Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-06-27

The majority platform was published in our last
Also the protest of the minority composed of twelve
free States which is in substance the minority plat
form-the main feature of which is demand for the
unconditional restoration of the Missouri line MIR.
Rayners proposition given in the papers, is SUBJ
santaly this 1t declared that slavery ought to be
left to the control of the people of the localities where
it exists-that the Know Nothing party is neither
abolition pro-slavery; and that the Convention
had nothing to do with the question of slavery
Mr.. Rayner's colleagues in Convention from his own
State it will be observed, voted against his propo.
siton. They not willing, as it appears he was,
to act hereafter with the abolition Know Nothings
without some pledge on their part of respect and
regard for the Constitutional rights of the South
The majority platform adopted by the slave
holding States, N1issouri and Delaware excepted,)
with the aid of California and New York-two OF
the delegates from the latter State voting against it.
The National IntelIigencer shows that the States
which adopted it are in a minority in the Electoral
College; and ninetenths of the States, it is known,
that voted for it, Democratic. A brilliant show
ing is it not? Admit the platform to be such an
one as ought to have been adopted, we do not;
and then look first at the fact that it done by
Southern men, aided by free States which will GER
tainy repudiate it at the polls; and secondly at the
fact that the old Democratic party, speaking for the
aDhole country adopted better one at their last
Convention at Baltimore, and we can form an idea
of the difference between this sham national concern
and the old Democratic national party. The Know
Nothing leaders at Philadelphia could not command
for national platform enough States to secure
majority in the Electoral College; the last Demo
cratic National Convention adopted its platform
unanimously, and elected their candidates upon it
by a vote of 254 to 40 in the Electoral College.
The last New York Herald contains the proceed
ings of ratification meeting held by the Know
Nothings of Easton, Pennsylvania, on the 22d in
slant. The meeting approved the majority or ma
tional" PLATFORM and among other Resolutions adop-
ted the following:
" ResoIUed, That we deprecate in the most solemn
and emphatic terms the repeal of the Missouri COM
promise act of 1850, as breach of sacred compact
four years was a bond Of national peace and tran
GUILTY. That it is the sense of this meeting that the
twelfth section of the platform does not endorse the
Missouri outage, has been alleged by portion Of
the press but refers the whole subject of slavery to
the proper legislation of the country, through the
individual responsibility of the representatives of
the people and therefore does not commit the par
ty to any specific action"
This is the manner, then, in which the slavery
portion of the platform is construed by the Know
Nothings of Pennsylvania. What says Mr. Rayner?
Perhaps, if he should make speech soon he will
explain all this-perhaps he will show that his own
proposition was one worthy the approval of Southern
men-perhaps he viii tell how it that of
the name of Rugg, UniversaIist preacher, and, as