Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-01-16
STAUNTON SPECTATOR.
--.-.zzsSYAUNE0N:~'
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1856.
rv,e I2th Section.

THE I2th Section.
The "Washing,ou Organ" having most I'M
wisely proposed and advocated the formal aban-
donment of the 9th Section of the Platform a.
dupted by the American Convention, al Phlladel-
phia. the question has been agi,ated in this State,
by the American press, and especially by the pa
pers of Richmond A portion of the American
party of Rockingham have declared in favor OF lis
abandonment. and the combined American Coun-
ellis of Richmond, have, appears, taken The same
position, coupling. their action on the subject win
= nomination of John Minor Bolts for the Presl-
dency. We publish below the 18th Section of
the Philadelphia Platform in order that our read
ers may have fair understanding OF the matter
in controversy
yU-The American party having arisen upon the
ruins and in spite of the opposition OF the Wing and
Democratic parties cannot be held IN any manner re-
snonSibe for the obnoxious acts violated pledges OF
either. And the systematic agitation OF the slavery
question BY those parties having elevated sectional nos
tiIity into positive element OF political power, ano
brought our institutions into Ser 1t has therefore BE-
come the imperative duty OF the American party 70 m
terpos for the purpose Of giving peace to the country
and perpetuty TO the Union. And as experience mas
shown il impossible to reconcile opinions so extreme as
those which separate the dsputants and as mere can
be no dishonor in submitting TO the laws the Na'onai
Council has deemed il the best guarantee OF common
Justice and of future peace abide by aud MAINTAIN the
existing laws upon the subject OF slavery as hna and
conclusive settlement OF that subject III spirit anu IN
substance.
And regarding il the highest duty to their opih
iensupon asubiect so Important in distinct and une-
ouyocal terms il is hereby declared as the sense OF
this National Council that Congress possesses no pow
err under the constitution TO legslae upon the SUBJECT OF
slavery in the States to exclude any State from ad-
mission into the Union because her constitution does or
does not recognise the institution OF slavery as part
of her social SYSTEM and expressly pretermtting any
expressions of opinion upon the power OF congress 10
establish or prohibit slavery IN any territory, IT Is the
sense of this National Council that Congress ought not
to egsatc upon subject OF slavery within the ter
rtores of the United States and that any interference
of Congress with slavery as 1t exists IN the Disrct oil
Columbia would be a violation Of the spirit and nten-
ton OF the compact by which the State OF Mary land
coded the District to the United States, and breach
| of the national faith.
| Now, if we understand Alright the position Of
! Mr.. Bolts and those who agree with him IN opln-
ion, they are in favor in the event of the adoption
of platform by the nominating Convention, OF
leaving this 18th section out. Or, if it should be
proposed to re affirm the Philadelphia Platform
they would advocate the resembling and abandon
ment of that section. If such is their position, we
are not surprised that. with the few exception:
mentioned above, the proposition has met with
little favor. Whatever of error may have beer
committed by the introduction of that section int
the platform. now that it is there, the proposition
| to surrender it, coming as it does from Southern
men, strikes US as very Objectionable. We wei
recolect when the Philadelphia Platform was
! announced, that the 10Th section was regarded
here and everywhere at the South as its browning
glory. 1t contains nothing that truly nationa
man, whether Of the North or South, cannot en-
| dorse. All the national men in the Convention
advocated aud voted for it, and no one regretted
To see the Freesoil and Abolition crew that hat
crept into the party, depart in body when tina
resolution was adopted. 1t placed the America'
party upon unequivocal national ground, relieved
it of its Objectionable elements, ard was haile'
everywhere at the South with special marks 0
qualification. 1t is not sectional 10 its tone, yield
to the South nothing but what every rght-thInk
ing man in the country will freely accord, and
OuJtCbOuSOic w uVoVuJ Ous WV ANNSN''NAS N'''
Aboli,ioujstS of the North.
1t is now proposed by Southern men, to rescnt
that resolution in case platform is adopted, ant
for what? To secure the spells. To increas
the strength Of the party by again Introducing int
It's ranks the fanatical horde, whose detection wa
hailed with rejoicing. With view to success il
the Presidential election, and possibly with a
| eye to the nomination Of Mr. Bolts, portion G
lie American party of Virginia seem not only viii
ling, but anxious, TO surrender what is just an
right in itself, due to the South, and satsfactor
to patriotic and conservative men in both section
of the Union, and transfer the party without com
junction to the Freesoilers and Abolitonists. TIL
proposition is, to our minds, exceedingly impolitic
1t would be acting in bad faith towards the patri
otto men at the North, who stood firmly by us i
the Philadelphia Convention. and planted them
selves upon the 18th Section Of the platform.
While entertaining these views in regard to tn
18th Section, we are free to say that we have bu
little confidence in paper resolves at best, an
will be governed in our course at the next ele;
ton, more by the character of the men presente
than by the platforms upon which they profess t
stand. If the American party adopt platform i
the Nominating Convention, however, we are de
cidedly opposed, with the lights now before u:
to a surrender Of the 18th Section. This is n
time for the South to be making concessions il OIL
der to conciliate the fanatics of the North; n
time for party protesting to have the peace {
the country and the integrity of the Union a
heart, to be Sinking responsibility and dodgin
palpabe issues, from considerations of mere part
policy.
Tho Home journal for 1856.
The first number Of new and brilliant sere