The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-15

ever they are entangled by it, and to set their
faces openly and resolutely against it.
In ILLINOIS, we have the opinion of Douglas
men, that, had it not been for Know Nothing
ism, Mr.. Douglas would have been left without
sympathetic representative in the new dele
cation from that State. 1t was this element,
which, by repelling the naturalized voters,
saved Richardson and, by dividing the friends
of Freedom, secured the election of Hunker
State Senator in the place of Lincoln, re-
signed. And this element, we apprehend, has
delayed action, in the Illinois Legislature, on
resolves in regard to the Nebraska question.
The People of MICHIGAN, whatever may be
thought of them by their Senators in Congress,
have done themselves honor. The Fusion
movement got the start of Know Nothingism !;
defined its platform, arranged its plan of action,
and selected its candidates, without reference to
it. We speak from the record, and from events,
as they appear. 1t is said, we know not on what
authority, that the Know Nothings helped it
forward, exerted great influence, and claimed
some of the candidates. 1t may be true, but
where is the evidence? Not certainly in the
high platform adopted by the Republican Par
ty, as it called itself; not in the speeches or
declarations of any of its candidates, that have
come to our knowledge; not in the message of
Governor Bingham not in the action of its
Legislature, up to this date. In none of these
is there the slightest squirting towards Native
Americanism. Whatever may be now the
e
Michigan, we are constrained to attribute the
extraordinary revolution in that State to
decided Anti-Slavery Public Sentiment.
What part the Secret Order played in the
canvass in WISCONSIN, how far it Influenced
the results, how much ascendency it has &C.
CURED over the Party that has come into
power, we are not advised; but, if Charles
Durkee be really fair representative of that
party, the fact shows that Wisconsin is too
liberal to be bound in the letters of Native
Americanism. He must have changed his
nature, to become an advocate of any policy
inconsistent with Human Brotherhood. We
shall take it for granted that the vote of
Wisconsin, in 1856, will be given for an Anti
Slavery candidate for the Presidency.
What shall we say of New YORK? The
american Organ claims that two hundred
thousand of its voters are enrolled in the lodges
of the Order. But, as matter ofrfact, dissat
is6ed as were many of the more determined
Anti Slavery men of the State with the course
of Mr.. Seward and his friends in opposing such
fusion of the opponents of Slavery as had
been formed in other States, and calculated, as
such dissatisfaction was, to impair the ef6cien-
cy of their efforts, still, the Anti-Slavery sent
ment did prevail at the ballot-box, against the
combined influences of Silver Grayism, Know
Nothingism, and the Administration Party !;
and the result to-day is, the reelection of Mr..
Seward to the Senate of the United States for
six years. New York cannot be carried for
Slavery in lS56-and what is true of her, is
true, let us hope, Of
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Nothingism boasts
Of its overwhelming triumphs in that State, but
the very magnitude of the vote it's candidates
received, in itself proves that the strength of
the Party is Fictitious. Its achievements are
rather a protest against the Hunkerism and
Conservatism that sought to prevent the Peo-
pie from uniting against the Slave Interest,
than evidence of a purpose to make Native
Americanism paramount question. We re-
grvt sfrur such notve should have
drawn honest men into a false position. The
Order, influenced undoubtedly by the prevail
ing sentiment of the State, elected to Congress
pIa ID IN, he Ant, I,,k
fidelity to our cause has yet to be tested. On
the other hand, it gava to Massachusetts, a
Governor, who in his message shamefully fell
short of the popular sentiment of his State on
the subject of Slavery, and to Boston, Mayor,
whose course had excited the indignation of
every lover of Liberty. The election of Henry
Wilson, as Senator, was not from choice, but
necessity, dictated by the fear that his rejection
might split the new Party irretrievably.
But, how does Massachusetts now stand !?
Wing, Administration, and Free Democratic
Parties are all disorganized. The Know Moth
ings constitute the only Party. Some of our
friends are in it, some are out of it. Some, in
Guiding those most trusted in former DAYS, CD
pose it, many excuse it. In itself it embraces
persons of the most diverse opinions in regard
to Slavery, and has no fixed creed or policy on
the subject. The Anti-Slavery men in the Or
der are allied, by its arbitrary obligations, to
pro-slavery men, and these have showed their
power in the election of such men as Gardner
and Smith. If they continue the alliance, there
is an end to all unity of action among the Anti
Slavery People of the State generally. The
outsiders will not, cannot act with the insiders,
and these, by constant association, compromise
and bargain with their proslavery associates,
must be demoralized and finally alienated from
their old friends.
Where, then, will Massachusetts, Pennsylya.
MIA, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Con.
necticut, Rhode Island, stand in the election of
1856? Who can answer this question? Who
could have failed to answer it, had it not been
for the Intervention of Know Nothingism !?
The second aim, then, of the People of the free
States has been accomplished to this extent !:
they have generally punished those who betray-
ed them On the Nebraska Question-they have
wrested the free States from the Administra.
tion-they have placed some of them distinctly
and permanently on the side of Human Lber-
ty-but some, owing to the mischievous infu-
ences of Know Nothingism, have been left in
an underlined condition, in danger every moment
of a baleful reaction, and so uncertain in their
movements as to defy predictions concerning
their future course. Hence the doubt now,
whether the People of the free States will be
able to accomplish the final result at which they
aimed-the redemption of the Federal Govern.