The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-14
THE PLATFORM OF THE NATIONAL KNOW
NOTHING CONVENTION.

We are informed that late on Saturday night
after the rejection of all the pending PROPOSE
tons. Mr.. Ellis, of this District, (the editor OF
this paper,) offered resolution denouncing the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise, but assign.
ing reasons why it should not be now restored
His object seemed to be, to give the North the
benefit of the weight of the denunciation of that
measure by the National Council, and yet to
avoid the agitation which an attempt to restore
the Compromise would produce. But the tenn
per of the Committee was unfavorable to its
adoption.
Mr. Ellis then offered series Of resolutions,
four of which were adopted by majority of
the Committee, thus accomplishing, to THAT ex-
tent, the purposes of the Committee. We are
not furnished with the resolutions, and rely
only upon the oral account of them which has
been given US by the passenger above alluded
to, but who seems to have taken some pains to
ascertain their import.
One of the resolutions pledges the American
party to preserve the American Union, and to
protect and enforce the rights of the several
States as recognised by the United States Con-
stitution.
Another of the resolutions declares that the
General Government shall not interfere with
the peculiar institutions, or with the exclusive
rights, of any portion of the People, who are
L
ton.
Another resolution declares that there shall
be no agitation, in or out of Congress, by the
American party, of the question of African Sla-
very; but that all questions appertaining there
to are to be left where the trainers of the Fed
eral Constitution left them, to be decided by the
people who inhabit the localities where Slavery
exists, and to the courts which have iurisdc
ton of such localities.
The other resolution adopted declares that
the laws of Congress shall be enforced until
pronounced nun and Uoid by the Federal Ju-
dietary.
The editor, vEsPAsIAN ELLIS, one of the
Committee appointed to prepare Platform,
writes, June 9th, ii P. NJ:
"No concession has as yet been rendered
either by the extreme North or the extreme
South, and yet four resolutions of National
character have been adopted by the Committee
during the last hour. New York and New
Jersey are conservative, and PENNSYLVANIA is
not ultra in her views All can now saw is.
that | believe we shall adopt a conservative
National Platform of Principles by respectable
majority. / feel somewhat embarrassed in ref
erence to developing the movements that are
being made. Our Platform will be made pub
lie when finally agreed upon. This is all can
now say"
PROGRESS OF CIvILIZATIoN.-Two Freuah
sailors fought duel at Roxbury, Massachu-
sets, on Saturday last, and one of them has
died of his wound. A duel was also fought in
Canada, few days since, by Mr.. Brecken-
ridge, of Kentucky, son of Rev. Mr. Brecken-
ridge, who formerly resided in Baltimore, and
a Mr.. Leavenworth. Of New York city, where
the quarrel occurred. The latter received
dangerous wound,
1t costs but little more to journey through
Europe than to tsrry at the fashionable summer
resorts in this country; and every departing