The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-07
THE NATIONAL KNOW NOTHING CONyEN-
TON OR COUNCIL.

This Convention met last Tuesday. Dele.
gates were present, it is said, from every State
The questions of interest to be decided, relate
to the admission of Catholics, to the admis-
sion of Protestant foreigners, to the ratio of
representation, and TO Slavery.
We learn that distinguished AntiSlavery
Know Nothing in the West, some time since
prepared platform on the Slavery Question,
which was communicated to the delegates gen.
orally. For the following sketch We are in
debted to very intelligent correspondent:
81 cannot give you the exact words of any
part, bnt can give the idea of that which re-
lates to Slavery. 1t expresses disapprobation
of any attempts to form parties with reference
to geographical divisions. 1t distinctly admits
that both representation Of slaves and the recLa-
nation o.. fgitire shares are matters within the
cognizance of the Federal Government, and
states that Slavery Is otherwise matter exclu-
sively for the States to legislate upon. 1t SAWS
that the power of Congress to egislate in relation
to Slavery in the Territories is judicial ques-
ton, to be determined by the proper tribunals
thus avoiding any declaration on that question
The expediency of its exercise, it affirms to be
matter for the People to decide upon, and
their will should be followed. With these gen.
eralties and obscurties, this exciting issue is
disposed Of The design seems to be to use
such language as will entirely ignore it.
Foreigners hereafter coming to the coun-
try are to be after denied the right of suf.
frage. The writer adds note with his pen
or after residence of twenty-one years. if
the Convention prefer
W. denounces the whole platform, as being
designed to ignore the Slavery question. The
plan, if it prevails, is to be made public.
The Know Nothings denied last autumn.
that the delegation from each State was to
number seven, and all on an equal footing ::
now, they all admit that this is the representa-
ton"
WASHINGTON CRY ELECTIONS. - Monday,
the Know Nothings carried the city elections
by an average majority of about four hundred.
electing SAMUEL f. DOUGLAS, Register; JouN
NJ. MCCALLA, Collector; and X. FINLEY Hunt.
Surveyor. In each of the first and second
wards, the Anti-know Nothings elected the
Alderman and three Common Councilmen.
In the other FIVE wards, the Know Nothings
prevailed.
Too TENACIOUS. "A correspondent says
81 think you are too tenacious of a mere
name. think Republican is certainly CON-
prehensive enough and as there is one Demo
cratic party already, better let it alone, as we
would be obliged to use a prefix
The majority must decide. We have simply
expressed our preference The term Repub-
lican" does not designate any characteristic
principle we hold, or object we contend for: it
has again and again been abused it is now of
doubtful repute, because supposed to be asso-
ciated to some extent with Know Nothingsm.
Independent Democratic" although rather
too long term for popular use, defines at once
our principles and position--the former being
thoroughly democratic, the latter being com
pletely independent, not only of the old Par.
ties, but of their Master, the Slave Power
Still, to express decided preference for
certain name, and assign reasons for such
preference does not imply tenacity. On all
points, except those clearly involving essential
principle, we should be willing to defer to the
voice of the majority.