Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-09
The Pennsylvania schism.


IT has usually been considered that party
which accepts a representation in common
convention, is bound by the act Of that body.
II is moreover known that the members of the
American order have incurred solemn obi
CATION to abide by its DEGREES. In violation,
as we conceive, Of both these principles, large
section of the American order in Pennsylvania
has separated ITSELF and whilst II has adopte6
the greater part of the National Platform)5t
has repudiated that clause which propose6pthe
settlement Of the most dangerous question that
has ever presented itself to the American peo-
pie.
We shall regret to sec the sincere efforts of
the National Council thus foiled and defeated,
and it is proper that our Pennsylvania friends
should consider whether, in dislocating the
nationality Of the order, they promote the
great cause of American fraternity, which
every true member of the order should have
most at heart
We have been taught that the limitation of
aliens to the exercise Of political rights was one
of the most important measures of our organ
ization. We have been assured that the ag-
grcssions Of the Papal power upon theprogress
Of Protestant principles was an evil Of the most
ominous import We have thought that the
restoration Of the government to its original
honesty of administration, and the admission
of all Americans without respect to political
opinions to the exercise Of official duty, was
due to our national character as q Republic
Now we are told that, although these things
are well enough in their way, they are sub
ordinate to the great question Of restoring an
enactment which apportions the Republic by
law, and makes perpetual sectional inequality.
The very terms of this proposition are an alb
surdity To enforce by law the restoration of a
compromise. Can there be compulsory com
promisef If the terms Of agreement have been
repealed, can it be re-established against the
will Of either partys Ofwhat advantage will
it be to stitch the wound together with stat
ute, when within it rankles incurably
A compromise is valuable only because it
adjusts previous question of strife, but the
enforcement of an opinion over dissatisfied
minority, only sows the seeos of perpetual
strife. We hope that our American friends do
not propose to enforce the compromise with a
view to avail themselves of the popularity of
such measure 1t may be demonstrable
fact that there is a numerical majority in favor
Of such measure, but If this is the fact, will
1t not be attended with corresponding resist
ance on the part of those who wish to abide
by the clause Of settlement as adopted by the
American Conventionf And win it be in &C
cordance with those solemn vows of devotion
to the Union, to peace, to fraternity, which the
members Of this patriotic order have made
upon its atari
We had hoped-we still hope-that counsels
more conservative will prevail, and we must
honestly say that unless this shall be the case,
the brighter promise Of the order will have
been disappointed; and we can see nothing
in the future except sectional conflict to re-
suit in alienation of feeling, in disruption of
the constitutional cords which bind US, or in
compulsory subsection Of one section to the
dominant power Of another.
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