New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-02-27


with their law passed over the Governors head for
bailiDg murderers, they will probably feel pretty
secure so far as legal prosecutors are concerned.
The great Dark Lantern has been fractured as 10
Ntw-York, having already been subjected in several
States to a similar process. Henceforsh, whatever
little candle may be inside the lantern will be
allowed to sbed its beams in this naughty world,
without the slightest obscuratian. The American
party, having undertaken to put the Government
and politics Of this country under the control
Of midnight coDclaves and secret lodges, aud having
in the fret days Of the experiment met with little
temporary success, supposed thst Grand National
Inquisition was possible, and that hereafter not
merely Governors but Presidents merely
State Representatives, but Cabinet Oficers-were
to be appointed BY virtue Of e1trsjudicial oaths,
horse collars breastpins and farcical rituals. In
this opinion a good many prominent men concurred.
Fillmore, for instance, who may be considered
eminent notorious just the reader pleases, had
large faith in Third Degrees and solemn binding
obligations; in the solitude Of bis library was put
through both, and Immediately prepared to become
President of the United States. He came very
near it, indeed. He lacked nothing but votes and
States enough TO be elected. Unfortunately, he
happened to lack both to an unusual degree. aud is
not, we believe, to be inaugurated on the 4th prox
limo.
As we have never believed that the mere ma
chinery ofthe Dark Lantern party could ever, with
all the ssgacity Of Sacred Mountain Headley, be
kept in running order after Presidential election,
and as we knew that the business and earnestness Of
popular feeling aad indeed the innate sense Of the
lodges must finally condem it, are not surprised
TO hear that the American State Council" Of New
York, which net at Troy on the 25th inst, has
taken steps to place the party SO far as it is a
party, upon the common and well-recognized ground
Of all legitimate political associations. We are not
sstonished TO find it resolving THAT the oa.h.,
"oblie and degrees of the Order be abolished,
or that Committee has been appointed Z" to revise
"the ritual and simplify its forms" Hereafter the
An erican organization is ID be known (if We may
credi. the New-Yoik State CounciD "as an open
Organization" that is to say, "the American
Order" afer having tried the experiment of carry.
ing on party by the aid Of grips and of CANNON,
intimidation has at last conclule led, the researches
having been conducted under the most propitious
circumstances, to give up the game, and to put
itself in the same category with other political par
ties. We always knew that in the end it would
come to this. We always felt that the Dark Lam
tern disease was selfHmited. We have from the
begnnu fore,een that it would work its own
cure.
And now the Americans aforesaid, having ad
mitted that others save themselves have SEINE Pc
Etical rights, and that other parties, aud more es-
pecAy other principles, are worthy Of fair, stand
up fight, it becomes necessary for al to be inform
ed what that party processes, and what these prin-
ciples are. We have sent the Dark Lantern TO take
IFS place with other rubbish; we are no longer TO
6ght each other in Cimmerian gloom, and the blows
to be taken and the blows to be received are 10 be
fair ones. We are glad, therefore, 10 learn that
under the architectural auspices Of the Rev. j.
7. Hesdly. the platform has been Of We may say
coy Tejuvenated and so altered, contracted in this
direction, enlarged in that, raised and remodeled,
that tie wsyfung man. though fool, may see that
the snterprisipg contractor was in state Of the
greatest botheration. We are informed fret, tina.
" the pure question of Americanism shall take pre-
" cejence Of all others" This would be sa.isfsc-
tory and refreshing, did We but know what :" the
"pure question Of Americani.m" may be. If
" Americsnism" still means q crusade against Ca
tholics, az onslaught upon all adopted citizens, an
urdisguissd hostility to classes in the community
We can understand why Hesdly should call il (sc-
cording TO hsideas) Americani.m, but we really
c,nDot see why he should call it pure. The second
plank of the amended platf nm declares that the
Council is now, as il has ever been, unaterably op
posed to The extension Of Slavery into territory
- from which, By the Missouri Compromise, it has
"been excluded forever. This, fer q secondary
proposition, might snswer well enough; bat what
shall We cay to the third story of Mr.. Headley's
edfce. which is S. follows
Pfsoirsd Thst we are oppoeed 70 the use Of the
power Of tie GeIera Goyeroment to extend the in.ti
irii.u Of Slavery and vif TIA. the nstural Law.
WITCH govern emgrson shall decide that great q-es
Ion without ,he least LteseIeIce OF Federal sashony.
I,e AG,..:sa Cg-ael, Gsn.,s-, = ]. ~ ab-