Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-05-30
=-@--.. hIo-v ON Know-NothlngIsm.

in he
u u tnow nothingism, and predict beyond contin-
Vi or the complete prostratiOn OF SAM in Novem-
gen'Jn1sxt Last Thursdays election in Virginia
DC, an eloquent lesson this subject The strong
sPiJS of know. nothingisn have given way, under
the double pressure OF Democratic harmony and
NC consciousness of principle and right on the
ne side, and of popular disgust with know nothing
,ncterv, and utter dsorganizaton the other side
vomarkabe instance may be found in the election
q Commonwealth's Attorney in the county of Au.
Onsta, which gave Flournoy majority of eleven
sndred for Governor The issue was there clearly
made by the know nothngs themselves. Col. w. H.
Hartman, thorough going Democrat, and a man of
Gne talents, was candidate for reelection. His
onDonent was Mr.. r. P. Kinney, the regularly nomi-
lated candidate of a know nothing Convention, and
a gentleman Of great worth just before the cleo
ton most Jealous appeals were made by the two
know. nothing organs Of Staunton to the {" Ameri-
cans to rally upon the nominee, and defeat Col.
uarman The Spectator addresses q few final words
TO the American party" adding that as party men
yre are interested in the election of Commonwealth
Attorney only" 1t sounds the party drum in the
following vigorous style:
Let every American voter inquire then whether
bo is willing to see the american banner trailing IN
the dust in this county, whose proud position one
vpar ago was the applause OF the whole State Is
ibara an American voter in the county who intends
to cast his vote for Col. Hartman? If so, let him
pause and reflect upon the consequences which his
vote NAV entail upon the party, whose principle he
nroesses to advocate anC whose success he ought to
have at heart How will he feel when he hears the
aunts and eers of the successful democracy over his
own defeated party, and recolects that by his defec
ton the result was accomplished Let him remem-
Der that such defeat vOuld be the deGdIies bOrC that
could possibly be inflicted upon the party 10 1UC he as
attached and H tell most diSastrlO1sty upon the cleo
ton IN NCUember."
The Stanton True American says:
"The defeat of the American candidate, in this
MI he
party neUer could recOUer. We ask the Americans
then go TO the polls, EARLY, and cast their SUI
frages for Mr.. Kinney, and endeavOr not only to Sc
cure his triumphant election but TO roll up MAORI
~ in his favor Unprecedented in the history of the
county, and such will strike terror to the hearts
Of their opponents"
With all these terrible invocations 10 the fight the
election took place and Know Nothingism was foorec
in Augusta. The two precincts at Staunton gave
COL RaIman majority of 234. In other precincts
he either largely reduced the opposition majority o.
carried them over the heads of opponents. The re
suit is, that in county which gave 10 Flournoy h
immense majority Of / 100. and with the party lasf
vigorously applied by the Know Nothing leaders, TIT
gallant Harman carried the county by handsom
majority and is e.elected 20 a post which he ha
well graced.
The thorough defeat of Know. Nohinglsm in it
stronghold Augusta, concusively indicates its rapi(
decline everywhere. 1t in Staunton that tn
great Know Nothing State Convention was held; !
priest of the party, and it's " Madison" oracle. Thu
result shows an utter disgust of the people with tn
tomfooery'' and niquities Of ''Sam." We hear tina
the morning of the election, the iron machinery
the party was brought to bear upon its members
that the penalty of perjury was threatened agains
any members who should dare 10 vote for Col. Har
man, and carry out their free will in defiance of tn
order of the council of conspiratOrs without havn
first received dispensation, which could not then b.
done, in the absence of the President, Mr. Stuart
who went 10 New York before the election. But al
the appliances of patty were unavalling. Many Nom
bers of the order, tired of the heavy yoke and dis
gusted well with the workings of secret machner.
as with the misCheVous public action of their party
snapped the bonds in twain, and like freemen cam
boldly to the polls and registered their names for tn
man of their choice The old line Wings, too, rang
ed themselves on the same side, and by this means
faithful officer was e-elected to the qualification
the whole community. Are we not justified, them Il
referring to the election in Augusta as proof conclu
sye that Known othingsm is on It's last legs in Viz
gnia, and that the party is disorganlzed and dis
persed, never to be rallied again? We have the ad
mission of the Staunton organs that they have re
ceived * blow from the effects of which TIE part
never can recover" If this be the case in the
stronghold Augusta, will not their rou in Novembe
be crushing throughout Virginia?