New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-11
FROM BOSTON.


BOSToS, Saturday, June q 1855.
The reports in THR TRIBUNE Of the Know
Nothing Convention at Philadelphia are read
with the greatest interest here. Wilson's reply
to the Nirginian was ten-strike" Nothing
that he has ever done has given such general
satisfaction. The enthusiasm for him in the
country is unbounded, and even Safest. is half
inclined to fling up its cap. The fact is the
people like pluck. We are sick to death in
Massachusetts, of Representatives who cannot
look STAKEHOLDER in the face without blinking
With all our New England regard for property
and decOrum, ! really believe that If one OF our
Representatives on the floor OF Congress were 10
knock down the FIRST SOutherner who was lnsoent
TO him il would forever establish his popularity at
home.
The good feeling toward Wilson, just now, is
much enhanced BIZ the fact that some of the Bos-
ton papers are abusing him in the foulest manner,
and with so little tact and in such utter ignorance
of tie mans character and position, that thous-
ands of Free-SOilers and Coalition Democrats VINO
had become somewhat alienated from him on ac-
count of his Notbingism, feel impeed from
sympathy for one so unJusty assased, TO rally
again to his support. With the exception OF An
drew jackson, DO not know of any man in our
history VIII is so much indebted 10 his enemies for
helping him along as Henry Wilson. What is most
singular in the warfare upon him s that bis assail
ants almost invariably overlook his weak points,
which are more numerous than his friends could
wish, and attack him just where he is inyulnerabe.
The secret Of this is a total miscOnceptlOn of his
character on the part of his enemies who are, with
very few exceptions, people who do not personally
know him. They oyerrate him immensely in some
respects and uDderrate bin as grossly in others.
They revile him for qualities which he does not
possess. and accuse him of doing things which he
could not do if be wished to- and then wonder that
their attacks have only resulted in leaving Wilson
stronger than before, because instead OF shaking
Lis friends confidence in him the injustice with
which be is treated call out certain enthusiasm
for him amid which the real causes OF dlssatisfac-
ton which exist are forgotten or forgiven
In your recent notice Of the last number Of The
Edinbnrgh Rerie,o you quote as an gorgeous
bunder on the part Of The Rere'e, " the assertion
:" that the United States possesses central au-
thority which has power to declare all these
:" laws Estate laws for the protection OF Slavery
unconstitutional and void" This statement you
say "betrays degree of ignorance as to the re-
"latons between the Federal Government and
4" local legislation, which is scarcely credible even
" in British Reviewer
In making this criticism upon The Edinbargh Re
riCp you have apparently overlooked the fact that
there is among ourselves school of politicians
holding precisely the same doctrine which you
quote as betraylng ignorance oI our constitution
on the part of the reviewer. He probably got his
notions from the writer's of that school.
In the very number of THE TRIBUNE to
which | allude, the doctrines of that school
are set forth in document three columns
long, signed by Lewis Tappal, William
GoOdell and others, men certainly not uniformed
about the Constitution of the United States The
second clause of their declaration of principles is
THAT ii is the duty of the Federal Government in
all its departments to suppress slayeholding
throughout the United States"
Cerrit Smith is among the adherents OF this
school, who it seems to me are growing in num-
Der | have reason TO believe that before long
their doctrines will be advanced and defended in
the Senate of the United States to at least the ex
tent that the Constitution is Anti-Slayery docu-
ment, and that it gives no countenance whatever
to Slavery or the recapture of fugitive slaves
The historical argument for this doctrine has
degree of strength which will surprise those who
have not investigated the subject and who rely i'm
plicitly Oh the common notions about the adoption
of the Constitution. OLIVER.