Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-12-20
WHOLE NO. $50.
10 tAs Editors Of tho Amsriean Organ !:

10 tho Editors Of tho American Organ
GENTLEMEN hare read with infinite gratifica-
tion your unanswerable and triumphant vndica.
tion Of the course you have pursued upon the mo.
mentous question which now agitates the country,
and threatens dsorganization and dissolution. But
pray you, sir, stand no longer upon the defen-
sve, but march into the bowels Of the enemy's
land" and rebuke in scathmg terms, and hold up
to public reprobation the fell spirit Of utraism
that, rather than suffer defeat would 'set slip the
dogs Of civil war" and cry mischief thou art
foot take what course thou wilt
The Richmond Whig upon the one side, would
cut off the ears and tear out the tongues Of any
and all those Southern members Of Congress who
should dare to vote the public printing to your pa
per, and upon the other side are gentlemen, who
would furnish the knife and pincers with joyful
aacrity. This should be considered by the Amer
lean party, and will be considered by right-minded
men Of all parties, as the highest compliment that
could possibly be paid to you
It is ultraism and factious party spirit that arc
now preventing the organization Of the House of
Representatives, and ere long rcbuke will come
up in thunder tones from all sections of the
try against those " rule or ruin men who COM
menced their proceedings not only with formal
declaration that in no event would they unite with
the American party, but they denounced the mem
bets OF that party in terms 80 grossly vituperatve
to preclude all idea Of union with them for, to
do so would involve shameless degradation. But
let them pass out OF the question: as they are fast
passing away, and still it cannot be denied that
moro than sufficient number of votes to elect
have been thrown away upon several ballots;- that
an election might be effected; and that in doing
80, certain gentlemen might perhaps cast their
votes more nearly in accordance with the wishes
of their constituents. But, she is Northern
man, and of course an Abotionist," say the ultra
pro-slavery men; or, she is ,anti-N Nebraska, at
least, say the few honest but bewildercd adhe-
rents of this "caput mortu,m" administration, or,
"oh, horror Of horrors say the pro spoils men,
"he is anti-administration I" But, worse than
either of these are gentlemen representing Free
soil constituencies, who join in that old, otprac-
tised, stale, exploded common cry against their
Northern brethren, of Abolitionist! Abotionist!!
Yes, Robert G. Winthrop, now an acknowledged
national man, when candidate for the Speaker
ship was denounced as an Abolitionist! Miard
Fillmore, now possessing the entire confidence Of
the South, when nominated for the Vice Presiden-
Cyl as late as l848, was denounced as an Aboli-
tionist! And Webster, even Webster who . sank
to rest, by all his countrys wisees best" was de-
nounced as an Abotionist!
am Northern man, would say "with South
ern principles" but will not borrow an express
sion that was uttered only to deceive. More than
two-thirds of my whole life has been spent coniin-
uously in the South. Ny home and all who render
home dear to me, are Of the South. love the
South ; her sunny wales, her fowery gades. ad-
mire the gallantry of her sons, the lovelness and
refinement of her daughters and ! know, from
thirty-three years observation, that the condition
of their slaves, in the mass, is infinitely bet
ter than that of the free blacks of the North. But
am proud of my Northern birth and Puritan lin
cage and old Massachusetts,, with all thy faults,
love thee still = for no State in the Union can
show fairer brighter escutcheon than the old
Bay State.
With theee feelings toward both North and South,
am sick Of this wholesale denunciation Of North
ern men; this ungenerous, unjust, and uncharitabe
assumption that no man born north of Mason
and Dixon's Line" can be safe depositary of po-
litical power and patronage.
1t viii, presume, be conceded by every candid
man that, 20 long as member OF Congress is sim
ply representative of Congressional district no
Is in duty bound faithfully to reflect the opinions,
views and wishes of his constituents. 1t will not
be denied, presume, by any candid man, that, If
member Of Congress is called, either by the Ex-
ecutive or Legislative department of the govern
ment, to a national position, such as Speaker Of
the House Of Representatives, or Secretary of
State new obligations and new responsibilities, as
well as new duties, would devolve upon him. Can
any right-minded man, can any man possessing
any knowledge of the springs OF action in aspiring
minds, can any other than an ultraist or fanatic,
native-born American, so elevated so honored, or
fear that he would betray the high trust reposed
In him, and prove so recreant to duty, and reck-
less of obligation, as to take sectional ground and
show that he was still governed BY sectional
views, opinions and interests
IL there be any member Of the American party
who entertains such doubt let him hasten TO
as one that more dishonors him who entertains il,
than him who is the subject of II.
Why, il pure and disintercsted patriotism did
not impel the man who had been elevated by tho
suffrages of majority Of the Representatives Of
the whole people TO a station second only in power
and influence to that Of President, at once to take
national ground, policy--mere policy-in its low
est sense, would do it. If no public virtue honor
or nobleness Of soul prompted him thenceforth to
look beyond his own Congressional district, beyond
his own State, beyond his own section Of country,
and thereafter to make
"A the ends he aimed ut
His country's, Gods, and Truths"
Ambition, mere ambition of political preferment
would so impel him and save him from the gross
fatuty OF packing committee or attempting in
any way to use the influence Of his station so to
shape the legislation of the House as to suit any
particular section ofthe country for, should he 50
abuse his power, it would not only utterly and for
ever blast all his hopes Of political preferment, but
would inevitably sink him to the lowest depth Of
infamy. Away, then, with these doubts and fears.
They are the mere chimeras Of distempered imagi-
nations, adroitly used by trading politicians, and
designing demsgogues as bug.be to frighten
timid opponents, and to effect their own sinister
objects.
Let it not be inferred from anything set down
In this rough and immature essay upon the pend
ing struggle for the Speakership that either of the
three gentlemen who have received the highest
number Of American votes Is the preferred can
didate Of the writer. / may have a preference be-