The daily union., 1856-01-24
THE ISSUE BETWEEN THE DEMOCRATS AND
SOUTHERN KNOW -N0THINGS.


There is fact which has been prominently developed
during the struggle for Speaker which SO unnatural that
its future explanation viii engage no little Of the attention
of southern members The fac, to which We refer s that
whilst in view of the great paramount issue before the
country the northern knownothngs have submerged all
subordinate questions and with close approximation
republicans the southern knownorbings have not only
refused to waive minor questions and support Mr. Rich
adson The candidate Of the democrats but shown
ferceness Of opposition to him persistent and
lenting they could possibly show towards Mr. Banks
II will necessarily go before the country that the
tional issue which all looking awi,h fear and
trembling the southern knownoibings concede the sound
ness and reliability Of Mr. Richardson, whilst they repu-
date and reject the position OF Mr. Banks peculiarly
unsound. This being undeuiable, the question viii be,
why have the southern pertnaconsy and
80 violently opposed Mr.. Richardson? The only answer
yet attempted be given is that the democrats at the
beginning of the session adopted resolution connexion
with their nomination of Mr. Richardson which epudiaes
and condemns know-notbingism. This implicitly
comedies that but for the adoption of this resolution the
southern knownoihngs would have been prepared sub
merge the subordinate questions 10 their peculiar doc
rne and to cooperate with the democrats the great
paramount Issue Upon every principle Of
and right the southern know -neting being the
minority of the national portion Of the House bound
TO defer to the majority in the choice of candidate for
Speaker This principle Of action obviously just and
universally acknowledged that it has been seriously
controrerted
Indeed the very position which the southern know
nohins justify their refusal to vote for Mr. Richardson
virtually admits that they the minority they ought
and would cooperate in his support bat for The resolution
of the which condemned their doctrines civil
and religious prescription and liberation. The future In
quy then viii be whether the fact that the democrats who
nominated Mr. Richardson at the same time denounced
know-nohingsm will be satisfactory explanation of the
other fact that the southern knosnothngs only de-
ciined TO support him the great sectional issue but
sought wage fierce warfare not only him, but on
the democratic party His paramount ssueP SO unnat
ural and unjustisstle warfare has seldom been
waged II would have been inexcusable under all the
urgent circumstances IL the southern know-nothngs had
simply refused support Mr. Richardson but the offence
against The interests Of the constitution aud the
Union was greatly aggravated when the antagonism
sumed the character OF bitter assault II bad enough
for the South that whilst the northern knownohings and
republicans had econced their differences aud presented
nearly united 'front.' the southern knownotbngs and dem
stood divided and unable 10 unite Bat il inf
nitcly worse when the division was made wider and
the antagonism still irreconcaSe by controversy
between southern to that great issue which tb,
South must be unit in feeling and in action, II she
expect successfully to meet the coming storm,
However offensive the resolution Of The democratic eau
might be 10 the southern know-nothngs the sub
iect Of their organization Il would have been nagnaii
and patioc in them to waive all questions
fessedy sabordinae and without making any concessions
IS to their peculiar doctrines to have cooperated in III
support Of Mr.. Richardson the issue unmisiakab
rendered by the supporters Of Mr. Banks II sill be unor
for the country that such question shall divide
distract the South Ia the coming contest; bnt when To
calm dispsssonate Of the southern people taken
il will Be found 10 be decidedly against the Of tn
southern know-nothngs.