New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-08
THE NATIONAL Kyow-NorrnsGs.

The Know othings-we mean those claiming
10 be emipeutly national. conservative and pat
riotic-hold most lofty opinions on the Slavery
question These opinions have not yet gained
voice in the public channels, being confined to
private circles of the doctors in the new sect.
We therefore perform willing and useful ser
vice in expounding these sentiments for the ben
eft Of the uneniehtened. In the first place,
then, the National KnowNothings propose to
leave Slavery entirely to Providence and the
Shareholders. They say that laws above all poll
tiles, and all parties, rule and control the ques-
tion Of sa7ery. Acting upon the law-of-God
sentiments Of Mr.. Webster, they contend that
the true way of treating the question OF Slavery
is to let il alone Ii is an institution, they say,
permitted to exist BY the wisdom of the Al
mighty, for inscrutable purposes, and it does not
become fallible mortals to be triaing with sub
ject so far above their comprehension, and whose
issues are involved in such profound mystery
Thus they denounce aud condemn all agitation
of the question of Slavery as utterly useless,
mischievous and lanatical.
This, in brief is the National Know-NOthing
view of the slavery question. 1t will be seen
that it is simply the creed Of the worst slave
holder. 1t is piece torn from the web OF the
most unmitigated systems of Slavery. Ii Is an
entire and perfect surrender of the whole ques-
ton to the management and control OF the
slave States Ii is the giving up OF every pre-
tension and hope to ubridge, or in any way cneck,
the aegressicns of the sla, ehoder and the uni
Z Al. | ia
trne of the most ancient fogysm, the most IN
tense Castle Gardcnsm, the essential oil OF de-
cayed Silyer-Grayism, and of the most venera-
bic and brainless IIunkerism. II Is setback
10 every movement against slavery ana itS ag-
eressons from the time of John Quincy AdaIns's
championship Of the right of petition, down 10
the opposition to the passage of the Nebraska
bill In the light of this Know-Nothlng inter-
question, every word and every act IN resistance
10 the insolence, the audacty, the aggressions,
and the violence of the advocates and DULLES o
Slavery, has been wrong from the beginning,
and deserving of nothing but condemnation.
In the attempted grating of these sapient
ideas upon the creed of the National know-Noth-
ings the question OF deepest interest Is, To what
extent can the popular mind be inyeged into
their support If the doctrines were rairly and
frankly set forth no head could be made, aud no
impression in their behalf effected upon the true
masses of the North who object to being over
slaughed by the slaye-drivers. But they will not
bs fairly and frankly set forth. That is no part
of the scheme of the cunning men who are riding
the Know-Notbing hobby They do not mean to
face the subject. but to 90 round it, dodge II, or
avoid it altogether. And in this way, and by
honeyod words of patriotism, and BY the dismal
platitudes of milk-and-water generalities, they
propose to put the public sentiment to sleep
long enough for them to pick the political
pockets of the Innocent minded and long-eared.
Does nybody reply that this exposition is in
correct in view of the Anti->layery action of
Know-Nothing Councils in the North We an
swer that -Nothingism, as every national
party has done before il, must decide on the
Slavery question. In the South that party is to
be utterly and unqualiiedly Pro-Slayer!, as
every political party there is now vigorously
compelled TO be. And in the South We are to
see the bases and ground-ter Of National Know
Nothingism. Upon the saye-driying platform
the recruits which are obtained in the North
must stand, be they few or many. The Know
Nothingism of New England and Of Ohio is not
counted upon by the National. This is distinct
" avowed. The know-Nothings of Massachu-
sets are already contemporary cast aside by
their National brethren, and handed over to the
Anti-Nebraska party in the North. Wherever
else Northern Councils Of the fraternity are
equally independent, the sentence of excommu-
nication will be passed upon them. Ii il New
York, Pennsylvania, New-Jersey, and portion
Of the West, that is relied on 10 stick 10 Pro-
Slavery National -Nothingism through
thick and thin And with this support to back
the South, il is fondly reekoned that no more
strength will be necessary in order to win. Ma
tional -Notkingism is thus simply TO be a
Southern Pro-slayery army with Northern re-
cruiting stations. Tie general officers in the
grand campaign are to be the Slave Olgarchs.
The North will be eraciously allowed TO furnish
lieutenants The head is 10 be Southern.
and the tail Northern. Who hears a suggestion
of a Northern man for President in the whole
crowd Of these patriots