Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-20
CandOr and Fairness.

gether sundry resolutions and remarks ema-
mating from anti-slavery sources, with view
to impress the belief upon the South, that they
contain the sentiments Of the American
party" Amongst other matter OF a kindred
character, that press publishes the following,
to wit:
"The State council of Know othings, held at
Schenectady, adopted the following resolutions
+" ResoIped That Slavery, like Papacy, Is
moral. social and political evil-at variance with
the sprit Of our republican institutions, and repug
nant to the principles Of freemen that II is our
duty 10 resist its extension, and that we cannot as
Americans, consent to the admission to the Union
of any new State whose constitution recognises
human bondage"
We have more than once stated distinctly,
that the above named Schenectady council was
wholly composed Of the bogus party, which had
been repudiated by the regular Know othings
Of New York.
We have not only so stated the fact, but on
Saturday last we copied entire, the whole set
Of resolutions, consisting Of Ave- from the NeO
York Tribune, with the statement of the edi-
tor himself, that the attempt to palm off these
resolutions rs the sentiment of the National
Know-Nothing body, is "gross imposition"
The Tribune published the resolutions, in
answer to one Of its western correspondents,
and added
"Our correspondent denounces the attempt TO
palm this 1.-THE resolutions) off as the sentiment OF
the Natational Know-Nothing party, as gross in-
position, AND 80 IT isl Its authors are the bitter
antagonists of that body, who, we presume have
no personal affection for secret societies, but think
the present epidemic passion for them may DO used
for good purposes. We shall see how they make
out"
Now, when the editor Of the New York Tri-
bune had published the Schenectady resolu-
tons at the request of correspondent, who
had denounced them as " a gross imposition J"
and when that editor had responded, that 1t aods
an imposition, and declared that the authors
of the Schenectady resolutions were bitter an
tagonists Of the National Known othings; and
when we had published all these things in our
issue Of Saturday last, the Washington Senti-
.el republshes that "gross imposition and
seeks to pain. it off npon the South as the true
sentiment of the Know Nothings Of New
York We ask if it be possible that press
of the hitherto elevated character of the Senti-
mel, could knoioingly reiterate this "gross i'm
position?"
We must believe that the exposure of the
Imposition" had escaped the notice of the
asSentinsl If SO, let it make the "amende hon
orable," by now denouncing the cheat which
has been practiced upon itself and upon the
country.
As to the resolutions of the pretended
Know-Nothing Convention at Norfolk, Con-
necticut published in the Sentinel, we may
properly observe, that in no instance, 30 far
as we have observed, has any regular council
or convention of our order published its reso-
lutions The proceedings Of our State councils
are communicated to the subordinate councils,
aud made known to the order, but we are yet
to learn that any publication of them has been
authorized or has been officially made.
will the Sentinel please give us the names
of the presiding officers of the convention said
to have been held at Norfolk, Connecticut
Are said resolutions in any way authentcatedf
Ifso, let us see the authorization. Until then,
we pronounce them humbug--a cheat-an
imposition, like that practised at Schenectady.
But do the Northern and Southern Know
Nothings agreet This is the pertinent inquiry
suggestedby the caption ofthe Sentinefsarticle.
They do agree on all the questions which per-
tain to their organizations They agree TO dis
agree upon questions which are wholly outside
Of their organizations, or, in other words, they
rink all questions not Immediately connected
with the purposes of their organization.
In no other possible mode can national
party be formed to carry out the American
Reformation" The objects Of the American
party are peculiar and specific They wage
war upon Foreignism, Romanism, and Dema-
goguism To rid the country Of these evils,
they have banded themselves together and
sworn perpetual league. No member Of the
American party" in entering into this fra
ternal league, has surrendered his individual
opinions upon the tarif-upon internalimprove-
mcnts--upon banlcs--upon the public lands
upon slavery--or upon any other question Of
local politics or even of general policy. These
questions remainin allegiance -suspended-and
are not topics Of discussion or Of action in our
councils
Beyond the specific purposes We seek to
carry out, we are all free to enjoy our opin-
ions independently, with this further quali6-
cation, that the rights Of the States, and the
integrity oftAe Union, must be maintained.
The citizens OF Massachusetts, may favor
protective tariff, and the citizens Of South Car
DINA advocate free trade. The citizens Of the
Far West may advocate appropriations to i'm
prove rivers and harbors and the citizens Of
the East may seek more protection to the coast
ing trade The citizens of Missouri may claim
the northern or the middle Pacific railroad
route,--and the citizens Of Texas may claim
that Of the Ell Passo,--the West may ask asur-
render Of the public lands TO the States wherein
they lie, and the East may seek to hold these
lands as perpetual source Of national reye-
nue,--the South may contend that slavery is
an unmixed good, and the North may esteem