Washington telegraph., 1856-05-07
To the President and State Council and
Convention of the Native American
Union Party of Arkansas:


GENrLEMEN-Having been assigned th
duties of a delegate. in conjunction witt
Col James Logan. Of the State at large
and my colleague not having returned hOm
from the field of service in February last
at Pbiladelphia, under existing circumstan
ees, it becomes proper-perhaps a duty
that should make some report of our &C
ten, as your representatives COL Austell
the delegate from the first CoDgressiona
District, doubtless for some sufficient causs
was not in attendance; and Captain Pike
the delegate from the Second. having re-
tired from the National Council in the car
II part of its deliberations for reasons salts
factory to himself, and never entered the
Convention at ali; the whole responsibility
of the action of both bodies, as far as it can
be imputed to single delegation. rests up
on Col. Logan and myself In all matters
before US, L found perfect concurrence OF
opinion, and in our votes we we're an usait,
except in the single matter of adopting the
new Platform, for which he voted, and l
against it-nct that it changed the principles
Of our organization, or was not even more
Sgti0HaL than the Platform of June, but that
| was in favor of steadfastly maintaining
our original position, in word and letter.
and ayerse to leaving open TO our carping
aiversarles. even the semblance of change
No attempt was made. or organization of
the Council effected. until Tuesday, the 10Th
If February, when it was called to order by
the Vice President The first act done by
the Council was TO throw open its doors to
the reporters Of all newspapers, of which
numbers avaIled themselves, and especially
the reporters of some of the leading foreign
and abolition papers, bitterly opposed to our
organization, deeming it the greatest present
obstacle to their fell schemes of aggression
upon Southern institutions and of disunion:
Hence, the many garoled and false reports
ot the proceedings of that Council, and of
the Convention, which adopted the same
rule On the first opening of the Ameri-
can Council, it was manifest that the Black
Republican squad. whose leaders had been
expelled in June last, was there again In
force, il the traitorous disguise of the Am
erican naae, headed by Lieut. Gov. Ford,
Of Ohio, Ex Governors johnson, of Penn
ylvan;a and Colby Of New Hampshire
tt leaders of u small treason or mu.iny, but
Wholly incompetent By nature to head
successful rebellion either against country
or party This traitorous squad was rallied
to the onset by this Capt Ford. in a most
Vulgar aud unbecom;ng appeal to sectional
iSlr; for which in due time. at the hands of
Gen Zo:iikoffcr AID others, retributive JUS
tice Was inflicted upon him, with ample in
terest for delay. All of the disorder wlicl.
oceGrred in ether body. and which has been
50 grossly Inisrepresenied and caricatured
by an iuimical press. was produced by this
t.aitOrcus squad of Black Republicans, who
EOrmed themselves into cur Councils with
the manifest design of breaking up our na-
tiOnal organization. In all OF which they
sigual!y failed, only succeeding in having
themselves bowed out of our hall at the
Northern door, whilst one gentleman took
lis leave at The Southern. Much discus
sion, in both Council and Convention,
arose from q local contest between two setts
Ofdelegates. from the State of Pennsy lvania,
one of them headed by Mr.. Ashmead, and
the ether by Mr. Edie: the former having
an independent organization, In favor of the
18th section of the old platform. and the
latter being regularly organized under Char
tsrs from the National Council OF its Presi-
dent. We voted for the Asbmead deleca-
tGn, upon principles of equity. believing
them to be more national and conservative
in their principles, and certainly true to the
Constitutional rights of the South; but the
Edie delegation were admitted. many gen.
tIemen of true Southern feeling voting for
them. On the ground of their legal right ac-
eOrtiDg TO the Constitution and principles
OF oGE organization. And among this
delegation there were many true men,
and their admission was neither then no.
Low deemed a blow upon Southern rights
CT the nationality of the American Union
party, by those in position and competent
;ojuGse dispassionatcly of transpiring events
There were no agrarians and ultraists
among them, except the few who afterwards
left with Gov Jobnson's agitating squad
The statement made In many of the news
IaPers of the day, that caucus of South
ihern members. held on the night of the
iS;h Of February. of which Mr. Clay was
chairman. and Mr. Pike secretary, adopted
resolution. in advance of the meeting of
the Council. that We would stand 6Y the
I2fA section, at oLt hazards, and thus at
tempting to cast upon Southern men the
CiIum OF throwing an apple of discord into
the Council, is naked untrut.i; that vas
quiet meeting for consultation. in which no
resolution of any sort was adopted. nor any
determination as to any specific action; and
vas not held by Southern members alone,
Out majority Of that consultation was COM
Ioscd of gentlemen of Philadelphia and of
New York The entire excitement and ag-
EatlOn was produced by the Black Republi-
can squad. and not by southern men, or the
body of the national men of the North: for
the one seemed to repel their presumptuous
Vaccinations with as much Indignation as
the other. After the excitement had been
go.ten up, meeting was held of southern
members, and of members of New York
aud Pennsylvania. at which think north
en- gentleman presided. and a resolution was
adopted. after had retired. but of which
approved, that the 18th section should be
adhered to, and a separate organization