The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-06-07
The DAILY DISPATCH.
AMERICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION.


Secrecy Remsved--The sumner Assault
Hon. John M. Bolts and Humphrey Mar.
The American National Council re-assembled ac-
cording TO adjournment at the Knickerbocker Hall
New York, Wednesday morning:
The President announced the following Commit
tee on Resolutions, viz: Senator Goodwin, OF New
York; Prentice, of Kentucky; Isaac w. Thomp-
son, of New York; Colonel Logan, of Arkansas ;
Sol Smith, of Missouri; G.. Brashsus, of Ohio: Mr.
Warren, of Massachusetts,; W. s. Francis. of Mary.
land; DR.. Hitchcock, of California; and Mr. Zolli.
Golfer, of Tennessee
The discussion on the propriety OF abolishing the
oaths and pass words was then begun.
Mr.. Brockwsy of California, had ever been un-
qualifedly opposed to secresy. He advocated no
principle which be feared would suffer from ridi.
enlc He belonged to no party which would be
afraid of making known their principles Let the
reporters If they choose to garble proceedings do
So This party would suffer no more from il than
other parties did. His State was in favor of the
abolition of all iiseeresy, and he hoped the substi-
tute would be rejected, and Mr.. Marshall's motion
agreed to.
Mr.. Warren, of Ohio, believed In the propriety
Of holding their Council in private. He had al
ways remarked the fact that Kentuekiaps had al
ways proceeded on broad open platform, but he
had seen thereby her gallant citizens defeated
The Democrat convention at Cincinnati had pre-
sented q precedent for this for they had excluded
even the ladies. When the party abolished the
fundamental principle OF the party, secresy, the
party would be destroyed, while 1t was claimed to
be source of weakness, he thought it was an ele-
ment OF success IL knew that the rabble of this
country rule it and control its public affairs They
had mob law reigning at the capitol. and he felt
that this might be the last time when great
American Council would set. he hoped, there
fore they would set in secret, and that the motion
of MIR. Marshall would be rejected.
Mr. Humphrey Marshall of Kentucky, offered
the following resolution abolishing secrecy:
Resolved, That we present the American party
to the country not as an Order, not as a Society
but as a bread, comprehensive, conservative Ma.
tiona party, standing, Like other political parties
openly before the country inviting to its fold all
who adopt its sentiments and participate in its
convictions; but nothing herein shall be con-
strued as to interfere with any organization which
the party in any State, for its government, may
choose to adopt. Great applause followed the
reading)
The ayes and the nays having been called for on
the above, the whole of the delegates voted aaye,"
except Mr. Parsons, of N. Y, and Mr.. Pollock, of
Ohio
Mr. Goodwin then read the other resolutions, as
follows:
l. Resolved That our earnest thanks are rem
dered to the American National Convention for
the nomination of Millard Fillmore and Andrew j.
Donelson, for the Presidency and Vice Presidency
of these United States and that we are conf
dent of their ratification by the people of the ma
tion,
Resolved, That the extreme partizan meas
ures of the Administration Democracy on the one
side and the Black Republicans ON the other, dri-
wing the country with phrenZied zeal into the
most dangerous sectional strife, not only require
prompt and signal rebule, but abundanuy prove
that neither faction can be safely trusted to adj
minister the affairs of the Republic aud eonser-
yators of law and constitutional rights of a free
prt SIS and free speech, without licentiousness in
either the members of the American party in the
Ron fofixy ho ondf
are hereby requested to vote for the prompt ex.
pulsion of any bowie knife Democrat or Sharpri-
1ed Black Republican, who shall outrage by his
acts the rules that should eyer govern the Supreme
Legislature of the country.
The resolutions were received with the greatest
enthusiasm, and with three cheers at the close.
Mr.. Winchester, of Maryland, wished to know
what would be the result if this was passed He
thought the Council should not mix up In these
matters; he would recommend the maxim of the
old woman, who, when her husband was fighting
with the bear, said, fight man. fight bear, and do
not care which wins He would move to lay the
resolution on the table.
The gentleman subsequently withdrew the mo-
ton on condition it would again be renewed.
Jno. NJ. Bolts, (Va.) did not approve of the man
ner of moving to lay on the table, and then with
drawing for the purpose of renewing the motion
Dir. Wnchester-Then l withdraw it.
Mr., Bolts, of Va, spoke to the resolutions. He
had taken NO part in theproceedings of the Council,
and had nothing to do with the squabbles which
marked the troublous debate. Ner should he have
taken any part opened his lips in the Council,
if he had not seeu proposition submitted which,
in his Judgment. was calculated to do serious mis-
chief to the party. He desired to see the party
conne itself to its original objects, and rejecting
every proposition carrying with it an introduction
toany oui side issues Deyoti Jn-undyiDP, ,unfinch
ing devotion to the Union of the States, and re-
eognitou to the obligations of the constitution of
the United States he understood to be the great
object of ths American party, and therefore they
had determined that the suffrages be confined to
the freeborn citizens of the United States. He
was not in favor of any modification of the natu-
razation laws. He bad always advocated their
absolute unconditional repeal as the only safer
guard left them. He never desired to see another
naturazed citizen in the United States
He would require every man coming here to
abide his time and wait till his children, educated
with their children would be able to appreciate
the institutions of this republic. He was sorry to
say it-and it might be an unwhoesome truth
to tell. and yet there would be few who would not
recognise the truth OF the remark-that there had
been little dune and few steps taken by the Amer
lean party since its organization that were fraught
with wisdom. There were always propositions in
tr5duced to promote animosities among them He did
not wish his sentiments to be misunderstood in re-
gard to the matter referred in the resolution From
the first moment that he had read the account OF
the outrage in Washington, he had never hesitated
to declare his opinion that the perpetraor OF that
outrage should be Immediately expelled from his
seat in Congress. If he were . member of that
body, and the perpetrator were the only brother
he had on earth, he would vote for his expulsion
(Applause) He sanctioned no outrage, no yio
lence, no mob law. MIR. Brooks was not the only
member of either body that dsgraced the nation.
There was too much gross and improper language
on the part of members, from both the North and
the South He was for adopting such course as
would heal these dssensions.
Mr. Britton, of n. Y, recognized that the re esslu.
ton was aimed at the Brooks and Sumner outrage,
and only regretted that it did not aim more forci.
bly at it. III he believed that the people of the
South. orsthe people of the country anywhere
would as unit applaud this outrage or would
blame them for denouncing it, he would desire no
longer to be an American citizen
Mr. Alien, of Mass regretted the introduction
of this resolution. The delegation from his State
did not feel the necessity for it but if done, they
wish it to be done in mild and gentle terms.
Mr.. Bolts then offered the following amendment:
.As conservators of law and constitutional rights
of free press and free speech, without licentous
ness in either, the American party Is equally op-
nosed TO the bowie knife and revolver on the one
hand. and to Sharp's rifles on the other, for the
settlement of sectional issues or constitutional
Mr.. Goodwin cordially accepted the proposed
amendment.
A delegate moved another amendment-to strike
out the words "black republican" and insert the
word "abolitonist."
The ouestieu was taken and the motion was not