The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-29
For the National Era.
CONVENTION OF FREE DEMOCRATS

In accordance with previous notice, a Con
vention Of Free Democrats was held in tn,
Courthouse, Washington, Pennsylvania Au
gust 30th, 1853 The President being absent
Mr.. William Caldwell was chosen Presiden
pro tenn. and J. w. McKeever, Secretary
On motion, Samuel Mcfarland, Isaac Suth
erland, Thomas Miller, +. J. Agnew, and jacob
George, were appointed committee to prepar,
business for the Convention. The Convention
then ad journed to meet at one O'clock.
afternoon Session
The President Mr. Alexander Sweeny, being
present, took the chair, when the business com
mittee reported the following resolutions, which
after discussion, were adopted
RESOLVED, That we renew the resolution
adopted at the last meeting, "That the tenth
article of the Pittsburgh Platform, in the fol.
lowing words, that no permanent settlement
of the Slavery Question can be looked for, ex.
cept IN the practical recognition of the truth
that Slavery is sectional and Freedom national,
by the total separation of the General Govern
ment from slavery, and the exercise of its le-
gitimate and constitutional influence on the
side of freedom and by leaving to the States
the whole subject of slavery and the extradi-
ton OF tugitves from service be stricken
from the Platform, as not in accordance with
the Ant. Slavery sentiment of Pennsylvania"
l.. F. Day, Isaac Sutherland, Jacob George,
Samuel Mcfarland, and William Caldwell,
having been appointed to nominate candidates
Tor the various county offices, reported the fol-
lowing:
Assembiy-Robert McBurney and Joseph
Mccoy.
CommisSioner-E J. Agnew.
TredSurer-John Barry.
Deputy Surveyor William p, Cherry.
Prosecuting Attorney-Samuel Mcfarland.
Auditor.-William Barr.
On motion, RESOLVED, That Samuel McFar-
land, Samuel Patton and J. B. Chaplin, be a
central committee, whose duty it shall be to
appoint subcommittee in each election dis
trict for the purpose of forming clubs, to pro-
cure and circulate Facts for the People, to pro.
cure and circulate tickets and to perform
other duties pertaining to the cause Of Free
Democracy
Resolved That the editors Of the papers in
this county, the editors of the National Era
and Saturday Hiater be requested to publish
the proceedings Of this Convention.
A. SWEENEY, President.
SAMUEL PATTON, Secretary
We object to the tenth resolution Of the
Pittsburgh Platform, because We do not believe
that Z" Slavery is sectional, and Freedom ma.
tional = for the General Government, by Its
own acts has made Slavery national And the
separation of the General Government from
Slavery is not desirable till the institution be
totally abolished. But, on the contrary, the
General Government should "exerciso It's 10
Ultimate and constitutional influence" IN op'
position to Slavery, as well as on the side OF
freedom"
We object, especially to leaving to the States
the whole subject of "Slavery and the extradi-
ton Of fugitives from service" We do not
however, object to leaving to the States the
extradition Of fugitives from ~rp'ee, rightly un,
derstood TO mean free persons who have es-
capped from tho obligation Of contracts But
we would a. soon think Of eyangeizing the
world to the regions Of darkness, as leaving
the whole subject Of Slavery and the extradi
ton Of fugitives from Slavery to slayeholdine
States. Indeed, We can never consent to leave
the sibject Of Slavery 10 any power on earth
for the Obvious ressoa that we are bound moi
to do 10 by the Higher Law -" Lope IA,
neighbor as tAysslf"