Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-24
Who are Authorized Z

The South-Side Democrat is more than anx-
ious that we should inform that paper aoho are
| authorized to speak for the American party in
Massachusetts It always gives us pleasure
to enlighten the uniformed, whenever we our
selves have the necessary information to enable
us to do SO, and when we deem it our duty, or
even our right to do it. On the present occa-
sion we can only say to our contemporary, that
we presume that the best authority on this
point would be the Grand Council Of the State
Of Massachusetts,. Most certainly the unauthor-
lied expression Of sentiments, by convention
| of persons, assuming to lay down principles
| which they were not deputcd to discuss and
decide, is not to be regarded in any sense, as
announcing the opinions or tenets of the party.
five know anything of the views and pur-
poses Of the American party as national Or
ganization, they intend to ignore the question
Of slavery altogether, and hence we have not,
on any occasion in our paper, advocated or op-
posed slavery. We have invariably taken the
ground that zoe stand upon the constitution,
and oe leare slauery aohere that instrument
ledues it, and that we seek to perpetuate the
Constitution and the Union as they now exist,
and the rights Of the States as guaranteed by
them. In taking this ground, which we have
occupied from the beginning, and mean to oc-
cupy to the end of our political life, we do not
advocate slavery nor do we oppose slavery
| and those who have drawn differences at vari-
ance with these views, have no warrant in any
| thing we have said, for their conclusions.
The South-Sids Democrat surely need not be
told, that in all the existing parties there are
men who are in .fapor of slavery, and men who
are opposed to slavery. 1t is doubtless so in
the American party, though we are happy to
say that we have not yet seen one member Of
the American party who belongs to tho "high-
er-taso parties, either of the North or of the
South. We know of no "American Gin the
party sense) who would violate the Constitu-
ton either to put an end to slavery, or to per-
petuate it Are there none in the Democratic
ranks, to which the South-Side Democrat be-
longs who are opposed to slavery? VIII the
South-Side Democrat please read and copy the
following resolution, adopted at Columbus,
Ohio, on the 9Th instant, by the Forney and
:. f
Pierce Democracy
Resolved, That the people Of Ohio now, as
| they have always done, look upon slavery as an
| evil, and unfavorabe TO the development OF the
spirit and practical benefits Of free institutions
and that, entertaining these sentiments they will at
all times feel 1t 10 be their duty to use all power
clearly given by the terms Of the national compact
to prevent its increase, TO mitigate, and finally to
eradicate the evils"
Now, If 1t should 80 happen that portion
Of those who belong to the american par
ty" proclaim similar sentiments to those en-
bodied in the above resolution, would it any
more prove that our party is abolitionized, than
the above resolution proves, that the whole
Democratic party is abolitionizedS We know
Of no process Of reasoning by which resolu-
ton Of the above import If adopted by few
members, Of one party proves anything more,
than If adopted by few members Of another
party. We have seen no evidence to show
that the American party as such, in Mas
sachusetts, have any purposes adverse to slave
ry, but we hare eridence Of an entirely salts
factory character, that not only in Massachu-
sets, but elsewhere at the North, as well as
is to be ignored entirely.
But here Il may be asked, ifthis be 30, why
the subject is ever alluded to in our columns 2
The answer is, that as ow party is continually
assailed by the Forney and Pierce presses, and
their orators, and the charge made that zoe are
allied TO a6olitionism, we are bound to repel
and disprove the charge, or TO allow It to pass
uncontradicted II IL passes uncontradicted,
there are thousands Of honest and well-mcan-
ing men, in the different sections Of the coun-
try, who win believe the imputation, however
unjust Its our duty then to repeat, as often
as the charge is made and comes to our no.
tice, that our party is not allied to aboltionism
Andso, on the other hand, when we are charged,
as we have been FALSELY charged, with being
proslapn-y party, the charge must be de-
MED.
But il is our purpose, in future, to ignore,
as far as practicable, the question Of slavery,
and TO have a standing answer for all occasions,
when assailed, either as a pro-slsvery or an
anti-slavery organization. That standing an
swer shall be this, to wit:
The American party has been formed 10 RENE
dy the evils which exist in the body polite, and
which are the results Of foreignism and demAgoRu-
ism. We seek to repeal or amend the laws OF nat
uralization. We seek to exclude paupers and crimi
mails from our country. We oppose the selection
Of foreignborn citizens and Of all citizens who re
cognise the temporal power Of the Pope for public
Offices. We oppose the landing Of immigrants who
shall refuse to take OATH explicitly recognising
the obligations Of the constitution paramount TO
all obligations Of all descriptions TO any foreign
power, prince, or potentate, political or eccesi-
astical" M3E Me t8N Hf
ave maintain that no State has the right to adj