The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-05


ry platform; you can carry yours on your Pro-
Slavery one; we must make show of opposi-
ton to the Nebraska Kansas bill, to satisfy our
constituents; but we shall be glad to meet the
members whom you will elect at Washington,
and all will go on there very well; we shall
agree about candidates for President and Vice
President &c.
Undoubtedly, whether true or not, such seems
to be the impression of the Southern delegates.
At the great Know Nothing celebration in this
city, Kenneth Rayner, of North Carolina, said,
as reported in the American Organ
"The enemy had circulated throughout the
land the story that division and distraction had
entered into the American family at Philadel-
phia. / can say with pride and Joy that it is
not the case. There was no division on the
great American principles--the Distinguishing
features of the order.
"On that distracting question which has en-
tered into and divided all political parties and
many churches of the land, there was differ
ence of opinion. We did not attempt to patch
up theory that should read two ways, and be
fitted to each section but looking to one COM
mon cause, to the protection of American Prot
| estantism, we were united as one man. On
| Slavery alone there was n difference. The
members from the North who dsapproved,
| protested, honestly and manfully, but did not
secede. And now, instead of coming into the
| field with one regiment, at the next election,
| we shall present two immense brigades that
will sweep everything before us. Cheers. Let
not the powers here in Washington and the
pimps of the Roman hierarchy cackle over
division of sentiment on this question: There
| is no hope for them in it. On the great ques.
ton of opposition to their encroachments there
is no division-no North, no South. All over
A. G,bto
hilltop. So also do they send back their greet
ing from the sunny South"
"BUT DID NOT sECEDE!"
At Baltimore, he was still ,nore explicit. We
copy from the speech reported in the american
Organ:
"Our enemies have already reported that
there has been disruption in our party, and
that the elements of the great American party
are distracted that it will be impossible to
heal the breach.
81 deny that there was any disruption, or
even disagreement, upon the great cardinal
principles of the party We met as brothers,
and parted as brothers, those who were said to
have seeded remaining in the Council until its
close. There was a question which has crea-
ted division in all parties Of the country, and
all the churches of the country had been divi-
ded by its agitation, but it did not affect the
great principles for which they commended.
They tell you that portion of the North Sc.
coded, but that is false and the great body of
the North and South uuited and right on
the great question, and will be found together
when they come to the ballot box"
That portion of the delegates withdrew for
time and appealed to the Public from the
decision of the Convention, is notorious the
point made by Mr.. Rayner is, that they did not
secede, those, called seceders, remaining in the
Convention till its close The american Or
gan, whose editor was member of the Con-
vention, and also of the Committee on Resou-
tons, testifes to the same point:
"Our friends must not be deceived-there
has been no secession of the North and
Northwest from the American party-none at
all, but simply protest. by those States,
against certain portions of our platform, which
negative the idea of restoration of the Mis-
souri, Compromise of 1920, and involving, as
before stated, mere point Of sectional policy
naked abstract right, of no earthly value to
either of the contcnding parties-a question
which two years time would adjust, if agita-
ton were suppressed.
I'VE repeat the expression of our belief that
in 1856 the American party Exclusive of Mas
L
iden,."
We are constrained to admit that the testi-
mony of these gentlemen goes to confirm the
statement in the Columbian. Let the People be-
ware. The elections yet to be held, take
place chiefly in the Southern States, and the
adoption of a Pro Slavery platform neces-
sary to carry them. Should this result be ac-
baJ - a. l. f.
the campaign of 1856. How will the calcula-
tions Of the Organ and of Kenneth Rayner,
on a union of the Know Nothings of both sec.
tions, be realized? The Organ gives us the
hint. In the Philadelphia Convention, its edit
or submitted a proposition which he had rea-
son to believe, was not unacceptable to large
body of the Council, but on which no vote was
taken, the previous question having been call
ed upon the majority report. The proposition,
which is as follows, is bait for Northern
votes
"Resolred, That this National Council, with
out expressing any opinion upon the constitu-
tionality of the Missouri Compromise, as an
original proposition, but considering the repeal
of said compromise impolitic and unwise, and
there existing doubts as to the practicability
and expediencv of restoring said compromise
BIZ law--ths National Council hereby declares,
that the American party ought not either to
insist upon, urge, or require, the admission of
any Territory into the Union a slave State,
which lies north of the compromise line; and
that, on the other hand, said party will interpose
no objections to the admission of any Territory
into the Union as a slave State, which lies south
of said compromise line-thus virtually restor-
ing, without legislation, the original compact
made between the North and South in 1920.
o. Resolced, That Congress has no power
to regulate Slavery in the several States, and
that 1t ought not to interfere with Slavery in the
District ofCoumbia without the consent of the
people of said District and of the State of Mary
land and that the existing legislation of Con-
gress. as embraced in the Com promise measures
of 1850, should be maintained"
The editor publishes it in his paper of June
23d, and in the course of long article on the
subject, says:
I'VE might and perhaps ought to add, that
we doubt not our party, North and South, will
hare an eye to the basis of adjustment ,rhich
ace presented, IN its future action on the ques-
tons achich may come up hereafter IN relation
to Kansas. We do not believe that Kansas will
be admitted as slave State, nor do we believe
that her citizens will, when they have the re-
qulsite population to be entitled to admission,
present a Constitution recognising Slavery"
He means that the Party, in the next Con-
gress and in the choice of the Presidential can
didate on the 22d of February next, may agree
upon this mode of adjusting its differences, and
thereby bring in large portion of Northern
A. -. L.,