The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-06-09
The Convention at Phllade,ph,a.

or Liverpool ct Sd. Freigbts, however, were dali.
The Convention at Philadelphia.
We publish elsewhere letter from CORES
pendent at Philadelphia, referring to the Know
Nothing Convention there, which contains
several ideas worthy of very grave medi-
tation. 1t appears that, independently of the
naturalization laws and the religious question,
on the details Of which much division of senti-
ment exists among the members Of the council,
the body is arrested in the transaction of bust
ness by the insurmountable difficulty attending |
a settlement of the slavery question. 1t seems |
that part of the Order, being the members
rom New England, are resolved not to waive
their anti.slavery prejudices; while, as mat
ter OF course, the bulk of the Southern men are
prepared to resist by any and every means all
attacks on their institutions or their properly.
Thus brought to dead lock between the two
contending parties, the wiser members of the
convention are devoting their thoughts to the
search of q plan by which this Gordian knot Of
slavery can be cut /; and the plan mentioned by
our correspondent is one that has been pro-
jected.
We refer to his letter for the particulars.
Here we may say, briefly, thSt it is proposed to
leave the slavery question an open one until
after November, 1856, in order that the Order
may carry the intervening State and the
Presidential elections, pro-slavery men in
the South, and antielavery men in the
North agreeing to unite on some fair man
for President. That, when Congress meets
after the election, the slavery question
be fairly opened and discussed, and if possible
an understanding adbetween the North and the
South, as to the admission Of future States, and
all such other matters as may be likely to in
volve the question in the future. If an under
standing in which both sections of the country
are likely to acqa;esce peaceably, cannot be
arrived at on the basis of the present constitu-
ton, then that Congress adjourn and a conven-
ton be called composed Of delegates from all
the States, for the purpose Of ascertaining
whether or no some other constitution cannot be
framed which will settle the point in dispute; in
other words, to amend the constitution so as to
place it in harmony with the magnitude of in
terests and conflict of opinions existing in the
present day. And finally, if after due and
earnest discussion, it is found impossible to
invent any compromise which can be received
willingly by both sections of the country, that
a peaceable separation be effected between the
North and South, and such treaties passed as
may be suitable to their future Independent
condition.
Startling as this plan may appear to the
conservative masses of the country, it will be
no surprise to those who have carefully watch
ed and duly pondered the events of the past
few years. 1t has long been obvious that with
all the prosperity of the United States. while
the power and wealth and growth Of the couu-
try were an unexampled phenomenon, there
was a caDker gnawing it's heart and sapping
the very foundation Of its strength and well
fare That capker was the anti slavery
agitation. For years and years it slum-
bered, only rising into view at rare intervals,
to be crushed out by sheer force through the
disinterested patriotism of leading men, But
latterly it has acquired too much strength, is
has spread its roots too widely to be dealt
with thus Many years have elapsed already
since it became the leading question of Aneri-
can politics. Even then it would have proved
an insurmountable barrier to the working of
free institutions, had it had full scope But
the leaders of both political parties, working
for private ends, agreed to ignore it they
promised each other not to inquire into each
others creed on this head and 30 successfully
did they carry on this political masquerade
that for many Presidential terms they reaped
first one, then the other--the solid reward
of the government spoils An understanding
OF this kind, practice of this corrupt and uu-
principled character could not but terminate
in confusion and ruin it has done so both
the wing and the democratic parties are in the
last stage OF loathsome decay. And the ques-
ton now to be laid before the mind of every
American citizen is this 1t being impossible
to carry on the government Of this country in
the manner heretofore used, in consequence Of
the irreconcileability of the pretensions of the
ant-slavery men on the one hand and the
claims of the slave owners on the other, what
new plan does it behoove the people of the
United States to pursue?
We are bound to admit the FEASIBILITY of the
reasoning of our correspondent from Philadel-
phia. The scheme be proposes would settle the
slavery question, even if it cost the dissolution
of the Union; and 1t appears to be the only one
that would. American citizens are not in the ha.
bit of canvassing the prospect of dissolution of
the Union, because they are taught from child
hood to regard it as sacred legacy from their
forefathers, which it is sacri egious and parri-
cidal to touch. But if government is impossi
BILE until the slavery question is settled, aud no
settlement Of that question cao be arrived at
short Of a dissolution, why allow mere feeling
of reverence for the past to stand in the way of
an inevitable consummations Our national
interests are opposed to anything of the kim
would destroy our national power,