The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-07-13
From the Augusta (Georgia) Constitutiona!lst.
An OId-Linc Whig's Opinion Of the
Know Nothing Platform.


trying TO make great deal Of fuss about a certain
platform the slavery question, which their oac1l
southern delegates, with The assistance Of The dele
gates from New York. passed at their late con-
veuiion in Philadelphia. Now, while this know
nothing platform is not good the Georgia
platform. 1t is hard good, and certainly no
better, than the late national whig and national
democratic platforms. The know nothing reso.
iurionS certainly luck the bodness Of expression
of both the whig and democratic resolutions in
relation to sore sutJ"ct To the Nonh-lhe fugi
tye.sluye aw-ior while The former makes no
aIluson 10 the fugitive slave law by name, both Of
4he latter expressly named this law so much hated
by northern fanatics. But let The several platforms
speak for themselves. Here they are, viz:
KNOW NOTHING NATIONAL PLATFORM.
XII. The American party, having arisen upon
the RUNS and IN spite OF The opposition of the big
and democratic ParIes cannot be held i'm any
manner responsible for The obnoxious acts or vio-
lated pledges of either. And The sy ystematc agi.
lation of the slavery question by those parties hlv.
ing elevated sectional hostility into a positive
element Of political power, and brought our nStI-
rurIunS into peril. II has hreiorc brcUme the i'm.
PeraIve duty OF the American party 10 inierPose,
cor the purpose ui giving peace 10 the country and
perpetuIv the Union. And as experience has
rhown il Impossible TO reconcile opinions
those which separate The di>PutanIs. and
Jaws, the national council has deemed II the best
guarantee of c"mm"n justice aud future peace to
abide by aud mnintain the existing laws upon The
SuL e Ol slavery, final and conclusive settle
IN, uI ul that subj CT. in spirit and Ia substance.
AI.G regarding lie highest duty TO avow their
opinions u,"a II su' CT imp"rrunt in distinct
End un.quiyoc trr.ns i: is b. rely d. ciared, as
the sense ,af this national council. that Congress
p"s.e>s ,.ss"r urdrr the constitution 20 leg
n, i Z Il.
IRON admls,in ,iur" The Unoa hrc"usc lis c"ns
ruriun does do"s recognise t.e institution of
slavery a part ni lis -suc.aI system and eSpc-
CEtliy prrIermI:iIug any PApresSi"n Of opinion
upon the power al Congress to establish q pro-
hIhiI slavery in any Territory, j; is the sriSe Of
the national council thar Congress ou At -
I,g,>arr upon the sui of slavery Wi lin the
tan orv uf II United States aud that any inter.
I. r.rce Tx Congress with slavery it ex;>Is in
;rr District ni C,'Iumb,a would be violation of
rl. spirit and inr,n'i"n of the compact b.; which
rh~ y ale ui NJ .and Gel d ;hc District u( the
jult' States. nrI Il Lr'ach OF LatInnnI iallk.
DEMcCRTIC NATIONAL PLAFoRM.
9. That CougI' s. has power under the
,rl.u;i, int r:rre i;h control the dumrsIic
i-,tIu:Irns of HE SEE, raj Sta:es, and that such
= The sol" and proper Judges oI ever! tIiGS
apprr aiming tn their own affairs not prohibited by
he cunSlturI"n that all fNrris Of ihe abulrinnsis
or 9th, RS made - imduc" C"ngre>s TO in'cr!cre
wTh qucstr,n< of slavery. /" take incirIcRt
srrp4 in rrluIiun thereto Calculated To lead TO
the mot alarming and dangerous cons. ql"nc">;
and that all such rtlurrs have inevitable ten
dr ury tn diminish Tie happiness al the people,
and rndangcr The ,biiI!y aud pr1manenry of the
Unlon and ought No.: 10 br countenanccd by any
friend of cur p"iIc.l Institutions.
Res1ltd. That the foregoing proposition covers, !
aud was in;eulrd 10 embrace, the whole subject /
ui slavery asIIatIuu iii C"ogr"Ss; and therefore
the demucraric party nl III, Union. stnnong upon !
national platform, will abide 10y and adhere to the
fithlu TX cuon of the acts known as the com
promise measures, settled by the last Congress
The act Ior LrcIamug uf lySi'i,cs from rvice or
labor neI,i,I q lnch ncI. being dr>tgn"d TO car
~ out an express provision "I The constitution, |
cannot with fidelity thereto be repealed 50
chnngsd as Ia destroy impair lis efficiency.
RCs0Lrcd. That The democratic party will resist
all attempts al renewing, in C"ngr out of it,
the agitation of the slavery QUESTION. under what
ever shape or c"lur Gh~ ate n!pt may be made.
wmIG NATIONAL PLATFORM.
8. The series of acts Of the 3lst Congress,
commonly known the Compromise Adjust
ment, Uhc act OF the recovery OF fugiiives from
ia'or incIuded9 received and ncquie seed IN by
ihe wings OF the United States final settle
men in principle and substance, Of the sui iecls
10 Which they relate: and, SO far these acts are
concerned, will MAINTAIN them, and insist on
sheir strict enforcement, until time and experience
shall demonstrate the necessity OF further legsla.
tion TO guard against The evasion Of The laws on
the hand. and the abuse OF their powers the
other-not imPairing their present efficiency to
carry the require ments ul ;he constitution and
we deprecate all further agitation Of the questions
thus Sc tied As dangerous 10 peace, and will
dlscOunenance all efforts to continue renew
such agitation, whenever. wherever, or however
made; and will maintain this settlement
essential 10 The nationality OF the wEG party and
the integrity OF the Union.
Here are three Piatlnrms-Ihe first adopted by
the southern delegates, with The as>i>tauc" Of New
\ ork, at the late know. nothing national conven-
ton Philadelphia The second adopted uuani-
mou<ly at the last Democraric National C"nven-
lion and the third adopted by The late National
Wing Convcntion-66 delegates voting for it.
And would ask the unpr' JUDGED reader IL the
know nothing resolutions any better than either
Of the old parties! Nay. more; are they even
as bold and emphatic the other two, even
though but one northern State IN committee voted
for them at the late know-nothing national CON
Vention
But our southern know nothing friends say -
"Oh, bu; our platform was good fer the South,
that the abolition delegates from The IL northern
and western States seeded from us after we pass
ed it," They did. they did 4! Then, much
hn Il e