The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-05
THE AMERICAN PARTY" OF MAssAcHU.
SETS.


THE AMERICAN PARTY" OF MAssAcHU.
SETS.
At the Know Nothing State Council held IN
Boston, Thursday of last week, an Address To
the People was adopted, sustaining the action
of the Massachusetts delegates in the recent
National Convention at Philadelphia The ad
dress is signed by John w. Foster. Presidan,
of the Council, and by a committee of one from
each county in the State. 1t closes with the
following preamble and resolutions:
"The State Council of Massachusetts with
pride and entire unanimity endorse the acti,r
of her delegates to the Convention at PbjladeL
phia, and in so doing but reflect the public sen.
timent of our citizens. We accept the nlat.
form promulgated by those delegates and Their
associates on the l4th June, as expressive Of
our sentiments; and, declaring our undated
attachment to American principles, and opr
determination to do all in our power to extend
the time of residence requisite for naturaliza.
ton, to prevent the deportation by foreign AN.
thorities of criminals and paupers TO our shores
and to extend the constitutional Limitation of
birth now existing to the President Of tho
United States to other high officers, especialIv
those intrusted with the very grave powers of
diplomatic positions, this Council hereby Do.
clares Itself independent of that or any or,api.
cation which places these principles subor5i
nate and secondary TO their Pro-Slaverv obiec.s
and determinations. Therefore,
"ReSOtOed, That this organization be hence
forth known as the American Party in Massa.
chusetts, and does hereby sever all connection
with the majority of the National Council re.
Gently assembled at Philadelphia.
"Resotced, That this party affirm with renew.
ed energy the distinctive principles Of AMER.
canlsm which we have heretofore expressed.
"Resotced, That the action of a portion Of
the South, IN attempting to send Papists into
the late Council at Phladel phia affords grounds
for suspicion that they have other and Interior
objects IN view, which they seek to strengthen
by an alliance with the American party
"ResolOed, That this party hereafter stapdy
distinctly pledged to use all constitutions
means TO effect the restoration of the probiE.
ton clause of the Missouri Compromise. and to
secure free institutions in Kansas and Nebraska
" ReSOtced, That the interests of the whole
country lmperatively require the union and CO.
operation OF the people of Massachusetts and
the tree States, and we invite the cooperation
OF men of all parties in Massachusetts and the
free States to maintain and advance the priD
ciples we profess
"ResOlUed That the Massachusetts, Council
declares that all the principles of the Order
shall be henceforward everywhere openly avow.
ed; and that each member shall be at liberty
to make known the existence of the Order, and
the fact that he himself is a member; and il
recommends that there be no concealment Of
the place of meeting Of subordinate Councils"
The Know Nothings of Massachusetts, in.
stead of dissolving their organization, as a ne,
cessary preliminary to a union of the People
of that State for Liberty, have resolved to per
petuate it. Henceforth they desire to be rec,
ognised as the American party. The veil of
secresy is partially removed-ther principles
are to be avowed, and member NAV make
known the existence of the Order, and his own
connection with it. But the ritual, and the ex,
tra,judic,al oaths, the signs and passwords and
the proceedings, are to be still yelled in secresy
What the Public knew before, the members
may avow what the Public did not know, is
still to be reserved
"The distinctive principles they have hereto,
fore expressed are, prescription of foreigners,
and prescription Of Catholics and with re,
newed energy" they re-atlirm them.
As to Slavery, the great Question of our couu,
try, they affirm no principle, they propose no
definite line of policy. Against the single out
rage, perpetrated by the Slave Power in the
rcpeal Of the Missouri Compromise they mani
fest dispeasure, and they pledge themselves
I" to use all constitutional means to effect its
restoration, and secure free institutions in Kan
sas and Nebraska. That is all That is the
orr hait rb Anti
men. Having made this pledge, they are cool
enough to call for "the union and cooperation
of the People of Massachusetts, and the free
States" and "invite the cooperation of men
of all parties in Massachusetts and the free
States, to maintain and advance the principles
we profess "!
And so they think they can unite the masses
of the free States in crusade against foreign.
ers and Catholics, and in fruitess effort to
restore Compr omise, the passage of which
originally, signalized the political death of every
man from the free States who voted for i'll
And this is the lame and impotent conclu-
sion" to which Northern seeding, Anti-Slavery
Know Nothingism seeks to conduct the Amer-
can People! This is the grand platform on
which men of all parties in the free States
are to be rallied
Are there any true men left in Massachu-
sets? Are we to have no movement in the
Old Bay State, embodying the spirit of l716
glowing and throbbing with real Humanity,
with generous devotion to Human Freedom?
Will Commonwealth, once distinguished BY
its clear perception and noble advocacy Of
Human Rights, suffer itself to be beltted, be-
fooled, and paralyz ed, by Party, proclaimiDg
a creed so crude, so impotent, so low, so incon-
sstent with true Democracy, as that on which
the Know Nothings have placed themselves?
The day of expectancy has gone by. Anti
Slavery men outside of the Order have waited
long enough. The Order has acted, acted up
to the extent of its Anti-Slavery principle. 1t
parts with nothing in fact that has made it
stigma on our Republicanism-it puts forth
nothing in relation to Slavery, that meets the
demands of Liberty. Let US have done with
shams, with petty expedients, with miserable
side issues, with attempts to catch the People
with guile, with quack prescriptions to recon
Gle Hunkerism and Conservatism with Lid
eralism and Radicalism.
Let the true men of Massachusetts, now De
heard. and with them let all those who are
members of the Secret Order, and really desire
to see Liberty triumphant, rally on such Pm,
ciples as shall meet the requirements and
arouse the enthusiasm of the masses Of the
People.
FUSION STATE CONVENTION IN VERMONT.