Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-01-19
Americanisn.


slant contains the following patriotic declara-
ton in an editorial devoted TO the Richmond
American, to wit:
We most heartily desire to cooperate in the
good work Of placing American principles in the
ascendency, believing that the publication and
salvation OF our government and Union depend
upon it,
This is noble sentiment, and we sincerely
hope that press win prove its sincerity by CO
operating with all those who believe that the
qualification and salvation of our government,
and Union depend upon placing American
principles in the ascendancy." And now what
are American principles 2" For what purpose
was the American party formed ? What the
ultimate scope Of its objectsS Has it anything to
do with the tariff question: Not neither de
mands horizontal nor a protective tariff.
Has it any creed on the question Of banks
Not neither advocates National Bank,
State banks, nor sub Treasury.
Has il any creed ON the questions OF roads,
canals, harbors, or public lands3 Mono what
ever. 1t leaves these questions to the free nc
ton of the Representatives of the people, o.
to the States! Was the American party formed
To enslave tho African race? Certainly not
Was it formed to get up crusade against those
who hold Africans in bondsgea Certainly not
1t is then as a purity neither pro-bank nor
anti-banlS, pro-tarif nor aati-tariff, pro-inter-
nal improvement nor Gnti-internal improve
ment, pro-slavery nor aati-slavery, Bat it is a
party formed to carry into effect tho maxim
that " Americans shall rule America" and to
this end it proposes to extend the the term Of
probation before naturalizing aliens; to enact
laws excluding paupers and criminals from our
shores; and to confne the right of holding
Office prospectively to native-born citizens.
win the Petersburg Intelligencer, or any
other paper protesting "a desire to cooperate
in the good work of placing American princi-
inform US, whether the legitimate purposes of
the American party, TO wit the "placing Of
American principles in the ascendency" are
likely to DC promoted by embracing the ques-
tons Of tariff, banks, sub-Treasury, railroads;
canals, harbors, public lands, slavery, or any
ether outside issueg Ought any one, two, or
more of those matters to be incorporated into
the American platform ? If the Inteligencer
should single out one of these subjects, and
say that it ought to go into the platform, then
somebody else might with equal propriety in
sst, that some other subject should also be ip-
Guided in the platform, and before all the mem
bers of the party, or even all sections of the
country could be gratified in this respect, the
platform would break down from the weight Of
matter piled upon it.
If the South claims that their interests in
slavery should be especially protected by the
American platform, the North would have nm
equal right to insist that a protective tariff '"
should form another plank in it, while the
West with equal propriety would demand, that
the Improvement Of rivers and harbors "
should be in like manner taken under the pro-
tecting wing of the American platform! Where
,sould this thing end ? Why, California has
already resolved that her vote shall be given
to no Presidential candidate who will not sup
port the Pacific railroad proposition, and We
expect every day to hear Of an amendment by
the people Of Texas to this proposal, to wit
that the candidate for whom she votes mus
not only favor the Pacific railroad, but must
favor the TEXAS route for that scheme!
Thus it is, that the moment the American
party attempt to embrace in its platform any
question not contemplated in the original pur.
pose of placing American principles in the
ascendant" it will be clogged with every Sec.
tional measure in which each of the several
sections of the country feel deep solicitude.
If this be done, it is evident that the party
must fail, unless, (what is not to be assumed, }
a majority of the country will agree to sustain
and carry out all the sectional measures thus
thrown upon the platform The South de
mands the promotion of slave interests-the
North demands the protection Of American
manufactures Mississippi valley demands
the improvement Of rivers and harbors, and
the people beyond the Rocky Mountains de
mand Pacific railroad, whilst Texas demands
a Southern route railroad!
The North will not assent to the PROPOSE.
ton of the South, because they are opposed to
slavery extension. The South rejects the pro-
position of the North. because she is in favor
of free trade--both North and South refuse to
admit the demands of the Mississippi Valley
California sees nothing Of vital Importance
in any proposition but that of the Pacific rail-
Rockville Texas thinks no railroad will be
Of any use, except that which would pass
through her domains Now, we think it
would puzzle committee composed of "Phil-
adelphia lawyers" to make a platform embra-
cling all these propositions, and which would
please one-third of the American people. There
is no remedy, then, unless At Be to ignore ecery
one Of them, and build platform solely and