Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-06-08
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
ERIDAY MORNING, JUNE 9, 1885.
PLATFORM OF THE PHILADELPHIA
COUNCIL.

It il not altogether impossible, as we suggested a
few days since, that the Know. Nothing Council IN
Philadelphia may put forth a platform which will at
ford some pretence Of satisfaction to the Southern
adhcrents of the Order. A conclave of unscrupu'
lous politiciaas, without honesty Of conviction or
fidelity to principle, will not hesitate to psrpetrnte any
fraud that may promote their schemes OF seln'n ou,'
bition. There is no depth Of degradation INTO WHICH
they will notdescend, If they may ultimately 10 "
power. II is true the case seems hopeless enous"'-
What between the rab;d abohtionism o. ""soh a"o
the sece.sionism ofthe South Carolina delegates there
ispleptiful promise of broil and schism. It's dlfhcuit
70 understand how these extremes can meet on a
common platform, and cooperate in a common cause.
To ordinary mipds the only chance of peace was to
ignore the subject Of slavery aud all its issues; but the
Richmond Wing admits in advance that such a course
will 10 equivalent to the sacrifice Of the South. ihe
Philadelphia Council must lay down a platform IN re-
gard to slavery, and a platform 80 clear, distinct anu
to tho purpose, as to satisfy the most scrupuiouS
sickle. for the rights of the South.
Nothing has transpired of the action of this Phila-
delphis Council, except tho grand dinner in Samson
etreet. 1t was long before the place OF its
meeting could be discovered, and then nobody but
HSIDOt[e y VI Tic " WoS
Notwithstanding its promise of publicity, it still
.hrouds itself in darkness and mystery, and refuses
to let the people witness its proceedings.
The dinner implies something OF good Fellowship
and it Is not impossible that in tho generous aban-
don Of the convivial hour, r~esentments and PreJu-
dices may be forgotten, and principles be made to
yield to the pressure of necessity. So, we are pre-
pared for a platform which the Wing will receive as
a satisfactory declaration Of Southern rights.
The Philadelphia Council cannot impose upon the
people of this country. They know that any compro-
mise touching slavery, between the Abollti"nists OF
Massachusetts, and the Secessionists Of South Carsh-
ne, must DO fraudulent in the nature OF things. VIII
son and his confederates may readily agreeto suspend
their attacks upon slavery, until the necessities OF a
Presidential canvass are over and their pnrty gers
into power, for then they may prosecute their MIS-
chi.yous schemes with infinitely greater effect. On
the other side, the Know-Nothings Of the South, really
caring nothing for slavery, will gratefully accept any
concession, however vsgue and unsuhstantial, that Will
supply them with nm apology Incorporating with their
party. The abolitionists may reluctantly consent to put
forth resolutions which will satisfy the South, and tho
delegates from tho South may agree never to exact the
sulalment OF the pledges Of the platform. Thus how
easy may the Know. Nothing ,Councilin Philadelphia
under cover of darkness, impose a stupendous
fraud upon the country! As the proceedings of the
Council are hid in impenetrabls pecrscy, the people
can never know what confidence to attach to its pnb-
,ishsd acts. Even if its resolutions be authentic, no.
body can tell by what vote they were adopted or
70 vhe. extent their effect has been impaired by
conflicting conditions, and contradictory e1plana-
lions.
In this manner the Philadelphia Council may at
temp, to deceive the people, but without success
Their searching sag.city will see through the impos-
lure. and they will rsbuke the contemplate jugglery
OF these p~roaiga,o politicians. They will Indignantly
r.;oc, n nls,form which is encountered uud discredit-
I'D BY every badge and element of fraud.