The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-07-16

Z
tency aud yacillation. In the vain expecta-
tion Of disarming the enemies of the order,
OF their weapons of talsehood and peryersion,
concessions have been made again and again,
which, instead OF abating, have only increas.
ed the violence Of their malignity. In the
equally vain hope of modifying the hatred Of
the Romish Church, and Of satisfying the
croaking consciousness of luke.warm
friends, one Of our cardinal principles Il
mean resistance to the aggressions Of the
Romish Hierarchy has been so diluted, that,
like Douglas Kansas bill, it is construed one
way in one section, and one in another. In
addition to this, other issues, extrane0us
to the obectsand purposes Of the order, have
been added from time to time-dffering in
different sections, to enable local politicians
to save themselves at home, regardless of the
effect upon the general good Of the order, as a
national organisation. And it has turned
out, that many who aided in originating this
great tmoyement-many who forght for it with
might aud main, in the days Of its pristine
purity-hnd themselves left far in the rear;
and tEat they have become objects of denun.
ciation and abuse, by those who have thus
travestied its simple and fairlineaments, who
held aloof from it in the weakness Of its in
fancy, but who rushed to its embrace in the
strength Of its manhood
] foresaw The dangers which beset US, and
predicted the consequence, at the Philadel-
pha Convention in June 1855. | then dis
covered growing disposition to try and
cnnciiate the aderents OF the Romish
Church in certain States, by ahating tie
stringency of our opposition to the danger
Gus assumptions Of Papacy--and 1 warned
our friends, that IL this was done. it would
not only be compromise OF great princi-
pie, but that whilst it would Gail to appease
| the bitter hatred OF Romansm, il would lose
Us the confidence Of the rural population.
whose resistance to Popery was perhaps the
strongest element in their attachment to
American principles. there witnessed
struggle between the Northen and Southern
/ Delegates, as to who should obtain triumph,
in fitting in the slavery" plank Of the plat
form. For myself, wanted no such plank
in i. used every effort in my power to
prevent its insertion. saw plainly, that
when the American party had to " walk thar
plank, il would do 30 TO lis sorrow. First,
because the question of slavery was extrane-
Gus to the aims and ends Of our organiZa-
tion. Secondly, because, from the very in-
herent nature Of the order, il could accom-.
pllsh its mission, only as a national party;
embracing true.heafted Americans Of every
shade Of opinion, on other and minor gues-
tions, undivided and undistracted by section
al or local issues. | did not wish TO see the
American party using the question oi slavery
agitation, as an electioncering hobby--as the
anti American party is dning; laying down
-. "A ~. 81.
in ore section. and pro.slayery ia another.
And even it had wished It, | knew very
we'll, that with the materials Of which the
American party was composed, no such game
conId be successfully played out. twill be
rccollected by many, that then warned nv
J Southern friends, that even If they could sue
cecd in Obtaining the strongest pro.slayery
platform they might desire, yet. if thereby
disruption Of the order followed las feared.
believed, and predicted would be the easel
with the loss Of our naiioral unity. we should
lose the talsman of our strength. then told
them, that the loss Of harmony and concert
Of action would weaken Us far more than the
platform would strengthen Us, even in the
South.
But other cOunscls than mine and those
Who concurred with me prevailed. The sla.
very question was intcrpOlatcd upon the three
points" "pure and simple" TO use a
!. phrase Of late European Dipomacy)-repu-
diatiou Of that portion Of the platform did
: follow in most Of the Northern State COun.
cils--the Southern elections during the Sum.
; mer and Tall of 50 showed who was right
. aud who was wrong-and we are now reap
ing the bitter fruits If our dissensiOns on the
!, subject Of slavery.
am now, as have ever been, since the
first inception of the American movement, an
: American Of the original type. Others may
! alter or modify their creeds as they chouse
but for myself. win admit the statue of
no other foreign Deity in my political Pan
theon, till Tie great problem Is solved.
whether our country is to be controlled and
governed by the American people, or by 4
pie.bald rabble fDm other lanls-whether
. we are to emmy Protestant freedom Of con-
science, Or whether we are tO bow in abiret
slavery to the behests Of Rume--whether the
! Inion j. 70 be preserved or undermined by
iactiun. ''fis true. ! have nv opinions on
the various questions growing nut " slavery.
! ~ lirm aud liked as ans man IL tie land; but
do not intend To- allow these opinions 10 in-
tericre with NV support u, Or mar my at
: tachmen, ID higher andhobler ends of Ameri,
Cahism.
u ! am willing 70 recognise, to counsel wih,.
J. and to act with. any and every man in the
i, maintenance and supporto OF American princi-
i plcs;no matter what nav be Bis opinions On
4 the subject ol slavery be- is willing
Z 10 Subordinate those opinions, a. am mine.
: to tie three great cardinal principles Of
Ntua A... al
! south, who holds his views un slavery as
b FIRST and foremost, and Who sustaius Ameri.
9 can principles as aLclary only 70 the carry