The Placer herald., 1856-03-29
AUBURN, MARCH 29, 1856.
THE NEWS BY THE UNCLE SAM.

VI lne domestic lnle!l8ence we nave the
report of the PRocEED1NGs OF THE GRAND
COUNCIL OF THE X. Ms IL PHILADELPHIA
and the nominations of that party for Presi-
dent and Vice President of the United States
The Grand Council convened on the 10Th Of
February and continued its session until the
evening of the 2lst, when it adjourned to
meet in New York on the second day of June
next. If the reporters of the \. y. Herald
are to be believed, it was as violent and dis
cordant a body as ever convened in the
United States.
The radical men of the extremes met. and
these jarring elements wrangled and warred
in such a manner as to drive from the Coun-
Gil in disgust, the moderate men; and each
other in impotent rage.
The extreme south We're not pleased with
that portion of the June platform of 1855,
fixing a religious test.
The north and west opened the ball over
the 18th section of the same platform, which
is in these words:
the ruins and in spite of the opposition of the
whig and democratic parties. cannot be held in
any manner responsible for the obnoxious acts or
violated pledges of either And the systematic
agitation of the slavery question by those parties
having elevated sectional hostility into a positive
element Of political power and brOuo oht our in
stitutions into peril. it has therefore become the
imperative duty of the American party to inter
fere for the purpose of giving peace to the coun-
try and perpetuity to the Union And as expert
ence has shown it impossible to reconcile opinions
so extreme those which separate the disputants.
and there can be no dishonor in submitting to
the laws. the National Council has deemed it the I
best guarantee of common Justice and of future
peace to abide by and maintain the existing laws
upon the subject of slavery. as final and concu- /
sive settlement of that subject, in spirit and in
substance.
And ayowing it the highest duty to avow their
opinions upon subject important. in distinct
and unequivocal terms. it is hereby declared as
the sense of this National Council that Congress
possesses no power under the Constitution. to
legslate upon the subject Of slavery in the States
where it does or may exist. or to exclude any State
from admission into the Union because its cOnsti-
tuition does or does not recognize the institution of
slavery part Of its social system: and expressly
pretermitting any expression Of opinion upon the
power of Congress to establish or prohibit slavery
in any Territory. it is the sense of the National
Council that Congress ought not to legislate upon
the subject of slavery within the Territories of the
United States, and that any interference by Con-
gress with slavery as it exists in the District of
Columbia would be a violation Of the spirit and
intention Of the compact by which the State of
Maryland ceded the District to the United States
and breach Of the national faith.
Then commenced furious onset. All
parties insisted that "Americans should rule
America" but each class wished it ruled ac-
cording to the idea which the members of it,
had of America The south swore they'd
bolt if the twelfth section was not retained;
the EXTREMIST men of the north insisted that
it should be blotted from the record of the
X. n doctrines; moderate party from the
middle and western States, cried, hush and
compromise,
Mr. Parsons, of New York, told 1t. Gov.
Ford of Ohio, that mo one who was enrag-
ed in running off nigeers from their masters
should have anything to do in the order.
Ford retorted to the effect that the busi-
ness he and his party were engaged in was
as reputable as Parsons party were at, viz
"capturing slaves and taking them back to
their masters"
A Mr.. Ely, Of Mass, wished the entire
platform abolished and the Bible and the
Constitution substituted therefor, for the rea-
son as he said, that the Bible is anti Roman
Catholic, and the Constitution is national"
A Mr.. Bennett introduced charges against
Gov. Ford to the effect that he. Ford, was in
league with the Black Republicans, but the
brethren laid Bennett and his charges on
the shelf.
R.N. Wood, of California, got the floor
made a speech, and when he concluded
brother accused him Of violating his obliga-
ton. Striking out portions of last years
platform; abolishing the whole of it; making
new ones; and diversifying the entertainment
between general and little rows, kept the
Counsel engaged until finally the platform
of 80 was abolished and a new one sub
stituted After the final vote on this new
platform was announced:
"Mr Corwin Of Ohio, announced that the party
in that State was dead. He was contradicted by
another Ohio delegate. and quite scene ensued.
Parson BroWnlow said that they-the majority
could kick the Ohio delegations bottoms all
around the room. Mr.. Zollcofer called Governor
Ford, OF Ohio, the worst kind of a negro worship
per. Great confusion ensued, and Zolicotier was |
finally persuaded to shut off and sit down. Final
ly, Ford's character was duly whitewashed, and
cheers were given for him."
Albert Pike, of Arkansas, and Charles
Mathews, of California, withdrew from the
Counsel and published protest.
Parsor Brownlow, of Tennessee, is what
we would call a regular old brick; in proof
of which we clip the following from the re-
porters account Of the first days proceedings
ip Counsel:
"Parson Brownlow said good thing in his
speech last night to the Southern caucus. He said
be had heard the Tribune and other Northern
organs had advocated Sharps rifles as the best
arguments to be used against the South. He had
understood that doctrine had been preached from
the pulpit at the North. He urged the South to
adopt the same argument. 81" said he "will go
with you, and will take my coffin with me. 1t