True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-05-23
From the Cincinnati Gazette.
The American Party and its Opponents

/.
No wonder there should exist in almost
every community a large and respectable
body of men who aschcw politics and poll
ticians, as though they carried in their
wake moral disease and death. There
have been, and there are, causes for this
abhorrence. And, yet, if these very men
would overcome their scrup'es, and minsle
more actively in political affairs, they could
do much to render purc and wholesome
that which is now infections.
Tt is marvellous to witness just now the
various attacks which are made upon the
American party, by presses and politicians
in different sections of the country-to see
how men disagree in the estimate Of its
character and aims. The Democrats in the
South oppose it forts abolition tendencies;
the Democrats of the North, or portion of
them, and the Freesoilers or n portion of
them, oppose it because of its pro-slavery
character. Now one or the other of these
parties must labor under grave miscon-
ception of the character and purposes of the
American party, or they are acting dishon-
estly, knowingly and deliberately. One or
both must be wrong: both cannot be right.
Mr.. Wise in his stump speeches in Vir-
ginia, says the American p rty is an aboli-
tion party, and Virginia must vote it down.
DR.. Bailey of the Nat. Era, on the other
hand, says that it is pro-slovery party,
and northrcn men must have no fellowship
with it.
Neither of these gentlemen, We appre.
hcnd are correct in their views Of the case
The American party, as such, is neither
pro-slavery nor anti-slavery. 1t looks tt
the publication Of the ballot box, the revi
sion of our naturalization system, to the
fostering of a purer American Nationalism
and leaves the other questions, which have
years divided parties, pretty much where
it found them. In Ohio and the free state.
the American party is anti-slavery, because
majority of the members of the Ordel
and the sentiments of the people of these
States are opposed to slavery-but wher
we say anti-slavery, we do not mean thai
they are disposed or in any way desire tc
encroach upon the rights of the Southern
States. They are opposed to the extension
of the institutions, and will in all legal anc
constitutional ways make that opposition
felt. The same sentiment existed befor
the American party had a being, and vii
exist after it has ceased to act as a party
In the Southern States different state O
facts exist. The causes which have mad
the northren people anti-slavery have mad
the southern people pro-slavery; namely
their education, tradition, habits of think
ing, and their State institutions. 1t is nc
the American party that has caused this.
1t has always been so, and will continue t
be for years to come, in all human probi
bility.
Such being the case, VIC may be aske
how can the members of the American pa
ty act harmoniously together? We see +
difficulty in the way, provided that on bot
: sides of the line they mean to be governe
4 by the Constitution and the acts of Coz
gress. We belong to one nation; VIC ba,
one Constitution, and one destiny. {
most things we agree. On this questi'
+ of slavery we disagree. The CONSTITUTE,
debars Congress from interfering with 81
very in the States, therefore the Southe
u States are free from any possibility Of harl
y With slavery in the territories, Congre
# has full power to act, and if it is estahlis
ed therein, the North must submit on t
other hand, if it prohibit slavery therei
d the South must submit. The congressio
al mOjoritymu rule. If the South desi
% the extension of slavery in the territori'
g it will send men to Congress who will vc
10 to put it there. If the North prefer frc
4, dom for the territories, it must send m
s to Congress who will vote to have the
free. The North will have majority
70 the next House of Representatives "
'K will re.enact the Missouri restriction, Y
at hope it will have majority also in
ne Senate who will vote tive same way, but
this we are in doubt. The American p
n ty in the North, as we understand it, d.
is not expect that the Southern States v
an send anti-slavery men to Congress,
,r. must the American party in the South
pcct that the Northren States will send ?