Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-22

ses, in an address adopted by the recent meet
ing in New York
SLAVERY THE SOLE ISSUE.
The Republicans of the city Of New York,
represented in mass convention, dsregarding their
former party associations, deeming the question
OF human slavery, and the aggressions of the slave
power more momentous than all others that now
require the consideration and call for the action
of American patriots, have associated to aid in
preventing its further spreading over the free
Territories of our country, and In aooiishing sa-
very and the slave traffic wherever our govern
inents have the constitutional power
There are other questions OF moment that ar
rest the attention Of the people; but there are
none. nor are all others combined, equally momen-
tous The questions Of intemperance, pauperism,
and crime, and the measures and enactments best
calculated TO prevent these evila claim the consid-
Grafton of our fellow-citizens and the exercise of
their most deliberate Judgment The questions of
public education, commerce, agriculture, the me-
chanic arts, public improvements, and public chart.
ties, and the extent TO which legislation may pro-
perly aid them are all questions worthy Of thought
and upon which in detail and In some particulars
there may well be some difference Of opinion
#efA N
The questions that have heretofore agitated the
public mind, and upon which the people have been
divided into different parties, have been mainly
settled; while the great question Of slavery, and
the power and privileges claimed by shareholders,
has assumed new and formidable aspect, that
threatens to sap the very foundations of our State
and National Governments.
A NORTHERN PARTY ANHoUNcED.
The people of the free States have been told,
and have listened to the tale that sectional party
il 10 be deprecated. Again and again has the
same tale been repeated, while at the same time
the whole political power of the slave States has
been concentrated and constantly exerted, not only
Ia the spread Of slavery, but in the dspensation OF
patronage TO its friends, till no man. suspected OF
nyen abstract sentiments of its injustice is allowed
10 hold the most humble Office in the gift OF the
Executive. How, then, are the millions Of en-
Ii shtened Northern irecmen, who conscientiously
believe slavery to be an evil and curse, to share
in the honors of their government, or be able to
uphold it but by organizing with like unanimity.
IT APPEALS TO FANATICS AND sPoIL-HUSTERs. +
1t has long been apparent TO every observer,
that the numerical force OF the people of the Uni
t.d States whose abstract sentiments are opposed
20 human bondage, If concentrated and acting in
The same direction IL sufficient, not only to prevent
its further expressions, but to annihilate It, Yet,
while such has been the fact, they have allowed
former party associations, questions OF trihing mo-
ment and desire for place. through the machinery
Of party organizations to control their action. But
the time has come when fealty to party should
give place to loyalty to freedom when trifimg
questions Of policy and expediency should give
way 10 a grave consideration of the unalenable
rights of humanity.
We are aware that many members of our
community censure us for taking so much
interest in the settlement of the most immi-
nent question before the American people.
We arc often requested to ignore the question
altogether, and confine ourselves to the dis
cassion OF those subjects which it was the ORR
ginal object of the American party to bring TO
public attention.
We regret sincerely that the face of public
affairs should have changed so greatly within
few months past, but we cannot conceal
f.om ourselves, and We shall not conceal from
Our readers, that it has done so. The COM
bined assault upon the American Order, made
by other parties has been SO far successful,
as to have introduced an issue which it had
been hoped had been buried by the conserva-
tive decision Of our National Convention. This
question we cannot, If we would, ignore. 1t
would be MS easy for the wrctched citizens of
Norfolk TO ignore the pestilence that broods
oyer and deyours them. We, like themselves,
must either arrest the political evil that dis
turbs them, or, il possible, assuage its terrors.
But we have cited the above extracts TO show
Why il is that this sectional question cannot be
ignored. II is because a very large portion of
the American people have organized upon this
question only, and are appealing to the mer-
ccnary and the insane, TO enlist for apolitical
crusade, upon the basis of superior numerical
power, and supposed prejudice Of one section
sainst another.
Il Is seen that this party ignores alienism,
palpcrism, intemperance and crime that il
postpones education, commerce. and the arts
tn It our whole political orrery is to stand still
until single abstract question can be settled
What is this but a decision that the single
question Of slavery is Of more consequence
than all others And If a large portion Of the
American people in Massachusetts, Ohio, New
York, Pennsylvania, and other States deter
mine to make up this issue, how can we ignore
its We might, il is true, Sink aside from the
path which patriotism has pointed, and permit
the enemies OF peace and order opass unmo-
Tested upon their nearious enterprise against
the Union but even our recreant abandon
ment Of our duty would not stop this crusade.
It win go on, and before 1t can be determined
whether the measures Of policy deemed so i'm
portant 70 the welfare of the Union can be cs.
,ablished, il may be necessary to determine
whether the Union itself can be preserved.
But we have no fears about the result II the
conservative Americans unite in their determi-
nation TO meet these sectional adventures
the ground they have chosen. That ground
is the humiliation Of slavery" To this
they pledge themselves in tho resolutions quo
ted. In this crusade they are enlisting the
Puritan and the Papist, the alien, the liquor
dealer, and the liquor hater, all who wish to
escape public correction, and ignore their own
particular ipiquiiy unite to carry on a war
which waged with distant section, viii bring
50 them only indirect mischief