Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-12
PLAN OF SETTLING THE SLAVERY
QUESTION BY THE WASHINGTON
UNION" AND THE KNOw-NOTHING
CONVENTION AT PHILADELPHIA.e


UNION" AND THE KNOw-NOTHING
CONVENTION AT PHILADELPHIA.
On Sunday week the Washington Union de-
liyered itself Of plan for the settlement of the
slavery question and the permanent organiza
ton of the Democratic party, based upon this
plan. It's wise and patriotic article was under
the caption "The Democratic position on the
slavery question" A modest caption, all will
admit; but one, of which we beg leave to say,
"speak for yourself, neighbor." You are very
high up IN the synagogue; but you have not
quite the temporal power of the great Demo
cratic Pope yet, and must pardon us for re-
monstratng against any such assumption as
to provide rules, regulations, or principles for
the Democratic party. We viii be as lenent
with you as possible; but you have many sins
to atone for, and long probation to undergo,
before we can accord you such position.
Our readers will remember our comments
upon this article, in our Tuesdays issue, and
we shall not extend or repeat those comments
farther than is necessary to what we purpose
saying upon this and kindred subjects. We
have been drawn into il again by an article in
the Washington Union of Sunday last, lone
aceek from the date Of the one before referred to)
headed Startling Proposition" and in which
the Union gives an extract OF letter from
correspondent of the New York Herald in
Philadelphia, purporting to give the probable
suggestions that will be made by the Know
kothing convention there, upon the way to
manage the question of slavery. Here is the
extract and the Unions holy horror at its
sentiments, expressed after the manner of
LAGOON:
From the Union of Sunday, 18th instant
STARTLING PRoPosIrIoN-Th New York
Herald, one of the organs of know nothingism
says, on yesterday, that its Philadelphia cor
respondent suggests the probability Of the
adoption by the national know nothing con.
vention Of plan Of settling the slavery ques-
ton, described by it as follows:
"'We refer to his letter for the particulars.
Here we may say, briefly, that it is proposed
to leave the slavery question an open one until
after November, 1885, in order that the order
may carry the intervening State and the Presi-
dental elections, pro-slavery men in the South
and anti slavery 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, au understanding had between
the North and the South as to the admission OF
future States, and all such other matters as
may be likely to involve the the question in the
future. If an understanding, in which both
sections of the country are likely to acquiesce
peaceably, cannot be arrived at on the basis of
the present constitution, then that Congress ad-
iuurn and a convention be called composed Of
delegates from all the States, for the purpose
of ascertaining whether or no some other con-
stitutiop cannot be framed which will settle the
point in dispute; in other words, to amend the
constitution SO as to place 1t in harmony with
the magnitude of interests and conflict Of
opinions existing in the present day. And,
finally, il, after due and earnest discussion, it
is found impossible to isvent any compromise
which can be received willingly tv both sec
tons Of the country, that a peaceable separa-
ton be effected between the North and the
South, and such treaties passed as may be suit
able to their future independent condition,
IF this be the know-nothing platform, then
know-nothing treason is no better than that
which marked the Hartford Convention. II
and the final triumph Of abolitionism."
Ha, neighborl "Jfhis be the Knop nothing
platform, then Knor-nothing treason is no bet.
ter than that tchieh marked the Hartford Con-
ueHtionl II looks 10 lie ultimate dissolution Of
The Union and the final triumph Of Abolition.
ism +" Well, it does look that way. 1t does
indeed. But how does this lookP "There can
be no such things as National Parties, except
upon the basis Of an entire exclusion fthe sub.
Ject (sldpey) from their political creeds r
Further-"hese truths UM command ready as
cont Nth AJoluionistsl and they demonstrate
the proposition that no party embracing mem.
6ers at the North and The South can be national
or harmonious, tohich does not erclude The
question Of slarery from its creedsi" Mercy
on usl look on that picture and on thisl /" We
published in full the Unions article on Tuesday
and our readers may judge for themselves which
is the most startling proposition Of the two
1t is tod Of Voltaire, that when he arose from
the perusal Of book upon atheism, from the
pen Of less reputed author on that subject
lnau Hlu5elI, InAb re ktCcH HcJ Tal5eO MS nan0s
in almost pious horror, and exclaimed, alt is
too horrible So might the Philadelphia
correspondent exclaim upon reading the Wash.
ington Unions article from which we have
quoted above. In horrid heresy it goes bow
shot beyond the plan Of Know.nothing con-
ventions, bad as IL u.s. and we dissent from Il
in every particular The latter only proposes
to leave the slavery question an open one
till after November 1856, ain order that the
order may carry the intervening State and
the Presidential elections pro-slavery men in
the South, and anti.slavery men in the North
agreeing to unite on some fair man for Presi
dent" This is its first and main suggestion
and il, at least, has the frankness to avow its
reason for it, and places limit upon its ex
clusion Of the slavery question. Now, the
Washington Union does not do this. Accord
ing to its plan, slavery is forever to be ex
cluded, and because, "no party embracing
,aemJers at the North dnd-de South, can be ma