Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-12-03
Misrepresentation.

GOuthcTH pTSbccS WIZ amor
lean Organ in reference to the 18th section
Of the Philadelphia Platform. This was ex-
pected In its issue Of yesterday It says the
Organ "repudiates' the 18th section of the
Philadelphia Platform. A falsehood may be
repeated SO often, and by so many tongues,
that 1t will gain crcdenco with those who do
not examine into the foundation on which 1t
rests. Let our positions be examined. We
have not said a word against the principles Of
the 18th section; on the contrary, we have la
bored to prevent that agitation of local issues,
which 1t was tho main purpose OF that section
to quell. We shall continue our labors to
this end
We have opposed the adoption Of "plan !"
under which no man could become candidate
for official position in the House of Represent
atives, nor even be admitted into conference
Of Americans unless he pledged himself to
make obedience to that 18th section test in
his votes and action. 1t has been found con-
venient at this juncture to torture our objec-
lions to this |" plan = into arepudiation Of the
principles Of the 18th section and thus create
a prejudice in the excited minds Of Southern
members Of Congress, which it is hoped will
defeat US in our application for the public
printing. For ourselves we have been stead
fast in adhering to the principles of the 18th
section; but we protest against the adoption
of any" plan which contains test on any
question or point not embraced in tho original
purposes OF the American party.
y We oppose all agitation Of sectional ques-
TONS and this opposition to agitation is, in it.
self, a manifest concurrence in the most inn
portant provisions of the 18th section But
there is wide difference between accepting
such proposition ourselves, aud declaring
that we will not countenancc nor hold commu-
Mon with those who cannot accept the same
proposition exhibited in our last number
abundant proof that we have always main
TUNED and urged a federation Of opinion upon
the slave question 1t is not our purpose to
change our position on this point, no matter
who may demand il, nor what denunciations
may await our refusal to make the change
We oppose Southern as well as Northern
ultraisms. We will forever oppose all unne-
ccssary tests, and especially, will we oppose a
test to which thousands Of sound National
crs fully considered the effect Of the test pre-
scribed in the "plan y which has been present
ed and urgedP The 18th section of the Phila-
aclphia platform, amongst other things asserts,
that " Congress possesses no power under the
constitution to exclude any State from admis-
sion into the Union, because her constitution
does or does not recognise the institution of
slavery az part of her sUcIai systcm." We do
not object to this clause, but thousands of Ma
tionsl Americans maintain that Congress has
this power, and it was unquostionably asserted
in the Missouri Compromise act of 1920
Pure patriots and wise statesmen, thirty-five
years ago, believed that Congress had such
power, and this opinion was incorporated into
y law, and it was acquiesced in for thirty odd
years without any attempt to reverse the opin-
ion. We might say that the law was uncon-
btitutional Nevertheless tens of thousands
OF our fellow-citizens believe it was constitu
tional, and that its repeal was most unwise.
lin this latter belief we concur) Here is an
honest difference Of opinion. The law was
never pronounced null and void by judicial au-
thority, and hence any man has a right to as
rume that il was constitutional law. In this
condition Of public opinion, those who believe
that Congress has the power which was exer-
cised in 1920, are called upon 10 allure their
onn opinions as the condition upon which
they shall BE- permitted 10 enjoy tho rights Of
and communion with the Nation
al American party
Ought any free-born American, who believes
that Congress has the power which is denied
to- it In this 18th section, to consent to yield
his opinions upon the demand of those who
disagree with himp Ought any test to be APP
piled within the walls of an American confer
ence which requires such surrender Of judg-
mentf What man or set Of men can arrogate
the right to control the opinions Of freemen :
A man may voluntarily consent to abide the
decision Of his fellows--but no man but a vas
sal Of the Vatican will allow others to decide
what he may believe as member Of a political
fraternity. ..,.
But we have othef reasons for opposition to
the plan" and test proposed. II is not only
wrong in principle, but it is unwise as ques-
ton Of policy.
The American party is composed Of men
who differ widelyupon questions not embraced
within their professcd purposes If line be
drawn between them on questions not en-
braced within their purposes as an American
party, dissension arises and dissolution fol-
lows The MARTY, baco,naa ,;onroa n;zed ond
must be disbanded. Those who seek to make
the slavery question, in any form a point Of
discussion, have, in our judgment, no business