Alexandria Gazette

[COMMUNICATED.]

The following sensible article in relation to the "American Party," is copied from the Lynchburg Virginian, and as it contains many wholesome truths, and excellent suggestions, its republication in the Gazette is desired by

MANY WHIGS AND AMERICANS.

The history of the American party in this country is replete with instruction and warning. When it was first formed, its object was to correct an undeniable evil, which was increasing among us in fearful progression. A half million of foreigners, landing annually upon our shores, and invested almost immediately with the right of suffrage and the dignity of citizenship, was an evil fraught with present and prospective danger. Without any true conception of the dignity, the obligations, and the responsibilities of an American suffragan--these men for the most part, were not only unsafe, but positively dangerous depositaries of political power. Deceived in their transatlantic homes, by exaggerated stories of the freedom of the people in the United States, they came here impressed with the idea that this was a country of unchecked licentiousness, without any of the restraints of law upon the liberty of the citizen. And, unfortunately, there were not found wanting men of native birth, who encouraged them in these false and fatal sentiments, and, for the sake of political advantage stimulated them to bloody acts of riot, lawlessness, and insubordination.

The American party was formed for the purpose of correcting this evil;--but how it was perverted, in the Northern States, from its legitimate and true object, is a sad and shameful recital; and tells the tale of its overthrow there, and its disastrous career in the South.

The men of the North who were engaged in this movement, could not be content to confine it to the only object for which it was originated. With the restless fanaticism which has always characterized them, whether in religion, in morals, or in politics, they must needs lug into the American creed their unreasonable sentiments and repulsive heresies on the subject of slavery. In the midst of the gallant struggle which the American party of Virginia made in 1855--when every nerve was strained, and victory was almost within our grasp--the violent and radical anti-slavery speeches of Wilson, and Burlingame were held up before our eyes--and the American party of Virginia, unjust as it was, had to suffer for the folly and fanaticism of such unprincipled political charlatans as these two men. Their sincerity in the advocacy of Americanism may be determined when we recollect that no bitterer opponents of it exist in the United States.

And so, in the National Conventions of the party. These men could not be content to let slavery alone, or abide by the existing laws of the land. After breaking down the American party of the South by their insane folly, they were then, themselves, the first to desert the American standard, and rush eagerly to the embrace of Black Republicanism.

Can any one reflect upon the small vote which Fillmore received in the Northern States, and not feel an utterable sensation of disgust at the black hearted perfidy of Northern "Americans?"

They not only postponed Americanism to the stronger requirements of Free Soilism--but, ascertaining that a large proportion of the foreign vote could be secured for Fremont, were eager to conciliate it, by lavish and persistent abuse of the American party and its candidate.

It is thus evident that the American party of the South can place no reliance upon those who claim to be its allies in the North. Perhaps, here and there, may be found one who is conservative and patriotic. But the exceptions are so few that they do not even form the nucleus of a respectable guard.

The American party of the South has already suffered sufficiently from the follies of its Northern associates. By longer communion with them we have everything to lose, and nothing to gain. For our part--expressing our individual sentiment alone--we hope the Louisville Convention will unceremoniously eject from their body every Northern man who does not give an unqualified assurance of his supreme devotion to the American cause above all others, and an unconditional pledge that anti-slavery and Americanism shall never more be associated together.

Going before the Southern people on the naked issue of Americanism, and with no sort of responsibility for the acts of the Northern wing of the party, and no association with them, the Americans of the South would as assuredly triumph as the day of contest came. Americanism, though it originated in the North, has become essentially a measure of Southern protection and Southern rights. In the last Congress, the Free-soilers of the North were the most clamorous of any for the extension of the privileges of aliens--while the most prominent of the Southern Democrats, and those who have been regarded as the leaders of the extreme Southern rights party, protested against the legislation that was proposed for this purpose with the utmost vehemence.

To the objection that sectional parties would thus be created--a result which we deplore as much as any one could do--we have to answer that they already exist. Did the vote for Fillmore in the Northern States indicate the presence of a National American party there, worthy of the name? Disguise it as we may and painful as is the admission, there is no national party in the country. A hollow truce, for the sake of a division of the spoils of office, holds together in unnatural alliance the two wings of the Democracy--but, in so far as either principles or measures of government are concerned, there is no more in common between them than there is between the Thugs of India and the People of America.