The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-03-10
TIE AMERICAN

last number, the general principles OF the
American party, we promised to return to the
subject for the purpose of reviewing it in its
relation to some of the leading questions OF the
day. In redemption of that promise, we pro-
pose to consider the subject more particularly
in IFS connection with Free Soilism. :"
1t is obvious to every rejecting mind that
no party can be exclusively pro-slavery, or ex-
c~lusivcly anti-slavery, in its principles, and yet
be a great National Party. All that can be
expected is that the rights Of the States and
Territories, composing our vast Contederacy,
shall be fully recognized, as guaranteed by the
Constitution and that the Slave States, in
accordance with those rights, shall be protected
in the enjoyment Of their slave property. Any
party that would organize on the p%ro-slavery
or anti,s!avery principle would necessarily be a
sectional and not e NATIONAL party ; for it may
be safely stated that, viewing the question in
the abstract, the sixteen free States are opposed
to Slavery, while the fifteen slave States are in
favor Of it. But the matter has been regulated
by the Constitution of The United States. It
is a part of the original compact, that the
States wherein Slavery exists shall be protect
ed in their property, and that fugitive slaves,
escaping into the free States, shall be restored
to their owners. The only principle, then, on
which a great National Party can organize, is
to leave the subject Of Slavery where it is left
by the Constitution and to recognize the
rights of the States and Territories over their
property, within their respective jurisdictions.
This being the correct view of the question,
the American Party occupies an %impregnable
position. AS a party, it is intense in its ma
tianality. 1t is not denied that there are indi-
viduais in the free States who have attached
themselves to the party for unworthy and self
ISL purposes. But they, being exceptions, can
not give character to the organization to which
they belong. any more than the Abolitionists
ard Free Soilers in the Wing and Democratic
ranks give character to those PARTIES.
The two great parties Of the country have,
at times, been rotten to the core, On this aues-
ton. in the free States. In The States of New
York and Massachusetts, the Wings as a rarty
have sometimes, in their Conventions, adopted
anti-slavery resolutions. The Democrats have
done the same thing and recently, at the
great State Democratic Convention in Ohio,
the following resolution was adopted. Nothing
can be more denunciatory. Here it is:
"Resalred. That the people of Ohio now, as they
have always done, look upon Slavery as an evil, and
nnsayortble to the development Of the spirit aud
practical benefits of free institutions and that, en-
these sentiments, they will at all times
feel it to be their duty 10 use all power clearly given
by the terms OF the national compact to prevent
its increase, to mitigate and finally to eradicate the
evil
The American Party, as q party, every
where, is the only one which is perfectly sound
on this subject. 70 determine what are the
principles Of that party, We turn not to the
isolated acts Of individuals, but to its generally
recognized organs and eXpoaents.
The :" American Organ published at Wash
ington City, aud devoted to the principles Of
the new American organization, has carefully
laid down the leading principles thereof. This
is the best authority to which we can appeal
in the premises. 1t is conducted with signal
ability, stands prominent among the great po-
iltical Journals Of the day, and circulates extern
siyely from Maine to Louisiana. In e,eru
number Of The " American Organ " these prin-
eiples will be found conspicuously announced
We shall maintain and defend the Constitution
As it stands, the Union as it exists, and the rights of
the NfIIHl Wlthn.tt IrlninrtN1n. rs n,,,t tIa-.
ov opposing at all times, and to the extent of our
ablltty and influence, all who may assail them or
either of them.'
we hold that the Institution Of Slavery belongs
extensively to those States in which it exits. Each
Of the States, for itself, has the sole and exclusive
right to determine whether or not Slavery shall exist
within its borders. We shall therefore oppose all
agitation Of the question of Slavery, either in Con-
gress or out of it,
I'VE deny that our party is either pro-slarerv or
III its tendencies, and all who are inside
our councils will sustain this denial.''
The fact is, such is the mai oaality Of the
American Party at the North that the leading
Abolition papers are a~ssailing it every day.
In Newfo rk, Free Soilism is openly arrayed
against it. The leading Free Soil journal of
Albany constantly denounces the Know-Noth-
inss, on the ground that they are leagued with
the South. Horace Greeley, of the NewYork
Tribune, the organ of the Free Soil party of
Newly ork, hurls his heaviest thunderbolts
against the new organization. In one of his
latest philippics, he says
I'VE ask all earnest opponents of The stare po,per
to watch closely the progress of the Know-Nothiuo
movement. aud see il it does not justify our denun-
citation Of it as a accessory aHy of Siarerp striking
down this opponent in one State, and keeping down
that one in another, no matter though be belong To
the order, simply because the interest. growth and
tendency Of Natiyism are held to require the suppress
sion of al agitation, respecting slareru in other
words, un(ioulded submission to the e~xactions and
oefests OF the slave power, Wilfnlly blind must he
be who does not perceive this"
Why is it that the Know-Nothings of the
North constitute the target at which all the
tilthiest missiles of lle Free Soil and Ambition