The American patriot. (Clinton, La.) 1854-1???, 1855-04-06
OUR ORDER.

light Of the MONDAY sun-to douse the Sc
crecy Of the organization, and thus afford all
an opportunity Of attending our meetings and
witnessing our movements
The propriety of such q step will admit Of
much discussion, pro and con. In the offset,
we will state that there is no secrecy in the
Order so far as concerns policy-the aims and
objects of the organization have been loudly
proclaimed throughout the length and breadth
Of the land. It is a political party which calls
together its members in secret assemblages for
sole purpose Of facilitating concert Of action
and securing uninimity of feeling in the ad-
vancement of its political purposes. What
are its principless Opposition to the election
or appointment of any foreign born citizen to
any office of trust under the State or Federal
Government. Opposition to the immigration
hither Of all foreigners who are either paupers
or criminals; witha general wish to rid the land
from the scum Of European cess-pools. Oppo-
sition to the union of Church and State Oppo-
sition to all "higher law" doctrines, by which
the Constitution is to be set at naught, whether
by politicians or religionists Opposition to
all who assail the Constitution of the United
States, or the rights Of the several States. OPP
position to all fanatical and hot-headed politi-
clans and political bodies either North or South
who are striving to agitate and create differ
ences and heart-burnings on geographical
grounds array section against section, inter-
est against interest
Taking the Constitution Of the United States
as its guide, and recognizing no power on earth
As superior to that instrument, the American
party has spread it's principles to the breeze,
inscribed on the folds Of the star-spangled BAN
ner, scattering, in is resistless march, death
and destruction to the political ambition Of all
who cling to the shattered f1bres Of old party
issues
Regarding the confederacy Of these States
but as one great family-with but one inter-
est, and that a common interest-the American
party contend earnestly that the Union must
be preserved. That those who dwell on the
quiet banks Of the Kennebec, or those on the
picturesque and romantic peaks of the Hudson
and Suquehanna are the same people, with
the same ideas of the inestimable blessings of
American civil and religious liberty, as are
those who are found along the low banks Of
the mighty Mississippi or the Colorado. That
the same patriotism and love of country is seen
to come forth from among the rocks and rills
Of New England, MS is found to issue from the
fertile fields and savannas ofthe south, or from
the rancho and placers Of the Golden Region
Speaking the same language, the offspring Of
the same parents, who purchased our liberties
with their blood in the dark days of the re-
volutionary struggle, we are one people-thc
American people-and America is the rich L.
gacy bequeathed to us by our fathers.
The position taken by the advocates of the
suggested change in the workings Of the Order,
is that many good men are kept out in conse-
quence Of its secrecy, and who are opposed to
the existence Of secret institutions. Be it so /!
When with the lights before them, and when
our Order proclaims loudly to the world its
whole creed, its motto and its aims, if there
be one individual who is an American in spirit
and in truth, and holding love of country akin
to self, and who is so fastidious in his nature,
and is SO fearful that he will be compelled to
subscribe to everlasting and binding oaths,
closely condensed and packed in volumes as
high as an Egyptian pyramid, We should say
to such, depart
There is equally as much injustice in asking
the Masonic fraternity or the Odd Fellows to
throw open their lodge rooms, in order that
their business operations may be scrutinized
by those who are fond Of novelty, as to de-
mand Of the American party to show to the
world the manner and style of dispensing with
the business appertaining to the Order.
Masons and Odd Fellows meet in secret
chambers, while the uninitiated are in total
darkness so far as knowledge of the business
transactions Of the lodge room is concerned.
Yet the world understands perfectly well the
cardinal features and the attendant virtues Of
those noble and praiscworthy humane institu-
tons. That they band together for the dis.
tribution of charity on worthy objects, for the
cultivation Of brotherly love and moral excel
lence, and for the ameloration of the human
race.
The American party-being political or.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES hold their secret meetings
for the purpose Of justifying and correcting
political errors and gross imperfectons that arc
found in the great forms of our national and
State politics, and to keep the institutions Of
our country free from the polluting hands Of
fanatical hot-spurs and foreign intruders.
HERE They CoME!-We learn from the last
Williamsburg Gazette, that Henry P. Jones