The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1855-09-11
THE NECESSITY OF FUSION.
SPEECH OF
HON. HENRY WILSON,

In the American Council at springneid mass, Aug
Entering as do, Mr.. President, the profound
conviction that the vote we are about to take
will have decisive influence upon the political
relations Of men and Of parties-upon the po-
sition of Massachusetts, in the coming con
flicts of the future, | feel constrained to ask
for few moments, the indulgent attention OF
tho Council.
The gathering hosts of Northern freemen, OF
every party and cieed, are banding together
to resist the aggressive policy of the Blacl,
Power--Freedom, Patriotism, and Humanity
demand the Union of the Freemcn of the Re-
public, for the sake of Liberty now perillcd. -
Religion sanctions and blesses IT,.
How and where stands Massachusetts,
Shall she range herselfin line. front to the
Back Power, with her sister State? or shall
sho maintain the fatal position Of nsolaton?-
Here and now, we, the chosen Representatives
of the American party Of this Commonwealth,
are to meet that issue-to solve that problem.
The American party Of Massachusetts, dash
ing other organizations into powerless frag.
mcnts, has grasped the reins OF power, placed
an unbrokeI delegation in Congress pledged
to the policy of Freedom, ranged this ancient
Commonwealth front to front with the Slave
Powerand written, with the iron pen of history
upon her statutes, declarations Of principles
and pledges of acts hostile to tho aggressive
policy of the Slave holding Power. When the
Black Power of the faterng North, imposed
upon the National American Organization its
principles. measures, and policy, the reprosen-
tatves of the American party OF this Common
wealth, h,spurned the unhallowcd DEGREES, turned
their backs, forever, upon that prostituted or
ganization, and their action received the ap
proving sanction of this State Council by
vote approaching unanimity. The American
party, as National organization, is broken
and shivered to atoms. By its own act the
American party of Massachusetts has severed
itself from all connection with that. product of
Southern domination and Northern subniss-
ion.
The American party of Massachusetts, has,
during its brief existence, uttered true words,
and performed noble deeds for freedom. The
past at least is secure. Whatover may have
been its errors of omission or commission, the
Slave and tho Slaves friends will never re-.
proach il. Holding, as it does, the reins of
power, it now has glorious opportunity to
give 10 tho country the magnanimous example
of great and dominant party, in the foil
possession of consummated power, freely yiel-
ding up that power, for the holy cause of free
dom, to the equal possession OF other parties
who are willing TO CO operate with IL upon
common platform. Hero and now, we, its
are to show by our acts whether
we can rise above the demands of partisan
policy, to the full comprehension of tho condi
ton Of public aifars--to the full realization of
the obligations which fidelity to Freedom now
imposes upon US.
Your Committee, Mr.. President, endoavored
10 comprehend the condition of the country
and tho position of Massachusctts--to realize
tho duties imposed upon all of us who arc op
-4.- IL
and to the policy of it's servile instrument---the
present Administration. The Platform of
principles, reported by your Committee, en-
braces the idcus that un,io,iio tiIo hruor ioau
essential modification of the
laws, TO the end that the emi-
grant may learn something of our institutions
before the exercises political power; stringent
against tho transfer OF Naturalization
pa ,ers, TO the end that the purity of the cleo
tive ffanchise may be secured; military and
political organizations composed exclusively of
foreigners, discouraged, to the end that the
sons of the Old World may moro easily cast
off their Nationa. association, and assimilate
with the masses of American citizens; efficient
laws TO prevent the deportation of criminals
and paupers to our shores by foreign author
ties, but hospitablo reception extended to the
aud oppressed ofevery CLINE; grave
birth, 10 the end that tho representatives Of
Tho Republican abroad may not be swayed by |
foreign associations or interests; the right to |
worship God to be preserved to all inviolate,
but all attempts of poltico- ecclesiastical
authorities to acquire political powers to ex-
clude tho Bible from the schools, to appropr- !
lte she public funds to sectaran schools, TO be |
'ternly rsisted.
Sir, the heart Of old Puritan Massachusetts, |
beats responsive TO these ideas--in perfect |
with our Democratic institutions
Sir, the American movement is not based up |
,n bigotry, intolerance, or prescriptions 1t
hero is anything of bigotry. intolerance orl
prescription in the American movement-ifI
here is any disposition or intention to grade
he Brton, the Scot, the Colt. tho German, or
my one Of another cline or rate, or 60 deny TO |
HON the fullest protection of just and equal
vas laws, il is time such criminal fapaticish |
ternly srebukod by the intelligent patriot
SIN Of the state and country, Ideoply deplore
Sir. the adopted of the twenty .oneyearsamend
mont II will weaken tho American move
,,onl at home and in other States, especially |
n tho West, and tend to defeat any modlfica-
ion whatever Of tho naturalization laws. l
warn gentemen who desire tho correction Of
no evils growing out Of the abuses Of tho
laws, against tho adoption of
,xtreme opinions. l tell you. gentlemen Of
he Council, that THIS intense Natiyeism Kills
yes, Sir, it kills. and is killing US, aud unless
I is speedily abandoned, will defeat all the
,cetled reforms the movement was inaugura-
ed to secure, and overwhelm us all in dishon-
VI. Every attempt by whomsoevsr made, TO
into tho American movement any
hing inconsistent with the theory of our De-
nocratio stituiions--anything inconsistent
With the idea that "all mon are created equal
contraryto the command of Gods
Holy Word that "tho stranger that dweleih
Iiib you shall be unto you as ono born among
'ou, and thou siiaqe ieVeHs;u,Aasokhys hyself. '--is
loing that which will Baffic the wise policy7'
which strives to reform existing evils and to
!uard against future abuses
Tho platform reported by your Committee
American slavery to DO "the great
ueston of the country and the age'--it ex-
,rcssly declares that Freedom is National and
slavery Sectional that "the General Govern
nent must be relieved from all connection
With and accountability for American Slavery"
-''tbo sovereignty Of the States maintained
nviolate--the prohibition Of Slavery in Kan