The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-04-19
GIDDINGs ON THE KNOW N0THINGs.

Hon. Joshua r. Giddings, of Ohio, has ad-
dressed letter to his constituents which is
principally occupied with discussion of the
Slavery question, but at the close of his letter
the writer gives his views upon the subject of
Know Nothingism. He says that he at first
regarded it as n screen--a dark wall-behind
which members of old political organizations
could escape unseen from party shackles, and
take new position according to the dictates of
judgment and conscience. With this belief. he
treated it with forbearance.
But he says, it has now become evident that
many of its members, and in some States a
majority of them, trying to turn its influence
in favor of Slavery. This effort appears to him
like the last resortof servity in the free States.
1t must and will be promptly met 1t will be
ferreted out driven from it's hiding places and
exposed to the contempt and detestation of
mankind. | would not apply these remarks to
the friends Of Freedom, who from honest motives
united with the society alluded to, and who
maintain their love of liberty, their hatred of
oppression. In them | have confidence. l do
not believe they can be led captive by the arti-
fees now exerted to convert them TO the support
of Slavery. / refer explicitly to that portion of
the organization who, while they attempt to
excite the apprehensions Of the people, lest a
few foreigners thall trample on our own liber-
ties. would continue in force the statutes of
Congress, by which men and women, born and
bred on American soil, are held in degrading
bondage-bought and sold like brutes in the
market"
Mr.. Giddings goes on to express his belief
that the people of the free States will not toler
ate secret society based upon such principles
and he says furthermore, that the attempt to
excite prejudices against foreigners, who come
here with undying hatred to Slavery, must
fail. The people will prefer foreigner, who is
honestly devoted to liberty, rather than native
citizen who attempts to silence the voice oil
Freedom. lie does not deny that the law respect
ing church property may not be improved, mol
that foreign criminals ought not to be excluded
from our shores, but he would not exclude the
naturalized foreigner from Office; would leave
the people, under the Constitution, to elect who
ever they may regard as best qualified; anc
would let the questions of capablity, fidelity t.
the Constitution, and love Of free institutions
determine the election, instead of birth.
Indeed, he says, "there are few foreigners
whom ! would be less willing to trust in Office
than those who are so active in their efforts tt
arouse the popular feeling against our emigran
population, while they themselves remain per
fectly quiet, and see our free native-born Amer
leans, from Ohio and other free States, seze(
and sold into interminable Slavery; aye, they
not only remain quiet under such insults, Blu
insist that the people shall not discuss tn,
improperly of such crimes"
II would q thousand times rather vote for al
honest lover of liberty, though Catholic, thar
for one of the many Protestant Doctors of Divin
ity, who have so long denied our obligation t.
| Gods higher law and endeavored to reconcile
| us to the infamous Fugitive Slave enactment