The southerner., 1855-04-14
SPEECH OF
SPEECH UF
HON. THOs. RUFFIN,

HON. THOS. RUFFIN,
Deziuered in the q. s. House Of Repre-
sontutiiues, Feb. q, 1855.
(continued,)
But, Sir, if any body has doubted
this abolition sentiment of know-Noth-
ingism, let us look at the recent elections
carried by these Know Nothings.
Look at the men elected by them.
Harlan, the fusionist in Iowa. Trum-
bull, the man Of "isms," in Illinois o.
yer the gallant Shields, whose body is
Scared with wounds received in defence
Of the flag of his adopted country.
Durkee, the abolition agrarlan in Wis
censin. Wilson, the embodiment ofram-
pant freesoilism in Massachusetts, the
latter elected bya Legislature In which
there was but one Democrat, and-lt Is
said-but some five or six oid-llne
wings. Are the Know Nothings not
responsible for the election Of these
men? Are they rot responsible for
the election of this Mr.. Wilson to the
Senate of the United States? Yet
another election! that of Seward, the
"Jupiter Tonans" of abolition, the
"higher law" Senator, who in the inten-
sity of his hatred of the south, sta nds a
head and shoulders above them all
The Know Nothings had made boast
that they could defeat him-that they
would show their nationality in that e.
!cction-that they were going to take
the arch agitator from the Senate of the
United States, and put a conservative
in his place. That election was looked
to with probably more interest than any
Senatorial election ever held in any of
the States of this Union. We all rec
oilect Tuesday, the 9Th Of February
I believe that was the day. 1t was at
all events dark and gloomy day. 1t
was known that the election for United
States Senator from New York was to
be held that day in Albany. The hour
had arrived. The telegraphic office in
this capital was on that occasion, an
interesting place. Numbers of poll
ticians might be seen vending their way
thefe-your Southern Know-Nothings
and your Northern know-Nothings.
They were there about the time they
expected the announcement to come.
They were watching with straining eyes
and palpitating hearts, and half-sup-
pressed respiration. The mystic wire
is watched with the fixed gaze of in
tense anxiety. A message comes rush
ing upon the wings of the lightning.
The uspense is but short. "The sybll
speaks, the dream is Ger" The dis
patch is read. 1t was q sweet morsel
to your freesoil Know Nothings.
They hearken to it as the prodigal son
to his fathers testament. They gulp
it down with all imaginable avidity.
It was as sweet to them as
the mamma from Heaven to the
hungry Israelites in the wilderness.
But how was it to TIE Southern Know
Nothings?-Ah! it was bitter pill for
them. They had to swallow it down,
but oh! what rueful grlmaces and con-
tortions of countenance, it was like gall
and wormwood to sick and fainting
girl. 49,
Now let US see what is thought of
him as a national man in the North
[ read an extract from one of the New
York journals. | do not know whether
it is know-Nothing or not, but / suppose
it is-at all events it was allied with
them in the grand contest.
Speaking of the Senator from New
York, it says:
ale has pressed with equal ardor
the claims of Commerce, Agriculture
and Manufactures-he has vindicated
with equal zeal, the just rights and in-
terests Of the West and South, and those
of the East and North. There is not at
this day, in the Senate or in public life,
d statesman of more ability-more labo-
rlous and conscientious in his discharge
Of public public duties, or moro thor
oughly and truly national in all his
views, than Governor Seward.
And again, what Know Nothing
Journal means by conservatism:
'sThe slavery question cannot affect
the American party, for its whole pow.
er and all it's hopes are north of Mason
and Dixon's line. Its aspirations are
for freedom, and when the party is ac.
cused of being pro-slavery, let its defen-
ders point the men who utter the bass
1 a. fn cAa A 4. IL E,