American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-02-14
MoRGANTowM:
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY ii, 1857.
Address Of the State Council OF
Kentucky.

iul audrcss was unanimously adopted
by the American State Council Of Ky.
Il few days since:
The delegates to the State Council
nro we'll assured that the Americans of
kentucky need no words ofcondolenco
over the result Of tho recent election.
They have been defeated, but are not
discouraged; they havo been overcome
by misrepresentation and fraud, and
chicanery, but they are not disheartcn-
ed. BY the articles of political dema-
gogues they have been out-numbcred,
Lat they are still unconquered; and
proudly conscious of the justice, the
propricty, and the patriotism Of their
principles, they arc ready again and
again to prove their devotion to the
cause Of their country, confident that
the hour Of their triumph must come,
and that their principles will be appro-
we'd by majority of the American peo-
PIE, and that their policy will be es.
rabljshel rs the only safe and patriotic
policy of the American government.
The recent defeat Of the American
party was not verdict against Amer
lcan principles. They were not in is
sue in the contest. BY artrul appeals
70 sectional prejudices, and cunningly
contrlved Misrepresentation, the sIa-
very question alone was made the par
amount issue of the canvass, and the
cardinal principles Of the American
party were overwhelmed with the tor
rent Of maddcuod sectionalism.
Neither the North nor the South has
been the gamer by the conflict, but the
enemies OF Amcricanism have triumph
cd, while the bonds Of our Union have
been strained almost to breaking, and
the republican institutions Of our coun-
try have been greatly inpcrrlled.--
The sections Of our confcderacy are as
thoy were before the bowling storm of
sectional fanaticsm was invoked. Free
,soilism had resumed its sway over the
disputed Territories, and, while not tho
slightest shadow Of increased power or
influence has been added to the South,
slave property in the border States has
been rendered doubly insecure, and
the political weakness Of tho Southern
section has been too plainly manifest
cd.
The results Of the recent contest
must surcl y teach the conservative men
Of the Union that the continued agi-
tation Of the slavery question as the
paramount political issue can produce
no benefit to any State or to any Sec
ton, but that twill only serve to entail
serious and increasing evils upon the
South, and that it is pregnant with
great and imminent danger to the per-
mancncc ofthc Union Of the States
This agitation barren as it is of all good
results and fruitful only of evil, this
agitation, against which the voices of
the wise and patriotic founders of our
Government were raised in solemn war
ming, IS now the sole reliance Of success
of the Democratic party.
For years it has hunted down it's CD.
poncnts at the South with tho cry Of
abolition, "aboltion," while its own
Northern adhcrents were tho loudest
shrcikcrs in the front rank Of anti-sla-
very fanaticism. In the recent can.
vass the Democratic party adroitly
constituted the slavery question the
main issue to divide its opponents and
to distract the attention of the people
from The real principles of Americanism
and, while in the freesoil States it clai-
med to be the purcst and most Jealous
frcesoll party, in the South it calumni-
ntcd the Americans as Abolitionists,
and pretended an ultra affection for
the institution Of slavery. Yet it is a
fact, that, whilst this SANDER has been
promulgated by the Democratic party
an this State, the great mass of the
shareholders in Kentucky are compriz-
ed in the American party. '
We can Gee then in the continued a..
citation OF the slavery question only a
fruitful source Of evil. The terrtori.
al policy Of our government in this re-
gard is settled and cannot now be dis
tarbol without cndangcring the inter-
ests and safety Of the Union. The
continuance of this agitation cannot
promote the interests of the South, but
it will certainly dcprccate the value Il
security of slave property, and in the
institution Of sectional parties the
South will be too surely overcome by
the existing and constantly Increasing
prepondcrating political power of the
North in the electoral colleges and in
The National Senate and House Of Re.
prcsentativcs.
In view then Of the condition Of our
country, and believing that, whenever
tho principles Of the American party
are purely and fairly made tho issue,
they viii always be triumphant. wc