Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-09-21

pCUp!c uuSL pc So'SiHcV oh AiiSAA.'h
principles. Before our glorious party
stepped forth in its might and majesty,the
interests, the virtue and the integrity of
the American masses had everywhere been
played with, abused or set aside, by cor
rupt combinations between ambitious de-
maguogues on the one hand and political
church, backed by hosts of ignorant for
cigners, on the other. The evil Of these
state of things had been seen and lament
cd for many years; but the old parties
each of which had disgraced itself by these
corrupt bargains, were poworlcss to correct
them. Bat the heart Of the people was
sound and it answered to the FIRST trum-
pet call Of the American party from one
end of the laud to thc other. That cali
was-''Let us unite to put down corrup'
ton in our politics and to secure America
for Americans. Let US manage our local
and State politics as the interests of the
locality and the State may require; but
let us aim, in our National movement, first
of all, to put down, once and forever, the
Papal and foreign power which has here
toforc cursed and lebased the politics and
administration of the country" To
the call, thus honestly made, the people
honestly answered. State after State
wheeled into line, and there was every rea-
son to expect that the glorious Example
set by Pennsylvania would be followed by
most, if not by all, tLe States Of the Ame-
.rican Union.
How has this fair prospect been blasted,
or at least, cloudcd for a time? The
answer is easy. In the call which first
reused the people, it was understood that
each State was to conduct its local politics,
and to have its own views as .Siate, with
out interfering with those of other States.
Pennsylvania, for instance, was opposed
to the extension of slavery, was opposed
to the Nebraska bill, was opposed to the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise. The
American party recognized this feeling,
which springs from 10 temporary or fana-
tical impulse but is as old as Pennsylvania
herself, where the spisis Penn, of Frank
lin, and of Rush has ever animated the
whole population. And on this issue the
American pa.iy went into the last election
and triumphed.
And ou this issue it will triumph again
here, as it would have triumphed in every
Northern State. In New York, an attempt
was made to iguo,3 the popular will on
this great question; and the result was,
that the American banner there trails in
dishoro-ed dust. This lesson should have
been enough. But the National Council,
at its june meeting, shuts its eyes to the
daylight. As that Council, By the votes
Of States in which no American triumph
had ever been gained, and By q vote, too,
representing only small minority OF the
voters CT the United States, the old trump
ct call was si!e1ccd, and new element
was Incorporated into our creed. Lad
that council left The question Of slavery
with the States, as it should have done
had It thrown out the banner with the
simple and well defined issue originally
proposed, there is every reason to believe
that CIR party would have triumphed in
the fall elections, from Maine to CalicOr-
nia. But The 18th article Of the Platform
adopted ct Philadelphia putcl end to all
such hopes. 1t committed Tie American
party Of the free States 70 course o. po-
ley whi.h would not la.e left it e corpo-
rails guard il INV CT them. 4 Is. in fact,
a virtual endorsement OF tle Nebraska bill;
pledge that cur party viii acquicscc in
that bill, ard in tle violation of the Mis-
soari Compromise. It stultiics ani de-
grades US before the people; and, more
than this, it pledges Us to 90 WAT we
know to be w.Oag, ard TO omit doing what
we kuou to be richt Were We 70 obey
tie command, we should fell before Tic
pcople, we should gam 10 moro elections
nor should We deserve TO gain them.
The Pierce Administrator las been
constantly adding fuel to the fame CT this
subject. It has seen Kansas outraged and
ove-run by armod rulians, WHO took pos
session of the polls ard returned sham
Legislature-but tle government had no
word of condemnation to utter. L. has
seen mob-law triUmphant-thc .i1e ard
bovie-lni.c substituted for tie popular
vote, but still it made 70 sign. But when
the Governor of Kansas, an hono.cd citi-
zen of Pennsylvania, appointed BY Pierce
himself, attempts to yindicatc the right of
the people to choose :heir OWE Legislature,
and to curb, only in the least degree, the
mad passions Of the Missouri Coloa.st5,
who were overruuning the territory and
trarnpling upon the rights CT its actual
scttlers-tLo Pierce government wakes up
suddenly to activity, and-Governor Rec
der is removed! BY this act CT eowagd!y
submission to the slave mower. President