Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-21
The Southern Argus.

hospitable town of Norfolk Virginia, IS both
sage and savage in some of its WISE sayings of
the Know-Nothing organization, but we con-
fess our inability to comprehend the full mean
ing, if it has any, Of its article in its leading
column Of date March 16, under the head of
"Rao,o-N othingian Unmdshing ItseG"
The Argus makes very pertinent inquiry
at the outset, thus: "Is Ephraim joined to his
idols?" Our answer would be, zoe trust not
indeed, we feel entirely sure that good old
Ephraim (the State of Virginia, in this allego-
ry) is not joined to its idols, but will discard
them on the fourth Thursday of May, never,
never again TO worship them.
The next inquiry it propounds is equally
pertinent and interesting to wit: Are South
ern men SO blind that they will not sees 7" Ger
tainly they are not, as a whole, but there are
some niSouthern Argus" eyed people, upon
whom such a profusion Of light has suddenly
shed its rays, that its very glare deprives them
of ordinary mental vision, SO much SO, that
they imagine all the ertraoagantisms "
Of the day have suddenly united under the
lead Of /" Sam to demolish the cherished in
stitutions Of the South! No doubt this South
crn Argus "-eyed editor has heard from Column
bus, "away off" in Ohio, and he has imagined
in the confusion Of ideas produced by sudden
profusion Of light fallen upon his mental vision,
that it aoas "Sdm" who introduced the follow
inc resolution into the Democratic State Con-
peation, held on the 9Th day Of January last
at the place aforesaid, to wit:
RESOLVED, That the people of Ohio, NOW, AS
THEY HAVE ALWAYS DONE, look upon slavery as an
evil and unfavorabe TO the development of the
shirt and practical benefit of free institutions, and
that entertaining these sentiments they VIII AT
ALL TIMES feel it to be their duty, TO USE ALL pow
ER CLEARLY GIVEN ny THE TERMS OF THE NATIONAL
COMPACT to prevent its increase, TO mitigate, ana
FINALLY TO ERADICATE ITS EVILS
Now us it happened not to be Sam" who
had the charge Of that august convention Of
Forneyitcs in the State of Ohio, and who
pledged themselves to " eradicate starery,'
and that. too, in virtue Of the provisions of the
national compact, we beg leave respectfully te
request the "Southern Argus"-eyed gentle
man, to put on pair of deep green shades
and examine tho matter closely, and then in
form its readers uho is responsible for that
convention of eradicators of slavery? We
opine that the "extravagantisms" OF the For
ncy and Pierce Democracy, which emanated
from that convention on the 9Th day Of Janua-
nv last, are chargeable to the same White
house occupants, whose laundering follies re-
opened the agitation of slavery, by the uncall-
cd.for repeal of the Missouri Compromise. But
saws this "Argus" eyed editor:
"Know-Nothings of Virginia Patriots and
rrcemen. whose homes and whose destinies are
cast in the Sunny South, look to the contest now
going on in Maine and read what the knouing
ones there think and say!
WHY, how dare the editor to address the
Know Nothings Of Virginia, as "Pdtriots and
treemenY" Hasnot the Richmond Enquirer--the
Examiner-the Washington Union-the Sen
tiael, ct id omne genus, denounced the Know
Nothings as "traitors and sIaues," "assas
si,,s,n q. fends incarndte," and ransacked the
vocabulary Of Billingsgatn TO nnd epithets o.
the strongest denunciation to apply to them
yybv. Mr.. Southern Argus, you don't seem tc
have the fear Of Forney before your eyes, oil
Won would be more cautious how you speak
tho truth. But who are the "knowing ones
in Maine, that think and say" what the Ar
gus intimates Why the New York Tribune,
it seems, has culled out speech made by one
"Mr G. r. Lincoln" who declared thus:
"They had person in New York called Sam ;
but he was a counterfeit; spurious Sam his name
was Peter, and he had not acted as the real genu.
inc Sam desired. The New York Sam had opposed
tho reelection Of that able champion Of freedom,
Mr. Seward, whereas he, as friend Of SAN in this
4. IL. Y. =. M. N.
cess, and would not allow himself second to any
man in the sympathy he felt for the anti-slayery
efforts of tho day"
We thank the New York Tribune and the
Southern Argus for this specimen Of eloquence
frsm Maine, and especially for its honest ad-
mission that, I" The Nep York Sam had OPP.
posed the reelection Of that able champion o.
freedom, Mr.. Seiodrd-whereas he (Mr. G. r.
Lincoln) MS friend Of Sam, most heartily re-
joiced in Mr. Stewards success, &C." Please
stick pin there. Now, the first point in this
declaration Of Mr.. Lincoln, endorsed by the
Now York Tribune, and again endorsed by the
Southern Argus, is in strict accordance with
fIct and prooC "Sam" in New York, IL now
stands confessed, did oppose Sopard, and yet
the whole pack of Forney presses at the South
have falsely asserted that the Known othings
elected him"
Immediately after the election Of Seward,
VIC demonstrated, as well by letters from Al
bany, as By. figures, that Seward was elected by
coalition between the original Seward Wings,
half dozen bogus Know-Nothings, and three
Forney and Pierce Democrats
We proved by letters from Albany, that fifty
custom house officers were there, influencing
the Democrats to cast enough Of their votes
for Seward TO insure his election, and to hold
back dozen more and give them to Seward,
on the next ballot Unnecessary to elect him.
we proved that several Democratic members
Of the Legislature Of New York, declared they
would vote for Seward IL necessary to elect
him,--we copied articles from Democratic
presses rejoicing over Stewards election, I'VE