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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

were introduced and earnestly debated in that body and the Senate. With a view to pacification the Democrats passed in the Senate (July, 1856) the noted Toombs bill, which provided for an early election in the Territory for a Constitutional convention, the election to be held under Federal auspices and to be so regulated as to assure fairness to both sides and prevent all intimidation and illegal voting. This did not appeal to the Republicans, who, while conceding that the plan in detail, purely as a voting arrangement, was probably fair, asserted that their unyielding policy was to prevent the allowance of slavery in any Territory, and therefore that they could not leave the matter to chance. A more shrewd reason for the rejection of the Democratic overture has been suggested by some historical writers as having had weight with the Republican leadersthat of preferring, for campaign advantage, to have the chaotic conditions continue until the Presidential election.1 As measures which alone would be acceptable from their point of view, the Republicans sought to secure the immediate admission of Kansas on the basis of the Topeka Constitution, and also to reenact the slavery inhibition of the Missouri Compromise. The Senate and House being at variance, the efforts of both parties for their particular ends failed, and the campaign was fought on the Kansas question without further material developments.

1See especially Theodore Clark Smith, Parties and Slavery, pp. 166-169.

American Party (Know-Nothings)

Previously to 1854 this organization had been only in evolution on a system of profound secrecy even as to its name. Coming out from the dark at the elections of that year, the facts were seen to be that it was the political development and expression of an immense countrywide "order" founded on the most elaborate, tremendous, and astonishing ceremonials, mysteries, oaths, pledges, etc., with grips, raps, passwords, watchwords, signals (such as prescribed ways of reflectively and discreetly rubbing the nose and chin), regalias, rituals, rites, and degrees; that its official name (divulged only to those achieving the highest degree) was The Supreme Order of the Star-Spangled Banner; that it was ruled and all its decisions were initiated and directed by an extraordinarily select inner body called the national council; that its practical program was to stigmatize, discriminate against, and substantially decitizenize large elements of its fellow-countrymen on account of their places of birth and religious persuasion; and yet that it expected the great American people-the most composite, cosmopolitan, liberal, and kindly people in the world-to accept it as The American party. The fate that speedily overtook it has served since as an effective warning to aspiring neophytes in politics. Grandiose pretensions by parties to the possession of singular virtues of Americanism, and corresponding egotism, gasconade, and braggadocio on the part of their illiberal followers, have perhaps not very much abated; but never has the experiment been repeated of

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

a serious and hopeful organization arrogating to itself the superlative style of The American party.

Greeley never spoke more sensibly than when, at the height of its popularity, he said: "It would seem as devoid of the elements of persistence as an anti-cholera or an anti-potato rot party would be."

Its first and only national nominating convention assembled in Pittsburgh on Washington's birthday, 1856, and continued in session four days, twenty-seven States being represented by 227 delegates, and Ephraim Marsh, of New Jersey, presiding. Previously to the coming together of the convention the "national council" of the "order" had met and adopted a platform for the party. When this was presented to the convention a bitter discussion arose on account of its non-committal treatment of the slavery question, and an amendment was offered declaring "That we will nominate for President and Vice-President no man who is not in favor of interdicting the introduction of slavery into territory north of 36° 30' by Congressional action";defeated by 141 to 59, whereupon some seventy of the northern delegates refused to participate further in the proceedings.

Nominations-For President, Millard Fillmore, of New York; for Vice-President, Andrew Jackson Donelson, of Tennessee.

Platform:

"1. An humble acknowledgment to the Supreme Being for His protecting care vouchsafed to our fathers in their successful Revolutionary struggle, and hitherto manifested to us, their descendants, in

the preservation of the liberties, the independence, and the Union of these States.

"2. The perpetuation of the Federal Union and Constitution as the palladium of our civil and religious liberties and the only sure bulwark of American independence.

"3. Americans must rule America; and to this end native-born citizens should be selected for all State, Federal, and municipal offices, of government employment, in preference to all others; nevertheless,

"4. Persons born of American parents residing temporarily abroad should be entitled to all the rights of native-born citizens; but

"5. No person should be selected for political station (whether of native or foreign birth) who recognizes any allegiance or obligation of any description to any foreign prince, potentate, or power, or who refuses to recognize the Federal and State Constitutions (each within its own sphere) as paramount to all other laws as rules of political action.

“6. The unqualified recognition and maintenance of the reserved rights of the several States, and the cultivation of harmony and fraternal good-will between citizens of the several States, and, to this end, non-interference by Congress with questions appertaining solely to the individual States, and non-intervention by each State with the affairs of any other State.

"7. The recognition of the right of native-born and naturalized citizens of the United States, permanently residing in any Territory thereof, to frame their Constitution and laws and to regulate their domestic and social affairs in their own mode, subject only to the provisions of the Federal Constitution, with the privilege of admission into the Union whenever they have the requisite population for one Representative in Congress.

"Provided always, That none but those who are citizens of the United States under the Constitution and laws thereof, and who have a fixed residence in any such Territory, ought to participate in the formation of the Constitution or in the enactment of laws for said Territory or State.

"8. An enforcement of the principle that no State or Territory

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

ought to admit others than citizens to the right of suffrage or of holding political offices of the United States.

"9. A change in the laws of naturalization, making a continued residence of twenty-one years, of all not hereinbefore provided for, an indispensable requisite for citizenship hereafter, and excluding all paupers or persons convicted of crime from landing upon our shores; but no interference with the vested rights of foreigners.

"10. Opposition to any union between church and state; no interference with religious faith or worship; and no test oaths for office.

"11. Free and thorough investigation into any and all alleged abuses of public functionaries, and a strict economy in public expenditures. "12. The maintenance and enforcement of all laws constitutionally enacted until said laws shall be repealed or shall be declared null and void by competent judicial authority.

"13. Opposition to the reckless and unwise policy of the present administration in the general management of our national affairs, and more especially as shown in removing 'Americans' (by designation) and conservatives in principle, from office, and placing foreigners and ultraists in their places; as shown in a truckling subserviency to the stronger and an insolent and cowardly bravado toward the weaker powers; as shown in reopening sectional agitation by the repeal of the Missouri Compromise; as shown in granting to unnaturalized foreigners the right of suffrage in Kansas and Nebraska; as shown in its vacillating course on the Kansas and Nebraska question; as shown in the corruptions which pervade some of the departments of the government; as shown in disgracing meritorious naval officers through prejudiced caprice; and as shown in the blundering mismanagement of our foreign relations.

"14. Therefore, to remedy existing evils and prevent the disastrous consequences otherwise resulting therefrom, we would build up the 'American Party' upon the principles hereinbefore stated.

"15. That each State council shall have authority to amend their several constitutions so as to abolish the several degrees and substi

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