Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-10-11
American Principles.

American Principles.
OF all American principles which the people
Of the United States hold most dear, that princi-
pie which asserts and maintains the equality of
all men before the law, is the one which should
be defended with unfatering perseverance, and
the mostdetermined purpose. That is the Amer.
lean principle, which in the present canvass needs
most to be defended, for it is paramount to all
others, and is to-day in the most deadly peril =
We subscribe with all our hearts to the doctrine
that Americans shall rule America" but we
would by no means assent to the doctrine in so
latitudinarian as many do, that por
ton of America shall rule any other portion Of
America. Liberty and the pursuit of happiness
these are American principles, which lie at the
very foundation of our government, and these are
in jeopardy at the present time, not SO much
from hordes of ignorant foreigners, as from
the citizens of our own land, and not so
much through the Vaccinations of the Pope
Rome, through the more iniquitous
and more determined Vaccinations of the one
man power at Washington, represented in the
person of Franklin Pierce. Not so much from
the secret intrigues Of Jesuit priests, as through
the rights of the people and the institutions of
Freedom, come the evils which disturb the peace
of the country, and threaten the perpetuity of the
Union. Who does not know that we have with
in our own borders, power more terrible, more
persistent,and more INSCRIPTIONS in its hostility
to the free and liberal institutions of this country
than the Pope, even though his holiness were
possessed of ten times the influence over the con-
sciences and minds of men, than he is said to pos
sess.
1t needs no argument to convince rejecting
mild that such is the fact, and we marvel greatly
that men should fritter away their energies in a
seasest against power comparatively weak for
mischief, while the chains of despotism are forg-
ING fsa- ~. ~;- ~ i;l--
and even liberty of speech and of the press is de-
MED them, under the arbitrary forms of law
When the Slave propagandists of the South,
backed up by the whole power and influence of the
National Administration, are undermining the
very foundations of Republicanism, DENYING the
right of free speech, plunderng the mails to pre-
vent the diffusion Of sentiments hostile to slave
ry, and making it penal offence to speak or
write word against that infamous system of cru
city aud injustice does it become us as men and
patriots to give our silent acquescence to the
wrong, and occupy ourselves only with the re-
moval Of minor evilsl When communities of
our own citizens have established themselves up
on the Free Soil of the territories once conseerat
ed to liberty forever, by as sacred a compact as
ever was made between parties having the right
to make such compact, shall they be overawed
BY armed bodies Of assassins and murderers of
other States, deprived of the right of suffrage,
and absolutely prohibited from having any voice
In the election of their own rulers and the max
ing Of their own laws, and we of the free States
offer only divided resistance to such outrages,
because Of discussions upon minor matters among
ourselves We trust not. And we would en-
treat every man, in this crisis, whatever may be
his sentiments upon matters of less Importance,
not to forget that The slave power at this time
holds the whole north in he shackles of to iron
will-that the fugitive slave law disgraces the
statute book of the nation, that its minions and
supporters have abolished trial by Jury even in
the free States, and made the sacred writ of ha-
beas corpus nullity all over the land--that the
federal authority, by unconstitutional usurpa.
tons, has become the main pillar of slavery, and
that there is no spot so sacred to Freedom in the
whole length and breadth of the land, but what
1t may in an instant convert any free man into
slave, to be bought and sold as a chattel.
In most Of the Free States, great and power
full party has been organized to resist these en-
croachments Men have united upon this issue
alone, and have signifed their willingness. nav,
more, their determination, to forget all old ami
mosite' TO oblitcIate ancient party lines, and
work together in this cause. In Massachusetts
such an organization has been effected, and its
entire success could not be doubtful for moment
in this State, If men who profess high regard
for American principles would only stop for
moment and consider whether American liberty
Freedom in the Territories-is not an Ameri.
can principle which should be defended with
all our hearts, and maintained with the
strength OF all our hands. Let us unite
as one man against the encroachments of the ty-
Tantsat home Let us establish that one great
American principle Of Human Freedom in all the
States and Territories, and then but not till then.
we can afford to spend our time and our breath in
altering the naturalization laws, or in any other
reform that will enable Americans to rule Ameri.
ca, without interference from our brethren at the
South, or our brethren across the sea- who may
choose TO make their habitations among US. Let
us make Kanzas and Nebraska FREQ Let us put
aslopto the incursions Of the border rufRans Of
missouri INTO free territories, TO oyerawe the in.
haoltants' aud prevent the expression of the non.
ular will Let us make Striuefellow and Atchi.
son accountable for their outrages to the laws of
the country. Let us repeal the Fugitive slave
Law. Let US re-establish the good Old American
principles of Jefferson, and Madison. and wosh-
inston and then, II noed be, but not tin then 10,
us 80 in for whatever other minor REFORMS NAV No
needed to enable Americans to rule America :,
LrINo.--We are sorry to see the example Of
the Chief Magistrate, In the matter Of stretching
the truth, followed BY many Of his satellites.
We believe the Pope has not yet succeeded in
aboishing the decalogue, and that the command.
ment still in force," Thou shalt not bear false
witness against thy nsighbor"