Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-11-26
g Plan for Organizing the House Of Rep
resentatiyos. 34th C0nsress.,,

resentatiyes, saith C0ngress.',
The New York Herald OF last Monday con-
tains plan with the above caption, TO which
we have given some consideration We pro-
pose to give at present only brief notice Of
this "PLAN,' which, according to our UNDER
standing of its effect, If persisted in by our
Southern friends in Congress, win inevitably
divide the American party by geographical
lines, throw the organization Of the House
into the hands Of the administration, and con-
tinue the present dynasty in power for at least
another term.
This plan" first proposes meeting OF all
the members of the American party who sup
port the Philadelphia platform, to prescribe
obedience thereto as q test of eligibility to
Office or appointment in the House of Repre-
resentatives.
We believe that all the Councils in the
Northern and Northwestern States have repu-
dated the Philadelphia platform, and we sup
pose that the American members Of Con-
gress from those States stand severally upon
their own State platforms.
If this be so, then no American members
from the North or Northwest, we suppose, will
attend the proposed meeting. In default Of
enough american members attending the
meeting to effect an organization of the House,
a conference is to be invited with Others than
Americans" who will stand on the 18th plank
Of the Philadelphia platform, and prescribe
obedience, by all nominees, to certain decla-
ration Of principles and action, set forth in the
"pla,;" which declaration embraces substan-
tally the said 18th plank Of the Philadelphia
platform. 1t seems to US, therefore, that if the
Northern members Of the party decline surren-
dering their peculiar opinions, and fail to at
tend the meeting, it becomes at once, from me-
cessity, so far as our party is concerned, q Sec
tional meeting and further, that if the invi-
tation to conference be accepted by the Dem
cratic party, numbering about eighty votes
whilst the American members from the South,
who stand on the 18th plank, count about half
that number, the Democratic party having the
ascendency in the conference will control the
organization Of the House, by the joint nomi-
nation of its officers.
We see, therefore, no other probable results
likely to flow from the adoption Of this ''plaa"
than these: that the Democratic party will con-
troll the House Of Representatives, and the
American party will be most effectually de-
stroyed.
We do not suppose for moment that any
such result could have been designed by the
authors of the "plan;" but that such would be
the consequence Of adopting it, is in our judg-
ment indisputable.
We should rejoice if our friends Of the North
could stand upon the 18th plank of the Phila-
delphia Platform, and be sustained by their
constituents We are satisfied that they can
not do it, and that any attempt to force them
to take that position would result in destroy
ing the American party, and in continuing in
power the present dynasty for another term.
II all sectional issues are laid aside, by those
members who sustain all the cardinal doctrines
Of the American party, we see no difficulty in
the way of an american organization Of the
House, by the election Of sound conservative
officers. Nor can we doubt that such win be
the result. We shall not willingly believe that
when this administration has distinctly made
an issre with the American party upon our
doctrines, and when we have now the power
to organize the House upon the issues rendered
us, and to secure the success Of an American
Executive in 1885, there can be found any
american Representative, who will not readily
yield all sectional and local views, to accom-
plish the American Reformation