The true Democrat., 1855-07-17
Know Nothing Platform.


 portancc upon the subject of slavery adopted by the National Council of the know nothings; that is by majority of the council--the minori- ty, composed of northern States, withdrawing and protesting:
 ReSolred, That regarding it the highest duty to avow these opinions upon subject so important m distinct and uncQuvocal terms 1t is hereby declared as the sense of this National Council that Congress possesses power under the constitution to cglslafe upon the subject of slavery in the States or exclude a9v State from admission into the Union because her constitution does or does not recognize the institution of slavery s part of her social sysem and expressly preterrnttinr any expression of opinion upon the power of Congress to establish prohibit slavery in any territory it is the sense of this National Council that Congress ought not to egslate upon the subject of slaverv 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 yio- lation of the spirit and intention Of the compact by which the State of Mary land coded the District to the United States and I breach of the National Faith"
 A careful perusal of this resolution will ex- pose its deceptive character, It does not at all dispose of the only question now really at issue between the north and south. By expressly gre teTna'ttny any expression c opinion upon Hepoaoey of Congress to establish or prohibH s'oue,y in any z, only question of importance that now excites the public mind. By this 'prete,mjttiny" ope- ration 1t constructs platform that the veriest treesoer might stand upon, but which a sou therner is in duty bound to reject. It gives the south no peace TO security whatever-it leaves the abolitionsts and freesoiers ample scope to continue their warfare upon the south and sou thern institutions.
 In the Gazette of the 9th inst, Dr. Borand endorses this know nothing platform as the best that has ever been yet constructed, and in his last issue, of the 18th, he turns loose his blood hounds upon us because we have not also approved this "pretermitting' clause. His correspondents, through whom he dastardly as- sails Us, has no mercy upon us, because we are Doctor himself with such shallow know no- thing trick
 To p1ete,naN IS an unusual woId--it means to paSS by--to omit, etc. The only question then at issue between the north and south--the power of Congress to legislate upon slavery in the terrtories--is pretermitted"--pa passed by omitted--and yet Dr. Borland says it is the most satisfactory platform ever yet adopted.
 This accords well with Dr. Borland's past practice, though it differs widely from his daily professions. In the only real struggle between the north and south--during the summer of 1850, Dr. Borland deserted his post in the Uni ted States Senate where he might have been of service to his country. and returned home to make speeches here where they were of no use whatever The session of 1850, known as the compromise session--Was the most critical one ever passed through by the south. Senator Sebastian stood at his post in the Senate, and Robt. w. Johnson at his place in the House, during the whole contest. They were on the ground they never deserted; but Dr. Borand where was he during the months of July and August? He was in Arkansas--a deserter from his duties, enjoying the society of his friends and plotting against those who were az Wash ington city dischargng their duties. He now acts in accordance with his past conduct. He endorses the know nothing platform as the best ever adopted and as satisfactory, and opens his columns to his know nothing correspondents to abuse us because we will not swallow the "Oye- termitting'' concern.
 We do not believe in 'prctermitting" The day of preteruaittjag has passed away. The question can be no longer protermitted.' The south must not shrink--it must stand up to the compromise of 185O-;t must maintain the principles of the Nebraska- Kansas act--it must maintain the principle that Congress has no power to legisate upon the subject of slavery in the territorea--itmust pretc'mit no such vital issue. The know nothing platform is trick and unworthy the men who framed itt was unworthy the southcrners who adopted it. They may catch northern votes, but we do not think they caa gull the intelligent people of the south