Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-06-22
TUE PHILADELPHIA PLATFORM AND lie
, 49, RIGHTS OF THE SOUTH.

RIGHTS OF THE SOUTH.
Tho no.;,;on Of the Philadelshis Platform in 70
.. tho rchts of the South is Of 20 sort of conse
o,oncs mud for the very obvious and sufficient rel
,, ,b,t II ;s utterly rejected and repudated by tn
Know Nothing party in the N"rth' IL "as aaopte'
by a majority of Individual votes from hfteen States
in spie of the opposition OF the members from SIX
teen States, who represented both majority of thu
,onpar vote and of the vote i'll tho electoral college
Til, ;mnortaut fact is developed by the National In
,.l;ospcsr in IN article which transfer to our OWL
columns. After the Platform was thus imposed upor
minority Of tho constituency by numerical major
;tv If the individual members Of tho Council the re-
| nr.sentayes from tpclve States seeded, anu Pro'
mugated principles which, as they al'se, ""'
" reflect tho ti-slavory sentiment of hn"w-N'.''
;nrsm in the North. This platform Of the minority
lin fact it represents the principles Of the l'Jo''
may be found in another column. Inc QUIZ! A
bers who opposed the platform Of tho mnof''' D1'
did not choose to secodo from the Council ei'e.ou
protest against it. DENYING its authority anu oo"S"'
ton.
Thus. il il shown, first that the Phladepn'a ''''
form was adopted by the representatives ".
ty of the popular vote of the hno"'1'1 49,. Mi,
and, secoadlv, that tho representatives Oh 'l'
fbere lies tho strength of the psry REJECT repuu'
ate and spit upon it. A.. ,Jo.e,-r,
,,s,.o,. ,ha interests of the South, the platform
of party pretending to natlona' OF
consequence and value so far only us 1t inu,'"''
prevalence of sound principles in the Nof''e'u po'
finn Of the party, and binds them 10 reSpc'. "''
uarantees of the constitution and the tights Vi '."'
~. Now, the Philadelphia Platform serves "''."e,
IS those nnrposes, but the very reverse II mas nau
49,. o., only. ~ demonstrate that he h"0"-!'0
-. ., tb- North is thoroughly rotten on me
.,.,, ;s.,.s So far from being bound by It's stpu-
o,;ons 70 respect the rights OF the soutn' inc hho"
No,bnrs Of the North utterly condemn ana repud'ae
:, and onenly avow their determination to pursue
chair schemes of agitation and aggression.
The Philadelphia Platform is not worth the paper
an which il Is written. 1t is compact which binds
onlv ono side and is therefore void and of value
II is of consequence only far it binds the Nora
and we see the North denouncng and der1ding 1t. II
was not only repudiaed by srtee" States, but 1t IS
rejected by the entire Know-Nothing press OF tic
North.
II 10 scarcely worth while to consider the terms OF
compact which in its origin and nature IS void anG
If no effect; but as the Philadelphia Platform at least
represents the sentiments of those who subscribe H.
il will serve to show how Know Nothingism III the
South stands in respect to the issues of slavery
In Article " of the Platform, it is affirmed that
in all doubtful and disputed points, tho Federal Con-
stuon can only be legally ascertained and e1pound-
cd by the Judicial power of tho United States 1t il
impossible to conceive doctrine more subsersive of
the rights of the States and fatal to the interests
of the South than that which is so Dramatically pro-
pounded in this paragraph. II is the rankcst Fede-
ralsm auI involves the most odious principle OF CEN
tralzaton 1t degrades the States from their sovo-
reenty and reduces them to the condition Of helpless
and dependent provinces, without tho prcrogave TO
Judge of their own rights under the Constitution, and
without tho power to redress their grievances Accord
ing 10 this doctrine the rights Of tho South are to be
determined not by the conditions Of the Consttu-
onal compact, but by the arbitrary will OF tho Fode-
raj Judiciary. II this principle prevail, tho South
need make no further effort to maintain its indepcn-
lence and protect its interests 1t was against this
very doctrine that the Republican party rallied IN
1893 and 49, and it was to refute this perclous prn-
,iple that Madison wrote his immortal report.
Alter Hiost oiUectiouduio Va
New England Federalism, the Grand Council Of
Know Notlings illustrate their wiful inconsistency
or perverse stupidity, by affecting in tho third Arti
cle of til. Platform full recognition of tho rights of
the States!"
Although the Platform carefully avoids any men,
ton of the repeal of the Missouri Compromise yet it
EMPLOYS language which clearly indicates disappro-
val of that measure. Thus it speaks sweetly and
touchingly of "tendor and sacred regard for those
acts of craftsmanship, which are to DC contradstin-
s~,d from acts of ordinary legislation, by the fact
of their being of the nature OF copncse aud
menrs, and 80 to be considered fixed and settled
national policy" And, more pointcdy STILL in tho
ttScitH Article, the Platform: dcnounces the "ob"or-
ious acts and oloted pledges Of the old parties, re-
fcrrus to the repeal of the Missouri re.tretion and
meaning to censuro the Democratic party. which is
for the passage of the Nebraska bill.
In the t,celnh article of the platform, the National
Council of Know.Nothiugs expressly pretermis any
expression of opinion upon the power of Congress to
establish or prohibit slavery in any territory" That
is tho Council will not commit itself against the Will
mot proviso, and Of set purpose ignores the most i'm
portaut issue in controversy between the North and
the South Some people may call this cowardicc; it
is worse-it is trcachery The principle of the Will
mot proviso the most effective instrument of mis-
chief which the abolitionsts employ to break down
the power aud the rights Of the South. The National
Council of the Known othing party while affecting
the "tendorest" regard for the interests of all sections
and the peace of the country quietly agree that this
destructive engine shall continue to play upon the
South and to batter down the safeguards of the
Union! If they were honest in their patriotic pro-
LESSONS why did they not do something to suppress
this element of agitation and sectional encroaehment!
Their silence in respect to the Wilmot proviso was
concession to the unjust demands Of Wilson and his
Know Nothing confederates in the North. And
every Know. Nothing in the South, who endorses the
Philadelphia Platform consents to the sacrice, and
agrees to have opinion upon the Wiimot proviso.
How many true friends Of the South will assume this
position of passive neutrality in regard to the most
moinenous issue that menaces the interests OF the
South and the stability OF the Unon7
To compensate for these most obnoxious principles
and fatal concessions, tho Philadelphia Platform eS-
acts from the North clear positive and satisfactory
security for tho rights of the South. 1t aboHnds in
vague professions of philanthropy and patriosn-it
parades its devotion to the Union in every form of
tender and vehement protostaton, but it gives the
South no solid and substantial guarantee Of peace and
Justice Instead Of boldly and fcarlessy meeting the
great issues of the day. it avoids all the questions in
controversy between the North and the South By re-
mote clluson and studious ambiguity. 1t round
the fugitive slave law ard the Nebraska bill with skill
ful cjrcumlocutiop. Now, these hollow professions
will not satisfy the South. We want distinct stpua'
tons, positive and palpabo engagements, material
guarantees. The Baltimore Convention of 1882 Of
frmed the hnality of the fugitive slave law in une-
cuivocal language and was distinct and to the pur-
pose in every other respect The Philadelphia Plat.
form is sham and cheat-tbe pary erpedient of
corrupt politicians to deceive the people. But the
the nnniar utallirencn