Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-05-20
BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THAN

slavery question. We do not intend quoting the
sayings of obscure men. We will quote only from
men elected to Congress by the know-nothings,
the resolutions adopted by know-nothing conveu-
lions. or the acts of know nothing State Legisla-
lures.
The conduct of the Massachusetts Legislature
has acquired an Infamous notoriety. 1t is COM
posed almost unanimously of " the best men" Of the
know-nothings, and is therefore fair example of
what the party will do elsewhere. One of its
acts, to which we have not before referred intend
ed to nullify the fugitive slave law, is described by
the Boston Traveller as follows:
1t provides that every alleged fugitive from SER
vice shall oe entitled to the benefit of the writ of
habeas corpus, which may be issued by the Su-
prene Court, Court of Common Pleas, any JUS
tees Court, or Police Court of any city or town,
by any Court of Record, or by any Justices of
either of such cours by any Judge Of Probate or
even by any Justice of the Peace, if none of the
before named magistrates are known to be within
five miles of the place where the party is imprs-
oned. Any court before which this writ shall be
made returnable shall be authorized to order trial
by Jury in relation to the facts, or TO admit the
party to bail in a sum not exceeding 80 000 Any
claimant of the person for whose benefit said writ
s sued out shall state in writing the facts on which
he relies. and neither the claimant of the alleged
fugitive nor any person interested in his service
or labor, nor the alleged fugitive sha be permit
ted to testify at the trial. and no confessions, ad
missions or declarations of the alleged fugitive
against himself shall be given in evidence.
No person holding State Office is allowed to is
sue any warrant or grant any certificate under the
fugitive slave act of the United States, or in any
capacity to serve any such warrant under penalty
of forfeiting his Office ard being forever ineligible
to any Office Of trust or emolument under the laws
of the Commonwealth In the case of Judges
such administration of the law of Congress shall be
deemed sufficient ground for Impeachment or re-
Inoval by address. Any person who shall act as
counsel attorney for any claimant for any alleged
fugitive from service or labor, under or by virtue
of the acts of Congress, shall be deemed to have
resigned and commission from the Common wealth
that ne may possess and shall be thereafter inca
pacitated from appearing as counsel or attorney In
the courts of this Common wealth.
Sheriff., deputies, coroners, constables, police
officers and the volunteer militia are all forbidden
so aid in any way in the arrest rendition of a
fugitive slave, under penalty of 81, 900 or $4,000
fine, each and every of them, and imprison-
ment in the State prison for one or two years The
Governor is to be authorised to appoint a public
commissioner in every county OF the State to de-
fend tie alleged fugitive and to defray all .eces-
sary expenses in doing this. No Jail other place
of confinement in the Commonwealth can be used
as place of detention for any alleged fugitive.
THIS is rank notification. 1t destroys the fugi-
tive slave-law; and it was passed by Legislature
almost unanimously know-nothing.
The same Legislature elected to the United
Senate HENRY Wilson, q member of the know
nothing council, who has lately publicly declared
as follows:
aft my voice could be heard by tie anti slavery
men of all parties in the nation, [ would say to
them, resolve it-write it over your door-posts-
engrave it on the lids of your Bibles-proclain il
at the rising of the sun, at the going down of the
same in the broad light Of noon, and beneath the
milder effulgence Of lunar light-that the day anu
party, be it wing, democratic, or American raises
a finger to arrest tie anti-slavery movement, to
repress anti-savery sentiment, or prescribe anti
slavery men, 1t shall surely begin 10 die.
The know -nothngs of New Hampshire nomina
ted PIKE treesoI democrat; TAFFAN a .treesoile,,
and CRAGIN, a freesOa wing, and they were elected
by msjorities from 900 to 5000 Speaking o
the New Hampshire election, the NeW York Era
the abolition organ at Washington, says:
The result is the wings and treesoilers abandoned
their own candidates, concentrated on Metcal
know nothing and elected him.
The main body of treesOilerS and wings who
voted for him. cared q great deal more for the
Slavery Question than any other; and if we NAV
Judge from their avowals, USED THE NEW OR.
GANIZATION AS AN INSTRUMENT TIC
OVERTHROW A PRO-SLAVERY ADMINS
TRATION.
The Cincinnnt Gazette, the know-nothing orcar
Of Ohio speaking of the recent defeat of the party
in Cincinnati, and recommending the course tina
ought to pursued in the fall, says:
A large majority of the voters of Ohio are II
favor of electng American Reform State officer,
and an American Reform Legislature; but thew ara
likewise determined to elect men who are opnosed
10 the extension of slavery and who repudiate
that gross outrage upon the free States the reoea
of the Missouri compromise. In our nominations
last fall for State officers, and foE Congressman, we
were fortunate in combining those two powerful
elements-the American and Anti-Nebraska-aud
the result was that we carried our State ticket by
eighty thousand majority, carried every Congress.
sional District and left the democratic party. ike
stranded whale, high and dry upon sand-bar.
The same combination must be made this fall if
must be, in order to insure success.
The following resolutions were adopted by the
know-nothing State Convention of Massachusetts,
held shortly before the election in that State last
isu:
"Resolved That we hail with hope and iov the
recent brilliant success of the republican party in
The States Of Maine, Iowa, Indiana, Pennsylvania
and OHIO, and we trust these victories are a fore
shadow Of others soon to come, by which the free
States shall present one sod phalanx Of opposi-
non to the aggression of slavery.
ResolUed That in the present chaotic condition
of parties in Massachusetts, the only star above
the horizon is the love Of human liberty and the
adherence of SGuey, and that it is the duty of all
.uti slavery men rally round the republican par-
~ as an organization which invites the united ac-
tiou of the people on the transcending question If
slaye dominion which now divides the Union.
WHEREAS, Roman Catholicism and slayeyy. be-
ina alike founded and supported on iynoronce and
tyTanny and being therefore, natural allies in every
warfare against liberty and enlightment: There
fore be II
ResOlued, THAT THERE CAN EXIST no REAL HOS
TLlTY TO CATHOLICISM WHICH DOES NOT EMBRACE
SLAVERY, ITS NATURAL 90 WORKER IN opPosIrIoN
To FREEDOM AND REPUBLICAN INSTITUTIONS"
The know nothing Safe Convention of M.ssa-
chuse:ts held only two weeks ago re-2ffrmed these
resolutions without dissenting vote. The Jour
nal Of Commerce says that "even those who had
been conservative before were carried away bv the
cnrrent, and agreed that the Order must take An
anti slavery position. Governor Gardner and SEN
ator Wilson were appointed delegates to the Ma.
,ional Council to be held next month at Philadel-
rbia. and their instructions are to insist. at anv