The weekly Minnesotian., 1855-08-04
The Americas Party-i.. Nationality railur.

'"
Under this head, the Louisville Courier. the
leading Know-Nothing organ of Kentucky.
speaks as follows of the recent dissolution of its
party. We publish it merely to show our read
ers the present temper and feelings of the
Southern Know-Nothings, not wishing at all to
endorse the conclusions of the editor. The
idea that it necessarily follows, that if Presi
dent be true TO the North" he must be "false
to the Union" is of course ridiculously absurd ::
The nationality of the American party. TAX
ing the principles enumerated bv the Philad.l.
pha Council as its creed, is already an obsolete
ldea. 1t has become entirely sectional. and
possesses no effective strength, save in those
Southern States conformatory to whose nredi
lections upon the great question OF slavery its
platform was shaped. The secession of the
Northern delegates at Philadelphia was more
significant than we at first imagined. It was
no momentary whim. no mere outburst of mas
sion, but deliberately purpose movement. in
tended to exhibit. as subsequent events have
shown it did. the thorough anti-slavery feeling
OF the majority of the American party at the
North. The course adopted by these seeding
delegates has thus far in every case been sus-
tanned. In Massachusetts,. Connecticut, In
diana. Maine, Ohio and Illinois, where State
have been heartily endorsed. In Pennsylvan-
la portion of whose representatives embrac
ed the majority platform. the State Council af-
ter Ormy session. took decided anti-slavery
grounds. So, too. in New York and New Jer-
sey there has been a general expression
through the press and subordinate councils of
sentiment adverse to the Philadelphia plat
form.
In fact the attempt made at Philadelphia to
nationalize the party has signally failed. 1t
now has no strength. no influence, no position
at the North. Its principles are Ia the main
discarded by the very individuals who were at
the outset its warmest champions. Slavery
has proved the rock upon which this vessel. so
promising at one time of good to the nation.
has been wrecked. Confined to very few
States. and those OF minor population and with
the fewest electoral votes the American party
cannot indulge the faintest hope of success
in any national struggle. The odds are terri.
bly, and overwhelmingly against it. In no
case could its candidate for the Presidency get
even respectable vote in the electoral col.
lege. The unwise and obstinate policy of those
who possessed an accidental majority in the
Philadelphia Convention. and who were deter
mined at all hazards to give an expression of
opinion upon the slavery question. has driven
off the North past recovery. They sectional
lied the party. and in that condition it must
remain devoid of all power and position as a
national organization. merely local in it's in
huence and shorn of any strength in crisis
of Importance.
How rue these statements of ours are, and
to what a pitiable condition of imbcclitv the
American party has been reduced can be read
lily understood by reading the proceedings of
the Councils in the Northern States. They are
unanimous in their resolutions of dissent and
frantically enthusiastic in their expressions OF
hostility to slavery.
TO demonstrate still further the extent of this
dlscord in the party. we need not refer to the
action OF The Louisiana State Council That
body recedes Oh account of the Catholic test
Doubtless other elements of dissent will soon
develope themselves in OF er States. and the
platform be finally left without supporters. d
magniflcently written paper document full OF
sound principles, but most unwisely introduc.
ed to the country. But even if such be not the
case. what is left to the ration. A republican
party at the North. composed of Know
NOthings and Free-SOilers. an American par.
ty at the South. and Democratic party in
both extremes. Neither will he ST, ong enoupb
to conquer in any Presidential contest. and
then the result is left with the House of Rep
sentatives. OF the complexion OF that body.
we are already sufficiently advised by the elcc-
tions Of last fall to apprehend from its north
ern majority the most ultra displays of section
al feeling. They will hardly fail to unite, as
they have the strength in the election of
President who will be true to the North and
false TO the Union. when the supposed inter-
ests OF his section require treason.