Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-06
WASHINGTON, ID. C.
MIR. wise at AIexandria.

We have read the Sketcn OF MI, Wise
speech, delivered at Alexandria, and which we
find reported in the Washington Star Of yes
terday. 1t furnishes abundant material for ex-
tensiye comment, but we shall for the present
confne our remarks to few prominent points.
We may be permitted to pass over the siT
matters of State importance, upon which ne
dwelt to wit public credit, commerce, agri-
culture, manufactures, mining, and public in
struction. We doubt not Mr.. Wises sincerity,
in declaring that, if elected Governor, he would
use his best endeavors to raise the State to the
positc y she ought to occupy on all thesepoints,
but we 40 most seriously question whether he,
or any other man, can accomplish one 1.-THE OF
what he has planned, were he to be Governor Of
Virginia for the next thirty years.
Nor do we believe that Mr.. Wise could &C
complish any more than any other gentleman
of like patriotism and earnestness that many
who are his equals in those respects can be
found in Virginia, even he will not question.
The American party" has done more, and
gone further, in the way Of reformation and
advancement, in the last twelve months than
all other parties have performed in dozen
years, and it would be strange if our party
could not find men within its ranks, in the Old
Dominion, who could both make as fair
promises and as extensive performances, as
Mr. Wise.
We pass over in like manner those questions
Of Federal politics to which Mr.. Wise adverted,
and upon which, SO far as we have seen, no
important points of difference between Mi.
Wise and our friends in Virginia, exist.
The first important idea advanced by MIR.
Wise, and upon which we take issue, is, that
Know N othingism is but another and more po-
tent and insidious form of abolitonism.
We deny this statement, and challenge the
slightest proof in its support. This position
has no foundation in one single fact Of history
nor can it be sustained by one iota Of compe-
tent testimony. 1t exists only in the distem-
pered imagination Of our opponents, and is
even fancy Of modern date. Mr.. Wise enter
tanned no such notion himself on the 18th day
Of September last, when he published his
manifesto, and when he assumed to know
much more Of Know N othingism than he really
knows at the present day. This idea has been
coined in some bogus mint, within the last five
months, for at the time and in the manifesto
mentioned, Mr.. Wise presented no such
fancy sketch"
1t is newborn invention to alarm the
South. In his manifesto Of 18th September
I..x coof r,nf had afa
in October, Mr.. Wise makes no such charge
against the American party" rs he has now
conjured up to Brighten men from their pro-
priety.
That there are abolitionists who have Joined
the american party" on the ground Of oppo-
sition 10 foreignism and Romanism no man de-
MES so also are there abolitionists in the
Democratic party, of which Mr.. Wise is a
member.
The resolutions of the Ohio Democratic con-
vention, of January 9th last, which we have
often published, contain the very essence Of
abolitionism; SO also do the resolutions of nu-
merous other assemblages of administration
Democrats but does that fact prove that the
purposes of the Democratic party generally are
to destroy the rights and interests of the south
ern States 7
Wing conventions and legislatures have fire.
quently adopted resolves favoring abolitionism,
but does that fact prove the purposes for
which the Wing party was formeds BY no
means. There are abolitionists in all the polit-
ical parties that now exist in the United States,
but this fact does not prove that the object,
tendency or purpose Of such party is TO inter-
fere with the rights of any portion Of the coun-
try. Democrats, Wings, or Known things,
may severally unite for general purposes, and
yet not agree upon the question OF slavery.
The two frst-named parties were formed upon
antagonistic grounds Of national policy. Neither
party was formed in reference to the overthrow
or the protection of slave institutions, and
hence members Of each Of these parties may
agree and harmonic on the principles under
laying their respective parties, and differ on
principles unconnected with the purposes Of
their association.
1t is SO with the American party. Our plat
form Of principles embraces the policy on which
our party is formed We all oppose Foreign
ism and Romanism; but the question Of slavery
we leave where the Constitution places it We
do not interfere with It Men may differ on
this question, and yet act in harmony upon
the principles we have associated to enforce.
II, therefore, individual members Of the Ameri.
can party are in .taUor Of slavery, or opposed
to slavery, il proves nothing as to the purposes
of our party, any more than the fact that some
Democrats and some Wings are Abolitionists,
proves that these respective parties have both
taken the anti-sLavery platform as their basis
OF action.
The evidences cited by Mr.. Wise OF anti
slavery opinions held by the Governor, Scna-
tor, or members Of the House Of Representa-
tives elected in Massachusetts, prove nothing
in relation to the purposes Of the " American
party" for, although these gentlemen may On
terrain anti-slavcry opinions, they nevertheless
are elected to carry out measures Of totally