The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-05-14
The American Party has at last pt

The American Party has at last gone into in
solvency. lis growing weakness had for some
time past admonshed its friends that fatal crisis
was approaching, and many of its more provi-
dent members have thus been enabled to prepare
themselves TO meet the final crash few
made arrangements TO join the thriving firm O
SEWARD Co.; and still larger number, after
Vainly striving to induce men of influence and
capital to become partners of the old house, by
representing that it was doing a prosperous
business, withdrew from the establishment, and
took stock in the new Constitutional Union
Company The concern, therefore, may be con-
sdcred to have formally closed its doors last week,
leaving no assets worth speaking of, and multi
tude of operatives have been thrown out of en-
ployment, who must be in a state of great desti-
tuuon Save to one or two lucky SPECTATORS
the business has been absolutely ruinous to all
engaged in it, for it started on such erroneous
principles, and has been so loosely conducted
from the outset that in addition to the loss of
their investments the regulations of those con-
nected with it have been seriously damaged.
The American Party is dead, and though it has
lett no estate to be administered on, it has trans
mltted to posterity record of its life which may
studied to some profit. AS party it never ad-
vanced one liberal comprehensive political theory,
nor did itinitiatea solitary practical and bene6cent
public measure. 1t was organized under circum-
stances that it is disheartening to advert to, fol-
the secrecy, the mystery and the soemuities
which attended the formation of the Know
Nothing order, the reverse of creditable to
the good sense and manliness of our age and
nation. It's principles as sanctioned by success
sve Conventions were the narrowest and the
most ndefensible that were ever adopted by any
political party Of the country. This asse rtion is
not founded simply upon the Interpretation which
hostils critics have given to the platforms III
question, but is supported by the conduct of the
very individuals who assented TO the resolutions
which were levelled at the Catholic and natu-
rallied portion OF our population. From these
resolutions which set forth its distinctive fea
lures, the American Party, derived its vitality,
and yet scarcely could be found to
admit their meaning and defend their logical con-
sequences. On the contrary the most eyasive con-
slruction was uniformly put upon their language,
and not an individual who was elected 10 office
on the faith OF his endorsement of the Philadelphia
platform ever ventured TO propose TO give effect to
its suggestions by legislative enactments These
leading tenes of the party have been quietly igno-
red, and of late years its supremacy, at least in
this city, certainly not attributable TO its rigid
adherence to principles of any sort The means by
which it has maintained itself here, need not be
recapituated. All are familiar with the method;
It adopted to attain its ends, when it entered upon
that nwld hunt after Office, from which it had SC
faithfully promised to abstain. The atrocities ant
frauds perpetrated in its behalf-the manifold
wrongs committed by ruffans out of office, ant
by imbecile and dishonest individuals in office
and from which 1t reaped so many temporary ad
vantages, are now known to all the world. So stu
pendous and glazing had they recently become
that its earliest and most earnest supporters wer'
compelIed to abandon it, and their reputation o
its acts materially FASTENED its inevitable down
fall lis attempt 10 take a position as Nationa
Party failed miserably through the causes we have
first adverted to, and its heinous msdeeds have
brought its existence even as local organization
to disastrous end. II dies unregretted. II II