The weekly American banner. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1855-18??, 1856-02-29

lnose inuicateu In une HIth secloM VI tsifS plat
form.
The new platform was adopted by 1903 to II;
but was objected to by the whole of the South
ern members Of the Convention.
The. committee on organization have reported
Recommendation to appoint Ephram Marsh OF
New Jersey, President; and one Vice President
from each State. No Secretaries have been
appointed. o. The report has been adopted.
The report Of the committee on Credentials
has been adopted; but there is SEINE difficulty in
the committee.
FREE Sou CONVENTION. Free Soil Ma
tional Convention assembled to-day, and TEN
lporarily organized by apgointing Isaac Hazel
hurst.of Philadelphia Chairman
The credentials ofdelegates to it were discus
sed.
Mr.. Stewards Speech ON the Gem
tral American Question.
On the 3lst ult., Mr.. Seward delivered speech
the Senate Of the United States on Central
! American affairs. After giving lengthy review
of the whole question, he concludes thus:
/ have thus reached the conclusion that the
| American positions are just, and the American
demands are ri yht. The FINAL question is prac-
teal one: What ought the United States now
TO do? can now only glance at some of the cir
cumstances which affect the question regret
that in any case it involves possibility of war.
Although believe war sometimes justi6able,
regard it always, nevertheless as calamity, and
an evil. do not agree with either those who
suppose it contributes to national prosperity, or
those who regard it as salutary discipline of
States. / should, therefore, deeply deplore any
war with any nation, and more than any other o
war with Great Britain. That power no longer
arms alone. Its wealth and influence easily Sc
cure allies. Nor in such contest should we be
unaided. The adjacent American States, at least,
would cooperate with US. 1t would therefore
be general war, and consequently more extern
sively injurious aud widely demoralizing than any
other in which we could be engaged. 1t would,
moreover, renew aud practically perpctuate an
alienation between two fraternal States on whose
common guidance (ony secured through their con-
cord) the advancing nations largely depend.
deprecate a war, moreover, because it can be
avoided, unless there shall be fault on both sides
or on one sidc and therefore in one sense it would
be an unnecessary conflict.
ii Notwithstanding the occasional occurrence Of
misapprehensons and irritations, the world is YET
wide enough for both nations, and for all nations
: We are the centre of one system-an American
!, one; Great Britain is the centre Of another--s
European one. Almost in spite of ourselves, w
are steadily extending and increasing our contro
q over these continents. Notwithstanding her te
It nacty, she isconstanty losing hev dominion here
. This is within the order of nature. 1t was TO
. three hundred years the business of European IA
tions to colonse, discipline, and educate Ameri
u can nations. 1t is now the business of those ma
= tons to govern themselves The decline of En-
f ropean power here practically began with the fa
of Canada out of the control of France in l763
>, 1t has steadily continued until now only som
u relics, possessing little vitality, remain.
~ Rrifo
will wisely withdraw and disappear from this hen
isphere within quarter of a century-at leas,
within half 4 century. War might hasten, Blu
n might also delay it. | regret also that war,
c. it must come, must also probably concur with tn
:, great cuaflict that now convulses Europe. Tll
British administration has long been UNI ithful
the cause of free institutions in Europ', AMI tn
IN French empire is, in my eyes, hateful usurpatior
). Nevertheless, both of these administrations al
"a temporary aad practically ephemeral, while tn
= Russian empire is an obstinate and portentor
J. reality. accept the oracular exposition of til
e first Napoleon; AMI, believing that Europe MI
n be soon either Republican or Cossack, recognis
beneath the m )narchi ,al mask of the Allies, til
Western nations contending against an adyancn
ut despotism.
le Although no duty and no propriety require
= us to intervene on their side, should be very u
willing to engage my country in a combinatie
"a against them. | regret, also, the sad condtic
Of of the Central American States, which seems
at render them incapable of proting by our int
:. vention as the French people were, when, in l79
- they demanded like lnterposition in ful6llme
60 our precedent treaties of commerce and alanc
n Nevertheless, war with Great Britain is no
IN among the possible solutions of the present en-
barrassment We certainly can look for no mode
alton onher part hereafter il overlook her pc
sistent refusal to fulfill this the most solemn al
nd important ofaI our international engagement
70 1t will be an idle dream to suppose ourselves fr
and safe if we leave her to waylay us or all sid
'h Of our Isthmus passages from our Atlantic reg
re to the Pacific States Nor do l fear war, ha
ir ing justice and high State necessity on our sid
tv We outnumber the population Of the British
:, lands. Their dependencies detract from inste
nu of lending strength.
r. Although wehave less realized wealth, we ha
infinitely greater resources than those Of Gre
4, Britain and our revenues, susceptible of large
creaee, are practically free. Our recruiting grou
ig is ample, as Cream Britain we'll knows for S
o. has tried to enter it clandestinely. 1t there we
w. any deficiency of native volunteers, Great Brita
y herself, as well as other European nations,
~ supplied us with this element of war. We ha
On corps of military officers nnequalled and we ha
the foundations of effective navy, that can spee
a lily be built up and put in motion. In view
the clFcuuiStauctSs ~ ScctiS W HE Wise W duuc
"a to our demands, and yet to cast on Great Brts
m distinctly the responsibility of deciding up
peace or war. Some would advise US to propt
A. arbitration. But think We have passed I'll
:, point alreaey It would imply doubt of the rigl
ne funess of the positions on which we have elect
of to stand as claimants out of possession. Su
he INDIGESTION would be equivalent to an abandc
he ment.
Besides, I do not know where we could find
impartialempire in the present disturbed conditi
OF of Europe. / do not think that Great BritainS
mo choose resort to war. Her Government hare
4 less than our own, is popular one. This cont