Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-10-20
NUMBER 29s.
An American Policy ard an American
~. sentiment. WI

Sketch of the. remarks Of DANIEL ULLMAsN at an
American meeting in Troy, on "Wednesday even
ing October 3D. lse e64 Eifs n
FErLow CITIZENS; rejoice that have On OPP
portrmty this evening to address the ctizans uf
hensselaer county upon some OF the important po-
hllcal topics which are now agitating great por-
tion at least of the American people Ii IA one OF
the greatest, most blessed privileges Of our free
Republican institut ons, that whatever interos,a
the public mind; whatever appertains TO the well
fare Of our people, we have right to discuss,
openly and publicly. 6 ss III ta
"a man can fail to have observed, who has stu
died the political events Of the day, that there ex-
lsts at the present time most extraordinary cons
flct OF public opinion; that there is fermenta.
ton going on among all the old political parties
old organizations seem TO be passing away /; men
appear TO be bnsily seeking new ailinies rewcon-
ditions, from one end of the land to the other Al
most extraordinary condition Of doubt and nr-
certainty seems TO exist---ar uncertainty which
pervades all classes But it must also have been
percepiiblc 10 every one that high above al this
noise and conhiet--high above all this doubt AMI
uncertajnty--high above this Heterogeneous admix.
lure OF parties and opinons---arises clear sirill
all pervading voice. ~ Us the poice of .faierica
lCbeers.I 1t is tho voice Of America asserting
her position declaring that hcnccforth md here
after there shall be an American sentiment, an
American character, an American policy. And
an unnstakable response A new party has
suddenly, asst by magic, sprung up in this land.
has flung its banner to the breeze and inscribed
on its broad folds:
!" lst America to be ruled by Americans
I'd. Protestant civilization
Sd. The Constitution and Union Of the States.p
That new organization is the great and glorious
American party.
appear beforeyou tonight, by especial invita-
ton OF large number of your citizens, to address
TO yon few remarks upon these three great points
lmbodiod IN the principles OF the American party
Il is most extraordinary fact that never, III the
whole history ofthis country, from the period of
the Revolution down to the present time, has there
been developed and established clearly defined
American policy. There is in Europe an. English
policy, French policy, a Russian policy, an Aus
trian policy, end even Spanish pelcy, but no
statesman Of America can at this moment point to
our history as a nation, and find there distinct
American policy. We seem to haze been drift
ing along, with all our political greatness with oil
our mighty resources, with all our inert strength,
following and obeyng the policy of other govern,
ments, seeming content to come after where otl.-
ers lead.
What will be the result OF this? There is no
fact more clearly established by the whole history
OF mankind, than that no nation or people can bc
truly great-that no nation or people can achieve
the objects for which they are destined and estas-
lished, unless they possess clear and distinctly
defined nationality. Now, what is this nationality
IL Is unity in language. We should have that uni-
" 10 our rich, forcible, sonorous Apglo-Saxon
tongue. 1t is measurably unity in religion. We
have that qualified unity in the Protestant religion
1t Is similarity in habits and customs unity in
policy, and above oil, unity in government. Now,
American f,ow-citzens unless ration is ii il
self distinctly organized individuality, unless il
possesses its own basis Of individual policy that
nation must necessarily be weak; no matter what
strength II may otherwise possess, no ma ter how
great its resources may be. Tic elements of dh
traction and dissension VIII exist in her midst and
will ultimately result in her ruin. Snch arc the
Lessons of history. BY having a distinct, sacred
nationality people can best snbgerve their mir
sion on earth, and answer the general call of hr-
manty The question row presented TO the
American people II whether we shall hereafter
have this distinct nationality, or whether VIC shall
continue TO be a confused, Heterogeneous, jumbled
mass Of liationalities having different nngnagcs
different habits, different customs different preju-
dices, and different cpnditionsS This Is The quef-
ton which the American people are called upon
to decide. This il the question which the Ameri.
can party now intends TO solve.
But we are met on the very Threshold Of tlis
question, by the charge Of prescription. The air
bur,lcs with the charge, from one end Of Che land
10 the other. We are told that VIC arc proscfp-
tNV VI AitiiBiOilt UFOrcTlpliNc OI NHc ltFfuOn VI
speech and conscience. Now | deny eacll and
every one of these charges altogether deny
them directly, and Indirectly deny them In their
assertion, and deny them in their mtiinaton. /
deny them collectively, aud in detail deny them
~ every form Of denih We are not proscrir-
tive organization. Itisnonew thing--the principle
which is the basis Of this American party IL r.
rot The birth Of this year. or the last year, or tie
year before. a
ltisnot new principle which has been Iust De-
velopcd that "Americans should rulp America
No man should set himself up as the dscovorcr cf
that principle. il came from higher aud nobler
origin--the highest aud noblcst which can 10
known 10 the heatt Of an American, The prinei-
pie which We now proniulgatc, was IN terms de-
clarc1 by George Washington, the Father of his
Country, as far back as the year 177S You must
all be familiar with his utteiances on this subect
You who have read history, know what opinions he
held on the subject Of foreign irfncnce. Bot how
ever this may be- must quote from bim. George
Washington, rs you all know, was grave, deliber-
ate serious nian--aceGsoncd 10 weigh well sub
iect before deciding upon il. lie never used lah-
gnagc which would Indicate any violence Of opin-
ions or feeling Aud yct, in a letter to Governtur
Morris Of New York, dated the 9th of July, if7s;
he holds the following language in relation 10 Bar
on Steubcn. Baron Steubcn be Ii remembered
was the fret man 10 introduce discipline into the
ratiks of the American army. At the commence.
ment of the Revolution, the American army was
composed Of he crogcnocus poorly disciplined
body Of men. Baron Steuben, rcssning Lis big
command under Frederick Of Prussin, came to thilt
country, and performed the ariops task Of intros
ducipg military tactics into their ranks And yet
George Washngton--the cool deliberate und
philantropic George Washington tlius writes:
Baron Slcubcn, ! now find, Is wanting to quit
bis lnspecIorsltip for coumaud in the line. Thi,
win be productive ormuch discomfort. n word,
though thak tho Baron an excellent officer, do
most devoudy wish that We bad not single foi.
egier among us, except the Marquis de Lafayette,
who acts upon very different principles from those
which govern the rest
al do most deyouty wish says George Wash
ingion That ire had not a s;Bofe fgreiy,er qiaos0