The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-06-15
rne Hirglnli. Eleclion.

The New York Heral, in an article on the aoose
s,hiact attributes the defeat OF the hnow Nothing
narly to the conduct OF It's Nortnern wing "pU"
he s,b;ect of slavery and il well says, that the
..Ameriean Party'' will readily perceive that the
Sonth are not prepared TO coalesce with any party
upon any professions. which has SO strongly COM
mitted itself In the North to Abolition as this ne"
American Party. We thank the Herald Tor lhe
admission. Reluctantly enough, it proclaIms TO
the south the fact which we have been holding up
for months past that Abolition had polluted this
new party, as it had already polluted and Destroy
ed the Wing and Democratic.
We doubt not but that the action OF the Know
Nothing party in the North greatly influenced Inc
result in Virginia. And well it might. Who can
blame any Southern man for shrinking from ath-
ation with party which, under the cry Oh " A
mercans shall rule America" struck down In
Massachusetts the independence of the judiciary,
invaded the freedom OF conscience, and nu!llhed
the fugitive slave iaw-tbe only pitiful boon which
remained to the South from the Compromise OF
lIe5O? 1t was enough TO sta.tle and disgust their
Southern allies, and 10 bring suspicion and defeat
upon them, when they attempted, as they did In
Virginia. to glaze over these enormities, and to
cover I'D the spirit of intolerance, aggression and
Abolition which dictated them.
But the Herald says: "Had the late New DIRK
State Council boldly repudated and cast off their
Massachusetts brethren, and openly denounced,
in conservative proclamation, the seditious doc
trines Of Senator Wilson, they might have carried
Virginia. But they were content to patch up their
constitution and ritual, their signs and grips, and
pass words while the rampant disuninn speech
spoken by their brother, Senator Wilson, in this
city, and the abomnibe doings OF their brethren IN
Massachusetts, were permitted, without word OF
dissent, to work out their natural consequences in
the merciless hands OF Henry A. WISE" Strange
| ;plo no narf of he Mo- Hnrk
Council. Why did they not cast off their Massa.
chusetts brethren, and denounce 81 their brother,
Senator Wilson, when they knew that knowNo-
,hingsm was 10 its death struggle in Virginia, and
needed and impIored the timely word OF encour-
ngcment? " by did they maintain such un.
friendly silence upon the first paramount question
to the South, and by this course involve themselves
in the odium and guilt of their " brethren,' and
thus bring down defeat upon the cause, when " q
conservative proclamation might have carried
Virginia
a sentence They did dare to do it. The
Know Nothing leaders of New York are po-
clans, and perfectly comprehend the state of things
| around them. They not blind TO the tempest
| OF Abolition which has swept New York, and eve
ry other Northern State. They may love the
party, but not at the of martyrdom. They
would have been highly pleased, perhaps, to pass
resolutions cOncIlIaiOry To the South and save the
election in Virginia; but the risk was too great TO
their own necks at homeland they remained 81.
lent. But this very silence betrayed the secret,
| and gave warning to the South. And it is well.
For verify believe that had The New York
Know Nothings made a decla ration, such is the
present power Of fanatcism, they would not only
have sacrificed themselves, but would have be-
trayed Virginia, by assurances which they would
have had neither the faith the ability to re-
deem. 1t mi ght very we'll havo suited the foul
spirit of party success, and it would have been in
precisely the track OF the Wing and Democratic
parties, had The New York Know Nothings heed.
ed the counscs of the Herald, and quoted the
alarms OF the South, until the election was over
and The victory was won and then to have turned
round, as these parties constantly did, and violate
their pledges, and mock at her credulily. But
Virginia, the South, and Southern Know Nothings
ar indebted to The fierce and uncompromising
attitude of abolition, for the fact, which the silence
OF the New York Council reveals, that hencefor-
ward Northern politicians dare not and cannot
approach US with their wontcd professions OF
friendship, TO keep the word Of promise 10 the
ear and break it to the hope" There is no mid.
die course for any man party in the country
now. The long delayed collision between the
North and South is approaching. and those who
attempt 10 play and parIey between them, will be
crushed in their folly. We shall nwat the break.
ing of this silence in The National Convention.