The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-01-30
THE NECESSITY FOR AN AMERICAN
PARTY.

an idea of the character and designs of ih'
party to which we could give our most un-
wavering and conscientious support. In doing
this, we should not lose, but maintain ou
character MS an independent journalist. Fo
the word American includes the compile,
idea of popular rights and personal indepen-
dence.
The notion of American principles ard ar
American policy dates back to the Revolution
and even its germ is found in the struggles Of
our ancestors for civil liberty and personal
rights long anterior to that great epoch. But
it is TO the Declaration of Independence, to
the Articles Of Confederation between the
Old Thirteen Colonies, to the Constitution Of
the United States, TO the administration of the
earlier Presidents, George Washington, John
Adams and Thomas Jefferson, and especially,
to the Farewell Address Of the first and the
first Inaugural of the last, that we must look
for the ascertaiument, not of an ideal pe.fec-
ton in political ethics, but of the true thor.
ough American policy. Now it is TO this
policy we desire to bring back or rather to
bring up our Government, and there is, in the
present crs s, strong and urgent necessity
for National party thai shall labor for this
great end, and this alone.
The great majorty of the American people
are in heart truly American, and indissolubly
welded to the policy upon which the Union
was inaugurated BY the Declaration of Inde.
pendence, and afterwards consolidated by our
National Constitution. An Amt rican party
having this policy inscribed upon its banner,
must necessarily, as soon ns its principles and
objects are understood, embrace the great
body of the American people. The forces of
such n party, when once consolidated and
brought to bear in political Contest must be
overwhelming and secure certain triumph
over nlI opposition.
There are in our country two sectional
parties, one of which is now in power and the
other seeking to overthrow it and to hold
the same position. The triumph of either is
not triumph Of the whole Union, but of a
section, and the continued contest between
the two will, in the end, unless patriotism
interpose, rend our glorious confederation
asunder. That patriotism must be embodied
in party which shall ignore all mere geo.
graphical lines, and shall recognise the broad
principles of concession and conservatism
upon which our Government was originally
founded, and by which alone it can be man-
tained. II will not do to wait until these
sectional strifes shall have involved the eoun.
try in civil war, as they have already been on
the very verge of doing. Patriotic men who
love the principles of Washington and Jeffer.
son, must unite now before it is too late, and
remain united in one consolidated American
party.
The Democratic party owed its many sue
cesses mainly to the fact that it was consid-
cred Union party. 1t could boast that it
united the North and the South. The people
saw or thought they saw, that this was 20,
and rallied 20 the support of the Union for
the sake or the Union. But that party has
now become decidedly sectional, being driven
into that position, partly by the issues sprung
upon it by its Republican opponents, ard
partly from the corruption and want Of CO.
hesicn among its own members. II is true
this party succeeded nt the late Presidential
election, hut the victory only showed its
weakness. II was but spasmodic effort
that is the unfaiIing precursor of utter pros
tration.
Shall the other sectional party be permitted
to triumph over this weak and disbanded one,
and thus keep the Free and Slave States in
perpetual collision, until the contest ends in
civil war and the separation Of these States
into two distinct nationalities! Because the
Presidential campaign is over, ard political
lull has supervened, Americans must not
ground their arms. Now is the time to or.
eanize in wards, school districts, townships,
counties and States, md TO take effective
means for diffusing over the country the true
principles of The American party, and for
uniting in one great Union party all patriotic
and devoted followers of George Washington
and Thomas Jefferson. 80.
PuRITAHIsM REvIvISe.-The Massachu-
sets State Board of agriculture have unani.