The Feliciana Democrat., 1855-12-08
THE ABoLITl0NIsM OF MAssACHU

| In the American Patriot OF last week, we
II find Governor Gardner and the American
Party of Massachusetts, endorsed as being
fully purged Of their abolition proclivities.-
Certainly our neighbor Of the Patriot must
be greatly behind the times in political infor-
nation, or he would never have committed
such ON egregious blunder. For his particu-
ular edifcation VIC make the following extracts
from Governor Gardner's speech and the Bos-
ton Bee, one the chief Magistrate, the other,
the chief organ Of the party in that state.
In accepting the nomination of the Know
Nothing party Of Massachusetts, just before
the late election, Gov. Gardner said
II confess I am an anti.slavery man. I
will oppose, in public, or private life, the
aggressions Of slavery, SO help me God T!
so long as live"
In the same speech, he spoke Of Judge
Kane, "as an infamous slave catching CON-
missioner at Philadelphia, who, hope, will
be impeached for his conduct before the
next Congress, and were l there, / would
cheerfully give my vote in favor Of such
llmpeacnmcnC.
And, the Boston Bee, the official organ Of
the Massachusetts Know Nothings, said, prior
to the late election:
"What has the American party Of Mas.
sachusetts done for freedom and morality :?
ELECTED Henry Wilson to the United
States Senate.
"What has the American party Of Mas.
sachusetts done for freedom and morality :?
Elected its entire delegation Of United
States representatives, who are unit upon
the question of anti.slavery. 'I
What has the American party of Mas.
sachusets done for freedom and morality !?
" Passed through its State Legislature.
the Personal Liberty Bill-an act which
no other state has, or dared pass"
If this be evidence of the purgation of their
abolition proclvties, We confess our brother
Of the Patriot is easily satisfied. If he does
not change his opinions now, we shall charge
him with SHINING against light and knowledge.
Again, we Insert the following resolutions
passed by the Know Nothing Legislature Of
Massachusetts, and signed by Governor Gard
ner, whom the Patriot endorses as having got
rid Of his abolition proclivities. Will then,
the editor Of the Patriot look at these things,
and cry out Alrs well p The responsibility
Of such course is great, and we verify believe,
none will do SO, who arc truly aware Of the
facts in the case.
Resolved, Inasmuch as there is neither
any power granted to the general govern,
ment in the constitution of the United
States for the enactment of any laws by
Congress for the return of alleged fugitive
slaves nor any prohibition thereto to the
states against the passage of laws upon that
subject, that the Fugitive slave act is d.
rect violation of the tenth article Of amend.
ments to the Constitution of the United
States, which declares that the powers
not delegated to the United States by the
Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the
states, are reserved to the states, respec.
lively, or to the people,"
Resolved, That our senator's and repre-
scntatiyes in Congress be requested to use
all honorable means to secure the uncondi-
tional repeal Of the fugitive slave act of
1850, which is hostile alike to the provi.
sions Of the national constitution and to
the dictates of the christian religion an in.
fraction equally of the supreme law Of the
land, and Of the higher law of God in ac-
cordance Herewith.
But, let us go little further and examine
into the antscedents Of this Governor Gard
uer whom the Patriot endorses.
Gardner, when first nominated by the
Know Nothings for Governor of Massachu-
setts. was without political antecedents but
elected almost by reclamation, he was not long
in satisfying public curiosity as to where he
stood on the slavery question. In his first
message, he denounced the removal of the
Wilmot proviso as applied to the territory
north of 800 80, and called on the Legislature
Of Massachusetts, "to manfully demand' the
restoration of the Missouri Line.
He also demonstrated against the Fugitive
slave Law.
Among the acts which he approved"
while Governor, are the following:
"An act admitting into the public schools of