Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-02-23
The Know Nothing National Council

national platform really only with reference
to American Catholics, who are not hereafter
to be prescribed, if refusing to acknowledge
the temporal supremacy of the Pope. How
ever; practically their prescription will be as
thorough as before; as experience teaches
that whatever the Know Nothing political
leaders may take occasion to profess, war to
gious society, is one of the great aims of their
national association. The new plank on the
subject of slavery, it will be perceived, though
not so declaring in so many words, leave the
party at the North at liberty to play out the
abolition game. Nearly all the northern
members of the Council proved themselves
ultra abolitionists in the course of their pro-
ceedings. We take it for granted that they
will bolt as before; going this time over to the
Republican party. Nevertheless, there will
be a sufficient number of northern voters left
to act in good faith with the order, to enable
it to poll fair voteat the North for President
next fall This fact it is which so alarms and
worries the Republican politicians in Wash
ington.
The following are the two sections of the
new platform which are regarded as being
different from the old planks for which they
have been substituted.
5. No person should be selected for politi-
cal station, whether of native or foreign
birth, who recognizes any allegiance or OBJ
legation of any description to any foreign
prince, potentate or power, or who refuses to
recognize the Federal and State Constitutions
leach With its sphere) as paramount to all
ether laws; as rules of political action.
T. The recognition of the right of the native
bern and naturaliEed citizens of the United
States, permanently residing in any Terri
tory thereof, to frame their constitution and
laws, and to regulate their domestic and So
cial affairs in their own mode, subject only to
the provisions Of the Federal Constitution,
with the privilege Of admission into the Union
whenever they have the requisite population
for one Representative in Congress. Prori-
ded, Arrays, that none but those who ere
citizens Of the United States, under the Con-
stitution and laws thereof, and who have a
fixed residence in any such Territory, ought to
participate in the formation Of the Constitu-
| ton, or in the enactment Of laws for said Ter
ritOry or State.
The vote on the adoption of the new plat
| form was-yeas 10S, nays 1.-THE South, with
two or three exceptions going for it, while the
main body of the North went against it. On
the last day, the South Unexpectedly appeared
in pretty full force in the convention, which
turned the tide in their affairs; it having been
| thought previously that owing to the absence
| of large number Of Southern delegates, the
| ult SIS
| House Committees. being day
on which our columns are invariably crowded.
we have no space in this issue of the Star in
| which to pursue our analysis Of the House
| Committees Of political Importance. In the
course of the papers We have already written
on the subject we find we have made three
mistakes, which we desire to correct. Thus
| we represented Mr.. Cobb of Ga, as having
| previously served on the Ways and Means
| Committee A strange mistake truly for US
| to make, who have noticed him in the hall
On every day on which he has appeared there
| since first entering into Congress. Neverthe-
| less we made it, in the haste in which we are
| compelled to write.
r We also wrote down Mr.. Eustis of La, as
having been Wing before going over to the
Know NothiDgs. That statement, we now
learn, was erroneous; that gentleman having
been member of the Democratic party up to
| that time.
| Again we made Mr.. Kennett of Missouri,
practicing attorney before coming 20 Con.
gress. We learn, however, that though famous
as public speaker at home, and though edu-
Gated and licensed as an attorney at law, Mr.
X. has not "practised," so far. These are the
only errors in the series of sketches of the
members of the prominent committees into
W hich we have fallen, that we can hear Of
| Second Lieutenant Harrison, U. S r N.
The circumstances under which this gallant
young officer recently distinguished himself
| in the two actions with the hostile Indians in
Washington Territory were not sufficiently
explained in our late brief alIusion to the fact
when publishing the report of his command.
ing officer.
Finding that there is further inform alton
on the subject in this city, we sought and have
obtained leave to spread it before the Star,
readers. 1t is embraced, substantially, in
the following official letter
u. S REV. CUTTER JEFFERSON DAVIS,
| Stielacoom, w. T., Oct. 20, 1855.
SRI have respectfully to inform the
Department that the officer commanding the
Fort at Steilacoom came on board to-day, and
informed me that Company G, 4th infantry,
about starting for the scene Of war, had nc
commissioned officer attached to it, and was
DESTROYS Of obtaining an officer to command
them. Second Lieutenant Harrison volun
sion to join the company.
AT the request Of the same officer, L PLACED
ten armed men in the fort to- day, for the pro.
lection of the Government property, as all
the available forces are in the field. 4
l have the honor to be, very respectfully,
| Your obedient servant,
| WIN. c. PEAK, Captain.
Hon. Jas. Guthrie, Sec'y of the Treasury.
| The Republican Convention now in session