Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-06-20
American ra.,onp, conys.,ion.

\ american NasfoEGl ConTontiOn'
The Committee appointed by the Philadelphia
American Convention to prepare platform 70
the party, reported, one day last week, the fol
lowing resolutions relating to the subject Of sla
very:
"Rcsolred, That the American party. having
arisen upon the ruins and in despite Of the opposi
ton of the Wing and Democratic parties, can.
not be held in any manner responsible for the OBJ
noxiOus acts or violated pledges of either that
the systematic agitation Of theslavery question by
those parties has elevated sectional hostility into
positive element Of political power, and brough
cur institutions into peril that it has, therefore
become the imperative duty of the American par
ty to interpose for the purpose of giving peace
the country and perpetuity to the Union; that, as
experience has shown, it is impossible to recon
Gle opinions 50 extreme as those which separate
the dispuants, and as there can be no dishonor in
submitting to the laws, the National Council has
deemed il the best guarantee Of common justice
and of future peace 10 abide by aud maintain the
existing laws upon the subject of slavery, as a
final and conclusive settlement Of that subject in
spirit and in substance.
Resolved That. regarding it the highest duty
to avow these opinions upon subject so impor-
tant in distinct and unequivocal terms, it is here
by declared, as the sense of this National Coun-
Gil, that Congress possesses no power under the
Constitution to leglsaie upon the subject of SID
very in the States, or to exclude any State from
admission into the Union because its constitution
does or does not recognise the institution of slave
ry as part Of her social system, and expressly
| preermtllng any expression of opinion upon the
power OF Congress to establish or prohibit slavery
in any Territory. II is the sense of this National
Council that Congress ought not to egislate up
on the subject of slavery within the Territories of
the United States, and that any interference Of
Congress with slavery as it exists in the District
of Columbia would be violation Of the spirit and
intention of the compact by which the State of
Maryland ceded the District 10 the United States
and breach of the national faith"
These resolutions were supported by seventeen
members of the committee New York and Cal
iornia alone of the free States voted for the re-
port Iowa was not represented, and the two
Territories voted with the South.
The minority of the committee made report,
which is embraced in the following resolution,
signed by twelve members from the Northern and
| Western States
"Resolved, That the repeal of the Missouri
| Compromise was an infraction of the plighted
faith of the nat ion and it should be restored and
| if efforts to that effect shall fail, Congress
should refuse to admit any State tolerating slave
~ which shall be formed out of any portion of the
| territory from which that Institution was excu
ded by that compromise"
The members of the committee from Delaware
| and New Jersey went for the first clause Of the
minority report, being that part Of it which dis
| approves of the repeal of the Missouri Compro
mise. When the majority resolutions were re-
ported to the committee they were emphatically
denounced by Governor Gardner, of NIassachu-
sets, who declared that neither he nor his State,
nor majority Of the free States, would abide by
them. The party, he said, could not carry vii
lage in Massachusetts upon them.
The resolutions were taken up in the Conven-
ton on Tuesday the 18th inst Judge Hopkins,
Of Alabama, Haughon, of North Carolina, Lyons
and Squires, of New York, and Cunningham, of
South Carolina, advocated the majority report
Mr.. Fletcher, of Vermont, was the chief speaker
on the other side.
The debate was resumed on Wednesday, and
Mr.. Burwel of Virginia, made an able speech in
support of the majority report. Nearly every mem
Der had something to say one side or the other.
Finally, after mid night the majority report was
voted down by forty minority, and the report of
the majority published above) adopted by deci-
sive vote. The vote stood ayes so, nays So
Thirty three States and Territories we're repres-
ented.
On Thursday morning fifty three members from
the following free States seeded Ohio, In
diana, Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Iowa, Rhode Island
Connecticut and Wisconsin. They met at the
Gerard House, and adopted and signed an address
in favor of the restoration Ct the Missouri Con-
promise.
A report was made by one of the Committees,
proposing the admission of American Catholics
into the Order. The proposition gave rise to an
animated discussion, and was finally lost.
Governor Johnston, Pennsylvania, entered his
protest as to the power of the Council TO erect
platform but as one had been erected, he would
submit it to the State Council for its action, and
would battle manlully for the cause. Other de-
legates from dissenting States expressed them
selves in similar terms, and in, every instance
gave the assurance of their firm adhesion TO A.
merican principles. The majority was adopted
by
.q,,e,.-New York, Delaware, District of Co.
lumbia, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, South
Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama,
Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Ken
lucky, California, Maryland-lS.
.Nocs.-New Jersey. New Hampshire, Maine.
Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Michigan,
Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts,
Wisconsin, Minnesota-l4.
Among the latter, the report had two votes
from Pennsylvania, one from Maine, and two or
three from other States.
The following is a summary of the Platform
adopted by the Convention:
The First Section acknowledges the Supreme
ruler of the Universe as presiding over the coun-
ellis Of the nation
The Second advocates the cultivation of an in
tense American feeling.
The Third regards the maintenance of the u
MON as the primary object of patriotic desire.
The Fourth enjoins obedience to the Consttu-
ton.
The Fifth declares the wisdom of immigration,
offering welcome to the honest immigrant seek
ing an asy um and protection, but condemning the
transportation of lelons and paupers.
The Sixth advocates modification of the ma
turalizaion laws and the repeal of State laws al
lowing unuaturalized foreigners to vote.
The Seventh avows hostility to the corrupt
means by which party leaders are forced upon the
people useless political creeds; and enmty a
ganst the system of rewards for political subser-
viency with disgust for the wild hunt after office,
cbaracterlzlng the age.
The Eighth ayows resistance to the aggressive
policy of the Roman Catholic Church by the ad-