Star Of The Kanawha Valley

The "Nationality" of Know-Nothingism a Failure.

The scenes at Philadelphia fully justify the declarations of Democratic presses and speakers during the "Virginia campaign," that Know-Nothingism in the free States is unadulterated abolitionism. No sooner is there patched up a platform, with an odor of nationality but hollow and inefficient, than the representatives of twelve States, with the "conservative" Governor Gardner at their head, openly secede and adopt and publish to the world a thorough anti-slavery and proscriptive series of resolutions. These seceders are just as good Know-Nothings as their brethren they left behind, and their influence as "Americans" will be exerted with more zeal and influence than ever, to wage a bitter warfare, not only against the South, but against the civil and religious rights of a large portion of our fellow-citizens. How truly has been realized the charge of alliance between Know-Nothings and abolitionists of the North! How just is the following language of the Chicago Tribune, a Know-Nothing organ, on hearing of the defeat of "Shim" in Virginia!

"We take it then, that not only is all hope of a national Know-Nothing party foolish and improbable, but that the Know-Nothing party in the South has seen the day dawn which shall witness its decease. Americanism in the North is already avowedly and irreclaimably anti-slavery. Americanism in the South, cursed in the eyes of Southern men beyond redemption by this taint, is doomed to certain death. All that is left to the party is the North, unless a blindness like that of Saul's has fallen upon it. Its members will so act that this shall not be taken from them, and the once omnipotent Sam be left a homeless pauper in the land of his birth."

But to show the rottenness and treachery of the "national" platform adopted by the fragmentary Convention at Philadelphia, it is sufficient to give the evidence of leading Know-Nothing organs in New York. A correspondent of the New York Express writes from Philadelphia:

"The majority resolutions are no test of the sense of the Convention. Despite the Pro-Slaveryism, the Northerners are free to entertain their own opinions."

The New York Herald bears still stronger testimony to the deliberate and perfect cheat of their lauded platform. Its article we give in full. It is most significant, as it justly argues that, since the action at Philadelphia, the Know-Nothings "will now fall back each State on its own passions, &c., (either on slavery or anti-slavery, and thus have a better chance to carry the election of this year than they otherwise could have done." The N. Y. Herald gives a strong illustration in the case of the New York Know-Nothings, whom "the course of the Northern and Southern men relieves from all compromise to Southern sentiment." Nevertheless, this Know-Nothing "nationality," by the confessions of its own organs, is the hollowest humbug of the day. How can the South be duped by such avowed trickery, the result of which is to allow the Know-Nothings of the North to "spit upon the platform" and carry out their schemes of abolition in full liberty? The complete abolitionizing of the Northern Whig party crushed the Whig party at the South—and gave a glorious victory to the National Democracy. The same result will necessarily ensue from the acknowledged abolitionism of Know-Nothingism at the North. The South will follow the glorious lead of Virginia, in repudiating such a monstrous humbug as Know-Nothingism, such a sneaking and impudent appeal to the worst principles and passions of the Know-Nothings.

But here is the whole of the N. Y. Herald's article, which no Southern man can read without a fixed determination to resist Know-Nothingism to the death:

Grand Flare-up in the Philadelphia Know-Nothing Council on Slavery—Still Brilliant Prospects of the Future.

The proceedings of the great National Know-Nothing or American Party Council, which took place yesterday in Philadelphia, will attract, in a most especial manner, the attention of the public. On the slavery question, as might have been naturally expected, there has been a decided split. The platform reported by the committee, which received a majority vote on Wednesday night, has been publicly repudiated by many of the Northern States, headed by Massachusetts, in a series of separate resolutions, passed in a special meeting, and addressed to the people of the United States. We refer our readers for the curious particulars to the report in another column.

This result has been generally anticipated. But instead of this split being a disaster to the Know-Nothings, we are inclined to think that it will constitute a stronger ground for them to acquire further victory and power over the old parties in the separate States. It was idle to suppose, in the present state of excited feeling between the North and South on slavery, caused by the Pierce administration, that any common ground of agreement could be found for the construction of a national platform other than opposition to that imbecile administration. They were compelled to disagree on slavery. This will give the Know-Nothings the vantage ground in future contests, both North and South, each in their own State. They will not fall back, each State on its own passions, principles, prejudices and humbugs, either on slavery or anti-slavery, and thus have a better chance to carry the elections of this year than they otherwise could have done. In nine or twelve months they will be able to call another National Council or Convention, simply for the nomination of President and Vice President, and we venture to say that on that single plank—involving simply eighty millions of spoils per annum—there will be no split—no division—no flare-up.

We rather think, therefore, judging of these matters in a practical way, that the Know-Nothings as a party will now become in each State the most formidable of any other in the field. Take, for instance, the Know-Nothings of New York. The course of the Northern and Southern men RELIEVES THEM FROM ALL COMPROMISE TO SOUTHERN SENTIMENT, and they can go into the election next fall on any platform that will be the most popular or carry the most votes, without regard to slavery or anti-slavery. We verily believe by the droll result or split of the Council in Philadelphia, both the Seward party and the Frank Pierce party are completely caught in a trap. The several Know-Nothing State organizations over the Union will never be abandoned till after the Presidential election of 1856, and for that single contest they can bring already nearly 1,500,000 absolute voters into the field, besides the volunteers they may pick up by the way.

Meantime the Northern free-soil press is exulting over the marked anti-slavery influence and power, exerted by Know-Nothingism at the Philadelphia National Council. The New York Times (Seward-ite) says:

"The Know-Nothing hue and cry against foreigners has had its day. The slave power, allied with them in the same sacrilegious crusade, has successfully fought every political victory. It promised to help the Know-Nothing triumph, if the Know-Nothings would pay the old debt to the slave and swing to the same side in promoting Sewardism lately in future. As usual, mirth in the Convention gained a power even on those conditions. By the Pierce States refusing to rally the Northern, they seceded (woolen, T. xcut ed thoanirmont ani deti-l thhe p. na jes the pro-slavery propaganda."

[Note: The last part appears garbled in OCR, likely low confidence, but preserved as is for accuracy.]