Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-08-31
The Necessity of Fusion.
SpEENu OLE HENRY WILSON.

Entertaining ne do, Mr.. President, the
profound conviction that the vote we arc
about to take will have n decisive influence
upon the political relations of men and of
partics,-upon the position of Massachusetts,
in the coming conflicts Of the future, | feel
constrained to ask, for few moments, the
indulgent attention OF the council.
Tho gathering hosts of northern freemen,
OF every party and creed, are banding togeth-
cr to resist the aggressive policy Of the black
| power. Freedom, patriotism and humanity
| demand the union Of the lrecmcn Of the re-
public, for the sake Of liberty now pcrilled.
/ Religion sanctions and blcsscs it,
How and where stands Massachusetts, |
Shall she range herself in line, front to the |
| black power, with her sister states or shall |
she maintain the fatal position of isolation
! Here and now, we, the clDscn representatives, |
of the American party OF this commonwealth |
are to meet that issue, to solve that problem |
When the black power of tho imperious
South, aided by the servilc power of the fall
tering North imposed upon the national
American organization its principles, mca-
surcs, and policy, the representatives. of the
I American party of this commonwealth,
spurncd the unhallowed DEGREES, turned their
backs, forever, upon that prosttuted organ
ization, and their action received the APPROX
ing sanction of this state council by vote
approaching unanimity. The American
party, rs national organization, is broken
and shiyered to atoms. BY its own acts the
American party of Massachusetts has severed
itself from all connection with that product
of southern submission.
The American party of Massachusetts, has,
during its brief existence, uttered true words
and performed nobless deeds for freedom. The
past at least is secure. " hatcver may have
been its errors of omission or commission, the
slave and slaves friends will mover rcproach
it. Holding, as it does, the rens of power,
it now has glorious opportunity tn give to
the country the magnanlmous example oil
great and dominant party, in the full posses
sion Of consummatod power, freely yielding
q up that power, Tor the holy cause OF freedom,
, to the equal possession Of other paIties, who
; are willing to cooperate with it upon com
mon platform. Here and now, we, its repre-
sentatives, are to show by our acts whether we
can rise above the demands of partizan poll
r cy, to tie full comprehension OF the condition
OF public al irs-tO the full realization Of the
!. Obligations which fidelity to freedom now
- imposes upon us.
Sir, he American movement is MT based
u upon hiEotr. Intolerance, or prescription .-.
q If there j. .,,. tli : Of ligr'rN. llit.sr,rtr
!, and prescription Ia che American movement
If there is any disposition TO degrade the
BritOn, the Scot, the Ccit, the German, or
any Jnc Of another cline or race, or to deny
10 tIch the luIlesI protection OF just ana
equal laws, it is time such criminal f,nati-
csm was stcrnly rcbuked by the intelligent
" patriotism Of the state and country. deeply
. lenlore, sir. the adoption Of the twcnty-One
wears amendment. 1t will weaken the Amer
y lean movement at home and in otter states
especially in the West, and tcui to defeat
n any modification whatever of the naturaliza-
r ton laws. | warn gentlemen, who desire the
,. correction the evils growing out of the
4 abuses of the naturalization laws. against the
:, ndoption Of extreme opinions | tell YOU gem
- telnen of the council that this intense nat
y, ism kills-yes, sir, it kills and is killing us,
:, and unless it ia speedily abandoned, will de-
, feat all the needed reforms the movement
/ was inaugurated to secure, and oycrwhclm us
=, all in di.honor Every attempt bv whornso-
ever made to intcrpoatc into the American
, movement ANYTHING inconsistent with tie
theory of our Democratic institutions-any.
r. thing inconsistent with the dc. that all
- mon are created eoual''-anything contrary
y to the command oi Gods nyiy Word tina,
- q the stranger that dwcIeth with you shall
- bc INTO Won rs one born ana ,uu. and
! thou shalt love him as tn, self - is doing that
:. which will hattie the wise policv which strives
u to reform existing evils and to guard ag.ns,
- future abuses.
=, Tho ulatlorm rcpurtcd by our committee
81 pronounres American slavery to b., &" the
:, | great question OF the country and age 1t
- expressly declares that freedom is national
aud slavery s'ctional'-th4t - the general
a., government must be relieved from all connec-
% ton with and accountability ivr Amcri
!, can slavery the r''gnty of the states
% maintained invlniate-tne prohibition Of
n slavery III NtnzAs and Nebraska restored
a anu the actual settlers protected IN their lc-
W gal rights. Personally, - further than
re these resolutions 70, but they 20 AZ far as tlc
l. public OF the North are no" prepared e
e. go; aud am ANXIOUS to ADOPT 10 moderate
,e platform, upon "hich conservative men, out
n ragged 10y tEc repeal ., tue Missouri lr"mbl-
s. ton, can stand with us.
e Having lad down platform oi principle
s. your committee, Mt PRESIDENT reported the
,e resolution now pending winch prpnnuhc
- the position "t The present administration Il
l. be one Of undlsgulSed hostility to ALI the
e principles we proicss-liiIt the e&l5"nclos OF
Il the times demand united political action
# that We are ready to cooperate with all the
/ opponents oil our common enemy, and that a
committee be appointed to call u convention
g in connection with other committees, Of dele
gates chosen hY the peor!" IN their primary
meetings, to nominate candidatcs to be sup
ported at the coming election.
e SIR, tins IL clear and distn't proposition
l. for the ''iu,ion OF Partias-tEc union OF the
-, people-tor placing Massachusetts in har-
= ,Hony WIN '"o r'''!'"s hos's Vi ''' rising
. North
u Sir, the member from Boston (Mr. Morse)
= fcrcely denuunces this proposition f5r the
c union OF To" people. lie is pleased to pro-
= nounco 1t proposition to sell GU: the Amer
lean party - the know something's or free
sellers Sir, SEQ nothing in the propostion
. to warrant any gentleman in the use Of such
language, and am greatly mistaken in the
= tone Of this assemtllge. if its lneaber, see
u anything in it to Justify this talk about buy
ing and selling men in the commonwealth.