Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-02-01
The Union of the National Members.

The votes taken yesterday on Mr.. Dunn's resolu-
tons show that there are over one hundred national
membels who agree the issue involved IN the pro-
posed restoration of the Missouri restriction. The
last vote taken for Speaker shows that two-thrds of
these national members support MIR Orr, and one
third support Mr.. Fuller. Why cannot the one hum
dred national men unite, and cast solid vote
The obvious answer is, because there is an irrecon-
cilable antagonsm between the democrats, who con-
sute the tWo.thirds and the southern Americans
who constitute the third the issues between them
as to foreign mmi grafton and Catholicism
As this antagonism is irreconcilabe, another ques-
ton arises Can it not be honorably waived on both
sides for the time being, that there may be concert Of
action on the paramount issue, on which they
agree?
To this question the democrats answer: We are
the majority, and therefore, entitled to The seIec
ton of the candidate If the Americans controvert
this position not aware of the fact, but they
say that the democrats, in selecting the candidate
repe them by adopting platform which repudiaes
and denounces their doctrines.
If understand the rejOinder Of the democrats, it
is that they have not adopted this platform with any
view of repelng the national Americans from
union their candidate but, the contrary, that
such union would be entirely agreeable.
Why, then, insist on reaffirming their platform
when Mr.. Orr nominated, is the que stion of the
national Americans The is, that the demo-
Gratis know that # the national men ever elect the
Speaker, it must be by the cooperation of the south
preermitting the eaffrmaton of their platform, to
subject themselves 10 the suspicion OF seeking union
by any concessions to the questions which
they differ radically and rreconcilaby with the
southern know-nohings.
How, then, it is asked, can the democrats ever ex-
pect the southern know-nothings to unite their
candidate The answer 10 mind is obvious as
it is conclusive. Let the southern know nothings
nominate Mr.. Orr as the common candidate of the
national members, but, at the same time, re-afirm
their platform, and thereby show that in entering
into the union they, like the democrats, make
cessions. If union of the national members on
terms like these would not be fair and honorable to
both sides, confess ourselves unable to discover
it. 1t would be nothing more than temporary truce
as TO issues of subordinate Importance for the pur-
pose of securing united action against common foe
on the paramount issue. The democrats would not
thereby be chargeable with any abatement of oppo-
slton to know nohingism; while the know nothngs
could not be chargeabe with any abatement in their
devotion TO the doctrines of their organization.
We make these remarks for the double purpose OF
meeting what consider the erroneous differences
which the southern know nothings deduce from the
adoption and affirmation by the democrats of their
platform and, next, to show that the southern
know nothings are the minority of the national por.
ton of the House, the responsibility necessarily rests
on them, unless there is something in the position
the democrats which repels them. In the view We
take of the subject there is nothing of the kind in
tended by the democrats, and no such objection 10
union is enabe.- Washington Union.