Virginia Free Press

140
PARTIES IN NEW YORK.
It is to be seen, by the subjoined proceedings in the
City of New York, that the American Party there are
determined to head off the "Black Republicans" in
matter of vital interest to American labor. While the
fanatical leaders are giving all their attention to the interests
of the negro, the Americans are determined to
look to the true interests of the white man. They have
no disposition to interfere with the institutions of the
South. They have not the presumption to undertake
to counteract the ways of Providence. They are content
to let the negro race fulfill their destiny by going
through the process of civilization which the Almighty
has doubtless provided for them.
We would call especial attention to the fact that the
Black Republicans in Congress are determined to post-
pone all other matters, and make the negro prominent,
with a view to direct the prejudices of the masses. But
the mechanics and laboring men of the North are dis-
covering that their true interests lie in another direction.
The battle in that quarter is in reality between
them and the fanatics, and the South should encourage
them in every possible way to crush out the Abolition
leaders. It should never be forgotten that if the conservative
men of the North, like we who are anxious to
let us manage our domestic institutions in our own way,
are broken down, then all barriers to fanaticism will be
destroyed, and the consequences must be serious.
Let us give the American mechanics in the North
a cheering voice in their struggle with the men of one
idea; they have an interest distinct from and beyond
abolition, and in truth have no real affinity with the
agitators. Whatever gives activity and dignity to
American labor should be fostered and encouraged.
[From the New York Express, March 14, 1856]
The Fifteenth Ward American Council have taken
up the subject of FREE TRADE in the Raw Materials
of our Manufacturers—a measure which, as it is intended
to benefit our Manufacturers and Producers, is certainly
good Americanism. The Black Republicans in Congress,
this Council believe, intend to sacrifice American
Labor and American interests, this session of Congress,
altogether to the interests of Africa, and hence they
express themselves vigorously against thus ignoring the
white man for the supposed interests of the negro. We
commend their Resolutions to attention:
AMERICAN MEETING - A meeting of the
American
Party
of
the
Twelfth
Council
the
Sixth
Congressional District for the City and State of New
York, held March 13th, the following Resolutions were
introduced by J. N. Reynolds, Esq., duly considered,
passed, and ordered to be signed by the President and
published:
Resolved, That inasmuch as we have been credibly
informed that there is a Bill about to be introduced into
Congress for the reduction of the Revenue and other
purposes, in which it is provided that all raw materials,
of every description, that can in any possible manner be
made to enter into the manufactures of this country, shall
be admitted free of duty; and regarding, as we do, that
this provision is highly beneficial to the farming interest,
and is in accordance with wise and enlarged American
statesmanship, that every wave that rolls upon our shores,
and every wind that blows, should bring hither the raw material from
every portion of the globe, and place them in the hands of
every American artisan to be moulded by the genius and skill of American workmen
into the various forms of machines—thus giving
labor to the unemployed. We do most heartily approve
and will give to this measure our most cordial and earnest
support, no matter from what quarter it may be proposed,
or by what name it may be called.
Resolved, That the introduction of raw wool free of
duty, would tend to give the wool growers of the
country a steady and higher remunerative market is not
a matter of speculation, but is attested by the experience
of other countries, especially England and France,
and that the united voice of political economists throughout
the world is, that the interest of the wool grower
on the one hand, and the artisans and makers of cloth
on the other, are identical—when the latter suffer the
former are impoverished.
Resolved, That inasmuch as we have also been credibly
informed that the Black Republican leaders in and
out of Congress have been and are devising means to
prevent action during this session of Congress, on this
all important subject, with their accustomed selfish and
personal object of making this, as they are trying to
make all the great interests of the country, subordinate
to one fanatical idea, which has, with wicked zeal,
driven the country to the verge of civil commotion, arraying
the North against the South and the South against
the North, in hostile division, inflaming the sectional
pride of each, by angry declamation and sharp defiance
until the peace and harmony of the country have been,
as never before, shaken; therefore, further
Resolved, That we regard it as the true policy of the
Government, no matter by whom administered, to exert
its power to secure the prosperity of every American interest and workman, North and South,
East and West, and to give the most ample scope to the
industry and industry of every American citizen, in every
lawful pursuit—to guard the industry of the country
against the injurious influence of the adverse policy
of foreign nations, and to secure, in so far as the same may be
done, in accordance with the powers conferred by the
Constitution, the prosperity of the American workman
in house or country, workshop or farm; by giving him a
free and fair field, or even a preference in the supply of
the world required by the country.
Resolved, That the Honorable John Wheeler, our
late brother and much departed friend, will, in the opinion
of the Twelfth Council, best consult the wishes of
those who elected him to Congress by giving this measure
his most cordial and earnest support.
B. R. Kirby, President.