Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-04-02
THE {" NEW PLATFORM"

The Charlotte Democrat makes so'he nalu o"'
inst hits at the K Ms about their proneness to dis
card old and adopt "new" platforms. The Demo-
.rot advises the K. Ms to issue proposals for "A
nonular set of principles. Some Yankee will soon
.nnear with machine to make them after the most
,nnroyed pattern, and with an expedition that Will
keep pace with the frequent calls for new sup
NV" The truth is, their declarations Of principles
called platforms, are mutable as the seasons-as
uncertain as the winds. Their platforms, the result
onnarently of great labor and of enormous sacrifices
Of individual opinion, do not last as long as hat,
or pair of boots. They continually getting out
If repair. Every six months the national Council
or national Convention turns out "new one. to
ouiet the existing clamor or meet the existing de-
mand and then, if the national platform does not
in all respects please the local Councils they 60 to
work and fix up nice little one for their own par
ticnar use.
Last June. it will be remembered, the Philadelphia
Council or Con,e ion made large, long, broad,
general platform. 1t was pronounced the very thing
1t commenced with pous groan, and concluded
with an adjustment of secresy-it denounced and
excluded Catholics from X. N. communion and from
office, and it urged some modification change in
the naturalization laws-and it pledged all K. Ms to
abide bv the Kansas Nebraska act. The slavery
question, it was said, settled, and were to
have peace. The South stood upon it, and gloried
especially in the twelfth section; but the Northern
members stood upon such planks as pleased them,
and kicked out the twelfth section plank and "spit
upon it." Still the South held on, and declared that
the preservation of the Union depended on this
twelfth section-that they would never consent to
its being stricken out-that if the North struck it
out they would no longer act with theln-that, in
word if the North did this thing, they would ine-
vitality destroy the nationality of the organization.
Such was the language of Mr.. Rayner, of the Raj
egh Register of Mr. Pike, and thousands of others.
Well, the Council met again in Philadelphia. 1t de-
liberated, discussed wrangled, threatened stormed
and the said twelfth section stricken out, and
that by sectional vote. A "new" platform was
then constructed. The words "Catholic" and
slavery are not to be found in it!-thc Catholics
of Louisiana were admitted to seats-the old federal
doctrine of twentyone years residence before ma
turalizaon was boldly annourced-the doctrine of
popular sovereignty intended to be applied to Kan
sas and Nebraska, recognized in the 7th section,
bnt in the 18th section, the very act-the repeal of
the Missouri restriction-by which this doctrine
made vital and operative, denounced as "reck-
less and unwise policy!" The g new platform was
presented and urged by Rev. French S. Evans, the
defeated black Republican candidate for Sergeantat
arms of the House; it was accepted by the moder-
abolitionists Mr. Sheets, of Indiana, of thcm
pronouncing it mass of verbiage" which could
do no harm and no good; and then the ultra aboli-
tionsts having accomplish. their purpose of strik
ing out the twelfth section, and perceiving bet
ter chance for Office by deserving the X. Ms and
uniting with the black Republicans, left the Conven
ton. What, then, was the course of Southern men,
bers? The mass of them submitted. They return
ed home. and went to work to show that the 'new"
platform is better than the old one. The Raleigh
Register declares there platform but Mr.. Haugh-
ton writes etter-decares there is one, and at.
tempts to prove that the South has lost nothing by
the change. But Mr. Albert Pike, of Arkansas, true
to his pledges, pronounces the whole operation
fraud on the South-refuses to be bound by it,
and says he cnvcs NOT "the Southern man who I'M
derakes to defend the neo PLATFORM after standing
on the old one" That applies to Mr.: Haughton,-
what has he to say in answer TO his friend Pike p
What says Mr.. Rayner? Does he stand with Pike,
Or go with Haughton? Can he-the owner of
y
to the soil and to the people of the slaveholdins
states-consent to the expunging of the twelfth
sectlon and stand on platform, framed by men
who were afraid to mention the word, slarerue
lie holds that spiritual allegiance to the Pope carries
with 1t also temporal allegiance can he therefore,
consent to fraternize with the Louisiana Catholics
And now contrast with this inconsistency. this
mutabi!lty this uncertainty characterizing X. n &C.
hon the course of the great national Democratic
party with reference to its platform. That party
has never changed its principles. Every four years
us delegates assemble rearm the doctrines of State
rights and strict construction and readopt the prin-
c'ples uniformly held by it on slavery. Its resolu-
TONS on the abstract question of slavery are still
they were, word for word, as drawn up by Sas
Wright and adopted in 1910. These principles were
proclaimed in 1910. 1914, 1s4s, and in 1869 and
in the last Convention they were strengthened by
an additional resolution pcdgng the party to abide
ny the compromise of 1885, and especially to see to
faithful execution Of the fugitive.slave law The
Convention Of 1856, at Cincinnati will pursue the
same course changing nothing weakening no pledge.
but adding distinct and unequiyocal endorsement
Of the Kansas-Nebraska act and of the great princ
pie of popular sovereignty. There is no call on the
Democratic party to meet every six months to con-
struct &c new platform. 1t stands ON the rock If
the constitution, and its principles are eternal IT.
asMe only hope Of country. Other parties change
Or are absorbed by temporarily prevailing factions.
Or pass away but 1t lives by the vital elements Of
the constitution, is the in all sections and will
perish only-which may God forbid!-with the