Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-14
WASHINGTON, d. G.
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY IA, 1866.
The Washington sentinel.
vEsPAsIAN ELLIS. Editor.

Inc washington DCutintis
1t is highly gratifying to us to learn from
the Sentinel Of this morning, that our article
Of Monday last, in answer to its editorial assault
upon us of the 10th instant, is 80 well calcutta
ted, in its opinion, to subserve its cherished
purposes We hope the Sentinel in this view
Of the case, will do its own party the justice to
publish our Mondays article in tull, and as
further inducement to that press for SO doing,
we will pay it the full price Of the compositionl
| The editor of the Sentinel is skilful tacti-
clan, and understands as well as any man, how
to lessen the force of refutation Of its opinions
by assuming that its own positions are strength
ened by blows, which have in truth demolished
| them.
We met, and, as we think, overthrow the
position taken by the Sentinel, to wit: thatwe
had been inconsistent in protesting to sustain
the rights of the States, and in subsequently
showing that the election of General Wilson
was no evidence that our party design to in
terfere with the question of slavery. This was,
in brief, the point in issue, sohether the cleo
ton of General Wilson, by the free-soil mem
bers Of our party, was any proof that our par
ty, as such, are disposed to interfere with the
question of slavery? We alleged that it was
no proof Of any such design, first because we
do not recognise the slavery question as one
proper for discussion in our party; and, sec
ond, because General Wilson, though opposed
to slavery as an evil, had declared that he
maintained the Democratic doctrine of State
rights.
If the Sentinel will give its readers the bene-
fit of the Illustrations we presented, showing
that the american party no more adopted
General Wilson's individual opinions on the
slavery question, in his election, than they
adopted his notions on the tariff, bank, or rail-
road questions, we will abide their decision of
the question at issue between u.s. When the
Democratic party elected Summer, of Massa-
chusetts, Hale, of New Hampshire, and Chase,
of Ohio, to the Senate, did it fix upon that
party the charge of abolitionism? When the
Democratic party elected Preston King, Of
New York, David Wilmot of Pennsylvania,
and other free sellers or abolitionists to the
House of Representatives, did the charge of
abolitionism, therefore, attach to the Demo-
cratic party of the country
4 To 60 further back, and bring up reminis-
cences of no very gratifying character, did the
support of Van Buren, by the Democratic par
ty in 1886 and 1910, thereby fix tho stamp of
abolitionism upon the national Democratic
party Not at all--and yet long, and long be-
1 fore that event, the country knew that Van
Buren, originated the instructions to Rufus
| nfM ,ocnnr, into
the Union, without restriction, and also, that
he (van BUREN, in the State Convention of
New York in 1929, had voted to place tho nc
gro on the same footing NTH the schite man
at tho polls
Had the issue at those elections turned upon
the question Of aboliionism, or free-soilism, the
charge Of favoring the one or the other Of these
doctrines would have properly attached to the
Democratic party, when they supported Van
Buren, for the Presidency.
But other issues governed the contests of
1885 and 1910, and other issues governed the
American party" in the selection Of Sena-
tor in Congress from Massachusetts, at the late
election We repeat, then, the American
party" is not responsible for Senator Wilson's
individual opinions on the question Of slavery,
for he was not elected on any such issue and
we repeat, too, that it is not the American
party" but the administration party, who
have reopened this most alarming and danger
GUS issue
The South must be blind indeed, if it has
Pierce presses have for months past endeay-
ored, and are still making the most desperate
efforts to make this issue not only in Virginia,
Il but in the merit Presidential canpdss, through
out the country.
Ifthese presses shall succeed in their Efforts
il the South shall lend themselves to these sell
fish agitators; if they shall wantonly reopen
this agitation-it DiH be their oUn fault, and,
in our Judgment an irreparable misfortune to
the country.
But recurring to the Sentinel Of this morn
ing, we plainly discover the object of the as
saults which that press and other anti" Ameri-
can" presses have made upon our party. In
truth, we have long known their objects. The
Sentinel says:
" But in these evil days new oracle has sprung
up and aspires TO be the great and the peculiar
oracle. IL procaims one new principle, but ignores
all old principles II says that foreigners and Cath
olics must be prescribed, but it is silent about
banks, tariffs and distribution. Il Is silent about
that great question that overshadows all other ques-
tons-slavery. Ii Is dumb oracle. Butthe Organ
may here attempt to trip up, for 1t has vaguely
said that il is in favor Of the protection Of State
rights, and that slavery belongs exclusively TO
those Statas in which il exists Not one ,cord does
hsoy (that we discovery about the Territories"
j If these anti" American" presses could sue
coed in persuading or irritating us into dis
cussion of banks" tariffs, and "distribu-
ton, slavery, "and territories" they would
"diUide and conquer" us
We shall be drawn into no such discussions.
We shall keep steadily in Wow the purposes Of
our organization. Banks, tariffs, and distri-
button" are buried in the tomb Of the capu-