The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-06-16
The Great Know Nothing Sanhedrim at
EIiluieiphla.

the telegraph wires and mammoth dailes of
the eastern cities, have been loaded for n
week with the proceedings Of national
council Of the dark order of the midnight
Lamp which has been holding its sessions in
Philadc lphia since the 9th of juno Some
go delegates appear to be in attendance,
representing every state in the Union, not
even emitting far of California. Illinois is
represented by the following formidable del
cgation: II. S. Jennings, who, in curious
speech which is reported, calls himself
Fillmore wing unto martyrdom; W.. w.
Eisenhower, one horse "yaller kiver"
bookseller in Chicago; d. L. Eastman, abol
Zionist Of Oswcgo; Jno. A. Picket, an ex-
wing editor; G. w. Gibson, mayor of Peru;
Wa H. Young, and w. S Phelps, the last
two unknown to fame. From other states
the convention included among its members
the famous Joe Barker and the great Hin
doc Ullman, of New York, Gov. Gardiner
and Senator Wilson, of Mass, Gov. johnson
Of Pa; Colfax, of Indiana, with many other
distinguished wing and free soil lights.
At latest dates the council had been in scs-
sion about week, and most beisterous
time have they had of it, with the almost
certain prospect of breaking up in row.
The quarrel commenced with the credentials
Of members to the council, in some cases,
M from, 7 Op;c;ar, oycp C,thoIicc nrecnnf
ing themselves for admission, but who were
finally excluded. Then the struggle com
mcnced on clccting officers, when Joe Bar
ker, the northern candidate, but who had
crawlcd on his knees to the south for votes
was set aside, and Mr.. Bartlett, Of Ken
lucky, elected president. But the great
bone Of contention of ALL and underlying
the rest, is the slavery question, and its adj
justmcnt in the platform. After stormy
debate Of three days, the case was coniidcd
to a council Of 81 eminent political doctors,
who have ever since had the matter in pain
full incubation.
And here is the Scylla and Charybdis Of
the ordcr--thc rock upon which it will incv'
itably be wrecked No wonder that the
grand council, after session Of six or eight
days, are farther from an agreement than
they were the day they met. What hope,
with Massachusetts, abolitionism and nulliti
cation on one side, and South Carolina dis
union and notification on the other, that a
common ground can be discovered by this
council for both extremes to stand upon
The 81 doctors have about surrendered tho
job in despair IL the product Of this incu.
baton is black, the north leave the council 10
a body if white the south leave; and if
spotted, it will he spit upon BY both ex-
trcmes. This national council was fatal
mistake. 1t has driven the order to the
wall, and the adjournment Of the council
will be its dissolution.
As to the probabilities, however, what
the color Of the product will be, ii ia concc.
dcd that the south have thus far had the adj
vantage on every test vote, and that if any
resolutions are adopted, they will be pro sla-
very,
The general character Of the council may
afford an index ofthc probable result In his
account Of the proceedings Of the 9th, the
reporter of the y. Y. 7ribuRe says:
At the meeting to-day disgraceful scenes
Of disorder and confusion took place. grow
ing out Of the gross intoxication of several
,nv".','7 from the Southern Gt.tee. o..
from North Carolina insisted on making a
speech, while so much under the influence
of liquor as to have no command over his
senses or his body He was too drunk even
to give way 20 the appeals of his friends to
sit down and keep quiet, but ramblcd on in
! cohersntly TO the modification and digust of
! the decency Of the body. One great diff
Guilty all the week, in the way Of the harmo-
NOUS and rapid dispatch Of business, has
been the habitual intoyication of many Of
the members, and when the Slavery debate
fairly launches, scenes of violence may not
unrcasonably be apprchcndcd. The propri-
ETY. of having no session Of the Council az
ter dessert has been strongly urged for seyc.
raj days, even by Southern members, cspc.
| cially on this ground.
That no lofty expectations are entertained
OF the result Of the deliberations of such a
body, is not surprising; but without enter
ing further into the details, we shall d oubt-
less in few days have the end of the farce;
when we shall cndeayor to give its incidents
more mlnutcly.
LATER.-Sincc the above was written and
in type, we received the Chicago papers Of
Yesterday containing dispatches from Phila-
delphia of Thursday, stating, in substance
that the majo;ity Of the great lIindoo coun-
ell having adopted platform, sustaining
the South Carolina doct.jnc on the subject
of slavery, the northern memGcrs Withdrew
and organizing new council, adopted the
abolition platform. The councils had not
yet adjourned But when they do adjourn
the injunction of secrecy is to be removed
from the proceedings, and then we shall be
able to give all the details