Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-12-23
THE Future orthe American Party.


1t tribe Future ofthe American Party.
lua''he American party, heretofore standing
lncnn proud eminence, with platform of
,ia ynciples which has challenged the approval
,ro,, the most enlightened and patriotic states
n OF the nation. has suffered itself 70 be
+Nhlpered with by its enemies and misled and
Ecorated by professed friends. so often. that
We ny OF the true men of the party have be-
|, ne dfsheaftened and Discouraged and the
4 Pnnization itself divested of mn Oh If IT'S
kuoAlity and usefulness Whether it will rally
y ain as national party. under its own dis
w. Give political organization affiliated in
nciple. viii depend much upon circum-
noes WHICH time must soon develope-O7-
eao Repository.
reEhe American party for 1859 has hut one
70 Irse to pursue, and that is, to stick 10 its
| .tnciptes and to maintain its organizations
g folly aud cnward3e to abandon an or
pc 1ization which in this city has just given
Ierput $4,000 votes, and which in the State in
NJ vember last polled nearly 62 900 votes or
,,irly 10000, including the increased vote in
- city between November and December
IN may, in the estimation of Others. be consi-
ed an equal folly to keep up an organize
n which has no power TO elect candidates
its own when Il puts them in nomination
VI are not so sure that the American party
uhnot elect candidates OF its own. II did so
more than one Ward at the recent Deem
III election; and holding the balance of
yer may elect whom it will. whenever its
mbers work together. Future action must
Pudeveloped by future contingencies and ne
Ssities. The American party was first or
IiZed with no intention of making nomina-
rs of its own. 1t was the object of its
tnders to select and elect candidates who
npathized with its principles. Ii was meant
-iginally TO infuse American thoughts. ideas
! actions into the old party organizations,
her than create new party. IL was com
led originally of Democrats and Wings
20, together in strong numbers and with
natural enthusiasm of men awakened ny
b strength in association, felt that they
L the power to elect candidates of their own:
for a time they were emnently success
in New York, IN parts of New England. in
ryland, Louisiana. and elsewhere. We
re always regretted the necessity of a third
'ty, but ii has seemed and still appears to
"a necessity. There were and are thousands
American citizens who feel deeply inter
d in every question looking to the honor
| good name of the government, who can
'er act with the Democratic party or the
publican party. They could not vote for
Buchanan nor for Col. Fremont in 1856,
there are just as many who will vote for
usands who in 1856 had preference for Mr..
more, but voted for the one or the other
The two leading candidates who in their
pment stood the best chance of an election
the people.
Whether the same thing recur again
o will depend upon circumstances.
Gratis upon the one side, and Republicans
N the other think it very strange that
ion of men are ready to throw away
r votes" as they regard the act of voting
third candidate. But it is no fault of
million if they are cOnscientiously OPP
d to the nominations and principles Of
Sc put in nomination against them. The
linatiOn of Colonel Fremont was destined
efeat, from its own want of character as
oltical nomination. IL was made upon
higher ground than mere expcdcncy or
liability. 1t was "hot nomination fit to |
made" The men who sanctioned il pass
over Mr.. Fillmore, nominated by the |
orleans in the previous February. rs not |
d enough for them to support, and over
h a man as Judge Mclean, of Ohio, in |
r own ranks. who could easily have been |
ted. They deserved just what ;hcy re-
ed, and learned lesson from which, per- |
8, they will profit in time to come.
e Americans could not act with them in'56. |
they would not act with the Democrats.
were, therefore, driven into the support |
candidate of their own. To all outward |
earances, or, at least, to the extent of |
ntaining an Independent organization, |
same necessity exists to-day. 1t will be |
enough for them to ground arms when
their leading principles are recognized |
hnoth; r party, and we shall favor n sur !
Ter OF the distinctive organization of the |
erican party just soon as we have that !
pct in view, and not a day sooner. If |
old line Wings, or the mon Of the Opposi-
are ready to carry the American flag
re ii can wave in honor over the whole
on,-where il can secure Reforms in the
Fernment-Rcforms in the Ballot Box
brms in the Naturalization Laws-Reform
egard to the importation of Foreign Paw
and Crminals-Reforms that will secure
ends of justice at home, unite the States
principles of justice, equity and honor
an eve to the industry of the country
to all its Free American Institutions
shall he glad to rally around such flag
to follow lit standard bearers. The Con-
itiOn as it il, and the Union as it is, is
form enough 10 secure all these ends.
gided fit men are placed in nomination for
Onal offices. The life and antecedents of |
an are better than his professions, and
,e il is that we should feel perfectly safe
usting old line Wings like Bell, Critten-
Bates, Sharkey and Graham, of the south.
Ich men as Hunt, Granger, Winthrop,
rett, Choate, Foote, Simmons, and others,
he North. some acting with, and some in
Dsition TO- the present Republican Organi-
on. 1t will not be difficult to name fit
lidate for the Presidency, nor to unite
opposition in his support. if wisdom aud
~ dealing direct the counsels of the country |
until all this is accomplished, let the
aricans stand to their guns-keep up their
mutations in the Wards, and in the city
he Councils and in General Committee
he towns, villages, and throughout the
e.
ne Wings. we sec, intend to organize, in
city, at least. and as a kindred party with
American, and as party likely TO CO.
ate with it in the day of battle, so far
having any objection to such RI organi-
= IN, we rather wish it entire success.-N.
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