195
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1855
the policy of European potentates and statesmen, to throw upon our shores their refused population of convicts and paupers to pervert our ballot boxes and populate our poorhouses, HE WOULD MOST CORDIALLY SANCTION AND INCULCATE THE PRINCIPLES OF THE AMERICAN ORDER. The instances that I have given of secret po- litical associations, are not the only ones which have been and continue to be, practiced by the two political parties. Are not secret caucuses continually held by the political leaders of both parties in Congress? "Oh, yes," it will be answered, "very true, very true! but there is a necessity for this. We have to take care of our parties, to form plans for the people to carry out. And if we did not make platforms for them, they would not know how to vote upon important subjects." This explains much of the opposition to the present movement of the people. THE ACTION OF THE AMERICAN ORDER IS ONLY THE PULSATIONS OF THE AMERICAN HEART, WHICH FORCES LIBERTY THROUGH THE HEART OF THE MASSES, and will cause them to reclaim that power and influence which the arts of demagogues and the assumptions of "pa,rty lea,ders," have appropriated to themselves and gen- erally allow the people to cast their votes in accordance with their caucus decisions, whether secret or open. Should the Ameri- can movement succeed, as it must, if our liberties are to be pre- served, many good easy souls, who feel seated in power, will have to yield that power, which has been used in directing the people to carry out their edicts, prepared in caucus and proclaimed in convention. The cry of ABOLITIONISM has been raised by the Anti-American party in the South for no other purpose than to alarm their fears and strangle the American feeling. Have not the two parties for years past charged each other with being identified with Abolitionists as it has suited party interest? The Ame1·ican order have given their platform to the world. I perceive by the intelligence of the day that one of the oldest statesmen, the standard bearer of the party, GEN. CASS, has approved the platform of the American order, as proclaimed to the world, by the Convention at Philadelphia. From fifty to fifty-four, abolitionism appeared to die away. Its notes were seldom heard or heeded. The Compromise of fifty had silenced agitation, and the Congress, at its meeting, though composed of nearly three hundred members, claimed but four avowed Abolitionists in both Houses. Now they are formidable in number. What has produced this wonderful revolution? Was
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