Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-10

whispers began to be heard of some new organ
ization that was to rise into power from the ru-
ms of both the old parties. Mysterious move
ments attracted the curiosity of the people.
An eager desire to learn what these movements
meant operated on weak minds. The parapher-
malta OF grips and signs, and passwords and de-
grees, and lodges tickled the vulgar fancy.
Above all, the necessity felt for some central
point around which, as nucleus, all the scat
tered elements of the opposition to the admin
istration could crystalize into shape or form,
lent a sudden growth to the new organization.
1t became formidable. Rejecting men began
to inquire what were its objects and purposes.
When / returned home to Louisiana | found
fourffths of the wings enrolled in its ranks; but
yet my most earnest inquiry did not succeed in
furnishing me information as to the principles
of their lodges. Before | left Washington it
had been said that native Americanism was the
leading principle of this party; but others as
sured me that this was but mask, and was
told, from parties in whose judgment had re-
lance, that the true parents Of this new birth
were New England prejudices against Catholi
cism and against slavery. ] did not like the pa
rent; did not believe in the brood
When In Louisiana these facts were sug-
gested TO the people, they were treated with
and Southern shareholders enrolled themselves
by thousands in the ranks of the new party.
Fortunately for the good of the country, the
sudden and overwhelming success of the new
party in some of the Northern States en-
boldened it to throw off the mask; and in the
celebrated Philadelphia Convention the hide
GUS features of this yelled prophet were dis
played in all their naked deformity There
the entire Louisiana delegation were igno-
miniously expelled from the portals of the con
yention, because they professed the Catholic
religion There, sir, it was openly avowed that
the object of the organization was not simply
to repeal or amend the naturalization laws for
the future, but it was avowed that they in,
tended to strike at rights already acquired; that
their object was TO divide the citizens of this
| country into two classes, unequal in their
| rights--a project as hostile 10 the true theor,
and principle of the Constitution as is the
present project of dividing the States into I'M
equal classes.
| There sir, this party, nlscalled national
after long, and angry, and violent debate, finally
succeeded in adopting into the platform its
celebrated twelfth secton-a meagre recogni
ton Of Southern rights, adopted almost ex.
clusvely by Southern votes-scarcely adopted
before it was repudiated BY the protest of the
Northern delegates, followed by reputation
of majority Of the Northern lodges, who, in
the stupid insolence of their temporary sue
cess, boosted that they did not want the South
| They want it now, sir.
No sooner had the views and purposes Of
this party become displayed by the eet:UH Of
OF the Philadelphia Convention than my path
of duty was clear. In an address to my con.
stituents, i informed them of what / had heard
before leaving Washington. | stated my be.
lief that the purpose of the machinery of this
party would be used for elevating to power the
worst enemies of the South. i pointed out the
hostility Of the organization TO Southern rights;
its hostility TO freedom of conscience and re.
| ligious belief ! went further, and expressed
the conviction that the Northern Know-noth.
ings would coalesce with the Northern Adolf
tionists and that by their united action they
would force on a crisis, on the result of which
would depend the destiny of this country.
! predicted that they would tack to the appro-
priation bills some Abolitionist proviso which
could not become law without the instant
disruption of the Union.
Several thousand Wings in my State took the
same view Of the condition of public affairs
that i did. Some refrained from voting ;
others attended Democratic meetings advo-
Gated openly the success Of the Democratic
ticket, and the result was a decisive Demo
cratic victory in the State Of Louisiana. Time
has yet to test the accuracy of my predictions
about the appropriation bills. ! may, however
be permitted to say that speech has been
publicly circulated, attributed to the honorable
Senator from New York, said TO have been
delivered by him in a meeting Of his party, in
which he threatens Withholding supplies
have upon my table a speech delivered in The
other branch Of Congress by another leader o
the same party, in which find this passage
II hope, for the ends Of justice, and for tn,
promotion of that peace which is the great de
sire of every patriot In the land, If the objec
cannot be otherwise secured, that we shall have
a proviso appropriately placed on some Of oui
appropriation bills, at the right time, restoring
freedom TO Kansas and Nebraska; and that
there will be found nerve enough on the par
OF those gentlemen who talk loudly abou
freedom to stand by their colors. i fear, wher
the dollars and cents come in conflict with Thu
hp-tore Of liberty, Of which we have heard
and read so much, there will be some yielding
because appropriations for some cherished OBJ
ject-some lighthouse or breakwatef Of sal
,cdUes, or something ese-may be likely L
miscarry. But, If there be that nerve which
there ought TO be, we shall move the Executv,
and the Senate to a concurrence with the popu
lar will on this subject; or, if they will no
concur, stop he supplies. There is a consti
tuiional remedy; no man can justly say tina
is revolutionary"
Br. BUTLER. Whose speech was that2
Mr.. BENJAMIN. Mr.. DUSS's, of Indiana
Mr.. President, if further proof we're wantini
that had not misconceived nor misstated III,
objects and purposes Of the Northern Know
nothings, recent events again al PHILADELPHIA,
afford the amplest justification for what i sale
to my people at home. Why, sir, they held I
national counsel, and then they abolished III,
twelfth section, and the Southern delegates re
tired; then they held national convention
and nominated a candidate suited to the South
and the Northern delegates retired
In the earlier history Of this Congress, during
the unprecedented struggle for The orpaniza
ton Of the other House, when every Democratic
vote, North and South, was given in solid col
umn IN support of the Democratic-nominee mo-
one Northern Know.nothing could be found
ready to support distinguished gentleman O
their own party from the State of Kentucky O