The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-17

ual accession to the ranks of those who held
that both Parties were radically wrong and
mschievous in policy, and that the only true
mode of dealing with the Slave Interest was,
to meet its demands directly with fat negative,
and GUST it from its existing usurpations.
The repeal of the Missouri Compromise
brought matters to crisis. The overthrow of
the so-called Democracy was staggering
blow at Propagandism; and for moment it
seemed as if the doctrine of Passivity or Ac
quiescence had gone down with the Wing
Party. But, as we have often explained, the
so-called American Order sprang up in the
place of the extinct Wing Party, and the first
effort of the Slave Interest was, to engraft upon
it the old Wing policy of Acquiescenee- 9TH
er words, to Nationalist" it.
We pointed out this danger to those of our
friends who joined the Order, or coquetted with
it so as to make it tributary to Freedom. That
they would be baffled in such policy we knew,
for they never could persuade the majority of
earnest Anti-Slavery men to unite with them in
such policy. We know what followed: the
National Convention of June, at Philadelphia-
the triumph Of the Pro-Slavery majority in the
adoption of the 18th section-the withdrawal
of the Anti Slavery minority, and the adoption
of a feeble protest-the acquiescence in the
18th section by the delegates from New York,
and portion Of those from other free States
the continued adhesion to the National Order
of nearly all the Free State Councils-the
adoption Of AntiSlavery dogmas by some of
them, to meet the demands of local sentiment
the meeting of delegates at Cincinnati, repre-
senting the portion of the Order disaffected by
the 18th section-the resolutions of that Con-
vention, to be represented in the National
Council, to recommend in place of the 18th
section an article in favor of the Missouri Com
promise, but in any EVENT. not to disband their
organzation-the partial defeat of the Repub-
lican Party in New York and Massachusetts,,
by the pertinacious adherence of AntiSlavery
Know Nothings to their Order-the consequent
abandonment of all attempts in New Jersey,
and, to form Republican Party-and finally
the effort of the Know Nothing members of
the Vermont Legislature to organize An Amer
lean Republican Party in that State, so as to
absorb the Republican Party.
OF all these events, the Era contained faith.
full record, with such comments as were deem.
ed necessary.
We have now to bring down the history to
later period. Keep in view the great object to
be accomplished-the organization of Ma
tional Party, embodying the policy of Native
Americanism, and acquiescence in all erist
ing arrangements IA regard to &ar@y-not
the policy of the Anti-Slavery Know Moth
ings, but the policy to which they are to be
rendered subservient. They may revolt at the
bare idea, and exclaim, Is thy servant dog,
that he should do this thing?"
If man cast himself into the current of
above the Falls of Niagara, does he expect to
be saved by miracle.
Just before the meeting of Congress- the
american Organ, printed in this city, insisted
that it was impossible for Northern Know
Nothings to stand upon the 18th section-that
if Southern men would insist upon this, there
could be no National Party-that the true pol
icy was to surrender it, and ignore the ques-
ton of Slavery, say nothing, do nothing about
it. Mr.. Bolts, of Virginia, followed in the same
strain, and it is understood that he busted
himself in promoting sentiment in favor of
the proposed change. Southern Know Moth.
ings were to be induced to assent-with the
understanding, We presume, that Southern
candidate for the Presidency should be Sc
lected.
Meantime, Convention of the Order is an
nounced in Ohio for January Sd, by Mr.. Spoon
er, its President, reputed to be liberal
AntiSlavery man. Hopes are entertained that
the liberal delegates will be there in force. The
result shows that "Americanism," as it is call
ed, has mastered Anti-Slaveryism. Nobody
now dreams Of abandoning the Order, or ma
king it tributary to anything else. A resolu-
ton is passed against the policy of voting for
any man not a member of the Order. A full
delegation is appointed to the Philadelphia
Convention, with no peremptory instructions, so
far as we can learn and Lieutenant Governor
FORD, elected to his present position as Re-
publican, by the Republican Party, not only is
appointed as delegate to that Convention, but
is made President of the Order-an Order
which now seeks to engross all political power,
refusing its support to any man, not member
Well, your Free State Councils will all be
represented in that Philadelphia Convention.
We told you this last summer, after the
muchtalked-of secession. Your delegates,
with some exceptions, will be induced to
assent to the ignoring policy, then claim it
as triumph over the twelfth sectionists,
then support Mr.. CRIrTENDEN, or some such
Presidential nominee, and then labor with
their constituents at the North for his election.
In other words, the Philadelphia Convention
of February 22d will inaugurate the new Ma.
tional Party of Passivity and Acquescence,
in the place Of the extinct Wing party.
Be it so, you say; We shall not ratify its
doings. No-you, and you, and you, my good
Anti-Savery friend, will repudiate its acts, but
you will find that thousands of the men who
have been associated with you in the Order
which you have been keeping up to the detri.
ment of the Republican movement in so many
free States, will go for the National Council end
its candidates.; and, once more, in the Presiden.
tial contest, the free States, divided, may fall
helpless victims to the Slave Power.
Will our New Hampshire friend ask us why
| we thrust" at the American Order? He has
our answer. 1t will inevitably divide Anti .Sla.
very voters, and give victory to their opponents.
Almost every week for the last fifty-two weeks
we have proclaimed-you can unite the free
States on the issues forced upon them BY Sla.
| VERY hnt ON no other Give nm ,>... -