Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-07-14
AMERICAN STATE CONVENTION.

AMERICAN STATE CONVENTION.
The State Convention Of the American
Party was held at Reading on the I'd Of July.
and continued for several days. The object
was the reconsideration, or rather the repu-
diaton Of the 18th section of the platform
adopted by the National Convention recently
held in Philadelphia. The great difficulty is
the slavery question, which Of late years has
become the apple Of discord in almost every
political convention or party organization.-
The majority of the Pennsylvania delegates
were dissatisfied with the result of the Ma
tiohal convention on this question. and hence
the call Of State convention. Each party
and each convention, nowadays, goes for
adopting new platform, just as if principles
were as convertible, in the hands of interested
politicians, to suit their own views, as the
planks of the veritable platform on which
they stand in haranguing the people, were in
the hands of the carpenter who constructed
it.
The best national platform is unquestiona-
bly,, the "Constitution of the United States.''
That platform was constructed by the best
and ablest men in our country. after mature
reflection and great delberaton.
We copy the following extracts OF the pro-
cecdings from the Reading State journal:
AMERICAN STATE CONVENTION.
Repudiation Of The 12M Section Of the Ma
tional Platforn,-.Secession of 10 Delegates.
An American State Convention composed
of delegates from the various subordinate
| Councijs of the Commonwealth assembled in
the Odd Fellows Hall, in this city, on Tues
dav morning last, July I'd, and held regular
morning, afternoon and evening sessions until
Thursday morning last, when the Convention
adjourned sine die.
About two hundred delegates were in at
tendance. including large representation
from the western part OF the State. Col.
John II. Edie, OF Somerset, presided. assisted
by the usual number of Vice Presidents and
Secretaries. The sessions Of the Convention
were not open to the public, and we are,
therefore, unable to give the full proceedings.
The most important particulars, however,
have transpired, from which we sum up the
following report:
The Convention was called for the purpose
of taking action upon the proceedings of the
National Convention, recently held in Phila-
lu, -
for the government oc the party in this Com
monwealth. The only material difference OF
| opinion appeared to be in regard to the en-
dorsement of the 18th section olthe National
Platform, relating to slavery, which was ve-
hcmently opposed by the western delegates
| in body, and large majority OF the men,
bers of the Convention from other parts oil
| the State. The first vote taken was upon a
motion to adopt the 18th section as it stands
| in the Nationa! programme, which was lost
by 80 yeas to l43 nays. The report Of the
majority of the Committee on platform was
next considered. This report was strongly
free soil, and was also voted down by SO yeas
to l04 nays The report Of the minority OF
the Platform Committee next came before
the Convention, and was adopted in place o
the 10Th section 1873 yeas to 53 nays. The
new section adopted is in the following
words
XII.-That the question of Slavery should
not be introduced into the Platform of the
American Party, being convinced that nc
such issue was intended to be embraced within
its principles and objects
That we believe in, and shall ever delent
the right of freedom of discussion on that anc
every other subject, not intended to be EN-
braced within the designs Of our organization
But inasmuch as the subject has been forced
upon us, we regard the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise as an infraction of the plightet
faith of the nation and that it should be re
stored, and if efforts to that end should fail
Congress should refuse to admit any State
tolerating Slavery, which shall be formed Ou
of any portion of the territory from which tina
institution was excluded by that COmpro
mise.
OF the 1873 yeas by which this section wa
passed, 70 were given by eastern delegates
and GO by western. OF THE 53negative vote
90 only were from the east-30 western mel
having opposed the section as not stron!
enough. As between the section repudiate'
, and the section adopted the real sense Of th'
Convention may be set down l63 in favor L
% against.
On the evening previous to adjournmen
a resolution was offered calling another Ma
l tional Convention on the Sth of JanuaryneXt
to act ON the Pennsylvania Platform. Tn
resolution is as follows:
Resolved, That Committee of Thirtee
be appointed to invite the cooperation G
ali the State Councils in the Conlederacy
who may be willing to concur in the prime
Piles and platform this day adopted by tn
State of Pennsylvania, as and for her Natior
al Greed and that a Convention be held a
Cincinnati, on the Sth day Of January mex
!, to concert measures to secure the nomnatio
: in the Convention, called by the Nations
Council, of candidates for President and Vic
> President, who are willing to stand upon th
, Platform this day established. and transac
4 such other matters as may be deemed net
n essary to secure the success Of the America
Party in the Union. The representatives
each State in Said Convention to be equal
the number of members such State is entitle
J, to in the National Congress.
After the vote was taken upon the sui
= stitute Cor the 18th section, as above givel
and carried, ten Philadelphia delegate
headed by John w. Ashmead, Esq, secedst
! These ten gentlemen held a Convention %
their own hook on Thursday afternoon, afte
:, the adjournment of the regular Convention
. called Joseph w. Hunsicker, of NJ Montgomer.
> to the chair, and went through with the fare
y of adopting set Of preamables and resol'
tions, to suit themselves, reported by JacO
It Broome, Esq.