The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03


seemed to require a union of all the elements
of the Opposition to the Administration, du-
ring the Presidential struggle, on the single
issue of Freedom to the Territories. On this
sole issue, it was believed, an effectual union
could be formed-on no other; and it was
known that the attempt to combine the Anti
Nebraska with the Know Nothing issue, or
make the Anti-Nebraska sentiment tributary to
the latter, must inevitably fail. For one-and
we know that we represent thousands of vo-
ters-we were pledged to resist any such at.
it was certain that the whole body
of naturalized citizens, friendly to the Anti.
Slavery movement, would go against it.
To meet the popular demand, general de.
sire was manifested by the People, especially
in the West, for Convention for conference,
so as to prepare the way for National Nomi.
mating Convention. The project found little
favor in Congress. Know Nothings, of course,
deprecated any movementnot under the auspices
of their Order; and many Republicans, over
anxious to conciliate, thought premature DEM
onstrations should be avoided. But the People
decided-the Convention was held-the grea,
issue for the Presidential contest was clearly
announced-and provision was made for call.
ing National Convention to nominate candi-
dates on that issue. Everywhere the move.
ment was hailed with appreciation. 1t was
regarded as wise, timely, and liberal. The
Anti-Nebraska voters, without distinction OF
Party, ratified it. How was it with the nlem.
bers of the House? We must deal frankly
One might have supposed that the great body
of them, protesting to regard the Anti Nebras
ka issue as paramount, would have rejoiced in
the initiation of so auspicious movement
Some of them did; the majority looked upon
it coldly, chief among them, with few excep.
tions the delegations from Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The
representations of these gentlemen disturbed
others who were really anxious to sanction the
Peoples action, and various proposals were
talked over. Some were so infatuated as to
propose nominations for the Presidency and
Vice Presidency, by Congressional Caucus,
encouraged, we suppose, by the result of such
a movement some thirty years ago By many
it was strenuously urged that the members
should unite in call for National Convention
to nominate candidates-in cool disregard OF
the imposing movement commenced so happily
by the People. They seemed to imagine that
the People had commissioned them to make
Presidents as we'll as pass Laws
&C.
Know Nothingism. 1t was thought by many
that every movement must fail that was not put
under its lead, and made tributary to its interests
We entertained no such apprehension. To us
it was clear that the Anti-Nebraska sentiment
was the ruling force in the free States-that
the People had gone ahead since the election
Of their Representatives-that they knew that
a union of the voters of the country opposed
to the Oligarchy could not be effected under
the banner of Know Nothingism, especially
since the Order had been thoroughly section.
allied, and marshalled in the support of Fill.
more and Donelson-so that the only hope of
uniting them was, to rally them, without dis.
tinction of party, on the one issue rendered by
the Oligarchy-Slayery or Freedom in the
Territories-the People or the Oigarchy in
the Federal Councils. We did not believe that
the People who elected the Anti N ebraska
members of the House could desire this mo
mentous issue to be thrust aside by considera.
tons of Native Americanism, and we insisted
that to ignore or attempt to supersede the
ppn bad
spectful to them, and must result in utter dis
cord and division.
1t is best that the facts should be known. II
in all these respects they represented fairly their
constituents, they will be sustained; if they
do not, their constituents ought to let them
know their will. We but state things as they
are-the People must pronounce Judgment.
We bring the record down to a movement
which took place last week, in itself of local
importance, but, owing to the demonstrations
connected with it, of general interest.
The City of Washington has usually beer
Wing in its politics. During a residence OIL
nine years, we have known but one Demo
cratic Mayor, and he was elected by the force o
his personal character, and not of his party rela
ton. Within a year or two past, the city has
fallen under the control of Know Nothinps
and we can bear witness that they have left NJ
stone unturned to perpetuate their power.
The existing law in regard to the qualifca
tons of voters entities TO suffrage,
every free white male citizen of the United
States, who shall have attained the age of TWEEN
ty-one years, and shall have resided in the cit,
OF Washington one year Immediately preceding
the day of election, and shall be a resident O
the ward in which he shall offer to vote, ant
shall have been returned on the books of tn,
Corporation, during the year ending the 3ls
December next preceding the day of election
as subject to school tax for that year, (excep
persons non compos, Migrants, paupers, or per
sons who shall have been convicted of any in
famous crime,) and who shall have paid tn,
school taxes, and all taxes on personal proper
ty due from him."
By an act passed in 1920, when the city con
tanned few inhabitants, the elections are to b.
held on the first Monday in June, and the poll
are to be opened at ten o'clock and closed a
seven o'clock. Commissioners of election ar
sworn to receive and return the votes, faithful
ly, and to reject fraudulent votes, but we ar
not aware that any penalties are provided for
violation of duty.
Until the advent of Know Nothingism, Their
was no trouble, except from the shortness @
time allowed for voting, and the fact that Their
was but one place for voting in ward. As +
the qualifications of voters, we never heard
question raised. Native-born and naturalize
citizens stood upon an equality. An adul,
foreign-born, resident in Washington for on
year, being citizen of the United States O.
the day of election, voted under the plain pre-