The true Democrat., 1856-04-01
To the American party Of
 Arkansas,

The published proceedings of the late ses- sion of the national council and convention, and the card which accompanies this letter will ad vise you that l have resigned my commission aS delegate to the national council, and have re- fused to take my seat as member of the na- tlOnal nominating convention.
 After the platform of June, lo55 was adopt ed northern members of the national council cu deavored to have an r1iom'aeI session oi tie council before the meeting of The nominating convention. l opposed and defeated the Ira- position on the express g:oUud, that il tA1rG was such a session, attempts, perhaps success full, would be made to chai ge the platform; and that the anticipation of such action would make and ought to make, the south suspicious as to the sincerity of our purpose; and that our only safety consisted in placing our candidates upon the platform as it was, and making 1t a tinality.
 When anti-savery States procured a called session ot the national council, saw that the object was to strike out or change the first ar ticle of the platform. l attended the council to ald m preventing that act.
 When the council convened, it was taken possession of by the northern members; those who had gone home and repudiated theTwelth section being among the foremost. had de- sired the State Council of Arkansas to instruct
 
 States that had repudiated that article; but having no such instructions, and there being no concert of action among southern members, took my seat.
 The council first settled, or rather took for granted, that each State was entitled to the same number of representatives as 1t has votes in Congress-; and yet the old members elected when each State was entitled to seven, took their seats first of all. If seven had been pre- sent from Arkansas each would have been equally entitled to take his seat; and yet, upon this new basis, we are entitled to four members only. The truth is, we have been elected for a year. and that the new basis was not intended to operate until the next regular annual session. By adopting 1t now and allowing each mem- Der only his vote, and never voting by States, the north had at once the power to do what 1t pleased
 The friends of the twelfth section in Penn sylvania had established separate organization and an independent state council Their dele gates were refused seats, and Governor Johnston and other anti twelfth section men admitted.
 Knowing that the purpose was to repeal the twelfth section 1 wished to see the question settled at once therefore tried to get the floor to move the previous question on the mo- tion of Mr. Brewster, of Massachusetts, to strike out the twelfth section, and insert that we would adhere to the principles and provisions of the constitution. Mir. Burr, of New York, promis ed me to move the previous question: when he concluded his speech. As he did not do so 1t was agreed between myself and Mir. Mat thews, of California, that he should do it, and he did so
 Mir. Burr had moved the appointment of committee to report business for the conven- ton: Mir. Brewster had moved his resolution as substitute. The President ruled that un- der the previous question, the first question would be, on substituting the resolution of Mir. Brewster for the original resolution, which would put it before the council if carried in the affirmative, to be acted on in laee of the origi nal, but would be no vote on the merits. l did not want to send the matter to a commit tee, but to have direct vote on the question, and therefore I voted aye to bring the substitute up before the council, for vote upon it's adop- ton or rejection, instead of sending the matter to a committee.
 The substitute being thus before the council for adoption or rejection, and the previous question not exhausted, members were allow ed to speak by unanimous consent, and the rest of she day was consumed in talking.
 That evening those in favor of adhering to the twelfth section met, and placed Mr. Barker, of New York, in the chair. After several pro-  positions had been made for committee of conference, etc, etc, addressed the meeting, and concluded by moving that in case the twelfth section was stricken out or materially modified, we should withdraw in a body from the hal and proceeding to the ninth ward council room, should there continue the session of the true national American council. This motion was carried without opposition, and the result hailed with nine cheers. Col Logan had not then reached the city, and Col Fowler had retired from the meeting before this action was had, so that neither of them was bound by the resolution.
 The passage of that resolution, Gall others being withdrawn, and it passing by aocama- tion,) was the proudest moment of my life. thought saw arising at once new, conse'va- toe natior,a1 American party, without secrecy, without religions tests, with which all conser- vatives everywhera could unite. and in which,