Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-03-17
Gentleman from Massachusetts, knows the

Mr.. Letcher. Does the gentleman moan to
deny that lie and Mr.. WILSON are brethren in the
same organization, sailing under tho same colors,
and struggling for the same ends?
Mr.. Banks. Mr.. WILSON aud myself have
long been struggling for n change in the politics of
Massachusetts, Whether he is u member of the
organization to which the gentlem, m alludee, l
never knew, and have no knowledge any more
than from what the gentleman says is the general
report.
Mr.. Lctchcr. Then there is a general report to
that effect, and tits most remarkable that gentlemen
living in the same State, one the leader Of the
Krownothings from his State in this House, and
the other Occupying the same position in ltho SEN
ate, and that each should not know whether the
other belongs to the organization Laughter
1t docs strike me as most extraordinary that there
should be an organization which they say is sweep
ing over the contry from North to South and ftom
East to West, obliterating all old party lines, break
ing up all old party organizations, burying all
cold iogy" politicians and demsgogues, and build
ing up all things anew, and which is to give us a
sort OF political millennium, and yet OF these two
men of political prominence, residing in the same
State, having the same political objects in view.
and struggling for the same political ends--the re-
lease of their State from the power of the party
that has hitherto controlled it, under the lead Of
Webster and Everett, ard yet neither knows wheth-
or the otior Sclongs to the organization!
Mr.. Giddings. Let me put one interrogatory to
the gentleman?
MIR. Letrhcr. Not just now.
Mr.. Giddings. One short question only.
Mr.. Lctcher. ! have no doubt the gentleman
from Ohio feels sympathy for his brother Adolf
ZIONIST from Massachusetts, and would like to get
him out of this scrapc.
Mr.. Giddings. | answered your question.
Mr.. Letcher. Yes the gentleman answered
me frankly enough.
Mr.. Giddings. Then let me ask if you are a
Kn9wnothtng? Laughter
Mr.. Lctcher. No, sir neither practically, the
oreticaily, morally, socially, or in any way.
Mr.. Giddings. That is the usual answer.
ioars OF laughter.
Mr.. Letcher. Let me say to the gentleman
more than that: that whenever / shall join II
society, whenever l shall get my own consent TO
join a political organization, that | shall not have
the manliness to say | am q member of, | trust |
shall not be here, nor in any other position where
confidence shall be reposcd in me by a just and
! generous constituency, such as | represent here.
Cries of Good ="
But let me go back to the point l was discuss.
ing. Here, then, is Mr.. Wilson, admittedly elected
to the Senate of the United States by a Know
Nothing Legislature-one almost unanimously so.
There W rs one lonely Democrat there, | believe
he only poor soul who could muster votes enough
to get into the body. (laughter)-and there were
were some four or five Wings, but the remaining
four or five hundred all belonged to this organiza-
ton. Is it not 50? | pause for a reply. Now, |
have heard that none of those men are bogus know
nothings, in the popular acceptation of the term,
but they are all of the real genuine stripe. Can
the gentleman from Massachusetts tell me how
that is?
Mr.. Banks. l cannot say.
Mr.. Letcher. The gentleman "cdnnot sag.
Well, sir, l take it that the people of the South
will want to know before they are disposed to go
the full length in this matter.
Well, let us come still nearer nome. There is
the State of Pennsylvania, in which an election
for Senator was take place to-day. There is a
strong party of Know othings in the Legislature
of that State. We know that they have been in
trouble for some considerable time in regard to
the election of n Senator, and we have seen in the
papers which reached the city this morning the
letter Of General Cameron, their candidate, an
nouncing his platform Of principles, and it is TIM
identical platform which has been laid down her
tonight by the gentleman from New York, Mr.
Goodwin, and the gentleman from Ohio, Mr.
Giddings. Now, how is it, that with an organi
cation protesting to he national, and to have n
other objcc: in view but the preservation of tn
Union, the perpetuity of our Institutions, and tn
glory, honor, and prosperity Of our common coun
try, and whenever they are called upon to cleo
officers, their candidates come in on anti-slaver
platforms? How does that accord with the prir
clple OF nationality, tn at is claimed Tor the organl
{ cation? How does it harmonic with that devc
to the Union, that anxious desire to preserv
all our institutions, to build up our trade, and t
duNhhCe cNcl tuluS tntt iS tue COHlulOH plOpcit
and the common glory of all the citizens of thi
: great nation How do gentlemen undertake t
explain these facts? Yet SO it is. That is the re
suit. Here is the New York election. Here is tn
the Pennsylvania senatorial election. Here is tn
Pennsylvania congressional election, where eve
the Nebraskaites, and the Democratic Anti-Nebras
kaitcs were swept down in one common wreck
Here is the congressional election in New YOr
which they say was brought about by Know-Notl
ings.
Mr. White, (interrupting.) Will the gentleman
from Virginia allow me to make a remark whic
bears upon this part of lis speech?
Mr.. Lctcher. Certainly.
Mr.. Witte. 1t is this: that there is not one sir
gle member from Pennsylvania who will come t
this House, in the next Congress, for the first tim
as an anti Nebraska man, who has not been elect
ed by a combination of what there is of the Abol
ton element in our State with Know-Nothingis
and anti-N ebraskaism.
Mr.. Letcher, l am very much obliged to the ge
tleman for his information.
t Nj. Witte. l desire that point to be clearly III
derstood, because ! do not wish the old Common
$ wealth to be misrepresented, and the title den
. ocracy to be prostituted. / want it to be distinct
understood that every member not q Democra
IS who comes here for the first time in the me-
Congress, has obtained his seat by an unhol
l. coalition between three elements which i ha'
designated Abolitionism- what there is of it
v the State-anti-N ebraskaism, and k~nowNothin
ism.
e Mr.. Florence. With a sprinkling of Maine la,
ism.
Mr.. Letcher. ! am very much obliged to Il
gentleman from Pennsylvania. mr.. Witte. f
the facts he has furnished. Now, sir, let us LOO
at some of the other States. Here is the State
Ohio, for instance. Will there be a solitary n
braska man from that State in the next Congress
= because. if ] understand the gentleman from Chi
Mr.. Campbell some time ago, he said there won
not be II Nebraska man from that State in the nc
Congress?
Mr.. Campbell. Not one, thank God,
Mr.. Letcher Not one, thank God"
Put it down, sir, as the gentleman uttered
When you come to the State of Indiana, how maj
70 do you think are left there to tell the tale?
A Meml err. Two.
y Mr.. Letcher. Mr.. Miller and Mr.. English q
the Only two left in that State. What broug
a Dout thu 10 results there? Was it the same THU
as in the STATE of Pennsylvania? Was it broug
= a. out by Know-Nothing influence? Was it t
same thing which has brought new members and
., No, c.-. H. c. r IU.-.:.O ~