Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-03-25

Principles and Policy Of the American Party. No. l.
GxSrLkNxS On the Sd inst. Mr.. WISE the Governor
OF Virginia, addressed letter to the Washington Union
ostensioy TO correct alleged msreport osone remarks
attributed to him. but really il would TO make
an occasion Tor unjust and unpovoked assault ON the
American party.
In that letter Mr.. Wise the following language
| Certainly the cause OF civil and religious freedom
maintained by the Democracy of Virginia was nobly sun
ported by of the truly conservative
and constitution loving Wings OF our State but was
able to nix their number We gladly took them in
tor the renegade Democrats who sncaked away from their
former friends and took OATH In the secrecy of the
eulvert by the light ola dark lantern Whether thcs,
wings can be reclaimed by the nomination at Phila.
delphia time will show think they cannot be- MIR Fill
more is mo longer whig he has been changed by the
hocus pocus OF the necromancy Sam In the next Pres
idena canvass there viii be issues presented by
three parties; the white mans partythe Democratic the
black mans psr,y-the Black Republicans the muiatto
paftthe cross OF northern and southern Know Nothnys
the ticket OF Messrs Fillmore and Donelson All ma,
ture abhors and monrsls and so do consci.nt
Gus, conservative, and eonsttuonlovng Wings of Vr-
ginia They can put up better with pure Aticans-woo
hat nose odor, cbonshn and gizzard foot and a-bet
ter than they bear that OF Caucasian and Gu
| fey which you call a-mulattol"
With regard to the taste displayed by Mr. Wiss In tia
cho'ce OF his epthets and Illustrations have not ON,
word TO say Tor old proved admonishes us that there
Is no dsputing about tastes Nor shall stop 10 enouir
whether II be altogether in accordance with the usa,- of
the past for the Chief Magistrate of the
TO descend into the arena OF party politics Passing all
propose 10 make Mr.. Wise'S
teh Tor series OF articles intended explain the true
doctrines and policy OF the American party and In show
that they are obnoxious the charges and inn
uations rfade by Mr. WISE but on the orr hand thar
they sanctioned by the principles of the ,nsi,nn
by the practice and known opinions of the fathers of nm,
republic, and by the obvious ictat,s of n.,ro,;s d
common
Vogue and indefinite assertions like those indulgcd IN
by Mr. Wise may for time impose the unenlch,ened
particularly when supported by the prestige of dstn
guished name and high official position but with men o
SENSE they will by idle wind unless th.v ~
sustained by proof
IL Is TO De regretted that Mr. Wise should allow his pre-
JUDGES and mpetuosity OF temper misead him so FAR AS
IN elect TO question the patriotism near one half of his
""cltEens-men quite intelligent and quite as hon.
est a. himself The reason doubtless Is that Mr. Wis, is
man OF great talent aud self reliance and much QUICK
nes@ OF perception, but by means given 10 patient in
vestigahon, and the calm and dspa souate
oil iaSts aud principles When he glances subject he
readily embraces prominent views OF il and c,pcie. tina,
ne has seen II IN all its aspects and understands IL in all it,
relations and details Unfortunately the American p.r,
was INST presented TO Mr. Wise under circumstances pec-
marry uiavoTaoe to his forming fair judgment OF it, p.
eipes and merits. He candidate for the oaic. of
governor oil Virginia, when the American party first be.
came Recognised in the State and he saw il I'm an atttnd
oil antagonism 10 himself He il like lion In his
path and alton somewhat shrouded in mystery Without
stopping 10 enquire what the principles of the party were
anu what Its policy was likely to be, he forthwith made
h"t''e and unreentng upon it, aud bruyht all his
powers of mnd sud body too into the contest H.. ha,
TO opponent the huStiugs-he trayerset the Who'll.
Ss representing Amelicanism 10 be just what his heat.
ed imagination supposed it be-and alter ca,np,ign
against phantom OF his creation he came off tho
victor 10y near 10000 votes. Ii Is be wondered
mem 'nat Mr. wise after dwelling upon his dtempered
views OF Anrricanisrn for more than year should con
se'enuosiy believe that it is dreadful monster
Threatening the peace and welfare OF the country
Aud will add here that it is suitable retribution up
on that party that il should have been misepr.sented
And misunderstood, for its shameful delinquency in the
contest OF 1883, IN not sending forth champion TO do
oi'te II" MS oehalt-to NpAin its docnes-to vndcae
s pncipes-to exhibit TO the public its proposed policy
and 70 scatter TO the winds the thousand aud one idle t
me- that we're circulated in regard to it,
bHt all that has pased-we have TO deal with the
Aneflcan OF 1886, not with the bunders and ilies of
1900 Inc party has cast aside the veil secrecy and
all III cumbrous mummery, and il presents itself A.
an open o'ghnLanon-in the full light OF day-wth its
principles enbazoned on its Observation-Disclosures the
confidence the admiration and the affection of true pa.
triotS -
All asks to be tried by its principles and the meas
ues winch proposes the Legitimate results of those
principles Il asks Nirginans look them fairly and
dspasonatey and say whether they are not die pn
cples OF the Gonstitutonboth State aud Federalthe
principles oil ashihgton Jefferson Madison and the 9th
er fathers OF the repubc-thc principles best calculated
10 arrest the tide OF adcas and socialism and black
repuoneAnsn which have for past been sweeping
over this land and to maintain nvolae the institution,
Of the SOUTH the guarantees of the Constitution and the
country II they be not such, then ask support Tor
them
These are the propositions which mean to establish
not 10y vague asserton-not by catch-worls and empty
dechmation-but by substantial and well authenticated
iact drawn from the Constitution, the laws and the his.
tory of country shall state nothing which | will
not prove by evidence which deem worthy of credit
invite tho strictest scrutiny aud IL Inadvertently fall into
any error will checriuy correct it when satisfied by
proof that am wrong
The opinions of men all political as well as moral
questions, will be diverse the minds OF those who
entertain them. Much latitude be allowed and
much liberation practicCd this subject But historical
iacts fixed and Interchangeable and are susceptible of
being brought TO standard by which their truth can be
ascertAined claim Tor my opinions weight except 81
Tar as they sustained by good reasons Nv fact will
rest on authorities which will cite wherever the mat
tiers not of such aud general noto
ETY. as TO render the citation of authority UNNECESSARY
will also STATE IN advance that is is nv purpose stu
dousy 10 abstain from all harsh aud offensive expressions
to make no personal mputatious and to observe that
courtesy 20 those who differ from me, which should al
ways distinguish the intercourse of gentlemen
With these preliminary remarks proceed to examine
some OF the positions assumed by Mr.. Wise.
"Ceiianly says that gentleman, the cause Of civil
aud religious irledcm msntained by the Democracy Of
virginia was noby supported by many OF the truly
srvatve conscientious constitution loving Whgs OF our
state but never was able TO fix their number"
presume there can be rational doubt that the fr
inference 10 he drawn from this sentence is that the An
can party aud those Wings and Democrats who coopc
rated with them ia the canvass Of last spring. were in
the judgment Of Mr. WISE opposed the cause of civil
and religious freedom. lie regards the cause of ciy and
religious freedom having been n IN that contest
and he say. that the Democrats poon OF the Wing.
who acted with them, qdHtdinei" and "gobiy syDBort.
ed that Now, unless it had been opposed or ia
some aaled there would have been necessity Tor
maH'a'"i"g-and no merit in Hobiy opporiing it, The
l
arrayed against Mr. Wise and his friends were wa.
ging war on ,he cause OF civil aud regious freedom
How did they oppose ig Certainly no. by she mere
act Of voting against Mr. WISE lie doubtless means
that the warfare carried by attempting TO cstlb.
sh the asocndency OF the principles and measures Of the
American party.
This naturally leads enquire what those principe.
and measures and ~ the consideration Of the cues
ton whether there Il any antagouism between them and
the cause Of civil aud religious freedom.
Some great fundamental principle lies at the bottom Of
every party organization IL Is the TO which ali the
measures aud policy OF the party may be pced IL gives
the complexion aud character 10 all its legislative aud ex
ecutive action.
The leading principle Of the Wing party was conisrta
G0a-ezhibiug itself IN opposition what it conceived
20 be unwarraned assumptions OF power by the federal
rXecutivein deep devotion 70 the COnsitution-in
love Of law and Otder-and in revefent lOOkingup ~
the fathers Of the republic for instruction and guidance n
I the affairs Of government
The Cardinal principle Of modern democracy Ne II ap
pears a. ne ~ radeaiisa Exhibiting itself IN utter dis
regard Of thc teachings Of history and erpcrenceau
| ajccl lnbscrHcncy 20 what Nc Randolph called " King