American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-12-20
Thc Opinions OF a Moary Head.


long and very able letter from the venera-
bio GsorgO Robertson, Of Kentucky. late
Chief Justice Of the State. and many years
ago one Of the most distinguished represen-
tatiYss in the National Councils. The let
Ter was called forth by,and in response to,
another which appeared in the same col
umns. not long since. from the pen of the
Hon. R,bert Winthrop. 1t presents in a
very forcibls manner the reasons Of the
writer for connecting himself with the
Americas party. A few extracts. for
which only We have space. will show the
conservative tone of the writer's 4. opinions,
and the earnestness Of his eou yiction.-
He says:
"on the fun lamental doctrines Of pop.
! ulW government. men have ever been di .
vided into two ciasses-one whose princi-
pies tend TO unchecked democracy and
diserganizAtion; the other TO organic Sc
curitg and conservatism. These are the
natural parties in every Rspublie; and in
all time, these coatra distinctive qualities
have ohsractsrize | aHI classified tho an
tasonist politics under different phases
and titles. shifting with accident aud times.
las day and country these raro elements
havo ever classified our peopls into two
pcincipai parties. called Of late years Dem.
ocrata and Wings, more anciently by 9th.
or titlss. lathe origin Of the Constitu.
ton the same distinctive principles diyid-
ed the people into two opposing parties.
a against and the othor in favor of the
adoption. Washington, our Pater Potrie,
was at the head of the latter, and in his
administration and more omphaticalIy in
his farewell address, the Father of his
Country AZ / think. illustrated the true
principles Of American policy and uu
ion."
The writer goes on to say that for forty
years his POLITICAL opinions have baen es-
sentially "Washingtonian," whiIo his asso-
Citations. Of latter years, have been with
ths Wing parly-but, considering that
party '~'denstionaliEed by the sectional
strife Of its leaders, be could not consist.
emily with his principles remain spell.
bound by u traaitionary Nance" and he
therefore felt no hesitation in uniting him.
self with a party "mors national in spirit
and more comprehensive in its aims
He joined tho American pqrty. and says
''In taking this stop | have neither been
r%ecreant, nor f.ithless. nor inconsistent
To preserve my principles. aul help to
purify and restore our institutions, l have
only preferred duty to spoil', substance to
the shadow Of a nams, renovation to do.
cay, patriotism to clanism. naiionalism "a
sectionalism, constitutionalism 10 effetism,
Amcricanism to ~foroignism. a broader to q
narrower foundation, and a homebred
name for an imported title. have aban.
donsd no principle, | have changed no
my faith: My object is not to innovate
but to renoya'e; not TO bury or To desc
crate tho memories Of '76 and go, but to
revive and to consecrate them; not to de-
scrt but 10 restore the spirit which ANNA
ted the American patriotism Of our Amer.
lean fathers; not to distract or divide, but
TO unite. regenerate. and exalt our coun-
trymen on a platform Of American prin.
Olplss and policy, important, IL not indis,
pensabls, 10 the American Union"
Judge @. ~expounds his views OF the tru,
policy ofOur government and tho just in
depreciation Of the Constitution and asks:
"Aro these principles and doctrines un
sound? Are they not con3enial with ouI
institutions. and woull they not be con
ducive to ii happy destiny? Ough,
they not to be the practical doctrines OF
every Wing and Union Democrat-oftruc
american citizens? l consider them each
and all. e%mincntly American, and they are
therefore miHe, Believing that they are
essentially those Of the American party,
Lam Of Il and with it., If outstanding
Wings or Democrats concur with us as to
oil or even tho more vital Of them, and
have no paramount repugnanee to any oil
them, why should they not co operate with
US in our organized efforts TO rescue our
country from the local factions which dis,
turb its tranquility AMI threaten its dis.
memberment? What is there in a name?
Aud IL not "-Anasricdn" more suitable to
the times and more significant Of our ma.
donaliiy than "IPhig" or "Demorati"-
But il Wings and Democrats who have
opposed u cannot unite with us, surely
we, who left them, cannot 90 back to
them; the motives which separated us
from their organizations viii continue TO
keep US where we are. For myself, l can
truly say, that | cannot now see any good
reason why l should leave tho American
party for any other political organization,
because consider It more fraternal and
self.saerlGcing in its spirit. and more ma.
tioual, comprehensive, aud conservative in
Its principles and its purposes. than any
other party that exists or has existed in
America. aud l feel that the time has
come when tho best interests Of the Union
require all It's true friends to rally under
banner Inscribed with just principles"
After dilistng in eloquent language on
ths madness Of sectional strife and the hiOh
and holy duty Of doending the Union from
the insane and atrocious assaults Of those
who would sever the liga.ures which bind
ustogether. he proceeds:
IL feelthat the Gre which gl,wed on our
countfy's alter at the baptism Of the Union
is not yet quenched, aud l trust that, when.
ever invoked by the true hearts that shonld
minister at the altar II will hla-a c.,k..I