True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-03-04
The Duty of Americans.

The bright and Aattering prospects of
an American triumph in the coming Au,
gust election should arouse every true
American to prompt, immediate and vig-
orous action upon the duties resting upon
them as members of the American party,
in order that success may crown our ef-
forts with glorious victory over party
which is corrupt in principle and base in
action, and we should hurl into their very
teeth such facts as will prove their cor
ruption and intrigue which brought upon
US a volcano, out of which grew sectional
agitation, and that agitation distracted our
country from East 10 West, from North
to South, and widencd the breach which
already existed between the people of the
North and the South. Since they have
alienated one portion of oul country from
the other; since they have well-nigh sew
cred the blood.cemented ties which bind
us together as conlederacy, since they
have crushed the last spark Of harmony
which once existed in our National Coun-
Gil, when the members thereof knew
neither North or South since they have
brought this great fabric upon the very
verge Of ruin, and have well-nigh ami
hilated the last vestige of that liberty and
independence which was bequeathed 10
us by the common blood of our forefalb-
erS; since they have well-nigh wrecked
US upon The fatal rock of disunion, and
since they have brought all these evils
upon US to accomplish their own base and
selfish desires and 10 advance their own
personal interests, does it become us as
Americans, to turn aside from those evils
which stare us in the face, and which 60
broadcast throughout the land, sowing
the seeds of discord and contention from
the Rocky Mountain heights to the shores
OF Canada 4! One universal cry of No
comes up from every true patriot! There
is solemn duty imposed upon every
member of the American party, and that
duty is TO arrest, if possible, those evils
while they arc yet in their primitive state
and to use every exertiOn to restore peace
and harmony 10 every section Of our dis
tracted country.
Since =" there is strength in unity" lie
us organize ourselves and meet in Coun
cis-not in cellars and subterraneal
chasins, and other secret places, as tll
Democracy wall doubtless endeavor Il
make the credulous and grossly ignoran
believc-aud do all we can 10 advance th
interests of the party with which we ar
identified, and Of which, we are proud t
acknowledge, we are all humble member
We say again, let us organize and NEE
in Councils 4! Though we were defeate
in the late Presidential contest; thoug
we were willully branded with heresy an
apostacy, and numerous other false ep
lhels though we have been charge
with disloyalty TO the South, and of abel
rancy by aiding and abetting the Abol
liOnists, let not these things deter 20
from meeting in Council, hut let thel
tend to unite us more firmly in the gre,
cause in which we are engaged. W
must prove our faith in, and tenacity t.
] American principles by promulgatin
! them to the world by extending the
to the mountains, by rel'earsing them
/ ihe valleys; by proclaiming them to d
! wise, and tea,ling them tolhe ignoran
! Whether naive or foreign born and