Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-08-07
The Defenders of Know-Nothings in 1854.

Stealing.
The Defenders Of Know-Fothings IN 1854.
The Black Republicans would have az easy
road to travel, if the people of this country
ries. II the recpllections of the people, and
the records of the past two years, including
the files of Abolition newspapers, could be
blotted out, Know-Nothing FREMoNTIsM
would have no trouble in convincing the
adopted citizens that they are what they
now claim to be, "their only true friends"
Unfortunately, however, for them, the people
are too intelligent to so soon forget Abolition
alliance with the proscriptive secret political
conspiracy, which, at one time, threatened
destruction to law and order, and the dear
est rights Of the citizen. Their newspapers,
which they no doubt wish ain the deep
ocean buried,'' have been preserved, and
perusal of them will serve to remind the
people of some things that may have esca-
ped their memory.
II 10 hON phOstN Ntii uHutihiobu budt lut
work and ritual of the secret society called
Know Nothings were first brought to Indi-
ana in February or March, 1854, and the
first lodge organized at Lawrenceburgh.
From thence it spread throughout the State,
until May, of the same year, sufficient
number of wigwams had been organized to
hold State Council.
The Democratic party, in State Conven-
ton assembled on the oath of May, 1854,
by adopting the following resolution, COM
mitted itself so clearly against the X. Ms,
that, if they had ever had any design (Which
no man believes) of affiliating with the Dem
ocracy, they were forever prevented from DO
ings so:
Resolped, That the Democracy Of Indiana,
still adhering to the Constitution of the Con-
federacy, openly and avowedly condemn any
organization, secret or otherwise, that would
aim to disrobe any citizen, native or adopted,
of his political, civil, or religious liberty.
This resolution met with the following re-
ception from the Jmnal, of this city, then
edited by J. D. DEFREEs (now Chairman of
the Black Republican Central Committee }
and B. r. SULsRovE
eve don't know that we fully understand
the meaning of the resolution offered by DR..
Mullen, and adopted by the Democratic Con-
vention Ii has been suggested, however. that.
as the Doctor is a Catholic, it is aimed at the
Know Nothings,' set Of gentlemen of whom
every person talks, and about whom they
Know Nothing"
The hypocrisy Of the above will be plain,
when it is stated that both of the two
editors named were in full communion with
the Know Nothings at the time the article
was penned.
During the canvass, numerous articles and
squibs appeared in this consistent sheet ap-
predatory of the Know Nothings, while the
Sentid and the Platform, Of this city, both
took open ground against the Order and its
nefarious principles.
On the Saturday after the October elec.
ton, 1854, the Journal spake as follows
| Dent it occur to our neghbors of the Senti
mel and Platform. that they missed the figur.
| in abusing the Know NOthings so merci
lesslyr Have they not treated the People
badly They heaped on these Societies al
| conceivable epithels Of dislike, and branded
/ them with all possible and impossible crimes
There wasn't n base motive, or dishonorabl
action, n bad name or blasting susp icion, tha
wasn't unhestatingly charged against them
Intolerance, bigotry, corruption, and eve,
MURDER, was laid at their door But they re
piled never a word. To the vilest cahmnie
they vouchsafed no answer, and met all accu
sations with silence
We do not believe that the political histor
J Of the world furnishes parallel TO the extra
ordinary fact developed by this election. Al
organization, admitted to be controlling powe
in. the State, suffers itself to be sbused ms
: ligned, and prosecuted as no set of men weT
ever prosecuted in this country, without rt
torting, explaining, or contradicting. IL hs
I gone right on, despising resistance, with an NJ
: wavering purpose, and most terrible uni
formity OF success, never turning aside fror
! it's course, and never for n moment breakin
= its portenlous silence. but leaving its action
to justify its purposes
a Speaking of their victory, the .rourn
# adds
sl Ii is the result of innate, and generally il
tense love of all that tends TO the elevation AZ
y Improvement of man, among the great ma
& of the people. revolving at a government al
party which have never been found on the sic
Of Virtue or Justice in contests for moral reforl
Between Temperance and the support Of drum
q enness, between Freedom and Slavery, beftoee
Mattress and Foreigners, they have alwa
chosen the worse and set themselves again
d their country and morality for the cake of q
le party
T. On the 10th of the same month, the san
a. paper contains a leading and lengthy edit
+ rial favoring the amendment Of our Cons
,e tuition and laws, upon naturalization, fro
$. which we shall, hereafter make some Q
,s tracts.
r On the 1st Of November following, t
4" Black Republicans held "gratiicatio
meeting in this city, to rejoice over their
e. cent victories. On the evening previous
4. the 1st, preliminary meeting was had
IN Washington Hall, as the Journal saws.
a. ?, shear few speeches by way of a lunch |
fore the full meal of the next day" V
" copy from the Journals report the folio
rs ing:
dsl Judge Morton was first called up, and in
elaborate and systematic argument expo
the fallacies Of the Nebraskaites, and their C,
fiicting pretences of the purpose of their B
IL He also took the position that the Dr0uisio:
W our STATE Consffufion aiiOcng the riqhf Of sNr
TO aliens, pas not only inerpedient but unconsti
~, tisnai. The people" Of the United States,
said, wherever that word was used in the Fe