The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-30
NO. 452.
THE NECESSITY OF FUSION.
SPEECH OF HON. HENRY WILSON.

SPEECH OF HON. HENRY WILSON,
IA he American Council a, Springfield, Assun ?, 1855.
Entertaining as do, Mr.. President, the pro-
f,nnd conviction that the vote we are about to
ole will have decisive influence upon the DO
T.;cal relations of men and of parties, upon the
,osition of Massachusetts in the coming conflicts
dftbe future, feel constrained to ask, for a few
moments, the indulgent attention of the Coun-
TIE gathering hosts of Northern freemen. of
orerv partv and creed, are banding together to
rssist the aggressive policy of the Black Power.
Freedom, Patriotism, and Humanity, demand
tbs union of the freemen of the Republic, for
he sake of Liberty now perilled. Religion sane
tons and blesses It,
How and where stands Massachusetts? Shall
sbs range herself in line, front to the Black
power. with her sister States7 or shall she main.
lain the fatal position of isolation7 Here and
now. we. the chosen representatives of the Amer
lean party of this Commonwealth, are to meet
that issue, to solve that problem.
The American party of Massachusetts, dash
mo other organizations into powerlesss frag-
ments. had grasped the reins of power, placed
an unbroken delegation in Congress pledged to
the policy of Freedom, ranged this ancient Com
monwealth front to front with the Slave Power,
and written, with the iron pen of History, upon
her statutes, declarations of principles and
hedges Of acts hostile to the aggressive policy
Of the saveholding power. When the Black
Power of the imperious South, aided by the Ser
vile Power of the faltering North, imposed upon
the National American Organization its princi-
rles. measures, and policy, the representatives
Of the American party of this Commonwealth
.urrned the unhalowed DEGREES, turned their
hacks forever upon that prostituted organization,
and their action received the approving sane
ton Of this State Council, by vote approaching
unaninity The American party, as nation
Al organization, is broken and shivered to atoms
Bv its own act, the American party of Massachu-
sets has severed itself from all connection with
that product of Southern domination and North
ern submission.
The American party of Massachusetts, has,
during its brief existence, uttered true words
and performed noble deeds for Freedom. The
past at least is secure. Whatever may have
been its errors of omission or commission. the
Slave and the Slaves friends will never reproach
Il. Holding. as it does, the reins Of mower, it
nov has glorious opportunity to give to the
country the magnanimous example of great
and dominant party, in the full possession of
contaminated power, freely yielding up that
power, Tor the holy cause of Freedom, to the
equal possession of other parties, who are will
Ing to cooperate with 1t upon a common plat
form. Here and now, we, its representatives
are 10 show by our acts whether we can rise
above the demands of partisan policy, to the
fall comprehension of the condition of public
atiairs-tO the fall realization of the obligations
which fidelity TO Freedom now imposes upon
Your Committee, Mr. President, endeavored
to comprehend the condition of the country
and the position of Massachusetts-to realize
ihe duties imposed upon all Of us who are op-
posed to the domination of the Black Power,
and to the policy Of its servile instrument-the
present Administration. The Platform Of prin-
ciPes reported by your Committee embraces
the IDEAS that underlie the American move
ment-the essential modification of the natu-
ralization laws, 10 the end that the immigrant
may learn something of our institutions before
lie exercises political power; stringent penal
ties against the transfer of naturalization pa
pers, to the end that the purity of the elective
franchise may be secured military and politi-
cal examinations composed exclusively of for
eigners discouraged, to the end that the sons
Of the Old World may more readily cast off
their national associations, and assimilate with
The masses Of american citizens; efficient laws
tOprevent the deportation of criminals and pau
pers 10 our shores by foreign authorities, but a
hospitabe reception extended to the prosecuted
and oppressed of every cline grave diplomatic
trusts withheld from men of foreign birth, to
the end that the representatives of the Republic
abroad may not be swayed by foreign associa-
tons or interests; the right to worship God to
be preserved TO all inyiolate, but all attempts
OF PoliticO-ecclesiaStical authorities to acquire
political power, to exclude the Bible from the
schools to appropriate the public funds to
seciarian schools, 10 be sternly resisted.
Sir, the heart of old Puritan Massachusetts
beats responsive TO these ideas-ideas in per-
irct harmony with our Democratic institutions.
Nlr. the american movement is not based upon
hgotry, Intolerance, or prescription. If there
Is anything of bigotry, intolerance, or proscrip-
Ton. IN the American movement-if there is
any disposition to Cypress or degrade the Brit
on the Scot, the Celt, the German, or any one
| OF another cline or race, or to deny to them
The fullest protection of just and equal laws, it
time such criminal fanaticism was sternly re-
baaed by the intelligent patriotism of the State
aud country | deeply deplore, sir, the adop-
ION OF the twenty-one years amendment. 1t
viii weaken the American movement at home
ana IN other States, especially in the West, and
Tend to defeat any modification whatever of the
naturalization laws. | warn gentlemen, who
oeslre the correction of the evils growing out of
NE abuses OF the naturalization laws, against
le adoption OF extreme opinions. / tell you,
-eutemen Of the Council, that this intense Ma
u''m kllls-yes sir it kills and is killing us,
and unless 1t is speedily abandoned, will defeat
al the needed reforms the movement was inau-
glraied to secure, and overwhelm us all in dis
honor. Every attempt, by aohonasOerer made, TO
iVerpo.He into the American movement any
m!'g inconsistent with the theory of our Dem
oe'alc nstitutions-anything inconsistent with
1s lea that AL men are created equal y
@MIyung contrary 10 the command of Gods
No "ord, that the stranger that dwelleth
VIA you shall be unto you as one born among
wv and thou shalt love him as myself" is do
ils 'lat which will battle the wise policy which
IVES 70 reform existing evils and to guard
against future abuses.
Inc Platform reported by your Committee
PoACunces American Slavery to be "the great
Question OF the country and the age Ut ex-
F'ssS declares that Freedom is National,
ana Slavery Sectonaln-that the General
government must be relieved from all connec-
.'a Win and accountability for American Sla-
e! =" the sovereignty of the States main
i--led lnylolate-the prohibition of Slavery in
'aI'a' and Nebraska restored, and the actual
s..yfs protected in their legal rights" Per
I'laiy' 90 further than these resolutions go,
"a hey 20 as far as the public of the North
&c 10" prepared to go; and am anxious to
@yli moderate platform, upon which con-
W;,~1'e men, outraged by the repeal of the
n Prohibition, can stand with US.
la,ing laid down platform of principles,
,OI Committee, Mr.. President, reported the
,.:,. now pending, which pronounces the
..'u0n OF the present Administration to be one
mn, Iel.lisgused hostility to all the principles we
r tool5 that the exigencies of the times de