The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-04-12

concerned have, am confident, but little sym
patty with each other
We need only go back to the organization or
the Republican party during the summer Of
1854, and briefly trace its history to the pres
ent time, to prove this. What led TO the forma-
ton of the Republican party? Was it the spirit
OF opposition to foreign influence? Was il .
feeling of hostility to Catholics or to foreigners?
/ No; nothing of the kind. Every man in Mich
/ igan remembers the eloquent appeal" that
went forth to the people, calling upon them to
assemble in their sovereign capacity, aud con-
denim the "great wrong which had been perpe-
trated,' and to take such measures as were
deemed proper to prevent a recurrence of such
evils. That great wrong" was the repeal of
the prohibitory clause Of the Missouri Compro-
mise. 1t had no reference TO foreigners or to
foreign influence. 1t said not a word about
"paupers and convicts from foreign lands 10
pas entirely silent as to the oycrShadowny
Influence of the Pope 1t hsped not a SYLLABLE
against Catholicism or Jesuitism. No; it was
not quarrel with any particular form Of reli-
gion that called the freemcn Of Michigan to
gether. They met, not to make war upon men
who were so unfortunate as to have been born
| beneath the skies of foreign land; they met
to consider the deeds of our own countrymen,
of native.born American citizens.
1t was in view Of the long list Of aggressions
perpetrated upon the people of this Union, by
the proslavery men OF the South and their
docile servants of the North, that the freemen
of Michigan assembled and organized the Re
publican party. The Immediate cause of this
organization was. as before intimated, the re
peal of the prohibitory clause of the Missouri
Compromise.
And what was the action Of that great gath
ering Of Frcemen? Was there any cry of for
eign influence" Catholicism" 4" Jesuitism ?"
any modification Of our naturalization laws de-
mandedY any manifesto against men not Of ma
tive birth? No. not "A word But there ,c0s
something said about Slavery; there lras some
talk about that gigantic power which has 50
long governed the nation with an iron rod and
there were some resolutions passed touching
this subject-resoutions, too, which were full
of meaning and full Of truth, and which tho
people sanctioned and approved at the ballot
box in a very emphatic manner. Ii was very
decidedly an Anti-Savery meeting; it was. too,
an american meeting; but it was far from be-
ing Kno'o Nothing meetng-very far from
being Natire american meeting.
They demanded the repeal Of the Fugitive
Slave Law, the abolition Of Slavery in the Dis
trict of Columbia, the prohibition OF Slavery
in the Territories, declared against the admis-
sion OF any more slave States. & c.. but said not
one word IN favor Of the peculiar doctrines of
the so-called Know Nothing organization.
Well, on these issues the people went into the
canvass, and the Republican ticket prevailed
And what was the course of the Governor
and Legislature elected ? ANY Know Nothing
doctrines advocated by the Governor in his
message? Not word. The subject of Sla-
very was very ably, fully, boldly discussed but
foreigners were not assaulted, and Native Ameri-
canism received not a particle of "aid and
comfort"
Well, how stood matters in the Legislature?
Slavery received all necessary and proper at
tention. Very stringent resolutions were pass
ed, instructing the men who then represented
the people of Michigan in the United States
Senate; law was passed to protect the people
OF the State against Southern kidnappers; the
Jails OF the State were closed against the ad-
mission of persons claimed as fugitive slaves;
but no legislation ut all, not the first act or
resolution, which could be claimed as favoring
the peculiar and narrow views of the Know
Nothings.
And, still further, there are at the present
time some twenty papers in the State that IA
vor the Republican organization. most Of them
being its bold and out-spoken advocates and
supporters. And there is but one that comes
out decidedly for the Know Nothing party;
and, strange to say, that is and has been u
Democratic, or, as your correspondent has it,
=" Locofoco paper. There is another, the De-
troH AdrertiSer to which your correspondent
refers as throwing cold water on the RepubE-
can movement, and trying to divide the party
last fall, which appears TO have gone over to
the Know Nothing organizations So. If the
two parties in this State known as the Repub-
lican and Know Nothing are the same in fact.
it is very singular that the only two organs OF
the latter; party should be found amonp the
most bitter opponents of the former.
| am very confident, also, that the Know
Nothing influence, in securing the triumph Of
the Republican ticket at the last election in
this State. is greatly Overrated / have good
authority for saying that there are but a few
thousand Of the Order in the State. and that
the members of the lodges, mostly, perhaps
unanimously, voted the Democratic or :" Loco
foco" ticket
There is another fact, universally acbnowl-
edged here; and that is, that nine-tenths. and
probably ninety hundredths, Of these Know
Nothings, who voted the Republican ticket.
would have voted just as they did vote, had
hey not been connected with the frst-named
organization.
In fact it is all moonshine for man 70 be-
ieve that Repuhlicanism and Know Nothing.
SIN in Michigan are the same. And | give
ou my worn lOT IL, MT EulJOr, that YOU can
oppose this pew-fangled ABaerican party with
ut giving offence to great majority of the
republicans of Michigan. We, the Repubh-
ans, fight openly against great and growing
vii they, the Know Nothings, fight in the
ark, against an imaginary foe We extend
equal and exact justice to all men; they,
D all white, native-born Americans We trust
a God, and the intelligence and virtue of the
'eOple; they in their secret conclayes, their
1idnight deliberations, and the bitter aud I'M
enerous prejudices of their partisans. May
be right triumph
Yours, for Freedom, ANTRIM.