Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-04
From the Richmond Wing.
The Philadelphia Convention.

The National Convention Of the Know Nothing
or American party assemblies IN Philadelphia, on
Tuesday next II Is Of the first importance, In our
judgment, that 1t should be composed of the wiscst
and best men Of the oountry--men Of judgment,
prudence, and sagacity--men Of cool heads and
brave, loyal hearts; for, upon that body will de-
volve duties and responsibilities Of the gravest
character and the result OF its elaboration will
determine for veal or wo, the destinies Of the
new party. II is useless to disguise the fact that
many blunders have been committed which might
and ought TO have been avoided; that the leader
ship and control Of that party have been mostly in
the hands of men without political experience or
political influence and that Its triumph In Vir-
gnia has been defeated, not 80 much from any
particular defect in its principles, as from want Of
proper and skilful management. We have no OBJ
lection TO winks, and grips, and signs, and pass
words but less attention TO these, and more to
essentials, is what the wellbeing Of the American
party now absolutely requires. The time has come
when the public will be satisfied with nothing less
than an openly proclamed, broad, national State
rights platform and the action Of the party North
and South, in strict conformity to it. ID will not
do to mince matters; but you must 60 to work In
earnest address yourselves diligently to correcting
errors and reforming abuses, and add such inn
proyements as practical common sense, experience
and forecast may deem advisable, polite, and just
The National Convention has an important task to
perform and If 1t fails TO meet the public wants
and the public expectations II viii have assembled
In vain, and the order Is at once disbanded.
AS we have said we care but little about the
machinery of the new organization, though there
IL much even in that, II we are TO Judge by the
published ritual, which might be dispensed with,
not only without mpairing the efficiency Of Its OPP
erations, but to the manifest and decided advan-
tage of the order In removing many Of the preju-
dces which now exist In the public mind against
it. There Is In it much Of fummery and stuff,
captivating enough to the fancies of children, per-
haps but not specially adapted to attract the adj
mration or excite the applause Of grown-up men.
Let the convention, while retaining, If 1t chooses
the signs, grips, and passwords Of the order, lop
Oft all useless excrescences, and 1t will to great
extent disarm opposition to the party, provided 1t
adopts bold, explicit, comprehensive platform.
And this ia the sum and substance, the pith and
point of the thing at last. We, and the whole
country and especially the South, are awaiting in
anxiety the action Of the Philadelphia Convention
on this subject A platform must be agreed upon,
and right one at that for everything now de-
ponds upon it. We believe, and have often ex-
pressed the belief, that the Known othngs of the
North, outside of New England, are sound, con-
servative, national, Union-loving men, disposed to
recognise the constitutional rights Of the South,
and to aid in the enforcement of all laws-the Fu-
gitive Slave law included-passed for their protec-
ton.
We believe, too, that they are willing to SUBJ
scribe, heart and soul, 10 the great doctrine OF
non-intervention concede that Congress has
no power 10 interfere, directly or indirectly, with
slavery in the States, and power to exclude the
people of the South with their property, from the
Territories. We believe, also, that they are OPP
posed, and will have no hesitation in expressing
their opposition, to the unjust abolition doctrine
Of "No more Slave States" In short, we believe
they are conservative and patriotic In all their
views and feelings-nationh in everything, sec
tional In nothing And thus believing We indulge
the confident hope that the Philadelphia Conven-
ton will speak out plainly and above board, with
one voice. upon all these questions 1t is futile to
attempt to patch up compromise upon these
points. They must be met-met boldly and salts
hctorily The South neither can nor will confde
in or give its support to any party, no matter by
what name It may be called, which does not come
out unequivocaly, and proclaim Its adhesion to the
saving principle of nonintervention 1t Is useless
for party to call itself Conservative, National,
Unon-loving II it Is not willing to square It's con-
duct by It's professions-and Its professions, too,
should be put In definite and tangible shape. II
will not only be just and right, therefore, but il
will DO the height Of policy also for the convention
ut Philadelphia to express itself in unmistakable
terms in regard to those prominent, vital all-ab-
sorbing questions, TO which we have adverted.
One word about the abolition Known othings,
with Wilson at their head. Our advice is, to allow
neither Wilson nor any Of his stripe TO take seats
in the convention. Even though they come for
ward voluntarily and say they are willing to take
the Third Degree" believe not in their sincerity.
Pledges, nor obligations, nor oaths, can ever bind
such men as Wilson, Of Massachusetts. There
fore, kick him and all such out of the convention
at the outset Purge, purify the order at the
North, and you will then construct great Ma.
t;onL, Constitutional party, before which al the
other effete party organizations Of the day win be
compelled to give place. Let not the faint Of sbo-
litionism attach In any manner TO the Philadelphia
Convention
In conclusion II the results of the deliberations
Of this body shall be satisfactory TO the South and
the patriotic men of all sections Of the country,
the American party will be invinciblc. II not, Il
Is already numbered with the things that were.
We have long since cut loose from the abolition
lied Northern Wings; and, unless the Know
Nothing Convention at Philadelpbia shall present
to the people an acceptable and honest platform,
snch as we have Indicated then we are free 70
confess that We shall henceforth hold them, a. we
hold all other enemies of the South--at the dag
gers point.
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