The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-12-01

"
preference 10 all other countries, and have
no desire 10 win The foreign vote by abiect
fia,leIy, or professions Of greater regard for
foreigners than for those born in my own
my native land.
My fellow citizens, | am, as all of You
who know me, well understand, no candi.
date Tor any Office, post, or station, which
parties or party men could ever bestow.
have not held an office did no, gladly 10.
sign. and suppose shall even yet resign
the seat now hold, before the expiration
Of the long term which is before mo. But
am not unsraiefu 10 my friends for the
honors they have conferred upon me, aud I
well know, and can never forget, the men
who bestowed them. There Is no sacrifice
which an honorable man could make 10 sus.
tain them, which am no, n, all times ready
10 incur.
do no, expect the party 10 agree with
me in everything. do moi expect il 10 be
either Wing or Democratic party. Blu,
if | am TO act with il at all, il must stand by
the principles 10 which have referred.
The foregoing extracts are copied from
the American Ballot, paper Secen,ly start.
ed in Portsmouth, N. II. So far as these
extracts are concerned, The sentiments they
contain have our cordial assent. We regard
them eminenily republican, calculated to
strengthen and render enduring The form Of
government, which tho people Of these
United States have adopted, and TO enlarge
and vi,aize free institutions. II this be the
full platform Of the American Party, and
there is no adde:.da, by which the eternal
principles ofpersonal liberty are violated, or
held in allegiance, we desire 10 stand upon
no better one. Take for example the fol-
lowing sentence -
f" Gentlemen, am for american citizens,
and american Interests. I am for american
IN preference TO Foreign labor, american
Mechanics, American Manufactures, Ameri.
can NarigatOr, and ADORE all, american
agriculture. i am for american Bread
Sh!6s, and an Amer,ean market for them. I
am for the country as 1t stands, in preference
10 oil other countries, and hare no desire TO
trin The Foreign Vote by aljeet aai,ery, or
professions Of greater regard for Foreigners
than for those born in my otrn my natire
land"
Such a platform is a patriotic one, for
patriotism is not so difIuse as 10 make no
distinctions between countries. The true
patriot aims to advance The interests of his
own country = by all homes, and reason.
able means. He prefers its interests 10
the Interests of other and Foreign countries.
This was the platform adopted by the fathers
OF the republic, the one upon which Wash.
inglon stood, and The one which will com.
mand the respect and confidence Of the
genuine republican democracy Of The ooun.
Try. 1t is pleasant 10 feel tha, the recen,
indications give promise of better state Of
things, aud that the county, amer having
swerviug from her true position, and its PEG.
pie Too many Of them have been running
after strange gods, and worshipping n, The
altar Of party, instead Of The altar Of the
country, is soon TO resume The old republic.
can position, and the people 10 return 10
worship nj the American altar, which was
reared amid the storms and trials of the days
of the Revolution. |, will be perceived
that Mr.. Clayton does not claim 10 speak
ereathedra for the Know Nothing orsanizar
ton, and he expressly says lha, he neve-
was member Of what has been called the
Native American Party, or the Know Moth.
ing Society as ], is commonly called.
This disclaimer Of Mr.. Clay,on's, renders
Of comparatively small importance another
portion Of Mr.. Claylon's speech, in which
he asserts that the new organization will
ignore the question Of slavery, and 10 use
his language, twill refuse TO test The suila.
bleness Of any man for public office, by The
question whether he Is for or against the
mere extension Of slavery in some territory
Of the United States" We accept Mr..
Clayion's sentiments upon other matters,
not because he speaks by authority, but
because we consider them Us emincnily
right, but his views in relation to the slavery
questions, in our judgment, 10 do nc.
cord with American principles, nor are they
10 be taken as indicative of the principles OF
The order 10 which they refer. In our
view il is essentially American to decree,
that outside Of State jurisdiction, The law OF
territorial Liberty shall be observed, and The
theory OF personal freedom recognized in
all Congressional Legislation, relating 10 the
territories of the United States. As American
citizens, closely connected together, and
living in a state Of mutual dependence on
each, and having mutual existing innu.
enccs, we cannot be indiiTeren, 10, or ignore
The great question OF slavery.
John NJ. Clayton, as an individual, may
be willing 10 ignore, or TO speak more
may like TO see slavery prosper
aud extend, for this is tho legitimate and
practical meaning which the South has
always given to tho word ignore, but tho
freemen Of The North will never consent 10
srch doctrine. II il were practicable 10
dismiss forever this Irritating subjec, OF
slavery from the halls Of Legislation, j,
could oRly be on The principle that slavery
where !, exists in The States now, should be
-. a.. al, C,.,os ,ba,,salya. ond Tho, 40