Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-03-24
Abolitjonism and Know Nothipgisls

Abolitionism and Know Nothipgiam.
In the earlier days oil. the Republic there
were those " no were opposed 10 the institution
oil slavery as it exists in the South. They
manifested their..opposion By getting up petit
tons which were signed by The members OF alb
clifton societies. And in order to swell TIE lisi
OF petitioners 10 respectable nutuher women
aud children were persuaded TO sign them
These petitions, pray ing for the abolition oil
slavery in the District of Columbia, and
prohibition in the territories, and sometimes
its abolition in the States, were presented TO
CongTtss. by "a Adams, the cid pack horse
OF the abolil ionis.s The presentation and dis.
position Of these petitions frequently gave rise
10 spirited and sometimes angry discussions
between Adams and such Southern men as
were disposed TO break a lance with the old
man. This party, heated with a spurious reli.
gious bigotry and phrenzy have eve. since
kept up an unremilted a..d fanalical agitation
OF the subject, publishing all manner of IibeIous
aud fictitious pamphlets, newspapers, &c.,
which we're flooded over the North, and many
secretly sent into the slave States The plan Of
aboli,onis's was TO abolish slavery wherever it
existed without making any provision Tor It's re-
moval. Their idea then was to amalsamate
The two races, but very slight experiment al,
The North, proved 10 their satisfaction that the
poor degraded negro was not 50 sweet com
panion for the fair sex of the aboliionisls as
thy supposed be would be. At this early period
The letter and spirit Of The Constitution were too
fresh In the Tecollectiors Of the masses OF The
North, many OF whom had participated in the
adoption OF that sacred instrument, to permit
them 10 join in crusade against The ac-
know lodged rights Of the South But, the
wheel OF time com ing down, carried under the
revolutionary patriots, and theft warning voices
being now hush al in death, the anti-Souihetn
movement assumed new and more popular
asrect-that Of FIeesol. UndeI this new
phase thousands hoeked 10 the standard of the
aeiaIors. The plan then proposed by them
was to deprive Soulherners from an equal PAR
ticipalion in the Territories by prohibiting them
from carrying their peculiar property with them
into the public lands. The great object soush,
to be accomplished il this was, To stop the in
crease of Southern Slales and secure 10 the
North maj5rily in the Senate Of The United
States. The acquisition by the Democratic
party of the territories OF Louisiana, FLORIDA
and Texas were bitterly opposed BY The anti
slavery party Of The North, because by those ac-
gusi,ons five new Southern States were brought
into the Union which gavs the control of the Sen.
ate into The hands Of the South
This FreesoiI principle was a modified and
Fopularzed view OF ahoionisln. Frresuers
were soit Of second rate aboionists who
were hanging on 10 the :1o great national par
tics for the purpose Of sharing the spoils OF
posed that the Federal government should pur-
base The slaves of their owners AMI colonize
them, bu, the clpidi,y Of their patty rsvol ted
al the idea Of ,h.ir bearing any portion Of The
burden.
The abolition PARTY proper lave repeatedly
run candidates for the Presidency, but always
without success from the fact that the Freesuil
wing would not run the risk OF defeat, hn,
continued TO adhere TO The old parties flom
which they originally sprung, in order hat they
might secure portion OF the Offices. The anti
slavery sentiment grew so strong j. :. both Of the
old parties North that they became trouble
some So much was The Northern wing Of the
Wing party abolItionzed previous 10 tie last
national Wing Convention that il was with tho |
greatest difficulty that tina, party adopted a les.
ol.tion on the subject OF slavery in their plat
form at all satisfactory TO The Southern wing of
,hs party. II will be remembered that paper
speaking for the large minority SAID ol the Wing
platform: I'VE defy IL; easerats il, and spill
upon it,"
So long as the freesoil wing of The anl-save-
~ party adhered to the old national parties the
abolition party fdand themselves in minority
Yet. they had succeedisd in dividing on The sub
jecl of slavery nearly all The large religious de.
nominations.
Blu, the ani-.avery sentiment ,sayirg gown
more general, and stronger from year 10 year, u
was found that ii had strength enough 10 IL
umph by proper organization. The time had
at length come TO make united and desperate
effort. new party had to be formed in v hich
old patty distinctions were to be obiieraled for
The purpose Of drawing into its ranks the free
sellers flom both the old lational parties. The
Wing party North being already amos, TAB
sorbedn by the ant-savery sentiment at the
first zap Of The recruiting Seigeauls dunn
marched into the ranks OF the new party.
The Democratic party North has also been
relieved OF its Freesol shoots that were sap.
ping jls very sysiem, The new part, in order
10 copcea, lis treason against the Constitution
and laws Of the country, found it necessary TO
rssor, 10 the most extraordinary measures Of
TO secure profound secresy. Like
all other treason it can only be successful by
securing it with deep laid schemes and dIver;ins
public attention from the real object by probes
sions of patriotism aud fidelity to the country
II will be remembered that the Savior of the
void was betrayed BY an act usually indicative
of seeming friendship and ove--a kiss 1t will
lao be reeollecled tina, Aron BUR had 1000
men enlisted for the purposes Of his treason
against this country, by enjoining secresy, keep
ing them ignorant OF the real designs and as
l. u.,I