The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-23
THE CASE STATED.

The Independent On. H. Democrat, publish
ing the Anti-Slavery resolves Of the State Know
Nothing Council lately held at Springfield
Massachusetts,, remarks that this is an i'm
portant step towards fusion, and hopes that il
may be initiated in other States. 1t is no steI
at all towards fusion, and if initiated in Other
States, upon the Know Nothing party will rest
the guilt of dividing the People of the North
and West, and of delivering them over, bound
hand and foot, to the Slave Power. The re
solves printed by the Democrat are only part
of the proceedings of the Council. There are
seven resolutions besides, affirming the peculiar
Nativistic principles Of the Order, and one OF
them distinctly declares against the admission
of foreign immigrants to the elective franchise
until after period of twenty-one years natu-
ralization. In support Of all their principles,
the Council then invites union of the Peo-
ple-and it invites only those who believe in
all their principles Here is the resolution:
Resolped That the position of the present
National Administration is one of open, undis
guised hostility to ALL the principles we pro-
fess, and therefore we believe that the exigen-
ces of the times demand that all men who
agree in these principles should be united in
their political action, and we will cheerfuly
cooperate with all the opponents of our CON-
mon enemy.
There is inst as much Of the spirit of a man
in this, as if the remnants of the Wing Party in
Massachusetts should come together again, pass
resolves, stifly Wing and tolerably Anti-Slave
~, and then invite all agreeing with them in
all their principles to cooperate! The case is
easily stated.
The shareholders control the Federal Govern
ment, and they are determined to continue their
rule. They have set on foot system Of aggres-
sive measures, all tending to accumulate power
in their hands, to extend and perpetuate their
supremacy. They stop at no usurpation deem
ed necessary to advance their designs. Their
latest outrages-tAe violent seizure of Kansas,
and the audacious effort to break down the laws
of the free States against Slavery within their
imits-are only parts of their general scheme
of policy.
1t is not too late to resist and battle them
but no time is to be lost. The resistance must be
matured and organized within the next eight
months. To make it elfectual, there must be a
union of the masses of the People of the free
States. That they could be overthrow by
combination of all the elements of opposition
to them in those States, nobody doubts. Unless
such combination be effected, the country is
doomed, and the Slave Power triumphant an
other four years.
In Ohio, Vermont, and Maine, the question
hos haan H.
to this Despotism-" will you forego all party
associations, all issues on other subjects. and
unite solely on the issues forced upon you by
the Slaveholders-unite in a Party of Free.
domY' We WILL, has been the prompt, ener-
getic reply; and the result in those States is the
combination of all the elements of opposition to
the Slave Power.
The same question has been put JUS: as distinct
ly to the people Of Massachusetts, and what is the
answer? We will not forego our organization,
say the Know Nothings, the ruling party-we
Will not waive or postpone all other issues-we
will adhere to our Nativistic principles, and
unite with those who agree with us in all our
principles. BY this party bigotry is Massachu-
sets likely to be isolated and paralyzed in the
coming contest-for the opponents of Slavery.
who are not Know Nothings, cannot sanction,
and ought not to sanction, such bigotry. If
there cannot be an honest union, upon honest
lssues-the only issues really practical and
vital-let there be no union at ALL and the
guilt of schsm will rest upon the traitors to
Freedom, who are attempting to embarrass its
claims with Insignificant or contemplate extra.
neous issues.
We cannot believe that the real Anti-Slaverv
men, nomnably Know Nothing, will sanction
or suffer this wicked policy. Beyond all doubt
they will respond generously, enthusiastically,
to timely and an honest appeal for union in
behalf of Liberty in disregard of all existing
organizations.
Fume House, White Mountains.