Newspaper Page Text
(Times Sentinel.
COLUMBUS. GEORGIA.
WEDNESDAY MORNING-, JUNE 13,
Congressional Convention, 2d District.
We suggest that the Democratic Congressional Conven
tion for the Second District be held at Americus, on Wed
nesday, 11th July next. The Supreme Court will be in
season at that time in Americas. What say our Demo
cratic cotemporariee to this suggestion 1 The time and
place ought to be agreed upon at once. wtwtd.
The Know Nothing National Conncil.
For the first time in the history of the United States,
a national Convention, including in its membership dele
gatee from Maine to Texas, and from the Atlantio to
the Pacifio, and representing a party wbioh aspires to
govern the country, and dispose of the highest offices
in the gift of the people, is now in secret session in the
city of Philadelphia. Our readers will pardon ub if we
fail, under the circumstances, to give them very reliable
information as to the sayings and doings of this extra
ordinary body of men. We are indebted to the pry
ing eyes of the Now York Herald for all the informa
mation wo have obtained.
The Grand National Counoila of the “Americans”
convened at 10 o’clock, June sth, at the Assembly
Rooms in the oity of Philadelphia.
New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Now Hampshire,
Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee,
Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, lowa, Wisconsin,
California, Kentucky, District of Columbia, Missouri and
Michigan, have sent their full quota.
Those infamous Abolition leaders, Gardner and Wil
son, of Massachusetts, are oloseted with closed doors,
with Rayner, of North Carolina, Hopkins, of Alabama,
Pike, of Arkansas. The Georgia delegates are not
given. It is said that Washington Poe, Frank Cone,
Josh Hill and L. F. W. Andrews, are the delegatee
from Georgia. We eongratulote them on their national
alliances ! Yet it is the constituency wbioh these men
represent, in part, which set the famous
Movement” going, and the Democracy of Georgia is
denounced by the Whig press because they will not
abandon Pierce, Douglass, Dickinson, Cass, Dallas and
other true men at the North, to aid them in breaking
down the national organization of the Democratic party,
while they failed to give any assuranoes which could be
relied on, that they would abandon their Know Nothing
brethren of Massachusetts.
There are three parties in the Convention, probably
four. One headed by Wilson and Gardner, of Massa
chusetts. which is aiming to introduce Abolition as one
*of the principles of the Know Nothings. They will
probably be foiled and will thereupon secede from the
Order, followed by all the New England Councils, and
many others in the North and West. Another beaded
by Barker and Ullman, of New York, which aims to
make the Order a grand conservator of the peace by
forcing upon all the Connoils the oath of the third de
gree. They are the “National Conservative men”
and this degree is what is called the Union degree.
That they will triumph over all the parties in the Order,
wo never entertained a doabt. There is another party
headed by Albert Pike, of Arkansas, and the extreme
Southern delegates who will try to pledge the Order
to the Nebr&eka-Kansas act and to the execution of the
Fugitive Slave law. That they will fail is certain.—
What then ? No one knows. There is also another
party oompoeed of Kenneth Rayner, of N. C., whs pro
poses to settle all difficulties between the North and the
South by running 36 deg. 30 min. to the Pacific and
giving to the North all the land North of that line and
to th© South all bslow that line. This would drive the
South out of Kansas and Utah, where slavery may ba
regarded as permanently fixed. We hop© Mr. Ray
nsr’s party will obtain no accessions and it seems to ne
that any man who Would propose voluntarily to restore
th© Missouri restriction after all we have endured under
it and all it has cost us to repeal it is a born fool or
knave.
Barker, of New York, is President of the Conven
tion. The first day was spent in appointing a committee
on oredeutiais, and the organization had not been com*
plated p to the hour of adjournment on the 6th.
A great many exciting questions will come before
the Convention. The question of slavery we have oN
ready alluded to. The next in order will probably be
that of secresy. The correspondent of the Herald says
it is not the design, nor has Buoh a proposition ever had
B supporter in the Order, to disclose the secrets of the
Order to the public. The purpose simply is to publish
the platform the Convention may adopt. It is even ru
mored, upon good authority too, says the Herald , that
the Convention passed a resolution, on the 2d day of
its session, prohibiting tho communication of its acts and
doings to outside members of the Order. They may
well fear to expose to the public eye tho acts and do
ings of ‘‘worthy brethren,” Gardner and W i’son, of
Mass , Griswold, of Conn., Pierpont, of Vt., and Ste
phens, of Maine. Persons familiar with the corruptions
of secret political caucuses will alone appreciate the
dreadful profligacy wbioh this stringent rnle of eecresy
will engender in th§ Grand Council.
Other difficult problems are pressing upon the atten
tion of tb Grand Council. The delegates from the
North-western States-—lndiana, Illinois, lowa, and
Wisconsin, especially—say that as one half the voters
there are naturalized eitizens, there must be some prun
ing of #ur sibling Know Nothing impediments against
that class, in order to make any headway in that quar
ter. They say, too, that the vote of the great West is
too important to be negleoted. So it is.
The double set of delegates from California and Lou
isiana, one set composed of Catholics and Protestants,
and the other of simon-pure Protesfonts, give no little
trouble to the Grand Council. The probability is that
each State Council will be allowed to judge of the
qualification of its membership, and tho Order thus be
made to change front as the exigencies of the occasion
may demand.
There was a report that Barker was to be superseded
by Gardner, of Mass., as President of the Council, was
in circulation in the city, but it ie contradicted by the
Herald.
We owe an apology to our Ante-Know Nothing
friends for giving so much space to the proceedings of
this body. Our apology is that we are informed that
two-thirds of our readers are Know Nothings. We
gve this column for their Lenefit. Hope they like it.
We will give more soon.
Elections in New York.
Canaxdaisua, June 5, 1835.
Our charter election to-day resulted in the success of the
American ticket, by a majority of 141. Tne vote was un
usually large.
Buffalo, June 5, 1835.
Mr. Masten, the regular democratic candidate, is elected
Judge over Houghton, th* Js>o\v Nothin* candidate* by two
majority.
The Know Nothing Press and the Georgia
Democracy.
One month ago, and every Whig press in Georgia
was engaged in ebronioleing Know Nothing victories and
commending Know Nothing principles to the Southern
people as the political ark which alone could weather
the deluge of fanatioism which threatened the South.
Even the Chronicle Sentinel almost up to the day
that Mr. Stephens’ letter appeared, was engaged in the
task of oonoiliatiDg Know Nothing eapport by assuring
the publio that its file leaders sympathised with the
Know Nothings in certain great leading objects oi na
tional policy. Conspicuous among the presses that
played this hand was the Columbus Enquirer. Bat
no sooner did these patriotic editors discover by the re
sult of the Virginia elections that Know Nothiugism
was a dead cock in the pit, than they began to coil lus
tily for a reorganization of the Union Republican party, j
la this lead followed hard on the heels of the Chronicle
4* Sentinel, onr distinguished cotemporariee of the Co
lambue Enquirer. One*short week satisfied them that
this was a losing hand and they all “passed out/'’ la
the mean time the Know Nothings inaugurated tho
Columbus Movement in order to break the fall from tb©
windows es their Connoil ohambers, and foremost among
those who threw up their hats and oried “hosanna/* are
the editors of the Chronicle $ Sentinel and the Co
lumbus Enquirer. Thee© things were not dene in a
corner, but are known and read of all men—who read
those papers. Now who are the leaders in the Colnm
baa Movement ? Who composed the great mass es
the 700 citizens who assembled in Temperanoe Hall on
the night of the 25th nit., when this bastard Southern
Rights bantling was born ? Will the Enquirer dare to
deny that 10 to 2of them were Know Nothings, in
fell fellowship with a national party which embraces
in its membership Wilson and Gardner, of Mass.,
John P. Hale, es New Hampshire, Trumbull, of Illinois,
Harlan, of Wisconsin, and a long roll of men who are
avowed Abolitionists ? Arc they not now present by
a delegation in the city of Philadelphia in a National
Convention in which they are also represented ditccfs
ing with them tho questions es most vital impertanco
to the South in a room guarded by ssntinele to prevent
the foul treason which will be uttered there from,
reaching tho ears es their indignant fellow citizens ?
We dare the Enquirer to deny either of these prepo
sitions. It knows they are true, traoto the letter, and
will net daro to meet them like men 5 but will slide
round them with a facility of, wc had almost said, pre
varication, only equalled by a Jeeuit or a Know Nothing.
Yet in the face of these damning facts, it has the har
dihood to charge the Slates Rights Democracy es
Georgia with want of patriotism because it will not
abandon those firm and true Democrats at the
North who havo waged unequal war with our enemies
at the North, and deceitful friends at home, and join
with it in party affiliation with men whe are at this
hour in National Council with the vilest Abolitionists
that disgrace the earth—mea who even botst that in
two short weeks they have initiated fifty Democrats into
their accursed Order in the oity of Columbus,
We make no war upon Southern men who are over
zealous for Southern Righto—we aro willing to pardea
much to the spirit of liberty—but we utterly loathe th©
Sooth era man who makes a sh attic cook of Southern
patriotism to display his own genius or advance bis own
ends. If the men who stand sponsor to the Columbus
Movement are sincere, why, ia th© same of God, do
they not first abandon th© American party? Why are
all their eye© now directed to Philadelphia la the bop©
that something will turn up ? W charge Lease upon
tho Enquirer that the large body of those who partici
pated in the Colutnlma Movement are Know Nothings.
Does It dare to deny U ? We further charge, upon
Know Nothing authority, that not a tn an of them .has
since withdrawn from the Order. Will it dare to 4©ny
it ? With theee ohargea blazing upon its front ancon
tradioted, how dare that paper to malign th© motives
of tho Democracy in not abandoning their organization,
which lifts within a twelve month repealed the Mis
souri restriction, and joining an organisation which has
nothing to eommeud it to their acceptance but empty
professions of Southern zeal, which their daily acts con
tradict
What objeotkm has the Enquirer urged to the plat
form of principles which the Democratic party recently
erected at Milledgevillo ? We have foiled to discover
the first one founded in truth ? If then it is anxious to
effect Southern anion, why does it not stand by the
Democracy instead of the Know Nothings 1 There is
but one answer to this question. It is actuated by a
bitter and malignant hostility to Demooratio men and
measures; and is wiiling to aid in any movement to
break them down. But the OBterrified Democracy
laugh at the rage of its enemies. It is founded upon a
rook and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it?
Does it not know that by silence upon the subject of
Know Nothingism, the Democracy could have absorbed
sli the Know Nothings in the city worth having ? Bat
such conduct was regarded by the Democracy as trea
son to the people and they fearlessly turned them oat of
its organization though they were thereby left in a mi
nority of probably five hundred in the country.
There is bat one chance for this Know Nothing
movement to succeed. If the members of the Order at
the Sonth are driven out of the organization by the
Philadelphia Convention, they may, on foil repentance
of their sins, form an alliance, offensive and defensive,
with Alexander H. Stephens and the noble remaant of
Whigs who follow his lead. It will then become a
respectable party and will probably honestly contend
for Southern Rights. If such shall prove to be the
ease, we will then be prepared to act in concert with
them in the defence of the SoQtb, and it will really mat
ter very little which party shall gain the aseendeney ia
our State elections. But so long as the great bu Ik of
the, so called, no party shall maintain their membership
with the American or Know Nothing Order, the De
mocracy will wage uncompromising war with them and
their movement, oall it by what specious clap trap yen
please to catch the oar cf groundlings.
Mr. Toombs’ Letter.
We publish, in another column, a strong letter from
Senator Toombs against the Know Nothings, which
we commend to the notree of our readers. The letter
referred to by him has never come to hand. It was,
doubtless stolen oat of the Post Office. It was mailed
at Milledgeville about the 16th nit. Tfet bags are open
ed but ocee, and then at Macon, between Milledgeville
and Colembns. We hope the efficient Pest Masters at
the three offices will investigate the matter. We en
tirely agree with the distinguished Seßatoj in his views
as to the importance es the union of the Sonthern States
“for the preservation of their rights, the Constitution,
and the Union,” audwe espeeial'y eommendthat touching
appeal to Southern men t© uphold end support “that
noble band of patriots, at the North, who have stood for
the Constitution and the right against the tempest of fa
naticism, folly and treason w hich has assailed them/
They are all Democrats. It is a remarkable fact in the
history of the Senator, that though he is the Whig of
\V bigs. he hrs never utte ’©d the first syllable ia fcis place
in the Senate against the President or his administra
tion. The reason why he has not done so is, as he has
often stated, that Pierce and his administration are the
present points of attack of Northern fanaticism and
onght to be upheld by Southern men. We’ eomroenc
the course of the Senator to the study and imitation of
those of his followers lu Georgia who are eo
very much outraged because the Democracy in Con
vention have specially commend those specific acts of
his administration which the Abolitionists condemn.
The views of Senator Toombs upon the 6abject of
of Kuow Nothingism have lost much of their interest
and value, as it is generally understood that the Order
is in applying condition from wounds Inflicted by Henry
A. Wise in a recent struggle be had with H in the
Old Dominion. We give them, however, as part es
the history of the times.
Secret History of t&e£Colmbus Movement-
Mistakes of the Montgomery Maxi.
A writer in the Montgomery Mail, in an article
headed Georgia and tho Union tails Into some very sin
golar errors. In describing the meeting held in Tem
perance Hail on the 26th olt. t and which inaugurated
the so called “Coiambus Movement,” he says :
A Kuow Nothing presided ; among the ©ld Democratic
and “Fire Ratios” leaders present we observe tho names ©1
Gen. J. N. Bethune, Seaborn Jones. Eaq., Hon. J as. John
son, Ac.; and among the Whigs, Wm. Dougherty, Thos.
Ragland, and Hines Holt, Esqre.
It will be news hare, and to no on© more emphatically
than to the honorable gentleman himself, that “Hon.
James Johnson /’ was a firs-eating leader in 1856.
At least, such was very (hr from being the opinion of
Jno. H. Howard nod others who participated in that
meeting.
William Dougherty will be very much surprised to
learn that he was present and participated in the
i meeting. The published accounts state that he was
absent from the oity.
Dot the most singular anccnueemeat of all is that
! “aKnow Nothing presided” Os all the men in the
j city, William H. Mitakel! Is the last man we weuld
piek up fer a Know Nothing. He is one in no sense.
We suppose the writer formed his estimate of his pot
ities from the company he was in. There were a good
many Know Nothings present nt that meeting and, in
feet, the whole movement originated with them. The
secret history es the “Columbus Movement*’ may be
told in a few words. A good ®aay Democrats were
from one cease or other lured Into the Knew Nothing
Councils. About tho time the State Convention as
sembled in Mason, H was ascertained that tho concern
weald prove a failure in the South and especially in
Georgia, Ga tho heels es this discovery the Union
degree made its appearance. The fire-eating Demo
crats, no longer stimulated by the? hope of office, grow
restive, and began to enrse the thing and threatened
to withdraw. But what was to be done ? ThesDem
ooratie party had denounced the Kuow Nothings from
Maine to Texas, and were ©2 the eve of a signal tri
emph over them in Virginia. “If we go back into that
party,” eo they reasoned, “we shall be doomed men ;
at least, wo will have to go to the foot and spell op. What
shall we do thens The Whig party i* dead 5 the
Know Nothings me dying ; the Democracy proscribe
us. What shall we de ? Start anew party,” answer
ed some man of audacity and genius, and forthwith
the “Coiambas movement” was brought forth. Well,
it caught some fierce eld fire-eatsrs, who, like old war
horses, snuffed the battle from afar, end a very respect
able meeting was gotten up at Temperance Hall, and a
good deal has been clone to excite the pnbiio mind, but
we have yet to learn that the first Know Nothing has
quit the National secret political Order to which ho be
longs, It seems to us that that is a neoessary prelira
ieary to Southern Union, and that those Democrats
who have quit the Democratic party bad better see to
it that their Kuow Nothing confederates aro free to act
in good faith with them before t’uey co-operate with
them in its dissolution. One of the supposed Know
ITothing leaders, we know, has refused to advise the
American Patty not to make a nomisatiefi for Gover
nor of Georgia and has hopes that it will prove to be
the very party tho South desires. Are there any more
of the same sort participating iu tho Coiomkus Move
ment ? We would really like to know. May not the
Columbus Movement be a trap to catch the Democracy
and induct them bodily into the secret ohambers of the
Knew Nothings ? Are they more worthy of Party
affiliation than the Democracy North or South ? We
can’t think so.
The Georgia© Platform.
We publish this morning the reeofwtioas raoentiy pass
ed by the Democratic Convention of Georgia. It will be
seen that the party takes position upon the platform
adopted by the Georgia Convention in 1850. It is the
first declaration yet made In the present crisis, by any
party in the South, of a determination to resist further
aggressions upon her rights ; the first trumpet note of
defiance to her exalting fees. While convention after
convention, and party after party, at the North have been
ringing in our ears the language of threat and hostility,
no response had gone up from us, until Georgia uttered
this solemn declaration. We must and will hope that the
Democratic party ia that State will stand firm to their
faith. It is the cause of Georgia ; the cause of the
South ; the cause of every party which, comprehending
the true perils of the country, aspires to the leadership.
We do not doubt, therefore, that the Whig Convention
will plant itself upon the same platform in regard to slave
ry aggresakme.gfo do less would cot only be beneath the
demands of the times, but would not and should not
satisfy the people of Georgia, who seem to be now in
earnest.
It will be indeed a hopeful day for the South when par
ties, once rival for office and powerful her midst, shall bo
ry past differences, and emulate each other in asserting
her rights. We see many evidences that such a spirit is
animating the people of Georgia. And so long as the
cause of the Senth is held paramount to every other
consideration, we shall Dot despair even if our friends,
loth to give op old associations, still cling hopefully to
Wing and Democratic memories, aad imagine that there
is defence for the South in their lifeless arms. It is a
hope which abolition is every day driving farther off.—
Events, stern and inevitable, will as assuredly drive South*
era men from national idols, as their long idolatry to
to them has certainly brought os to oar present position.
Southern union for Southern ddenee may bring notes of
terror to the lovers o i the Union 5 it may be an end to
the schemes of selfish politicians ; k may dissolve the
Union ; but come it will, in spite of tears, ol depreca
tion f’nd party ambitions, ante the South is prepared
f©r the horrible doom, which abolition has in store lor
her.— Ch. Mer.
Sale es the Canada* to the United States.
The Philadelphia Times says it lias good reasons to
believe that the sale of the Canadas to the Government
of the United State* is about to be taken rnte considera
tion by the British Cabinet, and to be submitted to Par
liament. This important step, it says, has been suggested
by the accumulating debt of England, now amounting
te about e ; gh? hundred millions of pounds sterling, or four
billions of dollars ; the amount of new burdens which
the war is easting upon an already overtaxed people; the
financial embarrassments entailed cn the mother country
by unproductive colonies ; and the formidable attitude of
opposition recently assumed by the commercial classes
against the rule of the aristocracy, end the evils of their
po'itiea! supremacy. It is stated that many of the lead
ing statesmen and political economists of England ad
vocate the sale of some of the principal eelcnics, with
their own consent or the W)es:ea to them of national
a d? £ endenc©.
from Hon. Robert Toombs on Know
Nothingism.
Boston, Mass., June 6th, 1833.
Dear Sib:— -More than three weeks ago, in compliance
with my premise, I wrote to you, giving my opinions oi the
new political organization, commonly known as “Know
Nothings,” or the American party. I did not learn until 1
reached Augusta, on may here, that you had not receded
it. If it should yet come to hand, I wish you to publish it,
&g it was much fuller and more carefully prepared exposi
tion of my opinions than this letter can be. I shall embara.
to-day Liverpool, and, for want cl time, must confine
myself to a very brief statement, rather than an argument
on the subject.
My first objection to the New Part? is one independent
of its principles. I am opposed to it beccuea it is a secret
political society. Society has a right to kuow ths men,
and the principles, and the policy of the men, who seek to
direct its affairs and oontrol its dastiny. Publicity is the
life blood of a representative Republic. Without it, publio
liberty rauet soon perish, and no necessity, short of that
which would justify revolution, can justify the surrender of
this great security of popular government. All party asso
ciations are constantly liable to be used by the cunning, the
unprincipled and enterprising members for the promotion
of personal objects rather than the public inteiests, and it
Boeds no argument to prove that secrecy greatly increases
this tendency and facilitates the accomplishment of such
unworthy ends. Secrecy is the natural covering of fraud,
the natural ally of error and the enemy of truth. The pa
triots who framed our constitution gave it a fatal blow, by
provisions which secure the freedom of speech and ths
liberty of the preaa.
This objection to the New Pasty derives additional force
from the obligation which is said to b imposed upon the
applicant for admission, that he will carry out its decrees
whether his judgment approves them or not. If this be ti us,
it is a surrender of the dearest rights of freemen, and is a
crime against society.
My next objection to the American party is, that it pro
poses, in some way, to invade the rights of conscience, or
to call mea in question for the free exerciss thereof.—
I am opposed to all religious tests of every sort and
for every purpose. Our constitution protects us against
the putting of suoh tests upon the statuet book, but
the principle is founded on truth and justice, and ought to
bo the rule of the individual action, as well as of the public
conduct of every citizen. Centuries of unavailing persecu
tion taught our {dikere the folly, as well as tho wickedness,
of attempting to control men’s conscienoies by penal statutes,
or civil disabilities; they, therefore, put the of
disability Into the ‘temptation to disgrace our statuet book
with this sort of legislation. We will deleat their noble
objects, in part at enacting a different rule in the
exercise of our political rights.
It is charged that the Catholic polity is cruel,
rotoierant and despotic. The charge is not wholly un
founded. Hit bo trne.it £s greatly to be condemned and
deplored, and, above all things, ws should avoid imitating
Ifeeir vices, and thereby justly subjecting ourselves to this
great condemnation. We can neither conquer nor eradi
cate tho vices of Romanism, whatever they may be, by im
itating them, or by persecution. The world has tried these
remedies for centuries past, and tried them in vain. Let us
rather oppose her cruelty with kindness, her intolerance
with free toleration, (iu subalance as well as form) her dee
pot ism with freedom, and then we may reasonably look
for different and better results. The moment that the sim
ple, yet sublime truth, got itself acknowledged by oar gov
ernment, that the citizen is responsible to the State for his
civil conduct, but to God only for his religious faith, th#
unholy bonds which unite tho church to the State were
broken,persecution for conscience sake became impossible
here, and religious toleration entered upon its career of uni
versal dominion. Its first great triumph waste strike th©
fetters from the consciences of Irish Roman Catholics. It
has began a similar good work for the Protestants in Spain
and Sardinia, and for the Greek jq Turkey, and it will go on
‘'conquering and to conquer,” until the Demon of persecu
tion—blind, deaf and stupid—shall have no more abiding
place open the face of the earth.
The Naturalization laws are greatly complained ofby the
American Party. I think them foueded on just principles,
and are, in the main, wise and good laws. To naturalize
an intelligent foreigner of good moral character, and at
tached to free government, and the principles cf our consti
tution, and who has resided among ua long enough to test
those qualifications, is a great benefit to the state, as well as
to the individual who receives the high privilege. Thes
are the conditions and safe guards which our laws seek to
throw around tho right of citizenship. These laws are, no
doubt, frequently {violated; they are, doubtless, imperfect,
aad do not fully effeet the objects intended by them. Let
alftpreperadditions and amendmete, necessary to carry oat
thsee objects, be made, evad then let the law be
administered, and these things can he dona without the aid
of secret societies.
There is another objection to this party, which ahould put
‘it under th© ban of Southern ©pinion. We have had a great
| struggle, tor the last six years, upon an intensely exciting
i sectional issue. Thi* issue has been settled by the wisdom
iof the repreeentativea of the people. This isauo lound ita
i solution in the legislation of 1830 {and 1854. The peace
j end safety of the Republic demand that this legislation
[ should not only be undisturbed, but vigorously upheld by th©
! nation. The American Party, in the north, whenever it
i has had j*ower, has shown the most vigorous hostility to
! this legislation. The Know Nothings of Massachusetts
• have attempted to nullify it, and have ahown a total disres
<zard of their public oaths, and therefore, are wholly incapa
ble of'giving any pledge, open or secret, that a man of
honesty ought to accept. Political association with tho?o
men is moral complicity with their crimes.
The true policy cf the south ia to unite ; to lay aside all
party divisions; Whigs, Democrat* and Know Nothings
should come together, and combine for their common safe
ty. It wo are wise enough to do this, to present one un
broken column of fifteen States united for the preservation
of their own rights, th* constitution and the Union, cndjto
uphold and support that noble bend of patriots, at the North,
who have stood for the constitution and the rights against
the tempest of fanaticism, folly and treason which has as
eaiied them, we shall succeed. We ehail then have con
quered a peace which will be enduring, and by means
which will not invite further aggression.
i am, very respectfully,
Your ob’t servant,
ft. TOOMBS. ,
Col. T. Lomax,
Editor Times & Sentinel,
Columbus, Georgia.
I— •
The Grand National Council of the Kuovo Noth .
ings at Phladelphie —This important gathering meets
to-day. They will have a nice job of work before them.
They must adopt the abolition Praise Godßarebonf*
platform ©f Massachusetts, or the extreme Southern
platform, or strike n bahnee or a compromise between
them. The Virginia election has demonstrated that cy
phers, signs, winks, blinks, nods, nudges, grips, p?ss
words, hard swearing, rituals, constitutions and secret i
circulars ane not sufficient to cover the exigencies ot a
national campaign, but that principles for the public eve,
as well as a system of discipline for the party lodges, are
indispensable for the great approaching contest. What
they will do at Philadelphia nobody knows. They will
probably haven stormy, revolutionary time of it ; but if
their deliberations shall result in revolutionizing the Know
Nothing organization upon the practical issues of the day
and the principles of eommen sense, then it may be fol
lowed bygreat achievements. The issue ia with the del
egates. The game i the aestt presidency, We must
trait a day or f < JV. Y. J&rehr o4h,
The Know Nothing Convention.
The latest news which we bare from th© Knov I
Nothing Convention in session at Philadelphia, is f ar . f
nished in the following extracts from the correspondence
©ftbeiVsw York Herald. After a general ratio* 0 /
the elements of the Convention, the reporter
to speak of the difficulties which embarrass it, amoc?
which, he allndea to tho difference of opinion which i
prevails among the members upon th 9 subject of nata
ralhwtion, and the Catholic religion, and finally to the !
slavery question ;
But the great difficulty for the Council is the slavery
question. There seems to bo but one possible mode of
solving this difficulty, and that is to allow slavery, like re
ligion, to be an open question to all parties in all sections;
w> form a great national Know Nothing party on the busis
of opposition to the indiscreet and corrupt policy of the
present administration, and to allow each section to enter.
Lain, unmolested, its local opinions ;n reference to slavery,
just as it entertains its private view* on religion. Even
this view, it must be admitted, would only b# temporary;
the question must be met ultimately in Congress, and an
understanding hod on the terms on which new States are
to be admitted, whether free or slave, whether according
to the constitution and the practice of former Congress or
not. Several members of the convention, and others with
whom 1 have conversed, consider this the only way of
preserving in it* integrity our national organization. They
say, let the slavery question be settled by Congress. If
Congress, at a fiftare session, cannot agree on a praotica!
compromise, Ist it dissolve, and adjourn; let th© question
be referred to tho people, aud a convention called to rev se
tho constitution and provide anew one, it the old one wilt
not aaswer tho purpose. Il is very true that the presen;
constitution was framed by wise aud practical men, at ths
oloss of tha Revolutionary war, when every faculty of
theire was in full play, and their wiUs roused to the utmost
degree. But at the same time, the country then contain
ed but three millions of people. Tbeir interests were of
far less magnitude and less exciting than ours. We now
count over twenty-five millions of people and
States. Hence our ©iroumetanoes are very different froia
j what they were at the present constitution w*s
5 adopted.
Unless the s’avory' question is disposed of in some prac*
j lical friendly way, by a revision of the constitution and
1 adapted to the growth and increase of the ceuntry, aDgry
feelings at e euro to arise, alienation will take place between
the North and the South, and the ultimate result will be
insurrection and civil war. Hence the proposal we hats
beard, if the diffioulty eannot be settled in any other way,
to call a now convention of the States and form anew con
stitution. If the representatives sf the various States can
not agree upon a eompromise that will suit the present
time sad give* promise of durability, then the North and
th© Sooth had far better separate, amicably, and organise
separata republics with asperate governments.
F&eeESBING*—FOURTH DAV.
Philadelphia, June B—2 r. u.
Th© Convention assembled this morning at 9 o’clock.
After some genera! discussion the hour for the election of
permanent offieere was fixed at four P. M. The follow
ing nominations were made:—
For President.
dames W. Barker, of New York.
Jame* B. Ricard, of Maryland.
Henry i. Gardner, of Massachusetts.
- Bartlett, of Kentucky.
Ex-Governor Colby, of New Hampshire.
W, W. Danenhower, of Illinois.
For|Fce Presidents.
Henry J„ Gardner, of Massachusetts.
Cone, of Georgia,
N. D. Sperry, ot Connecticut.
Matthews, of California.
For Recording Secretary.
Davidtß. Booth, of Connecticut.
R, M. Guilford, of Vermont.
For'Corresponding Secretary.
C. D. Deshler, of New Jersey.
There was no nomination of for Treasurer
offered.
After en animated debate, a resolution was adopted em
powering the several delegations to nominate one each a*
a wmlue on iLe prepwratiou of a platform, tire nomina
tions to be made atjthe afternoon session. At 2P. M. the
Convention adjourned tiil four o’clock.
Maugro newspaper reports to the contrary, a more
harmonious body nerer convened. Barring a sow mal
contents, the entire body is strictly national and conserva
tive.
llalf-fast Six o'Clock.
The Convention met *t the hour appointed. The ad
! drees of the late President was read, cmidst the most evi
dent demonstrations of appl&un*. The election of officer*
was now entered upon ; and ou the sixth balloting—Mr.
. Barker having been ahead fiv© ballot* successively—
| Me. BARTLETT, of Ksntucrv,
i was chosen President, having received ninety vote*.
Half-fast Eight o’Clocs.
i The following is the result of the election for permanent
officers:—
President Bartlett, of Kentucky.
Vice President C. D. Freeman, of Pennsylvania.
Cor. Secretary. ..... C. D. Deshler, of New Jersey.
Rec. Secretary Stephens, of Maryland.
Tre&urer V, Crane, of Ohio.
The following names were announced 03 the nomina
tions for tba
Committee on Platform.
Gibsen, of Illinois, Ellis, of Dit. Columbia,
Colfax, of Indiana, Foster, of Massachusetts,
Lyons, of New York, Balling, of Virginia,
Gamble, of Missouri, Deshler, of New Jersey,
Colby, of Now Hampshire, Ricard, of Maryland,
Ortle, of Indiana, Matthews, of California.
Sperry, of Connecticut,
The above is but a partial list of the nominees. It ia
sufficient, however, to give an idea of tho character of tho
platform whioh will bs presented.
At the grand banquet which waa r given to the Conven
tion on the 7th, speeches were made by the
various States. Mr. Pee represented Georgia, and respon
ded lor his State as follows;
| lie said: That America had bean charged with boastful
• ness, butany man who had such a State as Georgia is, to
boast of, might not be ashamed ot indulging in the boast.
They had in that State 900 miles of railroad, four colleges
for males and four colleges for females, all in successful
operation, and all under protestant influence. (Applause )
And be thought that without the Saxon Protestant religion
the Saxou blood would bo no better than the Spanish
: bood or the Mexican blood. Georgia, he said, was essen
tially Protestant, and in a few years the State would com
pare, in all the attainments of progress, with any other in
the Union. She had some distinguished names in her his
tory—such as Baldwin, Crawford, Upshur and others.—
Even men who came there from other State? were improv
ed by the sojourn. Mr. Seymour, of New York, was a
Georgia schoolmaster. So was the Chief Justice cf Indi
ana, and their success be ascribed in some degree to some
thing peculiar in the air of Georgia. But she was celebra
ted lor something more than great men—she was celebra
ted for her devotion to the Union. (Applause) She had
always stood as the champion of freedom and the champi
on of the Union. In conclusion, and in reference to the
Union, ha appealed to them in the language of that simple
domestic song—
Woodman, spare that tree!
Tuch not a single bough!
Io youth it sheltered me,
And I’ll protect it now. (Applause.)
Maryland Whigs Denouncing the Enow Nothings.
Thi Whigs of St. Mary’s County met in Mass meeting
at Leonardtown on Wednesday last, presided over by Col.
James T. Biackistone. A series of resolutions were ad
opted urging the Whig Party, “throughout the country to
organize as heretofore, to disregard all appeals to disband
their forces, whether the same conic Know Nothing?, Ab
olitionists, or ’Democrats, and again unite, North and
South, for the preservation of the Constitution and best in
terests of our common country.”
The following 13 among the resolutions unsiraously ad
opted:—
Resolved, That it would he a libel upon the intelligence,
the patriotism and the honesty of the American people to
suppose that a party organized under the sanction of an
unholy oath to keep secret its purpose* and actions, and
based upon the principle of exelu&icnof any citizen front
•fttv© ©a the ground ©I ft jMtiiUiv&f j variety vt Cfer*fr‘..*a