Washington telegraph., 1855-08-29

were on service in either of those Terrific
ries ? Whence this difTerence-and why
after the Executive, through its organ, had
taken ground against that BILL did it sud
denly shift around, and press this measure
/ to consummation, with all its force and pow
er You know the cause OF all these
things-surely none should know them bet
( ter.
( This is not all, however
In some of the States. foreigners not vet
naturalzed, aliens-vote for federal and
State officers, and many times. 10 doabt.
actually elect their candidates Foreign in
cendiaries have agitated and continue to ag-
i;ate the slave question, till it has become
a measure in relation TO which our brethren
of the North and Souih are now so SEN
/ sitive, that the very mention of it seems to
+ threaten the permanency OF the Union
( Corruption stalks with brazen front in every
branch of our government, till it was truly
said the distinguished statesman, that there
were bnt two roads to success--to wi t.:
the sycOphant, 'where favor followed fawn-
ing" and of the millionaire, who bought
it.
In this condition Of things, those of our
citizens who regarded the institutions of the
country as in 'danger-withou; reference to
party, laying aside the minor differences
that had heretofore separated them. as by
spontaneous movement united TO check these
, evils; and the good the wise. the great, the
philosopher. the statesman, and the patriot.
determined to do all that sincere love of
country could accomplish. to brig back our
institutions to their original purity. that they
might be handed down to posterity, as they
we're left by our revolutionary ancestors.
This sir, is the origin of the American
party, or organization and now. as to its
principles. These may be summed up in
very few words. Civil and religious liber-
ty-and the permanency of the Union on
the constitutional basis Yes-civil and re-
lgious liberty to the broadest extent. con-
sistent with the precepts of the Bible. the
provisions of the constitution of the United
States. and the faithful execution of the
laws
We DO not oppose maca-indiriduaily
they have our best wishes and kindes: Offices
in their pursuit of wealth ard iiappiness-
But when we find them combined to de-
prive Us Of these principles. or 10 dissolve
this Union. We viii oppose such combina-
tionS BY all legal and honorable means.
We have been charged with prosecuting
Romanists The charge is faISe--for |
know not Il man belonging to our organiza-
tiOn. who would not at the hazard of his
life. defend ROmaniS;s, or any ether sect,
from aggression, for woIshipping their Ma
ker according to ;he dictates of their own
conseiences But when we find Romanists
banding together to combine civil and &C.
clcsiastical jurisdiction in our country, to
Subvelt and destroy our institutions, and to
set mp in their places the absolute and des-
potic power of a foreign tyrant. we will re-
siSt tLcm, even to death. if necessary and
we will equally resist such unholy combina-
tionS if attempted by PreSbyterians, Meth
odists. Baptisis. EpiScopalians. or any other
sect
We have been charged with prescription
This charge is not true. Like all other
parties. where men are sincere in their prin-
ciples. we viii endeavor TO elect those who
viii faithfully carry out our principles Is
this prescription? II 50. prescription should
be defined as an honest adherence to con-
scientious principles and with such pro-
scrip;ion our Revolutionary ancestors, and
every party since that day, are fairly charge
able. Ii is alleged, further. that we are l.
able TO this Charge. because men Of opposite
principles in some cases have been removed
to make way for men Of cur Order |
know of no such cases. Il Is true, that
where the commission Of individuals had
expired. they were not reappointed. Ameri-
cans having been selected to fll those Off
ces. But is this prescription Did the
immortal Washington surround himself with
Tories And vet the adherents of Great
Britain, the friends Of Kingly power, we're
no more Tories in those days than are those
Of our own time, who are striving to dis
solve the Union, to subvert our institutions,
and to destroy our liberties. But. sir, even
if we were guilty of prescription, the charge
Col es with a bad grace from this admins
tr;.siOn, where mere difference Of opinion
IS regarded as sufficient ground for remov-
al, and where the vacancies thus caused
are filled. to 4 great extent, with foreign
ers-the staunch adherents OF Popery-or
with spies aud informers-the base tools of
bad men-who are thus rewarded for their
infamy-
Though you have thus virtually declared
that not one of the American party. now
including large portion of the entire pop
ulation of this country shall have any share
in the government of our country and that
you viii strike down every individual of the
Order within your power. rest assured that
YOU cannot thus annihilate or destroy that
party, or crush the spirit of Americans, as
YOU have threatened. They are not of the
stamp that can be bought or frightened
They are governed and directed by princi-
pie. and By that they will stand-and bear
and forbear. if needs be-ti)l the time shall
come when they may redress their griev-