The true Democrat., 1855-07-24
The Gazettes Know Nothingism

The Gazette, after claiming for years to be the true organ of the democracy in this State has, at last, thrown off the mask, and espoused the cause of know nottingham. It is loud, in its lastissue, in praise of the know nothing plat form; and in instituting comparison between It and the democratic platform, does not sickle to misrepreSent and misquote the latter. In protesting to give the democratic platform, it leaves out portion and only publishes one of the three resolutions upon the subject. The gist of the democratic platform is carefully suppressed.
 In praising the know nothing platform, 1t lays peculiar stress upon this portion of it: That experience has shown it is impossible to reconcile opinions so extreme as those which separate the dsputants and Me}e ca5t be n0 disoaof sub naiing o the lacs. the national council has deemed 1t the best guarantee of justice and of future peace to ABIDE BY AND MAINTAIN THE EXISTING LAWS UPON THE SUBJECT OF SLAVERY AS FINAL AND CON- CLUsIvE SETTLEMENT OF THAT SUBJECT SPIRIT AND IN SUBSTANCE"
 This paragraph we passed by as worthless. What follows entirely destroys it's force and meaning In the above paragraph the order pledges itself to naaintain and abide Jy the en- istlny haaos upon Me subject cf slavely, as c final and co'acluslue settlement fntat subject 5n spirit and in substance"
 Let Us see if they regard the eristing laags'' as "o conclusjve settlement" The resolution that follows expressly pretermits any expression ef opinion upon the poa0er cf Congress to estabhsA or prohibit slavery in any territory" Does the Gazette think this abiding by and maintaining existing laws upon the subject of savery?- The Nebraska Kansas act repeals the Missouri compromise line, and declares that it is "he true intent and naeoang ef the oct not to zegislate slavery anto any State or Territory, nor to erclde t Merefoma"
 Such is the "existing law" on the subject of slavery. Does the know nothing platform abide by it? No, that platform passes by-pre- termits this issue-realy the only issue of any account be fore the public.
 The democratic party endorses the compro- mise measures unreservedly. It says tue demo- cratic party fthe Union a0W obiae by and adhere to the taitAftl execution ef tue acts hnoaon as tue compromise measures" This is plain and clear; nor is it followed by any pretermsitting clause.- Its declaration to abide by "existing laws'' is positive, plain and untrameled by any pretermsit- ting expression.
 This is one difference between the know nothing platform and the democratic. There is yet another that we desire to call the attention of the Gazette to, upon the question of slave ry. The know nothings have only professions (pretermitting professions at that) to point the country to. The democratic party can point not only to their platform. which prete,mits nothing, but they can point to their acts. The Nebraska Kansas act redeemed all their pledg. es, and places them before the country as a truly national party. That act was passed by the votes of northern democrats! It expressly maintains existing laws," and declares that the Missouri compromise is inconsistent soih the principle cf mo'ainterveation by Congress aoi sla- very in tue States and Territories"
 Such is the position of the democratic party. Who is now so reckless as to say that the posi- ton of the know nothings is preferabe-is safer for the south? The know nothing platform surrenders-a -abandons-prete,mits the point that the south has so long contended for, and at last. by the passage of the Nebraska act, so happily achieved.
 If the citizens of Arkansas take the advice of'the Gazette, and join the know nothing par ty, they surrender all the advantages they won in the passage of the Nebraska act-they PRE- HERMIT the only point worth contending for, and will necessarily be driven into fresh agta-