The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-12

pstuiy Of tie TniGn and 40 pledge ourselves ons Il
the Other thar win affiliate with party support
any for Office under the government Of the State
the United St4iez who docs publicly and unequvoea
~ avoN the principles Of nese resolutions without change
or abatement
as Rssolped That in view Of The increased dangers thai
threAien the institutions Of the South this convention
deems ID necessary TO- and does hereby reendorss and
| adopt ths following known the Georgia platform,
wit: That the State Of Alabama in the Judgement of this
convention viii and ought 10 resist last resort
disruption of every tie which binds her the UHi0
ANY action Of Congress upon the subject Of slavery in the
District 0f Columbia places subject 70 the jurisdiction
Of Congress- incompatible with the safety The domestic
tranquility, the rights and honor Of the slayeholding
States any act suPpressng the slave trade between the
slaTehodng STATES any refusal 10 ad nit State any
Territory applying because Of the existence osavey there
in any act prohibiting the introduction Of slaves into
the Terr0rts any act repeating materially modify
ing the laws in force The recovery Of fugitive
slaves" ..a.. .... ......
AT the time that convention pledged Itself carry
the following resolution which had been adopted hy
convention Of the same party in November, 1855
Congress has power legislatc upon the question
Of slavery In the saa.s where il exists exclude amy
State from admission into the Uni0n because itH eonst-
non does does not recognise the institution OF slavery
abolish slavery in the Distrct Of Columbia Tke fl
giveslave law should be maintained and vigorously
forced No law regulation shall be attempted By Con-
greas touching the question 0f slavery the Territories
but that it shall Rgate the question Of slavery in
any form We regard strict adherence the principles
and views Of this section absolutely essential the peace
To the other that win affiliate with no party nor
support any for office under the government of the
Stale Of the United States who does publicly and
unequiFocaly aFow the principles Of thia section, with
out change or abatement
The State convention also expressed the opinion that
the American party should make nominations for the
presidency vice presidency at the February convention
Similar action had been taken by the party in Georgia
and think in some other Of the southern Statas
Before the h9ldlng OF that convention IN Phhdelphia
The national connG Of The American party had assembled
there and had taken action. NOT member Of thai
council 1t adopted platform Before taks nv seat /
ppopose to discuss L. When the convention met con-
oversy 10 the right Of delegates from the State
Of Pennsylvania that floor What part took
regard that controversy shown in my letter above
quoted
Ny friends from Tennessee [aessrs Zo11IcoFFEa and
REApy who there delegates, win recoect that
then said that the southern Americans ought not and
would not consent ignoring Of the question Of slavery
the repnaaOn Of the 18th section contained IN the
june platform Of ls55 that they would not be wiling 10
be ii by the action Of the convention council acting
for the party speaking by its authority and assuming TO
be the eponsn OF its opinions and views this great
question thar section should be stricken from the platform
said that in that event the American party South
would no longer harmonzs with those members living
north of Mason and Dixou's line.
The convention adopted platform nor did il give
formal sanction 70 the framed by the council few
days previously. Indeed the southern members generally
denied the authority Of the council to prescribe any plat
form and acted in convention wia5E- -sersnes 10 what
I
Before nv return to the convention il became manifest
that large majority in Avor Of nominating candi
dates for the presidency and vice presidency The more
conservative members believed that nominations that
the Of the pArrythat de-
lay might possibly add snch strength George Law
insas fs termination, and thar such selection would be
disastrous Again, Il feared that adjournment Of
the convention without making nominations would involve
the risk o decons in the northern States In consequence
Of thr prevslence Of Rnt-slavery opinions
Mr.. Fillmore put in nomination, and voted for
ne Ghp Ot,-
sctonabe candidate proposed be respected for his
prudence and moderation public BIS admins
traton without having been al al brilliant bad been
Characterised by fairness and dign< and the main,
rad commanded the approval Of the sgunrrv lie was
supposed 10 be able 70 rally 70 ais support lsrsr share
Of the conservative men Of the N0rh than any
pettO-s and would thereby weaken the sectional
in the free States against the rights and interests o.
the South voted for him in nv Representative capacity
As delegate FEELING ooafdsut thai the party in AlAbNns
preferred him 70 either Of the Other candidates voted for
Il is true that Mr. Fillmore had heen whig while ny
former Auitiss and connexions democratic yet In
joining the American party which believed to he great
reform movsment laid aside al my old party prrjudioes
! bad looked 70 this movement needed By.
the country, required By general neessifasa move
met Swinging from the great masses of the country who
mad become tired with the miserable scramble for the spo
and whose patriotism would preserve ts Union intact
voted, therefore, for NJ. Fillmore but i L Known 70
those who were there that uniformly sad hnt would
support no who stood upon the patfsrm which had
been adopted by the council Of February. ls5s.
Ny friend from Tennessee, Mr. ZOLl1o1FFEB and ny
friend from Mississippi M. Lax who were members oi
that Convention viii bear witness that II general
" declared that Mr. Fillmore nominated without reE
tins platform and that many uen,beu " tbe
convention denied the power q the council 70 make Tn
platform binding upon the party.
Wen air what followed Mr. Fillmore returned 10 his
country from bs Europsan In his letter 81 accept
ancs, datsa a. PHris, what does be S4yl
Aher returning ms ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS oT the honor
rrsd Hpon him and expressing hs opinion q the pari-
o6c purposes Of the party be employs the following Ian
Eusgs:
50 estimating this party, both IN is present position
and future aesrgy freely adopt s great leading prnci
pies Announced the recent declaration 81 the national
council in PhiadephiA copy q which you were 70 kind
enclose holding them 70 be uss and liberal 10
the establishment and EupPor Of enlightened safe ana
effective American policy, N fn accord with thc ideAs and
The hopes of the fatherE of our republic
he teru unrquwocsIv adopts and endorses the council
platform comparison of that platform with that Of June
1854 viii ceary show that ths relations between Mr. Fi-
more ard southern euhsrs q ts convention who had
supported him entirely changed They cuntsnaea
thai the l2sh section Of tbe June platform Of ISIS s
oue and binding upon the party That section In its
essential enfurus bad been Tsu satc and stricken ont BY
the council and M Fillmore acusrnz the nomination,
plants himseh the platform erected by tho lHE council
The 18th section II foIlowEs
XII The American p8rtT, having sriHen upon the
ruins and IN spite Of ts Opposition II the whie and dem
Ocaic pMes cannot he IN Huy Responsible for
the obnoxious acts or violated pledges Of either And the
Hyssmar agia'1n Of the slavery question by tbose par
having elevated sectional hostility into positive sle
nf political power and brought nsruf0ns into
peril Il has therefore become the imperative auty ~ the
American party interpose for the purpose Of giving
pesos 70 the country and PerPetuiy % the Inon And
srtrems tbase which separate The dsputant and
Is shprp can ~ no diEhouor IN submitting the besl