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Whereas, the aggressive policy which has been uniformly pur-
sued by the slave power from the commencement of our national
existence, down to the abrogation of the Missouri compact, evin-
ces a determination to "crush out" the spirit as well as the forms
of liberty from among us, and to subject the free states to a relent-
less despotism; and whereas, the success of the Southern dele-
gates to the National Council recently held in Philadelphia, in
making abject and uncomplaining submission to pro-slavery legis-
lation, a fundamental article in the creed of the National American
Party, renders it imperative upon us to express our views upon
the great question of the country and the age: Therefore we
declare,

1.  That the action of the legislative, executive, and judicial
departments of the government ought to be controlled by the
principle taught by the framers and purest interpreters of the
Constitution, that "freedom is national and slavery sectional."

2.  That repose for the country and stability to the Union, must
be sought by relieving the general government, so far as its juris-
diction extends, of all connection with and accountability for
American slavery.

3.  That the independence and sovereignty of the State in its
legislation and judiciary, should be maintained inviolate.

4.   That the great barrier to slavery ruthlessly broken by the
repeal of the Missouri prohibition, ought to be speedily restored,
and that in any event, no State erected from any part of the terri-
tory covered, by that compromise, ought ever to be admitted into the
Union as a Slave State.                                                               
What Marylander can belong to a party professing such doc-
trines as these ? Yet they are put forth as the doctrines of the
"American Party!" In Louisiana again, the proceedings at
Philadelphia are rejected and denounced at a State Convention
of the Order, and the eighth article of the Philadelphia Platform,
is repudiated for the reason, as they expressly declare in their
platform, that it proscribes men on account of their religion.
Again, in the same State, we find at a meeting of the Councils
of the City of New Orleans, this last Convention, which they of
New Orleans style " the State Wigwam of Louisiana," is in its
turn denounced, their proceedings rebuked, and it is declared that
" this self-styled American party of Louisiana, has become a
distinct faction." The lesser body denouncing the greater as a

faction!                                .

Again, we find more recently in the Congress of the United
States this beautiful scene of " confusion worse confounded."
First, the larger number of those elected to that body under the
name of Americans, go-off and become identified with those who
are more properly called the Black Republicans, and struggle to