Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-01-31
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add it is well known, is of the foremost of the
advocates and organs Of the new socalled Ameri- |
can party; and what it says of the operations and
purposes of this new party is entitled to peculiar
weight. We give the article without further COM
ment. Let friends lay it aside for future use :
"THE KNOW NoTHrNGs OF THE NoRTn-MovEMENTs
on THE SLAVERY QUESTION We published, some
days ago, the inaugural message of Mr.. Gardner the
Know Nothing Governor of Massachusetts, Our
readers vii! remember that upon the Nebraska ques
ton he betrays the wrath of free soier and bold
y declares himself in favor of the restoration of the
Missouri compromise. We give to day an extract
on the slavery question, from the inaugural of Mr.
Pollock, the Know Nothing Governor of Pennsy-
vania, in which we are informed that Pennsylvania
in her late election, has repudiated the Nebraska
bill, re-afirmed the Missouri intcrlic and dccreed
radical modification of the Fugitive Slave law,
notwithstanding which the Governor has no recon-
mendatons to make upon the subject.
These declarations, :" by authority" from the
elect of the Know Nothings of the North, go very
far to show that this American party still
embarrassed, to considerable extent, with the
widely dfused anti-savcry sentiment of the North
ern States and especially with the remains of the
ant-Nebraska epidcnlic, which entered so largely
into the late elections from Massachusetts to Kan
sas. The same free soil concessions have been c,
hibited in the late nomination, by caucus of the
Massachusetts, Know Nothing Legislature of Gene
raj Henry Wilson, heretofore leading anti-slavery
man, their candidate for the United States Sen
ate. There has been rebellion, however, and
split upon this nomination, and the final result will
probably be the election of Senator less decided
ly tinctured with anti-savcry anteccdents and prn
cipcs than Wilson. At all events, the trouble con-
cerening this gentleman, shows that the Know Moth
ings of Massachusetts are aware of the Importance
of maintaining, far possible, in this Senatorial
election the attitude of non-interventon upon the
slavery question.
In these Know Nothing messages Of Messrs. Gard
ner and Pollock, and in this nomination of Wilson,
there is manifest disposition to concate the free
soil and anti-slavery sentiment of the North. Nor
is it surprising that this should be the case, consid
erng the fact that the Know Nothings entered into
the late elections side by side with the antisavery
forces rallied throughout the North upon the anti
Nebraska Juror. In the outset all great revolutions
crude and cncumbcred, more or less, with in
congruitics and Inconsistencies. So this new party,
from the throes ~of parturition, comes into the
world somewhat lacking the elements OF perfect
symmetry and harmony although the bantiing pos
sesses vigorous vital SYSTEM and all the requisites
Of superior manly strength. Now, the antiNebras-
ka agitation is dying out-thc popular mind soon
wearics of inpractcabe abst, factions. Public crln-
ion in these United States is enIinently practical
and uar;an, national, patriotic and conservative,
\ little resolution and unity Of action on the part
of the Northern Know Nothings are all that is now
wanted to cleanse their skirts OF the last remaining
vestig2s of anti-savcry doctrines and affiliations.
Since our November election there has been some
trouble among the Know Nothngs OF this State,
traccab.c to the slavery controversy.
Hence those outside Know Nothing lodges, the
object of which Is diversion from this new PARTY In
favor of the reelection of VIM II. Seward And So
in Iowa, anti-siavery wing has been elected to
the United States Senate, from the support of the
Know NothngS in the place of Dodge, Nebraska
administration democrat. Such combinations OF
anti-s,ayery men and Know Nothings have had in
view the great object OF "cruShing out the pres
in,bcciic spos coalition at Washington, and in
this light they may be considered as the necessary
preliminary steps in clearing the track for the pro-
jcctcd national revolution of 1856.
But, the administration and its spoiismen having
been utterly demolished in the North, and the anti
Nebraska excitement having thus been appropriated
by tic Know NothingS to good purpose, and this
free soil agitation itself having subsidized into COM
parative calm, the time has come for the Know
Nothings Of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York,
and the whole North, frankly to extend the right
hand of fellowship to the South, upon the safe and
conservative doctrine Of absolute non-ntcrvent;on
upon the subject OF slavery. This is the policy
which they have indicated in certain late jiibices.
1t is certainly their only policy for national cam
! paign.
| Mr. Pollock may perhaps be excused in declaring
| that the people of Pennsylvania have given YER
! dict in favor Of the Missouri restriction, free soil
| and modification Of the Fugitive Slave law. mas
much as he recommends no action upon the sub
| iect Mr. Gardner, on the other hand, goes beyond
the line Of safety in urging as Know Nothing, the
repeal of the Nebraska bill That bill has become
! law. The Territories of Kansas and Nebraska have
been duly organized, and are in successful operation
! under this law. The act itself rests upon the con
| stitution-thc supreme law of the lanu. The Mis-
souri, intcr;lct was unconstitutional enactment
Congress has right to interdict slavery i'll
| Territory than in a sovereign State. no such pow
is granted and the powers not given TO Congress
| are expressly preserved 10 the States and the peo
| pie" The Nebraska bill unqucstionably a des
pcrate expcdicnt of the administration To rec0ccr it
lost ground in the South, and offset TO its FREE
soil Van Buren, affiliations in the distribution Of TIL
spois but the law is the less constitutional
1t WILL therefore, stand, and sensible men, even o
the anti-savery societies, have pretty generally a
bandoned the idea of its repeal as an impractical
absurdity.
The Nebraska bill, then, has transferred the ques
ton of slavery in the Territories from Congress
the people of the Territories themselves There
belongs-therc the issue must be decided. Th
South are willing to abide the result, and the fire
soil emigration societies have accepted the challenge
The question, then, of slavery no slavery in Kan
sas and Nebraska, will depend upon the preponde1
ance of Southern free soil settlers; and so, hence
forward in all the other Territories ofthe Unior
Mr. Gardner, therefore, an anti slavery propagar
DIST in urging the restoration of the Missouri line
is off the track, upon absurd issue; but as
Know Nothing, his position is utterly inconsster
| with the national expectations of his party Ca
the Massachusetts and Virginia Know Nothings &C
operate upon the anti-savery deusion of a restorG
ton of the Missouri restriction No. Oris it though
that the Nebraska bill can be repealed before tn
Presidential campaign comes on? No. Clearly
then, the State Council of the Massachusetts kno
Nothings should rcpudate, as soon as possible tn
anti-savery heresics of their Over-eXcited Governo
Regarding this Know Nothing movement as tn
result of spontaneous reaction of the America
people against the demoralizing and disorganizin
corruptons of the old parties of the dav-regardin
Al ~oF hFNIn