The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-03-06
THE NATIONAL KNOW NOTHINGS - PLAT
FORM NOMINATIONS - SECESSION THE
TRUE POLICY

| On the first page of the Era may be found
report, compiled from the Philadelphia North
american and the New York Herald, of the
final proceedings of the National Know Moth
ing Convention. Our readers are now in pos
session of authentic account Of the action
both of the National Convention and National
Council of the Know Nothings.
| The construction of the platform BY one pre-
coded the nominations by the other; and the
nominees, of course, are placed on the plat
form, rejecting and representing its Principles,
so .hat those who shall vote for the former will
sanction the latter
The new creed nomnally sets aside the 18th
section of the old, but in effect includes it.
Apart from its piety and "palaver," it may
be summed up as follows:
| |. Natire-Jorn, should be selected for all of,
fees, Federal, State, and Municipal in prefer
ence to naturalized citizens.
2. The period of naturalization should be ex-
tended TO twenty-one years.
| 3. 1t affirms the so-called Principle of the
Nebraska bill-the right of the natve-born and
naturalzed citizens Of the United States. per-
manently residing in any Territory thereof to
frame their own Constitution and laws, and to
regulate their domestic and social affairs in
their own mode, subject only to the provisions
OF the Federal Constitution, 1.-THE limitation be-
ing copied almost word for word from the Ne.
braska bill.)
4. 1t affirms the Principle of the Compro-
mise, socalled, of 1850, asserting, in opposition
to the doctrine of Slavery Restriction, the right
of the People of Territory to admission as q
State, whenever they have the requi site popu-
lation for one Representative, without any other
| limitation.
5. Under the vague and deceptive phrase,
sectional questions" it ignores all questions
of Slavery, leaving to the Slave Power, without
contest, protest, or even dissent, the entire
ground it has usurped.
The creed is consistent. 1t is imbued with
the spirit of Caste and of Slavery. 1t frowns
upon Naturalzed citizens and Anti-Slayery citi
zens. 1t would discourage foreign immigra-
ton, 1.-THE principal cause hitherto of the rapid
growth of free States,) by excluding the immi.
grant from political privileges, and thus crea-
ting degraded white caste, while it would
guard and strengthen the usurpations of an Oil
garchy whose power is founded on the perpetu.
alton of degraded black caste.
By Mr.. Douglas and his associates, it was
urged that the Compromises of 1850 establish.
ed the Principle that the People of Territory
have the right to determine their own institu-
tons, subject alone to the provisions of the Fed
eral Constitution, and that, therefore, the re-
peal of the Missouri Compromise prohibiting
Slavery north of $50 3O>, was simply the logical
and legitimate application of that Principle. As
the Know Nothing Convention endorsed both
the Principle and its application, it was emf.
nently fit that it should select as its standard
bearer TIE author of the Compromises of 1850
and were it possible for the Oligarchy to de-
mand further evidence Of the loyalty of the ne W
Party to its interests, it would be furnished in
the fact, that its Presidential nominee is also
the signer of the Fugitive Slave Act, and that
mis- Administration was the first to put the army
and navy of the United States in requisition to
enforce the business of catching slaves. By
no other selection could it have shown so pro-
found contempt for the sentiments and institu-
tons of the free States
We have often said that in the South Know
Nothingism is chiefly an amalgam of Nativism
and Whigery. The action of the Council and
Convention confirm the theory. The most act.
i've men in both, with few exceptions were
old Wings. The anti Catholic test so tenacious
Il y adhered to by . majority of Northern Know