The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-03-22
THE NEW KNOWNOTHING PLAT
FORM.

I To satisfy general inquiry, we avail our
selves of the earliest opportunity of laying be-
fore the public, the new Platform which has
been erected at Philadelphia for the benefit Of
the Knownothing Organization.
1t will be found to differ materially from the
Platform constructed in 1855; and which has
down to this time, been held up by the Know
nothings in this section Of the Union, as the
perfection Of wisdom and patriotism.
The first act of the Council was the repeal
of the famous Twelfth Section, or Pro-slavery
Plank of the old Platform. This Plank was,
in the eyes Of Southern K. Ms, the salt Of the
whole concern; and loud did they swear that il
1t were expunged from the creed Of the Mid,
night Order, they would unhesitatingly and
indignantly abandon it.
The struggle on the motion to rescind the
Twelfth Section, was fierce and bitter. 1t
was almost strictly sectional. The Black Re-
publicans, however came out of this contest
unscarred. The proposition to rescind was
carried by vote Of one hundred and eleren to
serenity two. 'The free States" we quote the
language of the New Orleans Bulletin, a
Knownothing paper, ''voted unanimously for
the resolution of resembling, with the exception
of New York, which voted one nay to Mnty-
three yeas, and Indiana, which also threw one
vote in the negative. The ten slave States
voted in the negative" From
which it appears that the Northern Know
nothings carried through the measure of re-
peal against the unbroken opposition the
eager remonstrances-the imploring appeals
Of their Southern brethren.
The question, then, is, why did the Southern
delegates submit to the outrage? 1t is easily
answered. Their oaths hksn Jefre high Hear
en- compelled them 10 do so. The Constitution of
the Order which they are sworn to obey
declares that the National Council "shaH hire
The po,cer TO DECIDE ALL matters appertaining 10
National politics Art. 3. sec. S. and more
over it is vested with the power ito determine
upon mode of punishment in case of any
dereliction of duty on the part of it's members
or oflicers.'
Here we have key to the submission of the
Southern Knownothings, to wrong against
which they petitioned so earnestly before it
was carried into execution. One poor fellow
from Tennessee, PICKETT by name-an unfor-
tunate, miserable wretch who deserted the
Democratic party to better his fortunes in the
Knownothing camp--had the temcrty to bolt
hut what is to be his fate we have not learned
The authority to punish is unlimited. Wheth-
er he will be captured and garroted-ham.
strung-hung from the gallows--ted to the
whipping post--remans yet to be seen. Prob
ably the infallible Pope Of the Sublime Order
will merely content himself with Illuminating
bull Of accommodation against the erring
brother, and notifying the world that he is
hereto, and an unbelicver and should be avoid.
as such.
Picket was the ouly vassal of Sam who re-
sisted the calling decree of the High Tribunal,
and for him we have no sympathy He had
attained to some prominence in the Democratic
party in his own State, but would not bide
his time. He went over to the ranks of its
enemies and is again disappointed. But to
his credit be it remembered that that poor,
Maynard, unfortunate Democrat was the only
man of all the Southern delegates who did not
obsequiously kiss the rod which their Black
Republican masters applied with the savage
pleasure OF Nero to their quivering limbs.
Here is verbatim ct i!eratim copy of the
ExpUNGEp SECTION:
"rhc American party, having risen upon
the ruins and in spite of the opposition of the
Wing and Democratic parties cannot be held
in any manner responsible for the obnoxious
acts or violated pledges of either And the
systematic agitation of the Slavery question
BY those parties having elevated sectional hos,
tlllty into apositve element of politician power,
and brought our institutions into peril, it has
therefore become the imperative duty of the
American party to interfere, for the purpose
Of giving peace to the country and perpetuity
to the Union. And as experience has shown
1t impossible to reconcile opinions so extreme
as those which separate the disputants and as
there can be no dishonor in submitting to the
Ham,