Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-07-06
Address of the American
Party, to the People of Mas
saChusetts.

n ,
sachusetts.
The following address to the people Of
this State was adoptsd in the Know Nothing
State Council. held at the Meionaon, yesler-
dav afternoon. The vote is said TO have
been nearly unanimous Boston Journal.
Recent occurrences eonstrain the State
Conncil of the American party of Massa-
chusets to present an addresses to their fell
low citizens, declaring rs concisely as possi
bic their views Of its duties IN the present
crisis.
A platform expressive OF the principles Of
a majority of the National Council has re-
Gently been adopted, and made public. at
tested by the signatures of its officers This
platform contains views and declarations on
the subject Of slavery utterly repugnant TO
the convictions Of the American party Of
Massachusetts, and which are deemed by
them, inexpedient, untrue aud unconstitu-
,ional. Their most sacred duty TO their
country. to themselves and to posterity, con
strain them to utterly repudate those views
and declarations, and 10 entirely discover
themselves at once from all political fellow
ship with any organization which proclaims
such platform as its rule Of action.
The State Council of Massachusetts does
not recognize the truth of the declaration
that the American Party having arisen on
the ruins, and in spite oflhe opposition ofthe
Wing aud Democratic parties, cannot be held
IN any mGnaer responsible for The obnoxious
acts or tioiaied pledges Of either. 1t is the
plaIncst duty of every party, as well as OF
every individual, to aid IN the repeating Of
g" obnoxious acts" or making good " violated
pledges" We cannot and we will not aid
IN placing in power those who publicly and
unnecessarily pledge themselves in advance,
not to repeal the obnoxious acts and not to
make amends for the violated public faith Of
the present national administration. We
hardly see tae necessity of their removal
from ,fiice if their obnoxious acts" are
not TO be repealed, and their violated pied
gesn not 10 be made good. The people de-
minl, and will insist on, both the one and
the other
The National Council then declare " tina,
the systematic agitation Of the slavery ques-
ton by those parties has elevated sectional
hostility into positive element Of political
power. and brought our institutions into
pciil," and il has therefore become The in.
peratiye duty of the American party to in
ieriere for the purpose Of giving peace 10
the country and perpetuity to the Union, -
IN all this the American Party Of Massa
chusetts fully concurs, and with much inter
est looks farther to see how the National
Platform proposes 10 perform that imper-
alive duty" of " interfering" " 10 give peace
to the country and prosperity TO the Union"
Repeating obnoxious acts" and making
good violated pledges would 10 our judy
ment at once and forever accomplish these
desirable ends Not so deem the majority
Of the Ndtic nal Council. They pledge them
selves and desire to pledge Massachusetts in
following words: "the National Council the
La deemed It The best guarantee Of common
jus md future peace to abide by and main
tam the existing laws upon the subject OF
slavery as final and conclusive settlement
of that subject in spirit aud IN substance
Massachusetts does not believe that consent
ing to violated pledges" and obnoxious
acts" are the best guarantees Of common
justice aud oi future peace
Massachusetts, utterly regulates the dog
na Of the majority Of the National Council
ihat Congress possesses no power under
the constitution TO exclude any State from
admission into the Union because It's consti-
tuition does or does not recognize the inst-
luton OF slavery as a part Of us social sys-
tem." Statesmen of distinction, from Madi.
son to Webster, both inclusive, bold that
the confederation il partnership o! States,
and that the existing partners can at any
time dictate on what terms new member
shall be admitted into the confederation So
believes Massachusetts now, and she refuses
her adherence to a platform designed to pave
the way for the admission of slave States
from territory forever dedicated to freedom
by a solemn national compact Of thirty four
years duration.
Massachusetts enters her earnest protest
against and refuses acquiescence IN, the de-
claration that :" It is the sense of this Nation
al Council that Congress ought not 10 legis-
late upon the subject Of slavery within the
territories of the United States" This is
going farther than the South ever asked Of
the old Wing or Democratic parties. This
nullfes the ordinance of 1857, and the en-
tire Missouri prohibition. This surtcnders
the whole domain OF National Territory
from Minnesota to Oregon, both included, to
the embraces Of Slavery. This literally
makes slavery national and liberty merely
sectional. This declares the very reverse of
the proud beat of old England so that
wherever floats our national standard, under
the control Of our national government, there
shall exist African Sc vltude.
These vital questions come TO the consc-
ence of every northern man, however high
or however humble. II Is needless to specl-
f. other portions of the platform we are con.
strained to dissent from and protest against.
We would, however, in connection with their
assertion that "naiional compact" and 'time
l..,..l tn,sp III, Mtcen,,rf
COMPROMISE, onght not to be restored, refer
10 their additional declaration or " tender
and sacred regard for those nets OF states
manship, which are TO be contradistingnish-
ed from acts Of ordinary legislation, by tho
fact of their being of the nature Of compacts
and agreements and 80 TO be considered
fixed aud settled national policy" There is
no compact or agreement" no act Of fix
ed and settled national policy" that this ap-
plies to with such peculiar aud pertinen; signi-
fcaney as the great Missouri Compromise
Of 1870, which has just now been stricken
down at the beck of slavery. Yet the Ma
tional Council did not intend its application
70 that outrage, for they distinctly affirm that
the violation Of such a national compac. must
be submitted 10 as a final and conclusive
stillement Of that subject in spirit ard in
substance !" they apply the above express
slons, which they demand the north to en-
dorse, or a tender aud sacred regard" to
the FHgiie Stare Bin. The shatlering in
public faith of the National Compromise of
1920, must be acquiesed in, says the Phia-
delphia platform, f" az a final and conclusive
settlement Of that subject in spirit and in
substance" but II adds the Fugitive Slave
t4y. of 1850 is couiradis;inguished from
acs Of. ordinary Legislation, being in the ma
tudIoi' compact and agreement. and so is
to'be considered fixed aud settled national
policy"
It would appear from the platform adopted,
that the majority of the National Council
cared little for those American sentiments,
that so move the great heart Of the country,
provided. they could aid in riveting more
strongly the chains, and extending more
widely the scepte, of the slave power
They declared unless platform was adopted
like that proposed, and which we have rea-