The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-16
THE OPPOSITION PARTY IN PENN.
SYLVANIA.


The " Peoples Convention of the State of
Pennsylvania met at Harrisburg on Wednes-
day. for the purpose of nominating candidates
for the offices of Auditor General and of Sur
yeyor General, to be voted for at the next cleo
ton. Thomas +. Cochran was elected for the
former Office, and William Fl. Keim for the
latter, both gentlemen of acknowledged good
character and requisite qualifications
The Convention was well attended, and har-
monious in its action. David Taggart, Esq,
presided.
We present below the platform adopted by
the Convention. A correspondent writes us,
that the third resolution, as published in the
Harrisburg Telegraph, is mutilated by an i'm
portant omission of the word "slave" before
the word code. We present the resolutions,
and append the remarks of our correspondent:
Il. That Executive Intervention to PROSTATE
the will of the people, constitutionally express
ed. either lii the States or Territories, is dan
gerous element of Federal power, and that its
exercise by the present Chief Magistrate of the
Republic, as well in elections as upon the Rep
resentatives of the people, meets our decided
disapprobation.
-. That we protest against the sectional
and ProSlavery policy of the National Admin
istration, as at war with the rights of the people,
and subversive to the principles of our Govern
ment
"3. That we denounce and will unitedly
oppose all attempts to enact Congressional
Islave code for the Territories, believing the
same to be utterly at war with the true pur-
pose of our Government, and repugnant to the
moral sense of the nation; and that affirm
our continued hostility to the extension of Sla-
very over the Territories of the Union.
~. That We regard all suggestions and
propositions, of every kind, by whomsoever
made, for a revival of the African slave trade,
as shocking to the moral sentiments of the en-
lightened portion of mankind that any action,
on the part of the Government or people, con-
niving at or legalizing that horrid and inhu-
man traffic, would Justly subject the Govern
ment aud citizens of the United States to the
reproach and execration of all civilized and
Christian people and that the inaction of the
National Administration in bringing the slave
traders to Justice, and its course in sending
such as have been arrested TO trial in places
where acquittal was certain, subject it fairly
to the charge of conniving at the practical re-
opening OF that traffic.
-. That hold the encouragement and
protection of home production and American
industry to be one of the first duties of our Gov
eminent and the failure to obtain such en-
enlargement and protection from the last Con
gress, Notwithstanding the professions of the
President, convince us that the laboring masses
of the free States will look in vain for tariff
for the protection of their labor while the ad-
ministration Of the Government is in the hands
of the party now in power and that we believe
the ad valorem system wholly inadequate to
tha md nd IN - -
we are in favor of specific duties upon iron,
coal, salt, and all such other products, wholly
the growth and manufacture of the United
States.
Il. That the reckless and profiigate extrava-
gance of the National Administration, causing
"a necessity for continued loans, without any
means provided for their payment, give evil
dence of want of that ability and integrity
which should characterize the Government OF
free people, and unless checked, will lead to
a dishonor Of the national credit.
-. That the passage Of joint homestead
bill, giving one hundred and sixty acres of land
to every citizen who will settle upon and i'm.
prove the same would be measure fair in
principle, sound i'll policy, and productive OF
great good to the people of the nation; and
that we regard the defeat of Mr.. Grows bill in
the Senate of the United States, by the party
IN power, as direct blow at the labOring
classes of the country, and AS unworthy of the
liberality of great Government; and that kin
dred to this was the defeat by the same party
of the pre-emption bill, which gave preference
TO actual settlers over land spectators.
"s. That the purity and safety of the ballot
box must be preserved, and that all frauds upon
the naturalization laws, which have been Sc
much resorted to to promote the success of the
party we oppose, ought to be counteracted by
wholesome and proper legislation.
g. That we approve of the enactment OF
proper laws to protect us from the introduction
of foreign criminals in midst, by returning
them at once to the places from whence they
have been shipped to our shores.
10. We cordially invite all men, of all parties
to Join with us in earnest endeavors to restore
the Government to its original parity, and tC
preserve the proud heritage of American insti
iutions transmitted to us by our fathers, com
plete and unimpaired to those who may come
after US.
I'll. That this Convention do most heartily
approve of and endorse the course pursued by
our able and distinguished Senator the Hon
Simon Cameron, and that of our Representa-
tives in the popular barnch of Congress WHIT
have zealously supported the protective policy
the homestead bill, the Just rights of actual set
TIERS and have steadfastly opposed the tyranni
cal policy of the National Administration il
their attempts to force upon the people of Kan
sas a fraudulent Slavery Constitution, in oppo
sition to the known and oftexpressed sentiment
of the freemen of the Territory.
The correspondent referred to above writes
as follows:
GRADING, Pa, June 8, 1859.
"T5 the Editor Of the National Era:
Il have Just returned thus far on my wa,
home from attending the State Convention il
Harrisburg yesterday; and observing in tn
published proceedings of that Convention, con
tanned in the Harrisburg Daily Telegraph, 10
which send you enclosed slip containing
them,) an error of some importance, hastel
10 point it ont, in order to prevent misunder
standing respecting the position taken by tn
Convention.
The third resolution, rs it stands in the pull
lished proceedings contains the words, Tia
we denounce and will unitedly oppose all al
tempts 10 enact a Congressional code for th
Territories, in which phrase the essential wore
slave is omitted between Congressional
and code; thus making the resolution i'll tn
strongest manner an endorsement of Squatte
sovereignty, while the question of Slavery, II
that part of the resolution is entirely passe
over. This word slave, to my own certain
knowledge, was contained in the resolution a
read in Convention, at least it was read, i
which several delegates whom have converse
with agree with me. Was this subsequen
omission accidental?
"Should you think proper TO publish any pan
of the proceedings in the Era, please insert tn
omitted word and should you think advisable
attention might be called to the omission in tn
Telegraph, which will, fear be sent all over tn
country, and create most false impression"