ideas that underlie the
Know Nothing organization are of paramount
importance, and General Wilson in his reply
seems to accept this proposition. This cores
pondent thus makes him, first all, repre-
sentative of the Know Nothing movement, and
this being paramount, other questions must be
| subordinate, so that, if in conflict at any time
with the objects of the so-called American
| movement, they must give way. We have no
doubt that many sincere Anti-Slavery men will
accept the generalities in Mr.. Wilson's letter
about Human Rights as entirely satisfactory;
| but we must not forget that even General Cass
himself, in many speeches, actually ignoring
the Slavery Question, has been no less eloquent
| and ample in such generalities.
AS to Mr. Wilson's understanding of the So
| called American movement, that it "does not
propose to withdraw from men born in other
lands the protection of just and equal laws"
| we should like to know what he means by
"just and equal laws" Is it "just and equal"
to exclude from Office capable and estimable
citizens simply because they were not born in
the same parallels of longitude as ourselves
Is it just and equal to exclude them from the
jury panel? Is itjust and equal to withhold citi-
zenship from hundreds of thousands of our fell
low men, who cast in their lot with us, and prove
their purpose to abide with us, and whose labor
and property we tax? Is it just and equal to
form combination to exclude from office all
members of a particular church, because it is
assumed that the head of that church claims
temporal power them, while it is not
| proved, or attempted to be proved, that in this
country if the claim has ever been made, it
! ever udo DCCH duHiJttu, VI Will NE, ny Tue
bishops and members generally of that church
"Just and equal" Aye, the Legislators of
Illinois will tell you that they afford the protec-
| ton of just and equal laws to the colored race;
and there is not Pro-Slavery man in the
country who will not boast of the humanity with
which the colored people, bond and free, are
treated by the American People. We want
deeds, to sustain professions.
We had intended to make no comment on
the election of General Wilson; but the cores
pondence which we subjein, defining his posi-
ton, and the issue on which he is elected. de-
manded word from US. That it admits of
more constructions than one is evident, not
only from its own terms, but from the COM
ments of the newspapers, some of which think
it commits him to nothing, some, that it con-
tains all of his of-repeated opinions on the sub
ject of Slavery, some, that it completely retracts
them. The Nesc York Herald a champion of
the new Order, is perfectly satisfied with it,:
ain his letter, however, which We published
yesterday, we detect nothing less than the aban-
donment of the Anti-Slavery societies, and the
acceptance of the conservative Know Nothing
platform x The letter of Gen. Wilson,
we think, goes very far to prove that he, as a
Know Nothing Senator, intends to hold the
ground of Non-Intervention in the domestic
affairs of the States, whatever may be his per-
sonal opinions of the abstract question of Sla
very. We rely upon General Will
son, if elected, as Know Nothing Conserva-
tive in the Senate upon the Slavery question.
We regard his letter as pledgeto this effect"
The Herald evidently stretches point so as
to re assure the South but it is to be regretted
that an Anti-Slavery man should make any
declaration, at all possible to be so miscon-
strued by such paper as the New York
Herald.
PoLrucAL CoRRRsrosDENcE-PosrIoS OF Hon. HENRr VIII
son on THE AMERICAN QUESTION
The following correspondence appears in the
Bee OF this morning:
Mr.. Halls Letter.
BosToN, January Is, 1855.
SIR: / enclose to you paper, which has
been put into my hands, containing extracts
from certain speeches made by you in the late
Constitutional Convention.
The design of the paper is, evidently, to pro-
duce an unfavorable impression in respect to
your sincerity as member of the American
party, and, as a matter of justice, it seems
necessary that you should have an opportunity
to correct any impression which may be errone-
Gus.
take the liberty, therefore, to ask you to
state, if consistent with your inclination and
convenience, if the "extracts," as they stand in
| this circular, are fair representation of your
present views of American principles.
On a cursory examination of the speeches
| from which these extracts are made, the gene
| raj scope of your argument appears to be in
| opposition to the prescription of colored per-
| sons, and it is possible that the references to
| persons of foreign birth were chiefly employ
ed by way of ampli6cation and illustration of
| the main proposition.
But however this may be, the question of
present opinion in regard to the great principles
of the American party is principally important,
and it would be gratifying if you should see fit
to take occasion to express yourself distinctly
on these points.
In the present crisis of our political history.
deem the supremacy of the ideas which under
lie the popular movement of paramount import
ance. In their prevalence is the hone of our
country for generations to come. The highest
interests of Freedom are identified with them.
Their successful development must depend on
the people, not merely on fraction Of a people.
as in usual party victories, but on the united
movement OF the mass. Let but the mass be
once invested with power, and act out their
natural instincts, and | am content to abide the
result so far as the correction of abuses and the
removal of social and political evils are con.
| cerned.