Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-28

For G0uernOr-THOMASS y. FLOUhNOf.
For Lieut. Gop--JAMES NJ. ii. BEALE.
For Attorney Gcneral--J0HN M. PATTON.
Election, 4th Thursday in May. II
Is the American Party an Anti-Slavcry
Party z
In our daily Of yesterday, we adduced proof
{ rom the mouths Of our opponents, that the
American party is not the "Whig party in
disguise" as had been formerly charged by
the anti.American presses. The testimony of
Thomas j. Niche, Esq, now one Of the stump
orators in behalf of the anti-American ticket,
is clear and explicit on this point, and has been
published and endorsed by the Enquirer and
Washington Union. At the conclusion Of our
article on yesterday, we said that the presses
opposed to us, were now directing their efforts,
to prove that our party is allied to the anti
slavery party of the North, and that we should
allude to this charge in a future number.
This is indeed the main ground Of opposi-
ton now in Virginia, and throughout the
South to the American party, and our friends
will therefore bear with us, if we occupy more
than the usual editorial space, in the present
and some subsequent numbers, in refuting the
assumptions Of our opponents on this question.
A more bald and gratuitous statement was
never made, in public press, or upon the
hustings, than that tho American party"
has any alliance, or cooperation with the anti
slavery party of ths North, We think we
know the purposes of the American party. We
were connected with the original movement of
this party some fifteen years ago-we have
both conversed and correspondent with its
friends, in every section of the country, and
we have never yet heard, either from the lips,
or from the pen, of any one of the members or
friends of this party, one Usrd in favor Of any
measure or proposition, having in view an
interference with the question Of negro slave
ry-neperl
In our original prospectus, published regu-
larly In our weekly issue, we laid down what
wa understand to be the doctrine Of the Amcri-
can party, on the slave question, to wit:
eve hold that the institution Of slavery belongs
exclusively to those States in which it exists Each
az the States, for ITSELF has the sole and exclusive
LIGHT 10 determine whether or not slavery shall
e1ist within its borders. We shall therefore OPP
pose all agitation of the question OF slavery either
il Congress or out of it"
We have never yet seen, nor heard Of, any
exposition of principles emanating from any
authentic source, and traceable to the "Ameri-
can party" inconsistent with the above posi-
ton. On the contrary, this doctrine has been
reiterated, both from presses and from councils
representing tho American party. The Balt-
moro Clipper, the organ Of our party in Mary
.--., s.-,.as che following explicit language, to
Wit:
"The American party repudatcs all connexion
with the subject Of slavery. They leave that
matter where they find it piac.d by the constitu
ton, under the protection Of the law, and will be
content to remove positive evils, and 70 restore
the natives of the coil TO their rights, by placing
the government Of the country In their hands,
confident that in SO doing, power viii not be mis-
placed"
The New York Tribune, one of the fiercest
and ablest opponents Of our party, holds the
following language, to wit:
at II understood, and, VIC presume win not be
denied that the late National Council Of the order
at Cincinnati, decided that It's policy should be 10
ignore the slavery question altogether. This is
what the slavery extcnsionists especially desire
from the North. Silence and tacit consent will
open support, which must provoke agitation, ifnot
better"
II has been repeatedly stated in the public
prints, that the National Council of the Ameri-
can party did resolve at Cincinnati, as stated
in the above paragraph, and we have no reason
to doubt its truth, for such is, and ever has
been, the avowed policy of this party.
Senator Wilson, in his letter to the editor Of
this paper, published in December last con-
firms this position. Hesays:
"The American organization in Massachusetts,
does not embrace the question Of slavery among
those, for the regulation Of which II was formed"
That gentleman, it is stated in the Boston
Telegraph, has recently declared that the
American party" is "perilous TO the anti
slavery sentiment" and that tho dough
faces must be killed off"
The New York Herald of November II tn,
discussing the prospects Of VIM. II. Seward for
the Presidency, says;
/" Per contra, the independent State ticket of
the Know-Nothings in New York, and the results
Of the election from this movement, have seriously
damaged the estimates Of the Seward coalition for
future operations. In fact, we consider the New
York Know Nothing movement, as settling the
hash for w. H. Seward. His projected northern
anti-savery coalition crusade against the South Is
overshsdowed by the hostile attitude of the Know
Nothings. They hold the balance Of power"
The National Era Of this city, which is the
recognised interpreter Of the anti-slayery party
Of the North and Northwest said in November
last as follows:
OF the future of the new party we cannot of
course speak with any degree Of confidence. One
thing, however, seems certain. With its southern
limitations, and savcholding wing, II cannot be re-
He'd upon az the Party Of Freedom. Among its
prominent supporters are reckoncd Willard FL
more, black with the infamy Of the Fugitive slave
bin, and John N. Clayton. of Delavsre who "a 4
late speech lays down, as a plaza in ia national
platform, the Nebraska doctrine. Of Pierce and