The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-15

southern that northern know -nothinrs are NOT n
ieay % slavery nay that they fighting its battles
against sueh men as Seward and Sumner Seward at
lacked the know-nohings because he wanted M ryas n
ls peculiar vocation and the know-nothngs fought in
The only pereeptble change wrought by the know.
nothings IN the free States change from bad 10
ihey have impaired deeper shade 70 abotoniSp fan
any any sane man oeese that the Opposition of portion of
e kho"-uoihngs 10 Stewards election was ON account al
his opposition to the admission OF slave territory into t
Union or because he Is in favor the repeal of The no
uyesave law and the restora lion the Missouri lineY
reasonable 70 suppose that at time when the people OF
the North are thoroughly aroused arainst
slavery than at any former period when they regard the
5ouh as attempting 10 encroach upon territory aconse
Grated 10 Freedom, to their own language a marty
could be tornedibat powerful party as this new nar,
fosses 10 oe could oe based upon such issue with
Seward In Massachusetts the know-nohings have com
piete ascendency is IL possible conceive thing
absurd as the idea that the dominant party in Massachu-
setu rs even tolerant of slavery Fortunately for the
Of truth az least the knownothng governor and
Legislature Of thai State and the senator in
congress leave no doubt this point Massachusetts,
she hands OF the ownohngs has abandoned the posi-
on IN which Mr. Webster placed her has taken step
backwards to the position occupied by Sumner Wilson,
.e know nothing senator elect publicly approved and
dorsed the following language OF Mr. Burlingame employ
ed on the I'd inst in the city of Boston Mr. Burlingame
know-nothing member of Congress elect from Mass-
chusetts
"If asked state specifically what would do woula
answer lst repeal the Nebraska bill I'd repeal the fQ
nye,slaSe law 3D. abolish slavery in the District of CO.
lambia 4h, abolish the Interstate slave trade NEXT
would declare that slavery should not spread TO one inch
I of the territory OF the union.r
Giddings never expressed thoroughly sweeping
and maevolent purpose towards the South.
undertake to say that powerful this party may
be at the North 1t dare not its opposition the re-
pea Of the fuguyeave law or the restoration Of the
hissouriC Compromise line The such OPP
position wouid be the signal OF its dissolution it would
melt away like the army of Sennacherib
The South has been often the victim of deceptive APP
pearances and hollow professions suffered so much from
delusons of this kindtha it is cruel mockery thus to
sport with her inrmity Win the South abandon the
constitution Wil she to contend in the open day
for the rights which it intended secure and take
refuge in now-nohing lodge and the guide of midnight
councils sat fs&
You right in ascrbing abolition tendencies to this
new party at the North. 1t is evident that so far
from being national non-nerventon party il has be-
the representative of the determined unrelent
ing, and aggressive antslavery spirit The hope
tertained that with all the objections which their or
ganizaon was obnoxious, the know-nothings might still
effect some good by neutrazng the antsavery feeling
in the free States has been completely destroyed The
truth 49, the democratic party the only party which
the least claim to nationality. has displayed devo-
onal herosm in defence Of the constitutional rights of
the States and in the perous hour when whigs abolition
lists, and knownothings combined for their destruction
democrats of the free States maintained with nexibe for
tude those rights and fell noby fighting in their defence
excuse southern democrats offer who in the very
hour which witnessed the heroic seEsacrhce of friends
and the destruction of the last barrier antislavery
natics join the very party whose secret machnations
wrought their destruction
Let us however look into the origin and progress Of
this new political order and penetrate far possible
into the mystery which surrounds it. We ought
what opposition to it involves the of principle and
what consequences viii attach to those who oppose III
we are to bs hanged for refusing to join it, it is matter OF
some concern to know what is the grade of the offence for
agree with the old couplet--
To be hanged for treason is a common evil
But to be hanged for nonsense is the devil"
Know-nothngsm is not the growth of the slave States
1t had its origin at the North do not believe that it
the effect prejudice which leads regard this
regard for many northern men, and admire many Of the
qualities OF the northern people very much, and with all
the natural feeling which prompts prefer his
tive land still inclined avoid comparisons things
which at last may be taste At least win
say no more than WAS said by Dan Marble the
dan TO southern audience: have heard great deal
said about the advantages of the North and the advantages
OF the South for my part think that country is
about good another and great deal bern The north
ern people however introduce great many Of these small
oonrlyancestoo many entirely they start great many
queer doctrines II is long since very noted man
Mr. Hale delivered lecture in Boston in vndication OF the
principles of agrarian laws
Now, if these things suit the northern people am not
disposed to question their right 10 enjoy them but
disposed to prevent their introduction the South Their
blue buckets hoEe buttons and the like accept thank
fully but against the introduction Of their principles dog
mas creed theories and platforms in morals religion and
politics. enter my most emphatic protest This is not said
in an unklnd spirit The structure of society in the
sections of the Union is radically different and what may
be food for one may be poison to the other To shorten
the matter would have liked kuow-nothingis better if
/ it had come from other quarter.
What first attracted public attention to this party
WAS that startling feature an oath or pledge of secrecy
cety. II the first instance OF the kind here In
country where the freedom Of discussion secured by the
highest guarantees, and where the wrongs of I'M
cted through violation of the sacred principles of the
constitution instantly become the wrong the whole
ton, where may speak, write, and publish what
ever seems TO him right and there is no make
him afraid this feature in political society naturally
! tracted attention. #Hs
4 have heard Of such political organizations in other
countries, and under different circumstances When
gn despot put his foot upon the neck Of PROSTATE Italy
and the surviving friends of liberty CROPPED midnight
amongst the fallen columns OF the temples of freedom
when they watched and hunted down. with reaehery
and the gibbet constantly before themhey sought safety
in secret political society. They known history
the Carhonar and hourshed in the decline of the Italian
republics History however is fu Of such combinations
where yiruous ruler be assassnaed dethroned
legitimate overthrown by reasonable
spiracy. Such combinations, however, and
called Tor in this land OF 1t is long since had
TO lament the degradation Of a people who, after long
years Of odious grinding tyranny achieved their hbcr
ties and then, il weary their burden voluntarily and
bended knees laid them down the feet Of despot
But liberty TO them had been Of feyerdream, htnl
agtatng and exhaustng They had fe the touch Of the
scorchng and desolatng lava of revolution and fearing It's
recurrence sought refuge in the calm OF rgd desposp
whose icy BOSOM like frozen sea Is untosed by the
pest and unmoyed by the tide This Is their apology such
as is We, on the contrary achieved liberty and
organized Il by written constitution under which we
repose quietly, peacefully and prosperously We have
had but serious struggle about the extent to which
that constitution abridged our liberty That struggle grew
out OF attempt by the government interfere with
the freedom Of discussion the license Of speech and
the freedom OF the press deemed vital by our
republican fathers They resisted and after great and
earnest efforts succeeded in establishing firmly these great
privileges Intimately interviewer with the very spirf
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