Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-11-07
NUMBER 313.


The Relations Of the North and south, con-
sidered In connexiOn with the principles
of the American party.
An Addyess delipered at Iailadega, 9Th Septem-
ber, 1856, before the Amcriean party Of faiio-
dega county, BY Hon. JOS A. Woodlcard, Of
South Cdroiind.s
GENTLEMEN AND LADIES: Heretofore ! have re-
sisted every solicitation to address the people Of
Talladega; and appear before you now much against
my inclination, though all the reasons which in
duced my declension, heretofore do not now exist.
am not member Of the American order, and
have never been, nor ever designed to be, under
Its late organization and discipline Its secrecy as
principle was an objection with me though, as
an expedient for eluding the police of the old par
ties, in taking the sense Of the people upon Its
principles, and ascertanng its numerical strength,
secrecy would have been justiiablc. The oath,
too, was impolitic and wrong ! could never con-
sent to give even pledge beforehand, to vote for
any man whom a party might nominate. As a
States-rghts man, was true and faithful on all tho
issues which brought the Democratic party into ex-
istence, but sometimes opposed IL on issues which
tho party itself originated to preserve itself in
power ! am now master Of my own position, and
mean so to remain.
object further to the American platform where
III uppeurS 10 pfo5CflDe luuiVQuAlS or classes,
such. could never assent to q rule Of voting
which WOULD disable me to vote for q mertorio,,s
man, no matter where his birth, or what his reli-
gions faith, provided / knew him to be an An eri-
can IN sentiment and in purpose. But / am sure
that the American party does not aim at proscrip-
tion, but has only laid down for itself rule in
voting, which 1t thought would be necessary TO
one OF the ends which brought the party iuto ex-
istcDce: which end is, to oppose and overthrow
combination of foreigners and Of Papists, bound
together as electoral bodies, upon sentiments and
ideas peculiar to themselves and who hold the
balance OF power In several Of the States Of the
Union, and in the Union at large, as history will
demonstrate; and especially oppose and discredit
and hold to an open and direct accountability that
class OF politicians who, instead Of reprobating
these anti-American combinations do, on the cor.
trary, abet, cherish, aud use them as means Of
climbing into Office. Who will say that these alien
and Popish combinations are right, and must not
be molested? Who will pretend that 1t is pro-
scription TO confront them at the ballot-box? WHO
will deny that those who conntenanco and use
them should be forced TO do so directly and openly
and bear their just responsibilities
The national platfom OF the party has undergone
pretty thorough discussion, and shall only ad-
vert briefly TO the two features which are regarded
as repugnant TO the States rights creed 49, 5
The 3d section aftrms the Union to be the
/" paramount pol tical good' 1t has been SUP.
posed that the Union is here spoken of as an end
and not as means; that Ii is meant to be placed
IN comparison and competition with liberty ITSELF
and is affirmed to be paramount to liberty that II
Is held up as being in ITSELF an absolute and es-
sentiai good, greater than the whole amount of
political and social blessings Of every Kind. Now
am surprised that 1t sbn.-'. ss'ssa
body of sensible men, elected by American com
munties, could lay down so stupid proposition
Il is true that they mean to speak decidedly and
for the maintenance Of the Union;
and yet 1t Is plain that they regard it as means
to an end, and not the end itself Their idea
Is, that the Union, which, by the constitution, is
bound TO guarantee to each State a. republican
form Of government" Is essential to tho nmlnte-
nance of those republican FORMS and the depend
ent liberties that IL the Union 90 down, these re-
publican liberties go down; aud hence the onion
Is the paramount political good, better thar any
other political condition or system. Moreover,
the platform speaks of the whole country, North
and South aud afirms what Is the political good
of tho whole. As 10 the truth of their affirmation
no man can decide but am not afraid TO act with
a national party who make the affirmation, since
might say the same thing, and yet, with perfect
consistency say, also, that if the Union is TO be
used as an instrument for subverting the institu-
tons of the South, IL would be to us the paramount
curse II is manifest that this section Of the plat
form refers to certain schemes Of policy that tend
to endanger the Union; for quickly follows the
second clause Of the section, in these Words "Un.
compromising antagonism TO every principle Of
policy that endangers IT," Now, in relation to the
controversies that have sgitated the North and
South, the South has held passive position, hav-
ing no scheme Of policy seeking only TO be let
alone. Then, the practical application Of the sec
ton Is to the North, and this Is It's sdrnonition:
You must bear with the existence Of slavery In the
Federal District, and the slave trade among the
States, and the admission Of additional slave States
IL. III
Of moral means 70 bring about the abolition Of sa-
very in the States. Your policy Of universal free
dom may appear TO you TO promise great political
good, but IL endangers the Union, which is par
amount good.
The 4th section, which relates to the jurisdiction
and authority Of the United States Court has been
made the subject Of severe criticism. This eec-
ton is capable Of two constructions, and confess
that am inclined 10 give 1t that construction which
puts IL in antagonism with the doctrine Of the
States-rghts creed Of Virginia and South Carolina.
But while the abstract proposition may be inad-
missible, we have little right 10 complain OF what
is manfestly its practical bearing and application
for IL was intended, OF course, TO have practical
Application to existing evils and abuses. At the
present time we see several Northern communities
arrayed against the enforcement Of the Fugitive
Slave Law-resorting TO every expedient legisla-
tive and insurrectionary to obstruct the execution
Of the process Of the Federal Court, founded on
that law. All these proceedings pontedly re-
probated by the language Of the 4th section.
But, again. At this very time the predominant
idea at the North is the prohibition Of slavery, by
act of Congress, in Kansas and Nebraska Tho
position Of the South, in relation to this matter Is
non-interventon by Congress, and that the qucs.
ton be left TO the Constitution and the Courts
Such is the express language Of Mr.. Calhoun, and
such the unequvocal declaration Of the section
under consideration.
q. But, admitting that this section does mean TO
deny the right Of State nterposition, and that its
favorable practical bearing upon Southern nghts in
the existing copuncturc Of affairs, is no sufficient
reason for Ignoring its legel hllacy. Then, say,
that, as q legal proposition, 1t has ever had the