The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-17
Gbs Yrsss.

rs~ We take great pleasure in commenting
the following article, so strong in argument, so
persuasive in tone, to the attention Of our read.
ers:
From the Independent Democrat Tayra o. May . 1855
To ANTI-SI.AvERY KNOW NOTHINGS
Most deeply do we deplore the rise of this
most insidious and most efficient ally of the
Slave Power, and earnestly would we call upon
you, as you love Freedom and hate Slavery, to
look at the ground you occupy-to view the
tendency of the Order to which you give char
acter and strength.
We do not here design to say anything of the
many folles and wrongs which the Order en-
dorses--of its immoralities-of the danger to
Republics of secret political societies, and the
injustice Of prescribing men for their birthplace
and religion, without regard to principles or
character. We only ask your attention to
single consideration directly connected with the
Slavery question. We know that there are
many Anti-Slavery men in the Order-that
many of the Lodges, and the Elyria Lodge
among others, have passed strong Anti-Slavery
resolutions, and that members of the Order in
some of the free States have supported Anti
Slavery men for Office. Knowing all this, we
still deem the tendency of the Order most dec-
dedly Pro-Slavery. and that no better service
can be done the Slave Power than by keeping
up the organization.
lst. The Order ignores the doctrine of the
| equality and sacredness Of rights The adop-
ton of that doctrine by the fathers of the Amer
lean Revolution began the overthrow of Slave
| ry. Its reputation is the foundation of Slave
ny propagandism. All political as well as 9th
er movements are based upon certain funda-
mental ideas, and take their character from
those ideas. Everything created or performed
Gref yictc hafN ~ - Il
| form action. These ideas are like the seed
| TO the plant. Like produces like-each after its
| kind. Let the people, then, become thorough
| ly imbued with the idea of political equality
| of the sacredness of personal rights; let no
course of action be pursued that is inconsistent
| with these ideas, that shall overshadow or SUD-
| plant them, and how long can Slavery stand +?
| The whole labor of reformers is to indOctrinate
the people-to lay right basis that shall pro-
duce right action. Does Know Nothingism
| teach fundamental rights? Does it not rather
practically ignore the whole doctrine of rights ?
As electors, individuals as such have no rights
| They are sworn to vote according to the will of
others. And the whole body of citizens is too
large from which to select for public servants
the most fit A or B may be voted for, not be-
cause he is supposed to be the best, or his prin.
| ciples preferred to those of others, but because
| at his birth his mother resided in some particu-
lar place! If she then happened or chose to
| reside elsewhere, the citizen has no right to
| vote for him-he has no right to serve the pub
| hcl He is also ostracised if he choose to wor-
| ship his God in certain manner. His rights
| are thus unequal to those of the Jew, the Nor
mon, or the Atheist. Let the doctrine of equal
| ity, just it is beginning to be reestablished
in the peoples hearts, be thus lived down among
| us, and propagandists and doughfaces may be
/ va1 no of
ing away, the doctrines of the Declaration of
| Independence.
| I'd. The Order dicides the opponents of STA.
| uery. At the contamination of the last great
outrage of the propagandsts, those friendly to
| Territorial Freedom met in council. They de-
termined to drop all other questions, and unite
to save the West from the blight of Slavery
At the first encounter, they signally rebuked
the outrage, and buried such of its abettors as
they could reach. But among these friends OF
| Freedom there were in Ohio alone at least
10000 citizens, who, born in Europe, were Re-
pubhcans from choice, and not from accident
Before the second battle-before any lasting
advantage is gained-a conspiracy is found to
exist among the allies against the equal rights
of these 10000. They are driven by the lust
instinct of selfpreservation into a hostile atti
tude. Multitudes of others Not in the conspira
cy, and not seeing how they can serve Freedom
and Justice, outraged in the person of the black
man, by denying the equal rights of white men,
and shocked at seeming to countenance that
which they abhor, retire from the controversy
And thus we must meet the fate of all divided
or mutually distrusting forces.
Sd. The real question Of the day ceases 10 be
come paramount. That, all know and feel to
be the Slavery question. The Federal Govern
ment is to decide whether Slavery is to spread
over the balance of the American Continent
whether its protection and spread. OF its curtal
ment and abolition, where it can be lawfully
reached, shall become our settled policy. All
4 eyes are directed to this question. The verdict
of the people is being rendered--the propaganda
lists are alarmed. But, 10 another question il
thrust in, and is made paramount to the Slavery
question. You call it the American question
We deem it anything but American. At any
rate, you make it paramount. This is boldly
avowed in your laws and by all your journals
The Cleveland Express and Knolc Nothing says
emphatically, The American party in Ohio
will permit none other to be made paramount
This IS matter of course. Now, to paramount
question, all others are necessarily subordinate
Hence the Slavery question is put in the back
ground. Members of the Order NAV be Pro
Slavery or Anti-Slavery, provided thew agree
upon the great question of NATIVITY and
agree to make that paramount to all others. Res
olutions, then, are mere wind. They are moth
ing more than the resolutions of the Obie
Wings and Democrats against the Fugitive Act
whiIe Accepting and voting for the Baltimor