Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-06-10
The National American Council Abolish
ment of Secrecy.

The proceedings Of the National Council of
the American party, at its session last week in
the city Of New York, were, in many respects,
of vital importance, and require attentive and
earnest consideration from us and our readers.
From the session Of this Council we date, with
the utmost confidence, new era in our histo-
ry as party, and do not hesitate to prognos-
ticate not only rapid accession of numbers,
but the final triumph of our principles through
out the land. In an open organization, with
our banner thrown boldly to the breeze, we
may defy all opposition, all malice, all the in
fuence Of the Foreign party, and all the power
of the Vatican
We referred briefly, last week, to the abol-
ishment, by the recent National Council, of
the system Of secrecy under which we have
till now been operating system which, in
our earlier history rs party, was absolutely
forced upon us by the exigencies of the case,
and without the adoption of which we could
not, at first, have commended SO successfully
against the peculiar enemy to whom we found
ourselves opposed The foe we were called
upon to meet itself repudiated all the ordinary
rules of honorable warfare, and compelled us
to an attack on its own field, and to fight it
with its own weapons. What was dishonora-
bic with il, became right and proper with us.
Secrecy, treachery, and midnight plotting on
their part, was met by judicious and carefully
considered contemplating on ours, until, baf-
fed at every turn, and writhing in agony at
the unexpected defeat Of their own machina-
tons, their only relief was to accuse us Of
wickedly pursuing q system which they had
first taught us and literally forced us to adopt
And yet, after all, our secret system was
very little different from that current with
every other political party that ever existed,
either in this country or elsewhere. The ope-
rations of the Democratic party, though it
loudly claims to be the most frank and open
Of any on earth, are nevertheless, concocted,
Matched, and put into effect with far more
stealthiness and mystihcation than ever at
tended the movements of an American Coun-
Gil in its most mysterious session. Who sup
poses for moment that the measpres Of that
party are the result of the spontaneous and
simultaneous impulses Of its masses, either in
convention or in general public convention p
No one but the most credulous or ignorant
would entertain such an idea for moment.
1t is perfectly well understood that the few
in the Democratic party rule the many, al
though they contrive to hoodwink the masses
and make them believe that every measure
emanates directly from themselves. There
never yet was an important movement made
in that party that was not the result of discus
sion and consideration in secret conclave,
among q few of its leading politicians. The
very secrecy with which all these operations
have been conducted, added to the fact Of the
blind obedience Of the masses to their masters,
ia the real secret Of their success hitherto.
Who forgets the Tammany Society Of New
York, or doubts that the politics of that State
and, to great extent of the country, were not
only influenced but absolutely ruled by tho
Sachems in secret councila
And who is ignorant of the existence
now, AL through the land, Of Democratic
clubs with passwords, signs, and initiatory
ceremonies The very party which has abused
MS most soundly for conducting our affairs
with . judicious reserve is the very one which
is really most obnoxious to the epithets Of
midnight conspirntors," "dark-lantern obi
garchies," &C., &c. We are disposed to be
more liberal than they, and have no objec-
ton to their private consultations. 1t is a
privilege to which every political party is alike
entitled We claim for the American party