American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-03-01
From the Washington Organ. 4.
TIKI pEoPLn's PLATFORM.
g AMERICANS SHALL, RULE AMERICA. y

The American party has been con-
structed upon the basis that " Ameri-
cans shall rule America" This is tie
great principle which lies at the foun-
dation of our government. 1t is the
principle for which our Revolutionary
sircs fought and bled. A foreign gov
eminent sought by oppression and ty-
ranny to extirpate the principles Of
Republicanism which first sprang into
actual existence in the colonies. A.
gainst this foreign power, our forcfa-
theirs arrayed themselves, and it was
to protect and establish the principle
that Americans should rule America
that they resolved to "conqucr or die"
1t has fallen to the lot Of the present
generation to re-assert this great prin-
ciple; and the conflict in which we are
now engaged is full Of interest to the
sons of those sires. 1t is the second
American Revolution and against it,
as in times of yore, foreign foe is ar
rayed, urged on to the contest by those
who have proven shamclcssly rccreant
to the teachings Of the immortal Wash
ington, and have ruthlessly trodden
under foot the great bulwarks ofAmer-
lean liberty.
Power, which the trainers of our con-
stitution laborcd so zealously to diffusc
among the masses, has been concentra-
ted into the hands of a few unprinci-
pied and corrupt partisan leaders, and
by them used and employed to promote
their own selfish aims and sinister pur-
poses; and the struggle nowis between
the masses-the people-and the poll
ticians; the one seeking to regain that
which is theirs by right, the other to
hold on to that which they have obtain
cd by intrigue, chicanery, cunning de-
vices and soft blandishments-the Pc
culiarities of demagogues, by which
they have heretofore swayod the people
into their support. g..
To accomplish this great, this noble
purpose, the people have planted them
Sc YES upon the platform upon which
their Revolutionary sires stood, viz:
that " Americans shall rule America" .
and resolved that henccforth and for
ever foreign influence shall be at an
end. 1t was to be expected that all
the power Of the Federal Government,
which is now in the possession of a set
OF demagegues, whose only character
istic is a total want of principle and
political honesty, would assail this great
principle with all the luminosity and
rancor of spirit common to the desper-
ado and to traitors. These care times
that try mems souls and the humblest
advocate and supporter of the princi-
pie first onunciatcd by Washington and
his compatriots, need not expect to es-
cape the malignity and venom with
which this administration and its fol-
lowers pursue all who are arrayed a.
gainst its usurpations and its power.--
Then let us buckle on our armor, and,
resolving "to conquer or de-" march
boldly to the field Of battle, and there
confront the enemies of our liberty and
the foes Of our domestic peace and tran
guilty.
Pursue them to tho "bittcr end"
pause not one moment, nor falter until
victory is achieved. 1t is our legacy
to rcasscrt the principle that "Ameri-
cans shall rule America, and it is our
duty to battle for the supremacy of
that principle until the last ray of hope
has passed away, and the last liberty
loving American shall have fallen in
its defence. Our enemies contend not
for principle, but for power, and their
rank and file follow blindly their mcr.
cenary leaders.
How striking is the parallel between
them and the British cohorts whom our
forefathers met at Bunker Hill, Con.
cord and Lexington and, if we bear
up against the tide Of misfortuncs which
threatened to sweep away the patriots
Of the Revolution, with the same cool
ness, courage and determination, which
animated them, our triumph will be e.
qually as signal and complete, and the
oldest of us may live to see the last
vcstige Of foreignism and demagoguo.
ism swept away forever.
Let no ono, then, despair. Ours is
a mighty army of patriots, and if VIC
have been, by traitors in our camp,
dccoycd away from the true line Of du-
W, it has oceasioned but delay and
momcntary embarrassment, and taught
MS the necessity Of n thorough recon.