The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-03-26
From the Raleigh Register.
! ADDRESS FROM MR.. HAUGHToN.

We publish below, with great pleasure, a
poweriui Address from ]. IL. HAUeHT0N,
ESQ.,, the able and patriotic delegate repre-.
senting the State at large in the late National
American Convention. explaining the details
Of its action, and defining and defending the
position of the party. In all respects It Is
complete, satisfactory and gratifying. Let
il be generally read aud circulated.
TO THE AMERICAN PARTY IN NORTH Ca
R0IINA.
Fellow .ciiizens: Having been honored with
. a seat in the recent nominating Convention
of the American Party at Philadelphia, as one
Of the delegates at large from this State. feel
it due to you, as well as myself, to say some,
thing with reference to the proceedings fthat
body, especially as fad that gross misre
presentations have gone forth calculated TO do
great injustice to cur cause. shall give you
succnct narrative Of what sa,g and heard
during tse sitting Of the American Conven-
ton, and leave others to draw their own con-
illusions.
The irst day, the asd Of February. was oc-
cupied in organizing, and on Saturday, the
25rd, nearly the entire day was employed in
discussing the question Of adjournment to
July, and the result was refusal to adjourn
by decisive majority. The vote on this
question was decided BY yeas and nays. and
twas agreed, that as each member was called
upon to vote. he should be at liberty to assign
the reasons for his vote; and thus very
general discussion was introduced, embracing
not only the immediate question before the
Convention, but many others, and among
them, that of slavery; and this all.abs0rbing
subject was discussed in style, by some OF
those who afiericards icifhdreD from the
Convention. that gave much offence to the
Southern delegates, and Nhieh.-with the
then belief that we should not be able to make
national nomination. or to cooperate in fu.
ture as a national party,-induced several
members from the South to retire IRON the
Convention.
In intimate connection with this with
drawal was the question presented by the
Pennsylvania delegates, of contested seats,
there being two sets Of delegates. the one
known as the Eide, and the other as the Hun
sicker delegates. There were several ques-
tions involved in this contest,-among them,
whether the Edie delegates had not forfeited
thei. right as members of the national Con-
Sention, because the State Council of Penn
sylyania, which appointed them, had rejected
the 18th section Of the national platform OF
June last. while it was said the Hunsicker had
adopted it. On the other hand, it was con-
tended that the State Council which appoint
ed the Hunsicker delegates was spurious, not
having been duly constituted. The respec-
tive delegates were heard, each BY one Of
their number, and when the vote was about
10 be taken, il was very difficult to determine
which set was entitled, aud accordingly, Mr.
Erastus Brooks, Of New York, proposed Il
refer the whole matter back TO the committee
on credentials. but, more for want OF time,
believe, than any other cause, this did moi
prevail, and the sotes.being taken, resulted
in favor Of tie Edie delegates. have bear
thus particular III abiding to this matter, be
cause IT has been the subject of much misre.
presentation; il has been affirmed that il wa,
a test vote in the Convention upon the SLAYER,
question; this, | say, unhesitatingly, {: NOT so
The simple inquiry was, Is TO the credential;
Of the two sets OF delegates and not their pc.
iticai opinions. After the matter was disposed
Of, the Convention closed its labOrs for the
second dsy.
On Monday morning, as soon as the Jour
nal was read, member moved series OF re.
solutions as platform, and another member
proposed as a substitute, (which was zccep.
ted by the original mO'er,) the following re-
solution, TO wit:
Rssolred,-That the National Council has
no authority to establish, for this Convention,
a platform Of principles. and that we will
support no person for President or Vice Pre-.
sident, irho Is moi in favor Of interdicting
slavery north Of Sc, so.
Mr.. Haven, of New York, moved !" TO Law
the whole subject on the table," and upon
this the years and NAYS were ordered.
The roll was then called, and when the
name Of Mr.. Thurston, OF Massachusetts,, was
reached, be rsse aud announced that "hi,
understanding was. that This was TO be fesl
r0le between freedom in the North and sla.
very in the South; he should rote nav. and 4
this proposition was defeated. he should feel
bound 70 leave the Convention. Similar re.
marks we're made BY other extremists and
fanatics from the North, and il was distinctly
vote and responded 70 by the South and IN,
Conservative North, "be il 90"
Here there was presented the great ultima.
tum Of the Missouri resirictionists. On one
side were arrayed those who would restrict
slavery to a certain geographical line on III,
other, the advocates Of popular sovereignty
maintaining the right Of the citizens Of treIl
territory 10 form their government and socia
system in their own way, subject only 10 IL,
provisions oT the Federal Constitution.
Now. upon this great issue. what was ",
rrsult.-a rejection of this Missouri line, b,
vote Of al to 60 Let il be borne in mind
also. that several southern members did no
vote 90 this question. or the msjority woul,
have been still larger And let il be ais,
remembered. that the result Of this vote wa
10 drire Out the fanatics. and bring bark III,
southern men Who had previously left. II
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