Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-24
NUMBER 2l3.
AMERICAN ORGAN.
From the Camden (s. c. Journal
OuI selves and the Know-Nothings

n
Some of our friends appear to be alarmed for our
safety, for fear that should identify ourselves
with the American party, alias the Known Nothing.
We have no appreh tensions Of a serious character,
having as we think, arrived at the stature OF full
grown man, il not full in the years Of discretion.
We have avowed, and do distinctly avow our dis
inclination to engage in any political crusade,
where party lines are to be drawn, and observer.
We are disgusted- sick and tired Of all
party organizations, whether Of Whig Democrat,
or otherwise, for our limited experience us
that after all they are nothing but sounding bras
or tinkng symbols. Yet we do not see the PHI
losophy of rejecting everything, because they may
not be in exact accordance with our preconceivcd
opinions and predictions. Whilst we are as free
as ever to say, that certain features Of the nem
platform of the American party, pleased us, and
if carried out by them as party in good faith, we
shall approve and heartily endorse, we cannot per-
ceive that we are committed to blind and indis-
criminate endorsement of every thing which the
new party processes or does Not at all. The as-
sumption is unreasonable, we don't mean that IL
shall be so, and It is unwarrantable to assign rs
such position.
II to love our country, with jealous regard for
her peculiar institutions, and no disposition to see
her overrun by wild swarm of sms and errors,
calculated in their very nature to subvert the prn
ciples upon which our glorious ndgna-chdrter rests,
lin word, to destroy true republcanism and
place us upon footing with other priest.rdden
and abused governments, If this be Know-Noth-
ingism, be it so--we are willing TO shoulder the
rcproach. If to advocate an amendment of the
Naturalization Laws wi proper safeguards to pre-
serve the purity Of the elective franchise" and
=" the passage Of such laws will prevent the i'm
migration of paupers and criminals to this coun-
try" be Know Nothingism-be An.ericdn then,
we glory In the appeation. If to "oppose any
interference in the vested rights persons, whether
they be Of native or foreign birth, or to declare
ourselves In favor of on.nterventon with slave
ry by the Federal Government, except for the pro.
lection of our constitutional rights" or to "advo
cate high national policy, such will afford stern
and unwavering protection to the American name
abroad, and will follow and guard the American
citizen wherever he moves" and with a our hetrt
to believe that America should be governed by
Americans, effecting the same through the ballot
box alone, the only legitimate instrument of re-
form in this country" and endorsing most heartily
the noble and patriotic sentiment "that the Office
should seek the man, and not man the Office and
oppose with zeal and energy the distribution Of
Office, and Office spoils among ofce-seekers as a
reward for partisan services If it be treason to
hold and avow these sentiments, them in the Ian
guage of Patrick Henry, we say make the most of
it, we are traitors.
And again, as another reason of the faith that
is in US, 1--WE will maintain and defend the Consti
tutioH Vi CHittu oRteS, the rlgntS OF the
States without diminntion, insisting upon faith
full performance on the part of the General Gov
ernment Of all the duties epjoined upon it by the
Constitution" and, whilst we hold that religious
faith is question for each individual to settle for
himself, regard it Of the utmost importance
to the original language in the Constitution of
one of the cold thirteen" Confederates--" that no
person who shall deny the being of God, or the
truth Of the Protestant religion or the divine au-
thority Of either the Old or New Testament, or
who shall hold religious principles incompatible
with the freedom and safety Of the State shall be
capable of holding any office, or place of trust and
profit In the civil department. within the States"
These are a few Of the reasons which we give for
the present. why we favor certain principles avow.
ed by the American party.
On another occasion we may enter into the
proof of the several positions here assumed, for
the present we close with an earnest assurance to
our respected and highly valued friends, that we
shall studiously avoid anything which will commit
to false and untenable principles, incompatible
with TRUTH Justice. and the Consultation.