The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-07
THE VIRGINIA ELEcTIoN-EFFEcr ON PAR
TIE1THE TRUE POSITION.

the other only defeated and for this result we
are indebted, not to Know Nothingism, but to
the union of majority of the People, on the
Anti Nebraska issue. Had it not been for the
Intervention of the Secret Order, the reform
would have been more effectually accomplish
ed, and the results would have gone further to
promote the cause Of Freedom. We owe little
to Know Nothingism, but confusion and di-
vision in the ranks of Anti-Slavery men, to-
gether with partial naturalization and perver-
sion of the AntiSlavery Sentiment
The assumption that the two old parties are
broken up is mschievous one. We must look
at things as they are, before we can have them
to our liking. In lS4S, some cried out that
the Wing Party had ceased to be, and yet that
same Party in 1850 was strong enough to give
US the Fugitive Slave Act, and in 1852 to cast
larger vote than it had ever cast before.
Party was broken up, and yet that Party gave
US President in 1852 by an overwhelming
majority.
The same inconsiderate haste is betrayed
in comments on the Virginia election. The
Know Nothing Party, it is said, has received
its death-blow-there is nothing left of it now.
Let us not be deceived. We must recognise
existing facts, or be continually laundering in
our policy.
The Wing Party, in its old National form,
has undoubtedly become defunct; but, as
State organization, it retains its machinery in
in the former, holding itself in reserve to act as
distinct and controlling element, in any COM
bination that may be formed against Pro-Sla-
very Democracy and Know Nothingism; in
the other two, willing to ally itself to any fac
ton, Know Nothing or otherwise, which shall
concede to it consideration and weight. In the
free and slave States, generally it is merged in
the Secret Order. Nationally it has disap-
peared, only to reappear under the form of
National Know Nothingism, the secret obliga-
tons of which furnish the solder for reuniting
the Northern and Southern sections broken
asunder by the Nebraska Bill.
AS to the so-called Democratic Party, it is
sheer nonsense to talk of its being "broken
up" By the miserable policy of servile AID.
ministration, and the dsloyalty of it, leaders to
Northern interests, it has been thrown into a
minority in every free State, but where has it
surrendered its organization Where has it
ceased to present force, formidable from its
numerical power and its determination Had
the revolution, commenced by the Anti Nebras
ka sentiment, been suffered to 60 on, unalloyed.
tod olya cd a..
in the free States would have been either re.
duced to impotency, or brought over to the
support of the Anti-Slavery movement. Know
Nothingism revived it, by distracting its oppo-
nents, and substituting for an issue, fatal to it,
one on which it could rise again to power
But, has the new Ism ITSELF as some hastily
claim, received its death blow, from the result
of the late election in Virginia? Are Hunker-
ism, Silver Grayism, Nationalism, Conserva-
tism, dead? Have Clayton, Houston, Fillmore,
Stockton, Davis, Rayner, departed this life 2
Are the individual Wings, in free and slave
States, who have been hoping to form new
National Amalgam in politics, no more?
We see nothing in the Virginia election to
break up the New Order. Why perplex our
selves for reasons to explain the result2 One
paper accounts for it on the ground that Vir-
ginia is naturally onservative-indisposed to
novelties-wedded to old opinions and usages
another says, that she has gone against the
Know Nothings because the Know Nothings
OF Massachusetts committed so many Abolition
offences. The truth is, Virginia has sustained
the Administration Democracy for the same
reason that the free States repudiated it's
perfect fidelity to the Stare Interest, the centre
and circumference of its politics. The great
majority of its citizens have no special fond
ness for Catholics, positively dislike foreigners,
have not the slightest objection to the adoption
of proscriptive policy by the free States,
which shall check immigration and prevent
the rapid multiplication Of free labor popu-
lation-nor do they doubt the sincere pur
pose of the National Know Nothings to ignore
the Slavery Question. Bat, why should they
abjure Party which has always been true to
the Slave Interest, and which is Just as capable
of protecting and promoting it, Just as willing
to be controlled and used by it, as the new
Party can be? Virginia Democrats are shrewd
politicians. They know that the process of
Matchmaking the Know Nothings will 90 on.
just as if their campaign in Virginia had been
crowned with success; that Party which has
thrown about the entire Wing vote of that
State, will not relax its efforts until it has carried
the Wing States of the South; that with sucb
a basis, there will be enough of the old Wings
in the free States, under the lead of Fillmore.
Clayton, and Co., to construct another National
Pro-Slavery Party; so that the next Presidential
election will probably be contested by two great
Parties, equally loyal to the Slave Interest, in
surfing to the South, in any event, Pro-Slavery
Administration. Why then should they put
themselves to any unnecessary trouble about
the New Order? They stick to the Democ-
racy," because they can have no better safe
guard for Slavery, because its success in Vir-
GINA will renew its energies throughout the
Union, and at the same time retain it under
Virginia rule, and because, too it will tend to
stimulate the wire workers of the New Order
to push forward their Matchmaking policy.
They never desired the Wings of the South to
merge their identity in the Democratic Party,
lest it might lead directly to sectional organi-
cation of Parties they preferred to retain their
allies in the free States, and are now reioiced
to see Southern Wings sustaining a new organ
ization which promises to take the place of
National Whigery. With two National Pro-
Slavery Parties, the chances of course are in
favor of the so-called Democracy. But, even
- ToI Oh
is certain.