Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-17
NUMBER l56.
Address
of tho Erecutivs Committee of the American
Party Of philadelphia,
TO THE AMERICANS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED

STATES
The Executive Committee Of the American par.
~ for the city Of Philadelphia, having observed
that the result Of the election held the first u-
stant for city Treasurer, Commissioner, and mem
bers Of council, has been misunderstood by per
sons at distance, and also msrepresented by
some OF those who are opposed to the principles
and ascendency of the American organization,
have directed the undersigned to prepare simple
statement of facts, upon the truth Of which our
friends may everywhere most implicitly rely This
communication Is, therefore, prepared in accord
ance with the direction given by the committee,
and its simple object Is to state the literal facts In
| the case On this account we respectfully invite
your attention to II.
Tho election held in this city on the LIST instant
is perhaps, the greatest triumph that the American
party has ever achieved, and presents the most
conclusive evidence of the ultimate and entire su-
premacy OF our principles. Our friends never en-
tertained doubt that the strength of our organ
ization would enable us to triumph over either Of
the old political parties but the most sanguine Of
us scarcely anticipated that the period would arrive
when we would be stronger numerically than these
old parties combined. The recent election, how
ever, has not only shown this to be the case. but
has also demonstrated, that in this vicinity, our
strength has already gone far beyond this latter
point 1t has not only exceeded the united vote
OF the Wing and Democratic parties, but II has IN
addition, beaten the entire natnralzed vote, both
/ Catholic and Protestant, which were arrayed
against US, and which united upon the Whig and
1 Democratic fusion ticket to defeat the American
candidates. Notwithstanding all theae elements
Of opposition combined we succeeded In elccting
our ticket by large majority, and exhibited a
strength which was much beyond any calculations
that had heretofore been made by us. We tri-
umphed, therefore, snglc-landcd, over the for.
eign vote and the united efforts OF the Wing and
Democratic parties and encountered as formidable
i nj n,Id ,rnra
| be arrayed against us. We annex the vote poled
for City Treasurer and Commissioner, upon the
! fusion ticket, in order that the strength Of Tie
American party may be seen, and the character OF
our victory fully understood. 1t Is as follows
CITY TREASURER. CITY COMMISSIONER.
Fnsson.) (Am'n. tFusiong.j Fusion (Am'n., MN
22,o3s 22,45S 22,2o9 224o6
*l77 George H. Hill" thrown out
| No other persons were voted for as candidates
for Treasurer and Commissioner except those
named in the foregoing list, and the ticket was
voted throughout the whole city, 1t is, therefore,
fair test Of the strength Of the American party,
and an exhibition Of the weakness of all our enc.
mics.
II has been suggested by those opposed to our
cause, that the majority given for the American
nominees at the recent election, has been greatly
reduced, and that this fact indicates falling Off
our strength. To this, reply, that in the spring
election OF 1854, the Wings, as a body voted the
American ticket, and this fact increased the ma
jority which was given for us. In 1856 the Wings
as party, repudiated all connexon with our prin.
cples, and united with the Democrats and natu-
ralized citizens in an effort to prevent our success
The combination proved wholly snavailing at the
recent election, and showed that our strength had
Increased sufficiently in single year to overcome
that our numbers are sufficiently adequate TO make
tho success of our ticket in the city OF Philadelphia
h-eafter certain without reference to the course
that. opponents Of our doctrines may take.
We Wild here state that we do not desire TO
be understo>a as complaining of the course which
our opponents sought proper 10 pursue. y was
natural TO suppose chat those who were hostile 70
American sentiments would meet upon common
ground to prevent the s~cccss OF our candidates.
Il was, however, the first Instance in which the
Wings had united with the Aemocratic party in
open and avowed hostility 10 odhS principles. Its
result was disastrous TO the alliance, and left the
Wings with scarcely representative os their sen
timents anywhere In Office. They seem 70 have
been instruments without design on their part)
to aid In flRlng the prophecy Of the greatest and
wisest of modern Wings. Daniel Webster,
short time before bis death, said of.the Whig
party, "thatit would live only in history" The
truth of his prediction is daily becoming more
manifest, and the result Of the last election IN
Philadelphia is the strongest evidence thus far
given of It's truth. To the honor Of the American
name, be Il said, Daniel Webster sympathized in
heart and feelings with the American party, and
was, at the time Of his death, Its nominee for
President Of the United States. No efforts or per
suasons could induce him to decline the nomina.
| ton given him by the American Convention and
| his example should not be without its influence
upon the wise and patriotic of his own party. His
| conduct in endeayorng 10 advance American prin-
cipes in the community is In strong contrast with
the remnant Of Wings In this city, who, at the re-
cent election endeavorcd TO prostrate It by uniting
with the foreign voters.
\ II isnot the object of this communication TO
enter into any exposition Of the principles OF the
| American party. It's cardinal design is TO place
| the government in the hands Of native-born citi-
zens, TO the exclusion Of all foreigners from Office,
whether Catholics or Protestants. II docs not sym
pathizc with local parties or feelings, but Is at
tached TO the Constitution OF the United States
and the preservation of our glorious Union. These
IL will seek 10 preserve at all hazards, and under
| all circumstances, believing that the dismember-
ment Of the Union would be the greatest calamity
which could befi the human race. We are advo-
/ Gates therefore, OF the doctrine, that Americans
only shall rule America--that the Constitution Of
the United States, and every part Of 1t, shall be
recognized and regarded throughout the land az
| the supreme law, and that lis unequvocal man
| dates are to be obeyed in that spirit Of honesty
| and sincerity so necessary 10 its perpetuity, and
| 80 essential TO its effective action az the guar
dian of the rights OF each individual citizen, as
well as of the sovereign States composing the
American Union. We desire, therefore, in con
clusion TO remind yon in the language Of the illus
trious Washington, that s
alt IL Of infinite moment that you should prop
erly estimate the immense value Of your National
Union, to your collective and individual happiness
You should cherish a cordial, habitual and i'm
movable attachment TO il; accustoming yourselves
to think and speak Of il as the palladium of your
political safety and prosperity; watching for its
preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenau-
cling whatever may suggest even suspicion that
II can in any event be abandoned; and indignantly
frownng upon the first dawning Of every attempt
to ALLEVIATE any portion OF our country from the
rest or TO enfeeblc the sacred ties which bind
together the various parts"
JoHS w AsHNEAD,
\ JosEpH M. CHCRCH,
JoHs s. WILSON,
JosspH L. CHESTER,
JOSEPH WooD, Jr,
4 Crnrar y pupNszYY