The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-15
A SURVEY OF THE FIELD.

orally resolved, first, to prevent the conversion
of Kansas into slaveholding territory, the first
practical object of the bill secondly, to punish
an act of bad faith by remanding to private
life those who had been engaged in it, and, not
only to provide security against the repetition
of similar acts, but to institute system of pol
icy, directly antagonistic to that founded by the
Slave Interest, by placing the political power
of the free States and of the Federal Govern
ment in the hands of men honestly and active
ly opposed to Slavery.
Their first aim, as we have seen, is thus far
failure. Kansas is conquered by Slavery
has chosen pro-slavery Delegate to represent
her on the floor of Congress, and the imminent
danger is, that the election ordered on the 22d
of next month will result in the choice of a
pro-slavery Legislature.
Their other aim has been partially fulfilled,
and, should it at last fall short of full accom-
plishment, the failure must be credited to the
miserable Intervention of Know Nothingism.
CokNEcTIcUT was revolutionized so far, as to
send us an AntiSlavery Senator to ell the va
cancy occasioned by the resignation of Truman
Smith, and to elect another Anti-Slavery man
might have been permanent, but Know Moth
ingism interviewed, divided the opponents of
Slavery, gave an issue to the Administration
Party, and it is now impossible to calculate the
future of that State.
New HAMPsHIRE, despite the deceptive tactics
of the Administration, elected an Anti Nebras-
ka Legislature, strong enough to prevent the
choice of an Administration Senator, but not
strong enough to send an Anti-Slavery one.
The question, whether she is to stop half way
in the work of regeneration is to be decided
next month, and there would be no difficulty
in predicting the result, but for the introduc-
ton of the vicious element referred to- This has
already secured the nomination of Hunker for
the Office of Governor, although it is rumored
that he has made concessions like those extorted
from Mr.. Gardner, of Massachusetts, and its
other nominations are said to be Anti.Slavery.
We are gratifed to notice, however, that Peo-
Plies Conventions are called for the nominations
to the Legislature, and our hopes are strong
that the result may be such a victory over the
Administration, as shall secure the return of
two Anti-Slavery Senators from that State
In Iowa the Fusions achieved signal tri
umph, in the election of Governor Grimes,
whose Message takes the true ground in rela-
ton to Slavery, in the change of the delegation
to the House of Representatives, and in the
election of Legislature, that has given us an
Anti Slavery man to succeed Augustus Caesar
Dodge, whose only distinction during his Sena-
torial career has been, unshrinking subservi-
ence to the demands of Slavery. The pro-sa-
very character of the State, in its forming STAGE
was the result chiefly of the large infusion of
settlers from the slave States but change
having been effected, and its pro-slavery lead
ers having been shOrn of their strength, we
trust the revolution may be permanent, espe-
cially as the accessions to its population by emf
grafton now, are chiefly from the free States,
and as Know Nothingism has thus far had lit
tie power as distinct element
The results in MAINE and VERMONT were
eminently satisfactory. Maine gave us an Anti
Slavery Senator, Vermont gave us two, and
both elected Anti-Slavery Governors and Legis-
latures.
In these States, Know Nothingism did not
assume the character of distinct party, or
dare to interfere with the popular sentiment
The Fusion movement had its way, and its re-
suits were comparatively pure In both, so far
as we can judge from appearances, there are
but two parties-the party of the Administra-
ton and the party of the People-the terms
"Whig," "Free Soil," and Free Demo
cratic" are substituted by "Repubiican," by
those who have fused themselves into a com.
mon organization, and have right to select
| their own name. The revolution in these
States seems permanent, and we very reasona-
| bly, predict that in 1856 their votes will be
given to an Anti-Slavery candidate for the
Presidency.
New JERSEY and PENNSYLVANIA would have
aErayed themselves, beyond all doubt, on the
side of Freedom, but the mischievous element
had taken deep hold of the public mind in
both States, so that, although they have been
wrested from the Administration it is now
| impossible to say by what power, or to what
end. The Anti-Slavery sentiment is in danger
of being crushed within the clammy coils of
| Native Americanism, which has no more natu.
raj affinity with AntiSlavery principle, than
Darkness with Light. The sooner the honest
People, those who really desire to see the porti.
cal power of Freedom in the ascendant in our
| National Councils, extricate themselves from
the entanglements of Know Nothingism, from
| every species of Hunker Alliance, the better
for the purity of their principles and the eff
cheney of their efforts. And what we saw of
these States applies with equal force to RHODE
ISLAND, whose position on the great Question
| of Human Freedom we consider as Obscure
and unsatisfactory as theirs, and for the same
| reason.
AT one time, although dissatisfied with the
Peoples movement in OHIO and INDIANA. we
we were disposed to rejoice in the results
achieved in those States but closer and
more careful view awakened some distrust.
That the Administration party was overthrow
was something-that Anti Nebraska men were
elected to Congress and the State Legislatures.
was something. But an invisible influence
had contributed to these results, and it soon
became known that many of the elected looked
to it as the source of their success, and the
guide of their future course. Know Nothing.
ism fell in with the popular movement, because
it dared not oppose it, gave it color and d.
rection so far as it could, and since then has
been laboring to control it. What are the re.
suits The principal candidates spoken of in
the Indiana Legislature for the United States
Senate, are gentlemen hitherto conspicuous for