The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03

Oh the State Of the Order, appointed by the
President Of the State Council, beg leave to
submit the foiloging minority report:
We recognise the National Council as the
paramount authority of the American Order,
aud deem a refusal to support candidates nom-
mated by a Convention assembled in accordance
with its rules a virtual abandonment of our or
ganization.
The solemn obligations which the majority
ofour Order took upon themselves at the height |
of the Auti-Slsvery excitement, resulting from
the passage Of the Nebraska bill, to maintain,
as pre-eminent in importance, the principles of
the American Order, have not, In our opinion,
lost any Of their force by the present juncture
Of affairs. The question of Slavery extension
Is each day losing the character of an impend-
ing danger, from the fact that the operation of
the laws Of population and of nature render it
improbable that any Of the Territory of the
United States will be subjected to the evils of
that institution. We therefore can never con-
sent 20 become absorbed by party which pro-
fesses TO have only that one object, and which re-
pudistes in one locality, and ignores in another,
the principles of the American party.
We continue to maintain the opinion that
the restoration of the Missouri Compromise
would be proper vindication of national faith,
section, North or South and If that issue is now
ilnprscticable, il has been made so by the
treacherous desertion of the pretended devotees
Of Freedom.
We canno. sanction the course of that por-
iion Of our delegates who seeded from the
American National Convention, nor eau we
become parties to the constructing of merely
sectional organization, and therefore recon-
mend to the members of the American Order,
that they preserve it in its full integrity and its
entire nationality, and support the nomination
of Millard Fillmore for President, and Andrew
jackson Donelson for Vice President Of the
United States. T. p. NoRToN.
DAS. MCFARLAND.
Upon the adoption of the majority report,
DR.. Wright, of Cincinnati, claimed that the ma
tionality Of the American party was destroyed,
and asked to have the State Charter given up
to the minority which motion was laughed
down.
A resolution was then offered, thanking the
delegates who had retired from the Philadelphia
Convention and repudiated the nominations
and the platform. Pending this, Mr.. Wake, of
Cincinnati, made a speech, denouncing the men
who had voted for the majority report; on the
conclusion Of which, the resolution was adopted,
and the Hamilton County Delegation withdrew
from the Hall.
Or Ford Was called upon, and spoke substantial
ly as follows:
Governor ford's Speech.
Gentlemen of the Convention I cannot let
this opportunity pass without expressing my
heartfelt gratitude for the noble manner in
which have been sustained in this Conven-
ton. By combination of circumstances
unsoupht by myself have been placed in the
front rank in this great fight for Freedom and
the Right, and it is grateful to me to be thus
sustained by the independent freemen Of Ohio
in Convention assembled.
Many charges have been brought against
ne in the Convention. You have gallantly
defended me, for which you have my thanks
have been charged with favoring dissolu-
ton of this Union; this charge is untrue.
| have been educated in sentiments OF rev.
erence for the Union. / have been taught to
consider il as essential to our happiness. This
feeling is strong with me; but thank God |
have stronger feeling-'tis this, l love Free
dom more than do this Union.
Much as love this Union, would sacrifice
it rather than consent that in this great country
of ours Slavery should be the rule, Freedom but
the exception. i have said, and take this &C.
casion to repeat, that rather than consent that
the curse of human chattedom should be taken
into Kansas and Nebraska, ! would prefer to
see the political elements crumble into dissolu
ton, knowing full well, do, that if the L Mon
were dissolved to-day, it would rise in all its
greatness and glory tomorrow.
repeat that | love this Union. But with
me it must be a Union for ,,he preservation,
not the destruction, of Liberty
Union that must be regarded a common
blessing, not a Union enforced by gag-laws and
Pro-Siavery threats, and in conformity with
theSgill of God, and not in utter contempt of
"a authority.
From these high and holy inspirations | am
not to be driven by the fagend of faction as
exhibited this day before In their secession
they have done great favor by relieving
of dead weight.
We can now stand out and inscribe on our
banner the only true doctrine, no more slave
States-no more slave Territory. We stand be-
fore the world in our true light declaring, as
we have by resolution this day, that Freedom is
the rule, and Slavery the exception. Let us
thus go into the contest. Let us have the nerve
to maintain it in defiance of everything.
After which Senator Griswold, of Cleveland,
offered the following resolution, which he ad-
vocated in brilliant and imprisoned speech
ReSolred, That in refusing to adopt the plat
form and support the nominations made at
Philadelphia, we do not propose the abandon
ment of our organization or of its principles,
but that we withhold our appreciation and our
support from both, because we believe that IN
the present crisis in the affairs of the nation,
and in the present great, and rs we hope final
struggle between Freedom and Slavery, be-
tween constitutional liberty and civil and eccle-
siastical despotism, would be false to the
principles we profess, and to the claims of
humanity upon us, if, either by supporting can
didates whose principles are known to be Who'll
" antagonistic to ours, or by pursuing such a
course as will weaken, divide, and distract the
friends of Freedom, of Progress, and of true
American Principles, we should aid in perpet-
mating the present weak and corrupt Admins
tration, or in bringing into existence another
inaugurated upon the same principles and
pledged to carry out the same policy.
Mr. McBratney offered the following:
Resolred, That we hereby declare our readi-
ness to operate with any political party pledged
to sustain those great principles Of Freedom
which underlie our political institutions, and to
restore to the North those rights of which she
was uniustly deprived by the repeal Of the Mis-
souri, Compromise of 1920, and to resist all
other encroachments of Slavery upon Freedom
Senator Heaton, Of Butler county, offered the
following:
Reso,ped, That the withdrawal of those mem
bers. mainly from Hamilton county, who could
not acouiesce in the will of the majority on this
occasion, does not in the least diminish Out
confidence in the correctness of our position
and that. from now henceforth, as true Amer
cans, we will battle the stronger for the prin
ciple and the motto, AN Eternal Separation
from &dre1y and Popery."
These resolutions were each adopted unani
rpously, and amid loud cheers.
Thomas Spooner, of Cincinnati, was theI
H. Il