The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-15
THE SOUTH AND KNOW N0THINGs.
To tie Editor of the National Era:

THE SOUTH AND KNOW N0THINGs
To tie Editor of the National Era:
We saw the Fugitive Slave Bill strike down
| several of the most sacred and valuable features
| of our Constitution. We expected from this
reaction among the lovers of liberty and right
| eousness. We learned there was reaction; but
II was only in talk and newspaper articles. We
| next saw the repeal of the Missouri Compromise.
| At first, our hearts were saddened as We heard
the wall of the poor slaves, as they bid farewell
| to companions and children, and took up their
| line Of march for distant and extended fields of
| suffering. But when we learned that the North
was at last reused, that she now saw that Slave
nv, as a system of selfshness, would stand by
its compromises only so far as they subserved
its supposed interests; when we learned that the
free North at last this, and was now reused
to action, we almost thanked God that the plight
ed faith and unholy compact had been violated
For wo knew the North had the wealth, the
intelligence, and the political power, on her
side-a majority in the House of Representa-
tives aud, by electing the President and Vice
President could control both Houses, the Judi
ciary, the Executive, and Diplomatic depart
ments. The porer was in her hands, aud, now
aroused to action, the hope was that she would
at once use that power for the maintenance Of
the poor slave and our sin-cursed nation seem
ed to be at hand.
But what is the sad intelligence that now
comes. 1t is that Northern men, yea, Anti-Sla-
very men, who have long declared that freedom
and justice are of paramount Importance to
individuals and to nations-these have turned
aside in secret caucus and midnight walks, to
make masqued fight against an old imbecie
Pope who has, comparatively speaking, but lit
tie power outside of his own walls, save what
he derives from persecution.
But grant that PCpery is greater foe than we
have conceded. What is there in Popery, not
found in a much more aggravated form in Sla
very?
Does some one say |" it withholds the Bible
from the laity?" Slavery does more. 1t not only
withholds the Bible from three millions of poor
slaves-priest and laity and clergy, for many
| slave preachers cannot read-but it SO far puts
out the eyes of the souls Of four hundred and
| forty-three thousand white persons in the South
| over the age of twenty, that they cannot read
or write. Popery allows its subjects some light
education Slavery none.
Does some one say Popery is system of
superstition and idolatry? Slavery is more
| Many slaves are VIGOROUSLY superstitious. And
whilst there may be exceptions among those
who sustain the nominal relation of master, vet,
as a general rule, the masters worship not the
true God through the Virgin Mary, but dumb
| idol, (Mammon,) through the sweat blood and
| tears, of the poor slave.
| To this may be added the still more heinous
| crimes of fornicaton robbery, and murder. In
| the language of another. slave regions reek
with Righteousness" Slavery robs, takes by
force of numbers, the God-given rights of the
| poor slave, and, by the estimate of DIR. Elliott,
''grnds out annually, by its crueltes. thirty five
thousand lives at home, saying nothing of the
| three hundred and twenty five thousand destroy
ed annually in the foreign trade
Is it said that Popery is inimical to liberty of
| speech? Where, in the last century, has it torn
| down our presses, mobbed our ministers of the
| Gospel incarcerated our seamen, and, by false
| swearing, so repeatedly attempted to criminate
innocent and private citizens as the slave pow
| or has done? Why, them should lovers of Lib
erty turn aside to movement which, in its ma
tional councils, repudiates Freedoms agitation,
| and WILL by clandestine movements, crush her
| champions? Why should they thus divide their
strength, and beat out their own brains over
an ism which, at home and abroad, is but OF
minor importance?
Do they say not merely fighting
against Popery, but all foreigners?"
i few years since, when we were struggling
| for national Freedom, entreated the foreign
er to come and help us. With his help, we &C
quired our independence. Now the poor for
eigner, seeking freedom from the expressions
Of his native land, and the famine and pesti
lence brooding around him, asks a quiet home
in our wide-spreading and unoccuped Terrific
ries, or employment on our railroads and turn
pixies, we turn around, and (shall say it, give
him the ASS kick" How ungrateful! Yea
how barbarous. Who are we but the children
of foreigners? Now, in the enjoyment of ricl
homes purchased by their toll, we turn around
despise our own blood. and, like pagans, leave
our fathers to perish upon the dunghi
| How unchristlike. Christ would reject M
man because he foreigner. The spiri
and letter Of his Gospel require US to ado gooC
to ALL
Facts demonstrate that good can be done t
: the foreigner. Hundreds and thousands have
8 by our missionaries and colporteurs been con
4 verted to the Protestant faith. And SO far a.
Q allegiance to our Government is concerned
4 none of them have been so recreant as Soutl
e Carolina nullfers. Experience proves that tn,
3 best way to do men good is to 20 to them il
J love- and, by placing truth before their minds
a convert them to right principles. Our mission
D into this world is, not to bless ourselves alone
: but to do the greatest amount of good to al
r men. 1t may be said the foreigners are so ig
r norant and vicious, that we cannot do then
good without their doing us much harm. w
i answer there are some birds that can do harm
+ or commit depredations, only in darkness. She
4 light around them, and they can do harm t
;, nothing. This is greatly true with the foreign
. err Shed Christian light on him and aroun
r him, and he will do little or no harm.
t Again If ignorance and vice be the basis Q
0 exclusion, then many hundreds and thousand
n of our white, native-born citizens will have t
a be excluded. Many comfort themselves b
0 talking about patriotism. There is a bette
4 word philanthropy This stops not at narro'
e precincts, but grasps ,oorld in its embrace.
f Once more: Tell Northern friends of Free
a dom, that whilst they spending their strengt
f against Popery, the poor slave is sinking il
y despair, as he sees the fields of his suffering
: widening, and shareholders are laughing, a
v they see Anti-Slavery men "play with the tub
9 they have thrown overheard to them.
3 We rejoice that, disregarding present Interest
= ! in the way of subscribers, you, an editor
, have faithfully rebuked movement which
3 manifestly the enemy of freedom, the highes
interests of our country, and of the Who'll
world. We hope you will continue to exhor
a IN union-undivided effort.
Also. would it not be highly beneficial to ca
conventions, whose chief object should be +