Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-05-13
TURsDAY MORNING, MAY rs, 1856.
THE KNow-NoTIIING CONVENTION AND
PLATFORM.

Much we have written in dersion Of the Know
Nothing party, we were never 30 uncharitable as to
imply that a sentence of decent English was above
the capacity of Convention of its most respectable
members. Let anybody read the five resolutions of
their Staunton Platform. and deny If he dare, that
the ENQUIRER is extravaganza in it's conception of
Know Nothing intelligence. Perhaps, however, it is
among the proposed reforms of this party, to abolish
the distinctions of person and number and to intro
duoe an iudiscrimnate amalgamation of nouns plu-
raj with singular verbs To couple that multitude.
nous word ire with simple doth, is certainly an au.
dacious innovation the harmonies Of the Language
"A sort Of verbal polygamy, against which we
invite the indignant protest Of every disciple OF Lind
lev Murray II is no excuse to plead that solecisms
in grammar consort weN with heresies in politics.
The peoples English cannot be butchered with i'm
punity, even by Convention Of Know Nothings.
Twas with some difficulty that the Convention
was delivered OF Platform. Mr.. Anderson of Bote-
tourt, proposed a committee on Resolutions. Mr..
Lewis of Richmond wanted no platform. Mr.. Gil
mer of Albemarle lfacetious Blly,l "said Fillmore
was platform enough fer all" But the memorable
Anderson persisted in his purpose. In piteous &C.
cents he complained of the proscriptive policy of the
GOVeTuUT ''"IlCu was suCus luIouSu
cations of the State, that he Anderson) was an alien
in his own country. He could get no office at all
there" profound sensation in the Convention
Great display Of bandannas. A groan from the
gallery The tender soul of facetous Billy was
touched with pity. To the disconsoate Anderson he
said, "reW give you one" The obese gentleman from
Bo,etourt was satisfied, and 80 spake no more on
that point. Mr. McCue Thought it quite beneath
the Convention to notice the Governor MIR. 5. McD.
Moore of Rockbrdge, agreed with him OF Augusta.
"Iie was of the opinion on this subject, with gem
tleman of his acquaintance who, when challenged to
duel, replied to his challenger, that powder was too
high to be wasted on snipes.' tConventon in q
convulson of laughter, at this sally Of witt Mr..
Maupn rushed to the rescue of Anderson 8 PROPOSE.
ton. "He was in favor of expressing the sentiments
of the Convention upon the course Of Gov. WISE
"Af,er some further remarks from other gentlemen
in favor of the resolution says the reporter for the
IVhiS, sit was unanimously adopted, and commit
tee was appointed bring in resolutions expressive
of the sense Of the Convention" And 81 the plat
form is very expressive OF tue of the Conven-
ton, but it has not word against Governor Wise-
Now this is q remarkable omission, considering that
the premeditated purpose Of the Platform to de-
nounce his Ercelency. But Sandy Stuart wss Chair.
man Of the committee, and he is quite smart for
any such stupid blundsr as that suggested by Mr..
John I. Anderson.
In truth, the Staunton platform is platform Of
omissions. One can describe it only by negatives
Its only positive afirmations are, that the KuowNo
things are too much abused, and that the Democra.
cy are responsible for the debt of the State-both of
which propositions We deny, and mean hereafter to
refute. The Platform is silent the slavery ques
ton. 1t says not word about the Catholics. 1T
even spares the foreigners. What is the country in
no peril from the Pope Is there necessity tor the
disfrsuchisenent of the Dutch |? All, the hypocrisy
of ,Ss TSsE IS W Rsa'hs pSS our lib
the Known c,hings of Virginia have not word
.vainst Catholics or aliens Did we not tell the Peo
nIs ,ol Did we not cay know-Nothingism was an
arrapt ,pposture, and that all its hulaoaoo aooutth
Pope and the Irish, was canine camor alter Ine
spells We did; but to confess the TRUTH we had no
idea that events would soon vndicse our prophe-
cy. We thought the mask would be worn little
longer, for d.cencys sake, If for nothing else AL
ready tho mposture is stripped Of its disguise, ready
for the lash of duped and indignant people
If the reader will revert to a paragraph in last
Wednesdays issue of the Enquirer, he will find an
accurate commentary on this Staunton Platform. II
is just such anticipated from the exigencies OF
the party and the character of the men who controi
its couusels. We said they would ratfy the nomina-
ton of Fillmore and Donelson, and 80 they do-wlth
this distinction, that they kaon Fillmore, but can only
take Donelson on trust We said they would spit
upon the Philadelphia Platform; and SO they did,
with the utmost emphasis of silent contempt. Alto
pether this Platform is the funniest production OF the
day.
What, with the tedious wit Of Gilmer and the oily
oratory of Stuart, this know-No,hing Convention at
Stauuton must have been insuferably deficient IN
amusement and instruction. The report in the Hhts
is evidently inadequate, but it reveals enough TO
repel the most inquisitive from farther investga'
tiun