True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-10-24

4 not tne Iammsny society, winch was
founded in the heroic days of the Repub-
lie by the great Democratic leaders of that
day, secret? Yes. The leaders of this
party in the days of Clinton wore in their
hats buck-tails as insignia and from this
circumstance they obtained the name OF
the Buck'tail party. They retained as
Bucktais most strictly the secret princi-
pie of the Tammany Society; and out Of
this organization as Bucktails, as is well
known, grew the once honorable and al
most invincibe Democratic. .party.-Thus
in history do we have examples of the
adoption, in measure, of the secret prn
ciple by the Fathers of The Republic. We
shall not comment on this fact. 1t tells
its own tale.
But let us now consider what reasons
existed for making the American party
partially secret.
The sixth of the institutions of the
Government enumerated above as secret
is the ballot box. When, in organizing
the Government, the question, how citi-
zens should cast their votes, was under
consideration, the old way of voting in
England naturally suggested itself, The
great evil of that mode Of voting was, that
being by word of mouth, it made known
to every one how any person voted, and
thus placed some men in fear of others.
and abridged their liberty. This was very
well in England, where the landlord wish
ed TO keep an oversight tupon his tenants ;
but it coaId only work evil here. Accor.
dmgly, the secret ballot was adopted, and
its virtues and advantages we all extol.
Now exactly these same reasons apply to
the American party.
The grea reason Of secrecy in the sen
ale and in diplomatic negotiations is, the
necessity of concealing from enemies the
plans and projects Of the country. The
same reason, viii redouhled force, ap-
plies TO the American party,
The reason why Judges and Juries
carry on their deliberations in secret is,
that they may not be influenced by out
side parties and one reason why the
American party carries on its delibera-
tons in secret S, that wicked and design
ing men may not steal into lis meetings,
and thus turn the party from its great Oh
ject, to their own selfish ends.
Thus we see the principle Of secrecy
recognized by the Constitution: and that
the same reasons which apply in the sew
eral cases, under that instrument, apply
with equal and even greater lorco to the
American party. We have seen that the
same men who volnit forth vile .epilhets
upon the American party, because as they
say ii is secret organization, themselves
resort 10 the same principle and policy.
And, above all, we have the noble example
of Washington and the other Fathers OF
this Republic sanctioning the practice
which the American party has pursued.
But we will not stop here, in our JUS
tifcaiion of the American party, W.
admit freely that secret political societies
are dangerous TO Free Institutions. This
on the one hand. On the other we see
the secret principle sanctioned by the gov.
eminent, and by the fathers Of the gov
ernment. 1t is necessary to reconcile
these two facts, and this can be done, on
Iy by seeing what secret political socie
ties are dangerous, in what the danger
from secrecy i'll political parties lies
Those political parties are dangerous
which conceal from the public and from
even their members, their principles
their objects and their means. The dan
ger lies in the fact that they organize ;
large force, which ignorant of the use i
is designed for, aad ready for any use its
leaders may put it to, may, at any mo
ment, be employed and ultimately will b.
employed, for the subyerslon of the gov
ernment. This is the nature of those sc
cret associations which have again ant
again wrought revolutions in France, ant
which have excited apprehension in III
minds of Americans. But such is not til
nature Of the American Order any NOR
, than it is Of the American government
For are not its principles published to tn
world They are, for the very sake o
. being published as widely as possible
Is not the policy of this party exceeding
S ly well defined in its platform, which
repudiates the corrupt and fraudulent pra
e lices Of the old parties, and makes polii
! cal honor and honesty an unvarying pri
ciple? Are not the means by which
# seeks Esuccess well and thoroughly mat
known--the nomination for office of ne
S competent and trusty Americans and NJ
Of old political tricksters, the election
such men by the aids of sound argumer