Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-09-05
CIRCULAR.

CIRCULAR.
The following are the proceedings adopted
at the Reading Convention:
At regular quarterly Session OF the State
Council of the American Party of Pennsylva-
MIA, held at Reading, on the Sd day OF July,
a. d. 1855, the following article of the Plat
form adopted by tie National Council at its
late Session in Philadelphia, TO wit:
XII.-The American Party, having arisen
upon the ruins, and in spite of the opposition
OF the whig and democratic parties cannot be
held in any way responsible for the obnoxious
acts or violated pledges of either. And tie
systematic agitation of the slavery question
by those parties having elevated sectional
hostility into positive element of political
power and brought our institutions into peril
it has therefore become the impertive duty OF
the American Party to interfere for the pur
pose of giving peace to the country and perpe-
tuity to the Union. And, as experience has.
shown il impossible to reconcile opinions
extreme as separate the disputants, and
there can be no dishonor in submitting to the
laws, the National council has deemed 1t the
best guarantee of common justice and of fu-
ture peace, to abide by and maintain the ex--
listing laws upon the subject of Slavery fl
nal and conclusive settlement of that subject.
in spirit and in substance. And regarding it
the higest duty to avow their opinions upon D
subject so important, in distinct and unequiyo-
cal terms, it is hereby declared as the sense of
this National council, that Congress possesses
no power, under the Constitution to legislate
upon the subject of slavery in the states where
ii does or may exist, or to exclude any State
from admission into the Union, because itsA
Constitution does, does not recognize. thec
institution of Slavery as part Of its social
system and expressly prcternittipg any
preston of opinion upon the power of:Oon-
cress TO establish prohibit Slavery in any
Territory il is the sense of the National Coun--
,nt lac ziatp
the subject of Slavery within the Territories
of the Unfes States. and that any interference
by Congress with Slavery as u exists IN The
District of Columbia, would be q violation OF
the spirit and intention of the compact by
which the State of Maryland ceded the Dis
trict to the United States, and breach OF the
National faith
Was repudiaied, and the following adopted
as subtitute, to wit:
XII.-That the question of Slavery shotib
not be introduced into the platform of the A
mcrican party; being convinced that no such
issue was intended to he embraced within ITS
principles and objects. That We believe IN,
and shall ever defend, the right Of freedom of
opinion and discussion on that and every 9TH
er subject not intended to be embraced with
in the designs of our organization.
But inasmuch as the subject has been forced
upon us, we regard the repeal of the Aissou--
ri Comprom:sc as an infractiou of the plighted
torcd, and if efforts to that end should fall
Congress should refuse to admit into the u
Mon any State tolerating Slavery, which shall
be formed oct of any portion of the territory
from which that institution was excluded by
that compromise.
The Council also passed the following reso-
luton, TO wit:
Resolved, That a Committee of Thirteen be-
appointed to invite the cooperation OF all the
State Councils in the Confederacy, who may
be willing to concur in the principles and plat
form this day adopted by the State of Penn
sylvania as and for her National Greed; and
that Convention lie held at Cincinnati' on
the DIST day of November next, to concert
measures to secure the nomination IN The Con-
rentioa, called 6g he National Council, of can
didates for President and Vice President, who
are willing to stand upon the platform this day
established, and transact such other matters
as may be deemed necessary to secure the
success of the American party in the Union
The representation OF each State in said Con-
vention to be equal to the number of members
such State isentitled to in the National Con-
gress.
Aud appointed the undersigned the said
committee.
We therefore most cordially invite you and
your Council to cooperate with Pennsylvania
IN ,;aII s..s into proposed piiii' anu
trust that a representation VIII 10 sent from
your State duly authorized to participate IN
the deliberations and actions of that Conven-
tion. (Signed by the Committee)