Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1857-06-18
ADDRESS
Of the American Council to the Peopl
of the United States. ~

ADDRESS
Of the American Council to the People
of the United States.
The National American Council, which
convened at Louisville on the I'd inst, a.
dopted the following address:
Called by the passing away of another
wear to meet the members Of the American
party in National Council, the occasion de-
raands reaffirmation Of our opinions. We
are ready to-day as aforetime 70 give rea-
son for the faith that is in US, and as ready
to-day as ever before to stand fast by our
vows of devotion to our whole country
Neither dismayed by defeat, nor disheart-
ened by opposition neither discouraged
by the past, nor without hope for the future
we meet together both to counsel one
with another, and to show to the people OF
the United States by our presence and our
numbers here in open convention, that as
party we are hopeful and determined as to-
our future course Of action.
The dominant party at the North and the
dominant party at the South, by appeals
made to sections of county and the passions
of the day, are temporarily success sful.-
But a temporary triumph is no evidence OF
permanent success. Nor does a victory
secured by passion give evidence Of true
attachment to principle. "A true soldier
will never lie disheartened in Sustaining a
good cause, because Of one or many defeats.
The nine hundred thousand American
voters who sustained the American candi-
dates for the two first ofices..in the gift of
the people in November last, may enjoy the
consciousness Of an honest work well meant
and we'll done. They neither counted the
cost Of defeat nor faltered in the discharge
ofa great public duty, and had the thou
sands Of men ever agreed with them in o.
pinioD a. the justice Of their principles and
the fitness Of their candidates acted upon
the same convictions Of public duty, the re-
suit would have been far different. At the
North, tens ofthousands voted for Mr.. FIRE.
mont upon the plea that there was no chance
for Mr.. Fillmore, while tens Of thousands
voted for Mr.. Buchanan at the South upon
the plea that vote for MIR. Fillmore would
secure the election of the candidate Of the
miscalled Republican party. 1t was cru
ell and uncalled for sacrifice upon the altar
Of expediency, and one Of those sacrifices ol
principle which, if persisted in, in private
life, as is sometimes the case, in the con-
sideratiou Of subjects of great public mo-
ment, would result in common DISASTER
When patriotism becomes the rule OF action
and true love of country points out the
path Of duty, nothing can excuse the yield
ing up of that which is right for that which
is merely expedient.
We do not, however, seek to recall any.
thing in the past calculated to wound the
feelings of those who were tempted in
moment of dependency or thoughtlessnes'
to forget their obligations to their country
or their associates in principle.
Thousands who left our ranks in Novem
Der, drawn away by the temporary expedi
ents and passions of the hour, have return
ed 10 the fold Of the American party. The!
have been taught in this bitter school OF ex
perience that the word Of promise may b.
made to the ear and broken to the hope
Where there was pledge TO secure, ant
the power TO affect pure ballot-box-th
want Of which is one Of the great evils o
the times, and to accomplish which ought L
unite the good men Of oil parties-thsre ha
been either criminal Indifference 10 tn
evil itself or bold participation in tha
wrong. So in the promises made at tn
North to secure pure franchise through
the agency of a registry law, where all coul
see and know who, under the constitution
and by the laws, were entitled to vote.
In no instance that we can recall to min,
have either Of the two great organization
opposed the American party endeavored t
secure those wholesome reforms which ar
essential either to an intelligent or homes
exercise Of the rights of franchise. Eve
where an attempt has been made, as in New
York, to secure q practical reform unde
the naturalization laws, so that, while III
change would not extend the five years
residence previous TO naturalization pre-
yided by the laws of the United States,
would, nevertheless, secure small porto