Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-11
NUMBER ISL.



Speech Of Hon. A. III. III. stuart, Of staun-
i ton, Virginia.
The Staunton (Va.) Spectator, Of May 9th,
contains an article Of three columns, giving a
sketch Of the speech of the above-named gen
tleman, ON Saturday last The Spectator says
"On Saturday last In compliance with the invita-
tion Of large number Of his fellow-citizens, Hor
A. ii. ii. Stuart made known his sentiments OF,
the great public questions Of the day, in speeth
OF more than three hours length. The courthouse
was crowded on the occasion, and the large audi
ence listened with earnest attention TO the remarks
OF the speaker, which elected frequent and cnthi-
siastic bursts of applause
Mr.. Stuart planted himself upon the American
platform, and made complete and powerful argu-
ment in favor OF the great objects which the Ameri-
can organization proposes to accomplish. We con-
slider his effort on Saturday fully equal If not SUI
perior, to any political speech we have heard from
him, and so 1t was generally regarded. Although,
we cannot hope to do Mr.. Stuart justice, we shall
endeavor to furnish our readers with an outline OF
his remarks, which, imperfect as II must necessa-
rily be, will, we trust, convey some idea of his i'm
pressive speech, and do some good
| After dwelling upon the preliminary topics
discussed by Mr.. Stuart, at some length, the
Spectator thus reports his views on the ques-
tions embraced in the creed of the American
party:
| About this time, new party appeared upon
the political horizon, bearing new and fantastic
name. II was invisible and intangible, but it soon
showed that it had the capacity Of making itself
felt. Its first triumphs were achieved in municipal
elections; but, by degrees, It entered on wider
sphere of action. / watched its progress with
curiosity, that gradually deepened into interest
| 1 saw it take up as Governor Of Massachusetts
| Gardner, man who had volunteered as private
| In the ranks to sustain the fugitive slave law. /
saw it indicate its purpose to defeat Seward saw
it prepared to support Clark, who had been regard
| ed as a conservative, and nominated as such by
Wings but when Clark accepted the nomination
of the Abolitionists it deserted him and took up
Ullman, the intimate friend of Fillmore, and who
know to be national man. | saw it denounced
by Giddings, Sumner, &c, and all the sectional
presses. ~
These things made me think well Of It, and de-
termined to investigate its purposes, and learn, If
I.could, It's elements. | corresponded with the
leading and most reliable men in the Northern
and Middle States, and learned that the object
was to form national party out of the conserve
tive elements Of both the old organizations, which
would leave the question of slavery where the
Constitution placed 1t, outside OF the political
arena-to ignore it as question of national juris-
diction. Mr.. Stuart here quoted from Cleveland
abolition paper, which states that the third degree
of the order compels the man who takes it to be
pro-slavery. This is not so, but as Mr.. s. under.
STOOD 1t does rebuke all agitations tending to the
disruption Of this glorious Union.
g Intimately connected with this grand feature,
were two other great reforms, which this organiza-
ton determined to effect viz TO check foreign
influence, and rebuke the intermeddling In our po-
litical affairs by the subjects Of foreign power,
who acknowledge higher allegiance to the Pope
Of Rome than they owe to the Commonwealth or
the Union. With these principles upon their ban
ner the new party has gone on, conquering and to
conquer and trust is destined to crush sectional
ism, TO restore national sentiment to the country
and to save the Union. ~
"Mr Stuart here entered upon the discussion of
the policy of the American party in regard TO for
eigners. In the early settlement of the country
il was natural that the policy of the government
should be TO acquire population. But even at that
foresaw the dangers that might now rsu., r. 1Seo
Quotation from Jefferson's Notes In another Nrol
umn.) At first immigration was sunrucnS
give any impress to public sentiment Mr.. Stuart
here read statistics, showing the immense IN
crease Of emigration and continued:
1Thus you will perceive that every year there are
foreigners enough coming here TO form State as
large as Maryland, and every two years to form
one as large ms Virginia. These men become citi-
zens in FIVE years and In States In six months.
They come without any knowledge Of the princi-
Piles orspirt of our institutions with wild notions
thai |ou0ueS6 IL uDtTty, anu WIN hu titcI
stnct6 INST slavery. They settle at the North,
aud 1ker votes control elections and shape our
foreign and domestic policy. Their influence has
been courted at the North by both parties Wit
ness the Infamous Homestead bill II was passed
in the House Of Representatives at one session,
but at the next session they rersced their steps.
Somebody had been about said Mr.. Stuart,
: who was itY (Here Sam smiled an answer.)
Mr. Stuart also referred TO the Hunter Land bill,
the Kossuth mania, &c, as illustrations of the
trucking of our politicians TO the foreign popua-
| ton The policy of the American party Is 10 ar
rest this evil. They do not interfere with vested
rights, with any foreigner now In the country, but
| only with those who are TO come hereafter
s'Mr. s. next took up the question Of excluding
Catholics from Office Upon this point ssid Mr..
s., 'there has been great deal Of misconception
/ and MISREPRESENTATION. II Is said that this propo
sition involves violation of the constitution, Is
rcpugnant TO liberty of conscience, and cruel aud
unreasonable prescription But Is IL sos Docs
not the constitution give mo right to vote as
pleases Can not set up standard for mysef
and vote for no man who does not come mp 70 hy
Where IL there more prescription In Know
Nothing not voting fora Catholic than for Cath
olic not voting for a Know Nothings The Amer.
| lean party does not object to the Catholics on
account Of their religious sentiments, but ON ac-
count of their political sentiments. They mau-
tain that the true Catholic has not rcpounced but
| hCkHONHuRtu pfihniy "hcBsn<seo cvsH so"Po
raj and spiritual, TO the Pope. To sustain this
proposition, Mr.. s. quoted from Brownson's Re-
view the recognised organ Of the Catholic Church
These are the doctrines, said Mr.. g., TO which the
American party takes exception. How can any
man holding these political doctrines be suitable
man to fll Office under our government You see,
then, there IL no intermeddng with religious
| freedom--that Is a matter between man and his
! God But these are doctrines that relate not TO
religion but 70 politics. set
,'Tbere Is one branch Of the Catholic church (the
GalHcan) to which these doctrines have no spplics
ton. Mr.. Chandler denied the temporal authority
of the Pope--but when his speech reached Ire
I land Il was Indignantly repudiated as heresy. "
you recognise this doctrine Of q higher law
how can you object to SewardS IL you cannot
without invading religious freedom refuse to vote
for man holding these opinions, we shall next
hear that you must not refuse TO vote for nm abo.
| litionist. His higher law Is as much a part Of
his religion ss the Catholics.
"But Il IA objected that this party ia secret