Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-20
A Valuable Convert.

We make an extract from the excellent let
ter Of o. L. Burch, Esq. That gentleman for
merly belonged to the Democratic party, but
deems the crisis too important to justify him in
preferring the duties Of the patiasn to those OF
the patriot The example Of few men in Caro-
lima will exercise better influence than that
of Mr.. Burch. Observe what he says of the
Philadelphia platform
al joined the American party when it was, COM
paratively, in its infancy, when there was no as.
surance, except that which springs from the power
Of truth, that It would ever gain the ascendency,
and have any patronage to bestow, and at a Pc
Rod, too, when that party, to which had pre-
viously belonged, had at its disposal the whole
power and patronage Of both the State and Federal
governments. But yielded TO the honest dictates
of my judgment, for the more ! examined the prin-
cples upon which the American party was based,
the more thorough and settled became my convc.
ton, that the successful establishment Of those
principles was necessary for the perpetuaton Of
our Republican institutions and the safety Of the
Union Could shut my eyes to the fact, that am
bilious and corrupt men Of both the old political
parties In different sections Of the country, were
tanning the flames Of discord, and arousng all the
accursed passions incident 10, and engendered by
sectional strife and that IL behooved the conserva
tive men Of each party TO rally around the banner
Of their country Could resist the force Of the
| fact, that by the rapid increase Of foreign immi
grants, the constant influx Of foreign paupers,
criminals aud lswleS disorgsnizers, the peace and
safety of the country were endangeredf
"Was II not becoming, every year, more and
moro apparent that such men, not satisfied with
the social and civil protection afforded them, in
the enjoyment under the law, Of property, liberty,
and life, and the unmolested pursuit Of happiness
sought 10 overawe the balotboI, to control the
elections TO dictate the policy of the country and
to demand as a reward for their partisan devotion,
the high and responsible Offices OF the government,
to the exclusion Of native-born Americans Were
not the evils and dangers, incident to such state
OF things, too apparent to escape notice or eyade
attention. Were Americans 10 be required, un.
der tame and servile Submission, 10 stand aside
and give place TO foreign upstairs, who, though,
ignorant OF the language, laws and institutions OF
| the country, 6ncied themselves, under the base
lattery OF demagogues It's rulers and the masters
over its people and their dcstiny2 Could even the
most lukewar and careless ask that the native
born sons Of the soil, those who felt that they had
a country TO save as wen as party TO serve, should
postpone any longer the vindication Of that coun-
try's nationality 1t would be base and cowardly
In any man, seeing these things, and being con-
ynced of the existence Of such evils not TO rally
with sscrity, to the flag Of his country, casting to
the winds Il necessary, those sbackles Of party,
which would etter his efforts 70 aid in the protec.
ton and defence ofthat flag
- consider the great cardinal principles of the
American Party 10 be, opposition to foreign in
hucnce and the immigration hither Of foreign pau.
pers and criminals--the nationality Of America
no union Of Church and State-and, therefore, re-
sistance TO the Papal power--the Constitution AZ
II is-the rights Of the States, and the Union
OF the States must be preserved
" And pray, when did any party establish plat
form OF principles more direct, unequvocal and
explicit than that erected by the National Council
at Philadelphia When was there ever a more
conservstiye--nationa declaration of principlesY
On that subject, which so peculiarly concerns the
South, whatparty-beit Wing or Democratic
spoke out in such bold and decided termsf ID not
every principle declared which Is necessary for the
protection Of the rights Of the South Beyond
question II Is, and be who denies IT, or cavils about
IL, has made up bis mind 10 be satisfied with moth
ing, which the American party can say or do. He
10 beyond the reach Of reason, and has yielded up