Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-12

son, of Massachusetts, and the anti-slayery
question generally, endeavoring therein, to
show, that we had been inconsistent, In origi-
nally asserting and maintaining the rights ofthe
South, and in not denouncing the action of our
party in electing General Wilson, lin not de-
nouncing him for his anti-slavery opinions
and in not copying certain anti-slayery speech,
which has been imputed to him.
We pass over, as unimportant, those portions
of the Ssntiaeps attack, not embraced in the
above paragraph.
1t is most certainly true, that we profess to
assert and to maintain, as well the rights of the
several States, as the rights Of the general gov
ernment and the binding obligation of all citi-
zens to respect them both.
We arc now, ever have been, and ever viii
be opposed to any infringement Of the rights of
the several States, as guaranteed By the consti-
tuition, or reserved to the States in the con-
stitution.
We have not now, and never have, and never
expect to have, any sympathies for, or alliance
with, political abolitionism, by which we mean
the doctrine, that the general government has
the right to interfere with slavery in the States
We have said in our prospectus, and here re-
peat, that slavery belongs exclusively to those
States in which it exists. We have said there
and say again, we are opposed to the agitation
Of slavery. In repeating these opinions, we do
not discuss the merits or dement's of slavery.
We leave that question where the constitution
places it.
Whilst, however we refuse at all times to
discuss the merits or dement's of slavery, it is
our right and our duty to deny the charge
whenever made, that the american party"
has any alliance either with pro-slavery or an
ti-slavcry.
We reassert our attachment to the doctrine
of State rights and in like manner repeat, that
we mean to do all that lies in our power, to
preserve the union of the States.
But why should we denounce the action Of
our party in Massachusetts,, in electing General
Wilson, or arTaign General Wilson for enter
tanning or protesting individual hostility to the
institution Of slavery
We assigned our reasons for not doing either
Of these things, in the very article upon which
the Sentinel made its comments
In other articles published during the past
week, we have explained and endeavored to
elucdate our views.
The " American party" ignores the question
of slavery. 1t forms no part Of our purposes
as party, to interfere with this question. We
leave it where the States have placed it. We
make 1t no criterion in the councils of our par
ty. Senator Wilson's individual opinions on
the question of slavery, like his opinions on all
other questions which are outside of our plat
form of principles, belong to himself Heagrees
with our party on all the questions of reform
which we have united to discuss and enforce,
and which he was elected to accomplish.
In our leader of this evening we enlarge on
this subject, and respectfully refer the Sentinel
thereto for its edifcation.
But we have subjected ourselves to the Sen
tiners censure, because we have not published
the newspaper reports, of some remarks made
by Senator Wilson on the occasion of Mr. Bur
lingame's lecturel We did not publish those
remarks, for the simple reason that we had be-
fore us letter of Senator Wilson, deliberately
written by him, on the Goth day of January,
only three weeks ago, and from which letter
we published an extract on Friday last, before
the Sentiners article was in print and in which
letter he distinctly and explicitly declares that
he maintains the nationality and unity Of
our republic, and the Democratic doctrine Of
States rights"
With this authentic and well-considered de-
claration ofhis principles--paced on paper and
subscribed by himself, we were content without
seeking in the uncertain reports Of casual and
off-hand remarks, for grounds on which to
raise question of doubt, as to the truthful
ness of this positive and unambiguous written
declaration.
If the Sentinel had read our article Of Fri
dry last, under the head of "SENAToR VIII
SON or MASSACHUSETTS" IL would doubtless
have appreciated our omission to publish the
remarks Of Senator Wilson, delivered at Mr..
Burlingame's lecture. We prefer authentic
declarations to newspaper reports Of Senator's
opinions.
We here repeat the inquiries made by the
Sentinel, "Now, who knows best General
Wilson's sentiments, General Wilson," or the
reporter ofhs casual and unauthorized re-
marks at BurliGgames lecture' as it not
due to candor, due to the South, for whose in
situations the" Sentinel expresses great ad-
miration, that the remarks Of General Wilson,
and not thu" language imported TO him By a
reporter, "should be published in its col
umnsi" 1.-THE" Sentinel "stultifies the new
Senator. 1t refuses to be guided by his ex-
pressions, and chooses those" Of some random
reporteri
We selected, first the editorial Of the Boston
Bee, the recognised exponent Of the views of our
party in Boston, to show the opinions of Sena-
tor Wilson and second, we published an ex-
tract from an authentic letter Of General Will
son, in which he states his oon opinions in
almost the same language used by the Boston
| Bee.
The Sentinel publishes an unauthenticdted
report of Senator Wilson's remarks at the Bar