Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-12-19
WASHINGTON, d. G.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1865.
SAMUEL 9. BUsEY, Editors.
Letter from Hon. John M. Bolts.
Southern Interests.

Letter from Hon. John M. Botts.-
Southern Interests.
We transfer to our columns to-day, from the
Richmond National American, and commend
to the perusal Of our readers, an able and pa
triotic letter, written by Mr.. Bolts, in response
to an invitation given him to address Mass
Meeting Of Americans at Louisville, Kentucky,
last month. We hope the length Of the letter
will not deter any man from reading it, as 1t
will richly repay a perusal- 1t contains sug-
gestions and arguments worthy Of the deliber-
ate consideration Of the country, and Of the
South especially; and, whilst we differ from
Mr.. Bolts in reference to the propriety of hay
ing platform, we concur with his views entire
ly, as to the effect of the Philadelphia platform,
upon the prospects Of the American party in
1865.
In our Judgment an American platform
should contain principles upon which all
!" Americans" Of all sections Of the country
can unite, and none Others than such princi-
PIES If sectional parties must exist, let them
exist outside Of an American organization, and
not interfere with our distinctive principles
In an attempt to form national party, to res
cue our institutions from the grasp Of Foreign
ism, no questions upon which sectional divi-
sions exist, should be admitted. The moment
such questions are forced into national party,
the party must dissolve from intestine divi
sions This result is inevitable
A national party, formed for the purposes
avowed by the American party, or for any
other general object, can do no more towards
the regulation of local or sectional issues,
than to urge its members to cancellations make
efforts to suppress agitation, and by the exer
else of fraternal feelings and brotherly kind
ness, allay excitement, and thus bring discor-
dant elements upon q platform Of concession
and compromise. a
In this mode it can do much towards recon
Cling those who differ widely upon abstract
questions of right, or of policy-6ut If an
attempt be made to compel surrender Of opin-
ion by either party on such question, it must,
and ought, to fail.
But look at the danger to the South, which
would follow the adoption Of the principle that
National party has right to decide upon
local or sectional rights and interests, and to
force the minority into acquiescence. The
whole North maintains the doctrine that sla-
very is an evil, whilst the South maintains the
contrary opinion. A convention Of Northern
and Southern delegates is called to determine
political questions in reference to the Presi-
dency, and other matters of national concern.
In such convention the South demands that the
question of slavery shall be considered, and
resolutions of acquiescence therein, and pro-
lection thereof shall be adopted. They thus
stand pledged to abide the issue Of their do
nadad. a
The matter is discussed. The South present
the. 18th plank Of the Philadelphia platform as
their creed, ind the North present the Ohio
State Democratic Convention resolutions of
January last, proposing to eradicate slarery,
as their creed. The vote is taken, and the
majority is on the side of the Ohio platform,
and it is resolusd that "slapery 70 an eril, and
shall be eradicatedin What becomes of
Southern interests? Is there a-man in the
whole South so blind as not to see, that IL sla-
very shall be permitted to become subject
for the consideration and action of National
Conventions, it will sooner or later be abolish
edp Not one.
Yet strange to say, Southern publications,
who claim to be "par excellence" the guardi-
ans of Southern rights, demand that the ques-
ton Of slavery shall be embraced in National
platforms When in the past history of the
country have Southern men demanded that
their all-important their most vital interests,
shall be submitted TO the consideration of po-
litical conventional, Hitherto the sagacious
statesmen of the South have said TO the North
"Let us alone /" Now the more sagacious
statesmen Of the South say to the North,
"Take US under the protection Of conven-
tionsl" Be it SO, gentlemen, If the South Will
hare 10 SOL