Washington sentinel., 1855-02-16
WHAT is THE KNOW-NOTHING IDEA
OF estate RIGHTS,

ii We understand arlgnt the pOncy Oh tne
Abolitionists, it is to abolish slavery in the
District Of Columbia, to abolish the interstate
slave trade, to exclude slavery from all the
Territories of the United States, and to repeal
the Fugitive Slave law. By thus penning up
the institution and denying it vent and ventila-
ton, they hope to force the present slave States
to abolish it. This is the policy Of the lead
ing Aboltionists, nearly all Of whom deny to
Congress the direct power to abolish slavery
III the States.
What think the Know-nothings on the sub
ject? The opinion Of the Massachusetts Know.
nothings has recently been expressed in the
election Of Senator Wilson, who, in endorsing
Mr.. Burlngames lecture, gave his solemn
sanction to the views above indicated.
What thinks the Organ2 1t thinks with
Mr.. Burlingame and Senator Wilson, that Con-
gress cannot abolish slaveryin theStates. So far
so good. That is view that the rankest Abo-
litionist may entertain. But what does it think
OF the power of Congress to abolish slavery in
the District, to exclude it from the Territories,
to abolish the slave trade between the States,
and to repeal the fugitive slave law? On these
points it is discreetly and obstinately dumb.
The platform of the Know-nothings does not
require any such expression of opinion. Now,
far be it from us to impute wrong sentiments
to the organ. We do not mean to do so either
by positive charge or covert innuendo. We
simply desire that the Organ will express its
opinions. The South will not be satisfied with
its unmeaning declaration that
Whatever may be our opinions of the policy
or impolicy of the repeal of the above-named
laws, 1t will be time enough to express them
when the occasion demands it,
But, should the Organ reconsider the matter
and express itself against the repeal of the
above laws and against the abolition of slavery
in the Distict, and its exclusion from the Ter.
ritories, il must still 20 q little further and
prove its faith by its works. 1t must repudiate
all the members Of its order who hold the op.
posite views.
As the matter stands at present the Organ
accepts, rs "strict constructionist,r and a
Estate Rights" man, the new Senator from
Massachusetts, who holds all the Abolition
sentiments above indicated. 1t accepts him
as such, because he has said, in letter, that
he is Estate Rights man.
What is the organs idea OF a Estate Rights
man? We feel anxious to know. 1t seems 10
be this, that he may hold the sentiments ut
tered by Mr.. Burlngame, new Know-nothing
congressman, and endorsed in ecery royd by
Senator Wilson, which sentiments are as fol
lows:
I" If asked to state specifically what he would
do he would answer-lst. repeal the Nebraska
bill %. repeal the fugitive slave law; Sd.
abolish slavery in the District of Columbia
18th. abolish the interstate slave trade; next
he would declare that slavery should not spread
to one inch Of the territory Of the Union; he
would then put the Government actually and
perpetually on the side of freedom-by which
he meant that bright-eyed boy in Massachu.
setts should have as good a chance for promo
ton in the Navy as boy Of one Of the first
families in Virginia. lie would have our
foreign consuls take side with the noble Kos
suth and against the Papal butcher Bedini
lie would have judges who believed in higher
law, and an anti-slavery constitution, an anti
slavery Bible, and an anti-savery Godl''
Because Mr.. Burlngame and Senator Wilson
do not, as is the case with many Of the rankest
Abolitionists, claim for Congress the direc,
power to abolish slavery in the States, he is, in
the contemplation Of the Organ, q State Rights
man."
The OTgaR says again:
ave repeat, then, the American party is
not responsible for Senator Wilson's individual
opinions on the question Of slavery, for he icas
not elected on any snch issue"
The american party" ought to make the
question OF slavery an ISSUE" If il does moi
If il elects Abolitionists in consequence Of the
wilful omission Of this Issue, it cannot expect
southerners to be stupid enough TO remain in
the order.