The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-26

tional best guarantee of common Justice
and OF utn peace 70 abide by and maintain the eg sS
aon the subject OF slavery final and Conclusive seee
% MT OF that subject in spirit and substance.
And regarding II the highest duty to avow their opinions
upon subject in distinct and aneqpiyocal erm
Il is hereby declared the this national council,
Congress under the constitution 70 eR
ate upon the subject OF slavery States where it does
NAV exist or exclude any State from admission the
Union because its constitution does does not recognise the
institution OF slavery as part oi I've social system ana
power of Congress establish or prohiot slavery IN any
Territories IL the opinion OF the Con
ought legislate upon the subjeoi slavery Whh
the Territories of the United States and that
by Congress with slavery as it exists In the Dis :, ~
lumba would be violation OF the spirit and intention OF @
compact by which the State OF Maryland ceded the brcs
the United states, and breach OF the national faith
Surh is the famous 18th seeton-that portion Of their
platform which pertaned to slavery and the adoption
OF which, have already stated Of the delegates
from The northern States left the grand council am dis
posed deal canddly and fairly with this platform,
especially the 18th section did not regard 1t then nor
do regard now, sound the slavery question but
it does contain guarantees for the protection OF the
South The know nothing party IN the South NJ least was
satisfied with IL The people told that was sonnder
upon the slavery question than either the democratic or
whg Platforms and they invoked to the support OF
the candidates because they stood upon solid
and impregnable southern ground. Upon this platform
they went before the people in the southern States and.
although in of them the battle fought with zeal
and desperation almost unexampled in political conflicts
in this country they defeated most signay and r-
umphantly in all of them but twoKentucky and Mary
land. What then to be DONE allied they were with
the aboonists at the Nortb and defeated at the South
The American Organ published in this city and recognised
the organ OF the party assumed the position that the
slavery question must be ignored and that differences or
opinion reference TO must be tolerated and that the
party unite what termed American principles
This proposition re-echoed from certain quarters
repudiaed the 18th section and withdrew unite with the
party On the 18th of February the second grand council
met the city Of Philadelphia. In accordance with the
position taken by the American Organ Mr. Brewster abo-
kno q
the 18th section 1t resisted by the South; but at
last the North prevailed and the 18th section was stricken
out. eg
Sir let gentlemen attempt to disguise it they will the
northern delegates determined to go into the
denal election trammeed by the slavery question: and
in obedience to their stern and imperative demands II was
ignored by the platform. -. -,
Pending its consideration Mr. Sheets, of Indiana, said:
He opposed to it, the reconsderation) would
reopen the whole debate that the previous question was de-
off, He then proceeded denounce the repeal
THE Missouri Compromise, but disavowed extreme free
sentiments He appealed to the South to act with magma
nmty, and not attempt to Justify arepeal Of solemn com
PROMISE and then say desire further agitation OF the
matter. 1t was like man who should strike you blew,
and then retiring say, Il desire no further agitation o tins
would the South that the 18th section must be
got rid Of He willing to accept compromise but the
section be got rid of he was willing to accept inc
Washington platform, for, il there was ythng in "
covered up with verbage that President would be
elected before the people would lind out what II was oil about
[Tumultuous laughter.l e. ,o..
ton repeal it, and will give you the entire North lap
pause He appealed the council to take off this amme
that the great North and Northwest march to triumph
DO this and place ticket good southern man. and
the southern States win be carried with without
the 18th section"
The following is from the proceedings published at tho
time ss to striking out the 18th section and adopting the
platform:
National Council Of Kno-nottings at Phadelphia f,tra
..... dry 20 1855.
Whereas the twelfth section of the national platform,
adopted in June 1855, neither proposed by the south
uprsa oned by he
- BE resolved That the aforesaid twelfth section be
srRIcKES OCT; subject slavery stand
the principles and provisions OF the consultation the UUd
States yielding nothing more and claiming nothing less.
Amidst much confusion and excitement this proposition
wa carried by the following vote;
Yea.-New pshire Massachusetts,, Connecticut Rhode
hrsan,a, Ohio Indiana, Wisconsin Illinois, and Iowa
NaUs-MarysnG, Viz gnia, South Caroine, Louisiana,
California Arkansas Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, ana
A6.snt-Deaware, Virginia New Jersey, and Louisiana
Refore The vote ON striking ont the twelfth section was
KEN Rev f. s. Evans of the District Of Columbia offered
substitute for the Philadelphia platform of 1850 the io
because from Washington and by others the YER
bage platform, because contains such prepondersnce Of
words ideas
The Washington Platform.
l. An humble Acknowledgment the Supreme Being who
rules the universe tor his protecting youchsaied 70 our
fathers in their successful revolutionary struggle, and hh
erto manifested their desccDdant IN the
Of the liberties the Independence, and the union Of these
States
z.
Of civil and religious liberties and the only sure buwak
Of American Independence.
B. Americans rule America and TO this end native
born should be selected for all State federal and mu
nicpal Offices government employment IN preference "
naturalized citizens nevertheless, ;.
Persons born Of American parents residing temporarily
abroad should be entitled to all the rights Of naveborn c
zens but
s. No person should be selected for political station whether
OF native foreign birth) who recognises allegiance or
obligation Of description any foreign prince poentato
power who refuses recognise the federal and State
constitutions leach within its sphere) paramount TO all
other laws as rules of political action.
g. The unqualified recognition and maintenance oil bc re-
served rights OF the several States and the cultivation Of
harmony and aterna good will between the citizens OF the
several States and TO this end nonntererence by Congress
with questions appertainng solely 10 the individual States,
and nonnterventon by each state with the affairs OF any
other State.
T. The recognition OF the right Of naiveborn and nat
urazed citizens OF the United States permanently residing
In any Territory thereof 70 frame their constitution aud
laws and 10 requisite their domestic and social affairs in their
mode, subject only the provops Of the federal
stution, with the right Of admission into the Union when
they have the requisite population for
tive in Congress PToided, aiags, That but those
Of the United States under the
and laws thereof and who have rcd residence any such
Territory ought 70 participate in the formation Of the
sution, or in the enactment Of laws for said Territory
State.
s. An enforcement Of the principle that no State or Terri
right Of suffrage Of holding political Office unless such
shall have been naturazed according 70 the laws Of
the United States.
o. change in the laws Of making contin-
ued residence Of twenty years Of all not heretofore pro-
vided for indispensable requisite for citizenship hareafter
and excluding all and convicted Of crime
from landing upon shores but interference with tho
vested rights OF foreigners.
10. Opposition 10 union between Church and State
interference with religious faith worship and test
oshs for Office, except those indicated In the fifth section