Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-06-20
Know.No,hine Convention i'm PhiIa.

Know-Nothing CONVENTION in Phila.
Early in this month tlie National Grand
Council of Know -Nothings commencedit its
session in philadelphia. the objectof the
meeting being to fx upon a national plat
form of principles. As the meetings are
intended to be profoundly secret. we have
no authoritative account of their proceed
ings, but like all their other transactions,
they will leak out. There is no doubt
that the accounts we have from the Com
yention are correct. az=.-s7ezz
We have not room for all the proceed
ings. though We would like very much to
lay them before our readers, and must
therefore content ourself with brief sy-
nopsis.
The first question of Importance that
arose was upon the admission of the dele
gates from Massachusetts. who refused
to take the oath Of the third degree to
stand by the Union. They were. how
ever, admitted. A warm discussion was
had over the delegations from Louisiana
and Alabama, part Of whom acre Catho,
lies! The leading delegate from the
former State openly avowed himself as
such and it appeared that the Protestant
lest hasentirely been disregarded in beth
States. Yet, notwithstanding this, an
earnest effort was made to admit them ia
seats in the Convention. The Catholic
portion Of the Louisiana delegation was
rejected, and the Alabama case remains
undisposed Of
A warm contest was had over the cleo
ton OF new officers. which resulted as
follows President, E. B. Bartlett, OF
Kentucky; Vice President. c. D. Free
man, of Pennsylvania; Corresponding
secretary, G. w. Deshler, Of New Jersey;
recording secretary. the last years
man over Booth, Of Conn. chaplain. the
Rev. Henry w, Rugg. of Mass, Univer>
salist treasurer. Henry Crane, of Ohio
A committee Of one from each State
was appointed to prepare platform. We
copy the following from one days procee-
dings:
1.-The proceedings OF the Council to.
day have not been important. The Ca.
thOlic question was re-opened again and
freely discussed on the motion 10 admit
10 seats as delegates two men from Loui
sanna. who claim TO represent that branch
Of Know Nothingism in that State which
lives up to the Protestant test. They
we're not regularly elected by State
Council. but we're nevertheless admitted
| The Alabama delegation remain still un
touched, though in violation of the posi-
ton taken by the Council in the Louisi
ana case. Mr.. Carry of Massachusetts
made strong speech upon the Catholic
question. contending for the rigid exclu.
sion OF all Catholics from the Order. This
is undoubtedly the feeling of the organi.
cation, and it must destroy its power in
Louisiana, where contrary princi pies and
practice are popular.
The labors of the committee on reso.
lutions have been protracted through to
day and this evening. Of their results
no deGrite knowledge can be stated
None OF its members seem to be suscepti.
BILE Of spiritual influences. The oracle
gives forth no certain sound. Yet it ap-
pears to be understood that they had
warm discussions on the slavery question,
and settled their positions By close votes
% 1t is believed that Catholic spy has
been discovered in the council in the per.
son of one of the members from an ex.
treme Southern State. He is observed
taking full notes of all its proceedings, is
exclusive in his deVotions to silence and
non action save when the Catholic oues>
ton is up. when he is quite on his tops"
The following proceedings of the next
days proceedings is taken from the New
York Tribune.
The committe on resolutions reported
to the council this afternoon the follow
ing resolutions on slavery.
RESOLVED. That the American party.
having arisen upon the ruins and in spite
Of the opposition Of the whig and demo-
cratic parties. cannot be held in any
manner responsible for the obno <.
ious acts or violated pledges Of either;
that the systematic agitation of the slave
ry Question oy those parties has elevated
sectional hostility into positive element
of political power, and brought our insti~
tutions into peril. 1T has therefore be-
come the imperative duty of the Ameri-
can party TO interpose, for the purpose
of giving peace to the country and perpe-
tuity to the Union. That as experience
has shown it is impossible to reconcile
opinions SO extreme as those which seps-
rate the disputants, and there can be no
dishonor in submitting to the laws, the
National Council has deemed it the best
guarantee of common justice and of fu-
ture peace to abide by and maintain the
existing laws on the subject of slavery,