The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-04-26

ton AAas, opponents of the party, and the Pro-
Slavery editors of the New York Express, mem
bers of it, with their several classes of followers,
ne" ..sxivs each other the fraternal hug, and
loss tbe yse in urging. the National claims of
their E9erssa candidate?
| Let A4fSlavery men be assured of this
| that whatever be the methods adopted to suit
local cirrumstances-the one great purpose is,
| TO recover the Northern mind from its Temporal
nv enthusiasm ON the Slavery Question, and
gradually to " Nationalize it, so as to bring it
up to the support of Nationality and "Con-
servatsm " in lS56-and the chosen instrument
for accomplishing this purpose is, Know Moth
ingism.
We had intended to present the peculiar mode
of operation adopted by the New Order in the
Western States, but the following editorial from
the Cleveland Leader, some Of whose conduct
ors were at first members of the Order, is so
clear and comprehensive, as to supersede the
necessity of single word from us.
From the Cleveland (o) Leader, April 10.
THE NEXT STATE ELECTION THE PROSPECT
| AHEAD
This is the heading of an article in the Cinein-
natl Gazette, of Friday, which will be found in
another column. The Gazette it will be seen,
arrives at the conclusion that "there is every
prospect of thorough union between the
American Reform and the Republican parties
in this State" and that the ticket so nominated
"will be elected by from fifty to eighty thousand
majority" We confess we don't feel so san
guine saf the realization of our honored cotem-
porafy s'predictions, either in regard to the pro-
| posed fusion, or the majority resulting there
from. We fear that the wish is parent of the
thought. 1t is very true that last fall the Know
Nothings generally supported the Republican
ticket, and materially assisted in achieving a
victory more brilliant than any known in the
annals of American politics. And it is also
true that like causes will produce like effects.
But the causes, we fear, no longer sustain to
each other the same relation. Last fall, Know
Nothingism was in its gristle; it was plant
and discreet. Now it is bold, going about roar
ing and boasting. Last fall, the Know Nothings
made no State nominations, and in a majority
of counties no county nominations. The Order
contented itself with supporting the Repub-
can ticket, and securing the election of the best
candidates. This campaign it proposes to FORE
stall, and compel the Republican party to play
second fiddle to its behests.
Last fall there was one great and pervading
|
issues and that was, the determination to re-
buke the Nebraska outrage, and stay the aggres-
sions of the Slave Power. Now, the issue seems
reduced to a miserable war of races, ending in
riots, blood, destruction of suffrage urns, and
murder-a contest between native and for
eign mobs-Know Nothings and Sag NIGHTS
How these issues are to be harmonized and
made work together, is beyond our poor conn.,
prehcnsion. How will Prescription and Free
dom be made to pull in the same harness? Will
they be hitched tandem or abreast? Before
placing our trust in the prediction Of the Ga
Sette, it were we'll, perhaps, to look little at
the position of the respective elements which
are expected to fuse, and see whether the
ground occupied by the Know Nothings as an
organization, is compatible with that on which
the Republicans stand Arethey alike? Are they
similar? Are the centre ideas on which each
lrevolve substantially identical? Let parallel
be drawn. The so-called American Party is an
organization whose members are sworn to pro-
scribe all persons of foreign birth, regardless
oftheir principles, character, or patriotism. Sec
ond: The Order refuses to advocate AntiSla-
very in its Councils, or pledge its members to
oppose the aggressions of Slavery. By the
terms of the new third or cotton degree"
each member is sro'm to play the part of a
doughface, under excuse of SdUiag the Union,
questions. Opposition to Slavery, it is assert
ed, endangers the peace and perpetuity of the
Union, therefore each third degree member is
sworn TO prescribe such agitation, and keep it
out of the Councils of the Order, and no person
is full member of the Order until he has ia
ken that degree He is obliged, furthermore, to
swear that he will support, at all elections only
those who are third degree members of the Or
der. The discussion and agitation of the great
Slavery Question is thus completely banshed
from the Councils, and nativistic prescription
made the corner stone of the institution. On
this basis the Order is ndtiOndlized, and free
man of Ohio made to clasp hands and faternize
politically with an Alabama slavedriver. And
this is the platform of the " american Reform,
party!"
Let us next turn to the principles of the Re-
| publican party.
1t holds to the doctrine of the immortal Dec
laration of independence, that all men are
created equal, and entitled to life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness; but it counses no in
reference with the peculiar institutions of other
States, beyond the authority granted by the Fed
eral Constitution. 1t holds that Freedom is ma
tional, and Slavery sectional. 1t demands the
application of the Jefferson proviso to all TeT-
ritores, and the repeal of the present brutal and
unconstitutional Fugitive Slave Law. 1t is
pledged to resist, by all lawful and constitutions
d al MEANS the aggressions of the Slave Power,
and the admission into the Union of any more
slave States 1t holds that principle and char
acter, not birthplace, should determine the
privileges and equality of citizens. These are
its fundamental ideas. 1t numbers in its ranks
in this State more than thirty thousand Protest
ant adopted citizens, who are all ostracsed and
prescribed by Know Nothngism in its present
form.
The question recurs, Can these aatipodes
unite and harmonize on principle? If they
cannot, the result of the ensuing fall election
is easily predicted. The Gazette says that it
has information, derived from certain sources,
that there is every prospect of a complete union
of the Know Nothings and Republicans" and
that I" in all human probability there will be but
two tickets in nomination-the one now in the
field nominated by the Locofocos, and the one
to be fixed upon by the 18th July Convention"
Next comes the question, how this perfect
union between the Republican and Know Moth
ing parties is to be accomplished? Our in
formation may not be derived from the same
sources from whence the Gazette draws, but the
following, we presume, is the method in which
it is to ho brought about, which, we think, ex-
hibits more craft and cunning than wisdom or
honesty.
The Executive State Council Of the Know
Nothing Order Of Ohio consists of twenty one
Sixteen members of this body met few weeks
!. ago at the Capital to cut out work for the
members They first resolved that the Order
should make separate and secret nominations.
I'd. That it should pack the Republican State
: Convention, and fost upon it those nominees.
} The mode of proceeding is to be this: Some
, time in Nav all the subordinate Councils are