Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-06-21
The Philadelphia X, N. Convention.

This Convention, mort than any other that
ever assembled in this country, has been the
centre of attraction. Its action on the Slav-
cry question has been the point which was
destined to cause the disruption Of the party.
Early in ITS session it relinquished one Of :he
principal features in the X. N. organiza ton
by admitting Catholic Delegates from Ala
bama. This was a terrible blow to the
Northern and Western Deleg .tes, who look
ed upon the Anti Catholic portion of the
creed as the best part of the Order. But aside
from all minor considerations, and all lesser
differences, the dark rock of slavery loomed
up "dead ahead" and awed the National
party by its threatening appearance. The
first split on this question was in the Com
mittee which submitted the following resolu-
tions on slavery
ReSoived, That the American party, having
arisen upon the ruins and in spite Of opposi-
ton Of the Wing and Democratic parties,
cannot be held in any manner responsible for
the obnoxious acts or violated pledges OF
either; that the systematic agitation o! the
Slavery question by those parties has elevat-
ed sectional hostility into a positive element
of political power, and brought our institu-
the imperative duty OF the American party
to interpose, for the purpose of giving peace
to the country and perpetuity to the Union.
! That as experience has shown it Is inposs-
BILE to ecorcie opinions SO extreme as those
which sepurate the disputants, and as there
can be no d:shonor in submitting to the laws
the National Council has deemed it the best
guarantee of common justice and of future
peace to abide by and maintain the existing
laws upon the subject of Slavery, asa final
and conclusive settlement Of that subject in
spirit and in substance.
RESOLVED, That regarding il the highest
duty to avow these opinions upon a subject
50 important, in distinct and iunequivocal
terms, it is hereby declared as the sense of
this National Council, that Congress posses
ses no power under the Constitution to egis-
late upon the subject of Slavery in the
States, or to exclude any State from admis-
does or does not recognize the institution OF
Slavery as a part of her social system; and
expressly pre,ermitting any expression OF
opinion upon the power Of Congress to estab-
lish or prohibit Slavery in any Territory. 1t
is the sense of this National Council TIM,
Congress ought not to legsate upon the
subject of Slavery within the Territories oI
the United States, aud that any interference
of Congress with Slavery as it exists in the
District of Columbia would be violation oi
the spirit and intention of the compact by
which the State of Maryland ceded the Dis.
trict to the United States, and breach OF
The National Faith.
The resolutions hving been read, the
minority reported resolution on Slavery. It
read as follows:-
Resolved, That the repeal OF the Missouri
Compromise was an infraction of the plight
ed faith of the Nation, and that it should be
restored, and if efforts to that end shall fail
Congress should refuse to admit any State
tolerating Slavery which shall be formed on,
of any portion OF the Territory from which
that Institution was excluded by that Com.
promise.
New York alone of the Free States wen,
for the majority report. After long and
stormy debate on the slavery question the
majority resolutions were adopted by a vote
OF soto SO. In the course Of the debate the
Northern delegates showed themselves pos
sessed of sufficient quantity of that here to.
fore scarce item in the anatomy OF politician
back bone. The south were forcibly remind.
ed that there is North, anu that she knows
her rights and dares to advocate them.
Nor was the opposition of the North mere
"sound and fury" but ..clam and deliberat,
action, gone into cody. and persevered il
honestly. Delegates from twelve state.
, Gone account says thirteen,) seeded from tn,
convention and have addressed an appeal 4
the people in the present crisis, which is re
markable for its brevity and frmness. 1t /
as follows:-
APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE.
To the people Of The United States;
Inc euhuerslgheu,citlxens OF various States
assembled at Philadelphia on the i4th day O
June, 1855, feel constrained under the exist
ing state of affairs to affirm the following
principles.
First-The unconditional restoration O
| that time-honored Compromise, known as III
Missouri Prohibition, which was destroye
in utter disregard of the popular will
wrong which no lapse Of time can palliat
. and no plea for its continuance can Justify
Aud that we will use all constitutional mean
/. to maintain the positive guarantee of tha
. compact, until the object for which 1t wa
I. enacted has been contaminated by the ad
0 mission Of Kansas and Nebraska as Ere
: States.
SceoHi-Tha, the rights Of the settlers i