Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-03-26

Ear fh1 Spectator.

~ For tie Spectator.
Principles and Psliey Of the Americas Party
~ No. I.
GfnTLsMsN ION the Sd lost. Mr.. Wise, TIE
Governor Of Virginia, addressed letter 70 the
Washington Union, ostensbly to correct an al.
legged misreport Of some remarks attributed to him.
but really, it would seem to me to make an coca
sion for an unjust and unprovoked assault on the
American party. -, -.
10 that letter Mr.. Wise uses tho following Ian
guage:
dom, maintained by the Democracy Of Virginia,
was MOLLY supported by many Of the truly con.er-
vative, conscientious, and constitution. loving
Whigs of our State, but never was able to fix
their number. We gladly took them in exchange
for the renegade Democrats who snsaked away
frsm their former friends, and took test oath, 10
the secrecy of the culvert, by the light Of dark
lantern. Whether these Wings can be reclaimed
by the new nomination at Philadelphia, time will
show. think they cannot be-. MIR. Fillmore is
no longer Wing; he hiss been changed BY the
hocus pocus of the necromancy of Sam. In the
next Presidential canvass there will be new issues
presented by three parties the white mans party
the Democratic; the black mans party-the
Black Republicans; the mulatto party--the cross
of northern and southern Know Nsthings-the
ticket of Messrs Fillmore and Donnelson. all
nature abhors vacuums and mongrels; and so do
conscientious, conservative, and
Wings of Virginia. They can put up better with
pure Aricans-wool, fiat nose, odor, ebon-ski and
glzzard, foot and al-better than they can bear
that cross of the Caucasian and Cuffey which you
call a-mulatto"
With regard to the taste displayed by Mr.. Wise
in the choice of his epithets and Illustrations,
have not one word to say for an old proverb adj
monishes US that there is no dsputDg about tastes
Nor shall stop to enquire whetherit be altogether
in accordance with the usages of the past for the
Chief Magistrate of the Commonwealth TO descend
into the arena of party politics. Passing all these
things by, Il propose to make Mr.. Wise's letter my
text for series of articles intended to explain the
true doctrines and policy Of the American party,
and to show that they are obnoxious to none Of the
charges and insinuations made BY Mr.. Wise, but,
on the other hand, that they sanctioned BY the
of the constitution, by the practice and
known opinions of the fathers Of the republic, and
by the obvious dictates Of patriotism and common
sense.
Vague and indefinite assertions like those in
dulged in by Mr.. Wise may for tine impose on
the unenlightened- particularly when supported
by the prestige of a distinguished name, and high'
official position, but, with men OF sense, they
will pass by as the idle wind, unless they are sus
tanned by proof.
1t is to be regretted that Mr.. Wise should allow
his prejudces and impstuosty of temper to mlslead
him so far az in effect 10 question the patriotism
of near one halt of bis fellow citizens-nen quito
as intelligent, and quito as honest as himself
The reason, doubtless, 10, that Mr.. Wise is man
Of great talent g. sefreliance, & mnch quickness Of
but by given to patient invest-
cation, and the calm and dispa,sionate examination
Of facts and principles. When he glances at a
subject, he readily embraces prominent views of it,
and Encies that he has seen it in all its aspects
and understands it in all its relations and details.
Unfortunately the American party was first pre-
sented to Mr.. Wise under circumstances peculiar
" unfavorable to his forming fair judgment Of ito
principles and merits. He was candidate for the
office of Governor Of Virginia, when the American
party first become recognised in the State, and he
saw it in an attitude of antagonism to himself
He saw it like lion in his path, and lion some
what shrouded in mystery. Without stopping to
enquire what the principles of the party were, and
what its policy was likely TO be, he forthwith made
fierce and unrelenting war upon it, and brought all
his powers Of mind, and body too, into the contest.
He had no opponent on the hustings-he trayersed
the whole State, representing Americanism to be
Just what his heated Imagination supposed it to be
land after campaign agaiDst phantom Of his
,wn creation he came off the victor BY near TO-
300 votes. It 10 not to be wondered then, that
Mr.. Wise after dwelling upoa his distempered
riews Of Americanism, for more than year should
believe that it is some dreadful
monster, threatening the peace and welfare of the
country.
And will add here, that it 10 suitable retri-
button upon that party, that it should have been
and misunderstood, for its shameful
delinquency in the contest Of 1855, in not sending
orth champion to do battle in ito behalf,-to
explain its doctrines,-tO vindicae its principles,
to exhibit to the public its proposed policy, and to
scatter to the winds the thousand and one idle so-
,ies that were circulated in regard to it.
But all that has passed-we have to deal now
With the Americanism of 1856, not with the blum
lers and folies of 1855. The party has cast aside
he veil Of secrecy, and all its cumbrous mummery,
md it now presents itself as an open organization
n the full light Of day-with its principles en-
,lazoned on ito banners challenging the conf
lence, the admiration and the affection of true
,atriots.
All it asks is to be tried by its principles and the
measures which it proposes as the legitimate re-
uts Of those principles. It asks virginians to look
It them fairly and dispassionately, and to say
whether they are not the principles of the Cons,
ution-both State and Federal-the principles of
Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and the other
athers Of the republic-the principles best calcu.
ated to arrest the tide of radcalism and socialism,
md black republicansm, which have for years
,ast, been sweeping over this land and to main |
ain inviolate, the institutions of the South, the
Of the Constitution, and the peace and
of the country. If they be not such,
hen ask no support for them.
These are the propositions which mean to es. |
by vague assertion-not BY catch.
words and empty dcclamation-but by substantial
md well authenticated facts, drawn from the
Constitutions the laws and the history of our coun
ry. shall state nothing which will not prove
" evidence which deem worthy of credit.
invite the strictest scrutiny, and if inadvertently
all into any error. will cheerfully correct it VI
atisfed by proof that am wrong. 'en
The opinions of men on all political III
moral questions, will be as diverse a 10 wen 40
# those who entertain them. 40 :ne nli"us
10 allowed and much tolp- aiuc" ia'''uue ihus'
nbiec, But histori,o' .aton practlsed on this
Ssraa.h,a and - al facts are fixed and I'M
y s,.nd.,t lie susceptible of being brought
0;naJ oy which their truth can be ascer-
. claim for my opinions no weight except
:. rar as they are sustained by good reasons. My
facts will rest on authorities which | will cite
the matters are not of such recent &C.
currence and general notoriety as to render the
citation of authority unnecessary.
will also state in advance, that it is my pur-
pose studiousy to abstain from all harsh and ofen
sive expressions make no personal imputatons,
and to observe that courtesy to those who differ
from me, which should always distinguish the
intercourse of gentlemen.
With these preliminary remarks, proceed to
examine some of the positions assumed by Mr..