Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-07-21
LYNCHBURG VIRGINIiN.
SATURDAY MORNING.. July 81. 1855.
The Know Nothings OF Illinois

The Know Nothinss OF Illinois
The annual session of the Know Nothing STATE
Council, of Illinois. was. held at Springfield the
capital Of the State. a few days ago. and we arr
sorry to say. tina, its proceedings Of such
character to place wide gulf between th,
American party of Illinois and the American par
~ of the Southern States. The session of thu
Council appears to have been stormy one
the slavery question, being of course. the mair
topic of excitement. A strong effort made
to procure the ratification of the slavery plank
of the Philadelphia National Platform, but unfor
tunately without success. The Free Soil senti-
ment of the Convention was too strong for the
conservative and national element of that body
and accordingly in lien Of the Philadelphia res
olution. The Know Nothiugs Of Illinois put forth
the following declaration on the subject Of slave
ry:
S. That the time has arrived when tho Ameri-
can party of the United States are called upon
10 take open. fearless and unre served ground up
on the great question of slavery. that is now ng
itating the people Of every section ofthis Union;
and that she intense excitement and agitation
!. which AT the present time distraoting our
country upon the subject of slavery have been
caused bv the repeal of the Missouri Compro-
gross violation and disregard Of sacred com
pact eEtered into between tho two great sections
OF tn eonfederacy, and in the highest degree
destructive Ia the peace and welfare of this Mon
That restoration of the Missouri Compromise,
as it will restore the territory for whichit wa
originally made {, the same situation in which 1t
was before that line unnecessarily destroy
I'd, SOFT will restore pence aud harmony TO the
country. without injury or injustice To any por
tion of the Union; that while it will only give To-
freedom that which with due sosmnity and good
faith was long since conveyed Ia her under the
contract, it vii equally preserve the full and I'M
disputed rights acquired under it by the South
ane that therefore tie Missouri Compromise
should be restored, ana thai in all political
tional contests the American party in the state
of Illinois will demand Of its candidates for office
among other qualifications. their open and undls
guiSed opinions ~ on this question.
This resolution adopted by vote Of II 10
IS. 1t thus appears that large majority ofthe
Illineis Know Nothngs have followed in the
footsteps Of their brethr5n in Connecticut, Penn
syvania and some other Northern States,hy en-
phatically repudating thePbiladelphia platform
and declaring themselves il favor Of mad and
reckless scheme of anti slavery ngitatoni
OF course the idea of cooperation between
the American party of tine South aud that tho
North, 80 long as the latterinsist ON setting up
such platform as that of the Illinois ConYen
ton is wholly impossible and prepostrous.--
Neither in the next Presidential election nor in
any other Struggle the Northern and South
ern Know Nothings affiliate with such breach
a. this between them and the repudiators Of the
Philadelphia platform virtually proclaim the
dissolution of the American party National
Organization when they demand that the repeal
of the Nebraska law shall be made part of thu
Know Nothing creed.
Tn ough beaten in the struggle, the minority
of the Illinois Council we are glad TO sees made
a gallant and determined effort in support of the
platform and we trust that they will
abide firmly by their truly national and patriotic
position. The American party of the great state
of New York have not yet spoken, and We have
strong hopes that when they DO so they will sus-
tain the action of the National Convention aud
ste rnly rebuke the course Of the Free Soil repu-
diators of Connecticut, illinois, &c. If New
ork takes National position on this question
the American party of the North and South may
yet be brought TO harmonious operation in
the next Presidential election