making another," and I listened in vain for
the gay repartees, which, under ordinary cir-.
eumitances, would have pained me. Harry
only said he was net a marrying nian, as long
as he could not hive Nell v, and I averred that
I was so enatnored of the single life of my
aunt that I should lead it too. -
One day I was sitting in the parlor at Judge
Hale's alone. My cousin entered and drew
a letter froni hispocketirom
Aunt Patty.
, After handing it to me he left the room.
I watched his retreaog figure, and then
glancing on the flu& at my feet, I save.
the purse which I had knit him. He
had undeubtedly 'drawn it out with the letter.
I picked it up and examined it. Alas! the
forget-me-nots had all faded; and the tears
came as I remembered the afternoon and
night on which I hail finished it., My letter
was unopened, and I dreamedhit of what
might have been, still strokinWout the folds
of the pule in air absent way.
" What does Aunt Patty say, Isabel I" aSk
ed Henry at my elbow. I started up covered
with confusion, and tnechanicallfgrasped the
purse tighter.
"I think I dropped something, - proceeded
my cousin, looking on the floor. •
With "a woman's quick instinct I drOpped
the purse, and let him find it. But my ruse
was of no avail, he had been ' watching me
for some minutes, and did not leave the par
lor till
Well, no matter'what. But there was to
be a sleighing party that night, and I serer
enjoyed a ride as much as I did that.
\ Three months ago, the large'drawing-room
of the good aunts was thrown open, and the
- Holland covers were taken off the old-lash
lotted damask furniture. There was a vast
amount of cake and wine consumed, and
any quantity of. White anti; and wreaths, and
veils, displayed.; and Harry, with his old
sauciness came back, roweTthat I was never
happy till he gave me a chance to write my
self Mrs. Harry Anstruther.
Jo'xtrzstr tntorrat
'VIE LARGEST CIREFILATION IS NORTHERS PENIC.A.
E. B. CHASE At. 8.-McCOLLIMI,EDrroui
ALVIN DAY, rriblishee.
Montrose, Thursday, July 19, 1855.
Democratic Standing Committee.
The Democratic Counts Committee 51111
meet .at Haul's Hotel, Saturday the 21st
day of July, inst., at one o'clock, P. M. The
following gentlemen .compose the Commmit.-
tee:
C. M. Gere, - Daniel Rosa,
Daniel Brewster, E. B.. Chase, •
Ezra Beebe, .Mahlon Griffis, and
Latham Gardner, B. Glidden. '
Isaac Reekhow,
C. M. GERE, Chairmab
July 1855.
Wanted
A trusty Irish girl Who can do all kinds of
house work. Subh an one, will find good
wages and permanent employment. Enquire
at this office. .
Or A friend has handed us some Cali
fornia papers from which we shall make some
interesting extracts - next week.
Native American Religion.
"Brothers, let nc have .American liberty
and American religion." .
The above choice Sentiment was produced
by lion. Kenneth Rayner in the course of an
elaborate native American harangue to the
'Know-Nothing convention assembled at Phil
adelphia in June la,st.
The enthusiastic champions of the doctrine
that "Americans mnst Me' Amerita" are
getting very extravagant and zealous in their '
• Opposition to every thing " foreign" ! Indeed,
this idea of having a religion adapted to the
spiritual wants of Americans only,. is one of
the most original and remarkable productions
of the age. !Probably Mr. Rayner and his
brothers" are partial to Mormonism thatbe
ing "of purely native extraction. Seridnsly,
they who talk so fluently of an American re
ligion, as a creed distinct from all others, to be
nourished and sustained' by government, have
a very poor conception of true christianity,
and evince an open disregard for the teach
ings of our Savior. " Universality" says D'-
.
Aubigne in his History of the Reformation,
"is one of the essential characteristics of
christianity. There has been an Egyptian, a
Grecian, a Latin, and even a Jewish religion ;
christianity is the •only religion of mankind..
Its starting point in man 'is sin;, and this is a
characteristic, not peculiar to any one race,
but is the heritage, of every human being: It
does not, like the religicns of antiquity, deify
national pee uliari ties ;"but sheds its Propitious
influence impartially upon prince and peas
ant, and is free to all. National religions
are human inventions ; they are! in conflict
with the doctrines promilgated by Christ,
and history shows them to be nurseries of
evil. The dusky and unlettered children of
Africa, and the superstitious and barbarous
tribes that inhabit the isles of the Pacific, de
,' ify the productions of their own 'rude skill,
but - the christinn world -contemplates such
idolatrous exhibitions ivi i th a shudder. While
we regard these practices of, the heathen as
opposed to christianity, it behooves us not to
• imitate them ;it should be our aim, rather,
to 'embody in our religious code that spirit
of universal benevolefice- 7 of lore tofull me;
which lit '" the essential characteristic of chris
' 'tianity:' • The establishment of a religion on
, this continent for =the native-born denizen on
,
ly, iiould be equivalent to a disavowal of the
principles our Saviour taught,and resultin the
overthrow of Olir political, as
,well as , religious
Tiber let The deification of wooden ima,ps
is just as proper as the worship of "nation
al peculiarities," and an attempt to prevent
a man from sharing the consolations of the
chriatian,religion, for causes beyond-his con
trol, out-does them both in point of , absurdity
and 'superstitious barbarism. 'But this ' Rrop-:
°shim' to establish au Americari religion saws
that an union of church and stew is contem
plated by those who are foremost in the war
that is being — waged against Catholics. If
over the fate of this .government shall become
inseperably connected with that of a •re . 7
ligicius sect, then - may we expect to-ssee
• r evival of that intolerailt spirit,whicli pro
duced 'the fpauish Inquisition,. dieuebed the
streets of Paris with the , blood of inaciimt
l•
babes and helpless - females,. burnt Bradford
Latimer, Ridley, Philpot and almultitude iof.
their faithful adherents, at' the stake, and
sacrificed in the 'Single Kingdo i m of France
above 100,000 human beings ttion its bloody .
altar. When church:is united. With state his •
impossible to affect a reformation in. the for:.
met, without revolutionizi w og the; letter; so .
.that opposition to the 'cliictrines lad .decrees
:of the established church is in effect disobe
dience:to the government: . Erery; man should
have the right to worsW.rod as his conscit
ence .dictates ; and, thirrtate that ' prescribes
a particular fcirm of worship and Compels_its
subjects to comply' under'.penalt , y - of • being
disabled from holding Of fi ce, 'is ,possessed of
a spirit as despotic, unjust and abSuri.l as that
. which impelled a. magiitrate of England, in
,the year 1559, to- decree that infants of prot
estant birth, , limild be burned for heresy: It is
true, that the intelligent people ofAmei ice are'
'not prepared for such exhibitions •of cruelty
as were made 'by the - supers!itious religionS
,sects of-Europe in thd 16th and 'l7th .centtii :
44, but they-may easily becoine so by nurs- . .
ing a spirit of bigotr' and intolerance = and
accustoming illemseles to. regard " freedom
of conscience"-as incompatible with . repub
licanism. Commende the .work Of prescrip
tion and persecution,!and where shall it end !-
We have about as much-right to employ ""
fire
and Aga" for the purpose of • exterminating
' the Catholics on thi s'
continciitns We have to
burden them with disabilities In consequence
oftlieir relit faith, with a iview to dimin-
at, . •
ish- their number and drive theta •froin our
shores. -The differerica is fourtd, not se. much
in the character of 'th arcing, as in the
means chosen to perpetr ate it..l "Let u have
American religion," says t Mr..Rayner, and his
preposition is in perfect liarmeny with Other
'acts and declarations .4 the "dark-lantern
gentry".--a// of which show thattheir design
is to unite church and '!`state. We can tell
Mr. R. that people of Ibis. country are un- .
frindlyte this project off the disreputable or
ganization to,which laoelong,s—that, the re
ligions persecutions whicrrdesolated theßinf,r,-
doms of Europe-two and; a half centuries ago,
will not be solicited to . vf.sit this republic with'
theirinstruments of torture and their antag
,.:
onism. to peace and libety.
We remember well the causes that forced
our ancestors to leave -the land of 'their birth ;
their - unwillingness to submit; in matters' of.
'conscience, to the dietat4 of any earthly pow
:er. We reverence the spirit that prompted
them to form a constitution from which every
thirg like illiberality wai':carefully.excluded,
and with_God's help we will labor to perpet
uate •the generoui inoti+ by Which, they
were inspired.. i The truths of the c6istian
religion ask for no govern*:` , .ntal :aid and nour
ishment ; christianity has Its own weapOns ;
justice, humility and .meroy are itSattribetes ;
it proffers consolation to the afflicted, premis
eSa isntter world to the oppressed and is' re- ,
gardless of race, or - condition. .When '':men
talic r of having an :Ainerican religion" "they
manifest a very imperfect knowledge of the
principles taught by glirist and his: killow
cr's,' as well as-a dispostt'ion to make thiS'con
tinent the theatei of ar religious War . , with all
,
-'
its attendant norrors. 't Is time for every.
-
I
'voter in this - cotititry td define his position—
'the issue is made and must be decided.-:-
Where will the intellig Ilt citizens of thiS idis
trict be found I With itbe Know-Nothings,
whose policy it is to ntlite churCh and state
and. proseri be men for their religious opinions;
or with the beinocracyi pledged by its past
history; by its
„unanimcius resolves, and bv.
its very na7ture! to resist every species of Op
pression, to maintain the right of 'every man
to worship God accorili to the dictates of his
own cuneienee.and to protect t to interests of.
all classes I Our liositiCi is understood. We
shall remain . firm' in ou r opposition to the
flange
• 1
rous projects of these I,igots, fur with
.
the right "we stand or fall l. •
The State Courention.
We this
,week publish the proceedings of
the Democratic - state Convention at 'Eris
,
burg, July 4th.
One peculiar feitture Of the ccncentionwas
the large number of stibstituted deeg,ates, and
the peculiar stripoc,. of those:delegates. With
few exceptions they were th l ose Who have been
in some way nearly allied to the passage of the
Rill repealing 'the Llisseuri.!CotnpromiP.., and
bringing upon die country the terrible agita
tion of the slaVeri questionswhich the De
mocracy settled, as they supposed permanent
ly, by the, election of Fa.v.:•tux baiter..
'his .Class of men Were beaded. by 1{.•B.
Wright -of Luzern e, who kave. the Convention
notice in advance that what lie called ralical
resolutions shoAldbe adopted;—that is—the
:repeal of the Misapuri Gompromise should be
endorsed, together, with every other moustrous ,
proposition which could be thought of to
disgrace the detiocraticparty and defeat 'its
ticket.
The Conaniittes on Iresolutions met and
Mr. Wright offered his " radical resolutions." 1
They received but one tie:Sides his own.
His endorsment of Nebmika„ Henry. A. Wise I
&c., were almost unanimousli voted down;
And . 4 set of resolutions-few in. number, and
not particularly objectionable;. as tar as they
went were adopted and report4d to the 'Con
,vention. Herelli. Wright again 'offered his
resolutions as a substitute foi, the majority
report, and here they were again voted down
by about four to one. Previolas tolhe adop
tion of the majority reports; ;;however, an
t amendment coldly expressing 'confidence in`
President Pierce; one embrzzOng " popular
sovereignty" in it's widest sense in the terri
tories, and one ins reference to allowing negro
suffrage, were appende‘f, from all of which we
dissent for the following-reasons. 'We would
not endorse .Preident Pierce because we be
fieve he inflicted a grievons wrpng upon th e
country in lending his Administration to the
repeal of-the Missouri Compromise, Aside
from this,—from matters Connected with the
IC,nsas Bill, there is nothing iti his AdtM"ttis
tration about which we shouid feel disposed
to. cavil. And intuirnucl as he, has never, in
his messages or:otherwise endeavored to de
fend that act for hirosel4 we see ;no reason
why he should expect the democratic party
to take -up the battle for him,
By "PoPulir 69vereigtity An its - widest
_ avigesr--ipt,4o Put ttu4,erstand AUt meant
Nit means the • controlling .of the. elections
and organization of the territories by awned
invaders from. other States, we Say it is an in
sukto the Ainerican,people, but if it 'Aveuld
take the whole territorial queition out of Con
gress and allow the 'Actual ;residents of. the
territories, in • good faith to organize their .
oVernment, and elect all their officers, thus
, iiercing the .national govern Tent froth any
$.
responsibility about it, so that its powers and
influence should not be used to extend or
build up the institution of slaVery in - any.
manner therein;-if such be the construe
'pen, then it puts An entire new phase- upon I
the doctrine of poplar sovereignty, making
it less objectionable to a fair and manly nor- '
them sentiment. ' ,
As.. for negro suffrage, it is . simply ridicu-.
ions, and %yenta ncit have been thought of as
an issue by hay one else but Mr. Wright,who
for some reason seams to have but one politi
cal idea, and that is - black as wool. We ven
ture that ten men icannot be found in the
'State who are in favor of any such change in
the Constitution, .nd we have never - heard ,
the proposition 'br ached, save by a litiOw
1.
Nothing rneinb4r
_O the Legislature last Win
ter, named "Smith of Alleghany," who, p6or
fool, introduced; A Bill to confer the right] Of
suffrage on'negroes, not- knowing -enough" of
the Constitutio n of his State to know that it
wasprohibited - by that instrument and c
t - 1
„-- ;
sequently conknot be changed by statute
What constr uction the Convention places
upon its Diva acts, we are unable to discover:
First it votes down an enders ement of. Ne
braska, popular sovereignty,' the national
. ad * -
Ministration and -' all, by an overwhelming
vote, and then engrafts upon its resolutions
two indireetions which strictly construed
mean nothihg particularlY objectionable. and
yet which May be
.construed to .mean tnuch.
IWe'place our own me fi ning upon thein,
1 others may place' theirs..l • . .
I . :On - one.issue—and theione which Will pro
hably in the State absorbithe.princi pal atten
tion of the, canvass—wel' mean Know-Noth
ingism—the Comentionl spoke salt sipiarely
and•,strongly. And und( i .r the cireunistanee4,
if the Convention had : ,ft the slavery ques
tion entirely alone, instetd of seeming to try
1
1 to make itself unintellig:ble upon that point,
reserving. the platform o 4 that question for a
national Convention, it being entirely a na
tional question, and con4nted itself with tak
-1 int the oneissue of KnoW-Nothin - 7§in, we
1 ,
could have went hitt. the contest with heart
and, zeal. We dislike bush fighting,--we
!want square issues,—we will haVene other.
All the Conventions in Cliristdndoin will not
force us to• endorse dos:triads %Lich here
pepred themselves dangerous to the peace of
the Union, and abhorant io manly nation
.
This is our'. position and %ye shall
stand or fall by it. • -
In the person of lir. Pu-stErt, for Canal tab lished reputation of the students of "Jill
Franklin." Of the excellent Orations d e ny-.
Commissioner, the Conventi4u undoubtedir
s&ne twelve or fourteen
made one of' the hest nominations ever made (Ted on the occa ion, s
we Ii "'ere from the members of the " Alpha Epsi
in the State. He held n seat: in Congress,
near zee half* o f a loe , how-
State,
years, has been Treasurer of the' lon Fraternity;'
State, and has discharged.his duties in a pub- • ever, Were by Old, tnenthers; . I
lib poSition with honor to - himself and con- On the part of the Ampitictyceis,. but six
-
stituents. He has been intimately associated, I Orations appeared on tile schelne, and of
I -
these actually delivered,only-one or two were
for a number of Years . with important rail'
i written by those who hadibeen at the insti
road companies, is a man of large business - .
i tution - during the . pa-t stanson. Instead of
experience, and would bring to the board of
the usual music on the (N I : easion the audience
public work:, efficiency arid skilfulness in
• I were entirely dependent ott the Epsilons who .
rnamseement: - •
. , -
of. the I had engaged the Jackson . Glee (2-Itth," whO
This we believe is a fair statement
in addition to the excellent original '
Soll , r ,
position of the Democracy, for this Canvass, 1
—a position which in some respects we hear- I prepared by the soetety. rho sung anal play
tilt' endorse, and in others whielove, never ,ill. ed eeveral tine pieces of_their own mu-ic.— 1
O pposed is : the Know-Nothing filatforin <f; Theyndtled very . .materhdly to the variety of i
Re.aling.significarit for nothing but its w.il- 1 the day, and Were _listened 'to with =ell i
liminess to make sir million -white slaves in.' pleasure by the assemblage: The. Colloquy 1
‘,
place of three .
-million of blade ones.. That
acted •
in II t
. :oreI10611: was that of the Epsis
•
ateful 'and intolerant Order We,shall ever op- i lon'et entitled "Something. for all of you" by
1 ose. It has nothing good or decent, or re
- s
11
IS. W.. Towksb - ury: •
: It consisted in ;Part of I
publican about it. It is claimed here•that ' able arguments pro
,and con upon sorted_l
of the-leading topics of the (lay. It, was - an.
its platform is free soil, and attempted to be
: excellent literary produethm, well spiced with ' I
sustained by. publishing - resolutions which i
passed.neveri If they are free soil, Why did comic acting, .thus happily blending. amuse- I
. • ' • - - I
DocL-I.)itnock, A. Chamberlin, and .Is:end I'. ; meat with instruction.
..the
Next -came a ColloquY.by the Ladies, : but
Baker delegates from this county, tote . l
avnin.V . them Did they rote against .
Fr free' as it:did not appear on the. Scheme I am tin
soil ris:cautions? That
!
?
platform. . simply i able -to-give its. name. lt was well acted and
I
.1i tended to expose in aI prominent • point of
dodges the slarery issue,—ignores it,—as
KnoW*otilings would say, Yealiv leasing View the evils of intemperance: "Every Ism
that party in a worse position than the Dent-
i has
•
i its day" was the COgnorrien applied
. to
ocrats"in reference to that question,
`'
w hil e 1 the Amphietyon's Collbluy acted in the af
the principle On which
t h e i r o r p th iz a tioh !to 'part. of the day. It as al Nil's' good po-
rests is Enteral tot litical burlesque i ntended to show off he judgment of ail liberalsome of
the various corrupt doings of modern politi
men. IWe apprehend from this confusion I
own I Grans. The Nutillc:r's 11314 C! did not.appear,'
eleinehts, many' voters . will make their
platform. - . „ I but for what reason is bist known to thost
concerned. Dame -rumor asserted that there
•
teas trouble in the .camp thai another none-
quy had been writt , in_and forisorne reason re
jected. If such Was . the faCt.-;--and it wa s
too near so to make a joke Of—it shows a
pitiable state of affairs, - and ;reminds me_Of
the saying that there is, " something rotten
in Deumlrk:" I hope heweter that the mat
ter is not as bad as represented. Near the
Close of the exercises the Club played a beau;
ti tit farewell piece called "Goink Home" .
which seemed to- "affect eten unto tears"
some of the students Who were about to leave
those much loved " Classb Halls" to meet
probably no more on card: •lAfter listenin g
to an eloquent Valedictory address .from it.
F. Te*ksbury, the audience *as dismissed b
y
the. veuetable President and' separated on
their, routes for home well pliased with the
day's -entertainment. ,- i
The State Connell and its Resolve' s.
The State Know Nothing Council met in
Reing on the ad inst and resolved . :
," hat the question of Slavery. should not
be i oditeed into the Platform of the Amer
ican party being convinced that no such is
sue waiintencred to be embraced within its
principles and objects."
This almost unanimous resolve of the Con- I
vention shows plainly that it was not i•ery
strongly tinctured with Free ; that it
lacked the courage and frankness to declare
its opinions in relation to slavery. The 'aim
of the C cu»cil "was to make a platform on
which free-soil and popular sovereignty men
could unite; hence it refrained from the ex
pression of any opinion . on the questivn '
whether congress has the constitutional right
to prohibit slavery , in the 'territories. We
regard this evasion of the question as more
prejudicial to Free-Soilism, than open -denun :
elation of, ; h and opposition to its doctrines.—
The Republicali claims that Slavery is the
paramount political issue of the present: day,
and yet it advocates the cause of a party
that resolves " no such issue was intended to
be embraced within its principlesand objects.".
Is there any thiig like consistency and fair
ness in such a course. The 'Republican pr.o
leases to be thiChainpion of free-soil princi
ples and the foevf all parties that repudiate
them; svlly do 4 it sustain the platform of
the Reading. Council 1: Come Mr. Republi
.
can why don't yCu give battle to the party that
ignores your faiorite issue. You Complain
ed that the Dernoc ratio Count); Convention,
last Fall, did nO"!.. resolve against slavery, suul .
Was: terribly indignant. at what you politely
dominated .riodgrag. Did the 'Reading
Council da9•4o the slavery question! Cer-,,
tainliv, hnt you utter not one word 4gaitist
its cowardly action ;. yon are sworn to,
..ae-
quick° in. a decision of the ritojerity,'.and
dime not ifyon Wiitld i .fisd fault with such
ai.tcision.• You published last week a series
of resolutions of a free-soil character; but
tbose resolutions were repudiated . by the
Council and the iiratianal Platform of the II
Philadelphia ConVention adopted, with the
insertion of a resolution.. iggrioring slavery in
plaCe of the 12th section of said Platform„.•_.
The Council 'endeavored to' resolVe, but could
not; thht, " slavery existing only in, and• by
laW in the Southern States:,
,is necessarily a.
local thing." What a patriotic and deter
mined free-soil gathering it- must have been!
Too cowardly to declare'' freedom National '
awl slavery sectional." The Republican of
last week affirmed that the Know Nothing.
State Council had "adopted a :Free Soil
platform,and severed all connection with the
pro-slavery Know NothingS." How .can this
Le made to appear, when the National p . m,'
slavery Platform of the Philadelphia Conven
tion was adopted by the State Council with
one alteration, and that declaringAtvery not
an issue in the organization of the party;
This Ileading-Council is a disgrace to .the
' country—it could pot . elect:ire slavery' local,
nor dare it admit the tinestron to,be a issue.
Shine on such cowardice 1 Ily .- ''
. • . •--7-----41.-40.-o.—r-
,te,' On our first page wil be • fon d . one
4 ..
of the cleverest and most readab e -Maine
Law speeches ever Made. .V..., is hOnorous
and eloquent ; acidis marr y. ed by no I'4. of that
•1 ..
ill-natured vehemence and passion, (so char-;,
acteristie of in)st efforts in oppositio to pro
hibitory liquor laws. While we a ire the
good nature, wit and eloquence of 0 orator,
'we cannot pronounce. his argument_ sound,
the pith of which is, that "great anti good
men have used nine as a, beverage, in past
ages, and were inspired by its intluenee, con
sequently, wine ..is good and ought:to be
drank. We point 11r. Howe to.llev. E. 11.
Chapin of New Y orkt as one advocate of 'pro
hibition 1 1 whose eloquence is unequalled :
Wine May give the speaker a :kindSof spas-
I itiodie passion, %Chichi we sometimes niii:ta-ke
for inspiration, but one who has within hint,
an earnest-conviction' that the cause he advo
cates is just will,.dir ! . .rys be itupnissive.-
-..------
. • For the Dtpnovrat.
' '. parford i 1 7 niver4ity:
ircesri. Editors .:
I had the pleasure among many Others of
beingl present at the Annual Exhibition of
this Iflstitution on the t.ld inst. - , . • .
The day was fine,•and quite a large ankh-
()nee were in attendance, somewhat less, how 7
ever, than that of hit year, owing probably
Ito the ifurry of the season among the farm
.
i ,ing corn:minim . The exorcises were. quite
cieditahle, tloing full justice to the long es-
Yours Briefly,
July 13, 1855.
Democratic State'Courention.
This body met at itarrightrg on the. 4th
inst., and Was 'organized by de appointment
of lion. Jon:: B. GurtmE, of itliegh any, as
.temporary Chairman, and WM " . 11,,3rca-rath
and Mos. Maguiie, Secretaries..
The roll . of delegates was celled when it
appeared . that two sets were' resentfrom
Dauphin .county. After hearini both sides,
the sett elected two weeks )go—rAlricks,
Heck and Bownan—were adated, on a
vote of yeas 91 ; nays 28. • •
\
A committee of one from ea Senatorial
distret was appointed! to repo t permanent
officers. .
.. ,
Col. S. B/aik, of Pittsburg, o, erect the fol
.
lowing: . .
Resolved, That in the wtitn tion of this
Convention, any than who.belo s to.the se
cret Order, commonly called Ku -Nothings,
ar - in any way sympathizes. With Lem, is not,
and -cannot be a Democrat—he is not fit- to
hold a text here or in any Demae'atic asseti•
blr. If any such man ntured; or
• \
tore to claim a seat in ttli§ hodY, we:dew:Mtn:el
him as a base, black hearted deceiver, and
essential liar, who tick rves the scOrn and 1
contempt of.every.sietent man and 'woman ; in
the-country. .
Mr. Alrkki opposed the resolution, because
expressions of the . -kind. used, .would detract
from 'the dignity of the body. Without com
ing to a vote on it,- the Convention adjourn
ed.
Tlie ! Convention 1-e-assetnbktl at 3 o'clock,
Mr. Guthrie in the chair.
Mr: Lototh', (coin. the coinmitt4 appoint
ed to report oilieerg, for a pi:Tina:lent organiza
tion,. made the following: report, - Which WA*
unanimously adopted : - .
P res' ;dent—Hon: 4. GLVS CEY j ONES, of
L'erks county. '
Vice Pre ichnts.--Juel IL Danner,, Adams;
Cam. Locklmid, C 9141011; Jesse Lazear,Greene;
' John M'Cart Phil'a county ;. Nathan Woi ,
ivy, Laneaster ; Thomas Adams, Perry; J. IL
Jones, Sullivan.; Thomas- Grove, Yolk; John
I'iath4vcomin4;,D. IL Miller, Allegheny ;
Jessil Johnson, Ducks.; Wilson. Laird, E r i e ;
Rimer Boyer, Chester; Charles Carter, beaver;
Timothy Ives, PotteN ...Joseph Lppincott,
Phil'a ; A. Lathrop, Susifa ; Weaver,
_ .
Columbia.
Secrelariq,—A. M . Kinn4, Westinoieland;-
J. .A. Innif.; Northampton; Thomas A. Ma-..
Catnhria ; W. 11.11PGrath, Philadelphia;
John Orr, Franklin.
Mr. ,jonf.i on being conducted to . the chair,
addles-ed the Convention. ;
On tnotion a conunittee of one from each
senatorial di,ttict vas appointed to draft reso
lutions, as ttllows
1, Peter Login, Daniel 'Barr; 2, Jesse
johnsgn, J. Hantech. P. 413m19); A.; B.
.Longaker; 4, Georg - e Palmer; 5.1', K. Miller;
0, Is.:tiah 'Jaws . ; -7,11. B. Swarr, Hammond ;
8. Africk ; Hinter; 10, Brodhead ;
Beillev.; 12, Beck . ; 13, James Anderson; 14,
E. A. Crawford-; 15, John Scott; 16, Wright;
.17, E. B. Chase; 18, W. A. Wallace; 20, J.
P.. Brawley ; 21, Meylert ; 22.-S. W. Black,
R. 11. Rol!erts; 23, J. Lawar ; 24, .1. ;
"'5, .I.'B. Loomis; 20, John S. Miller; 27 E.
.1. K4-ctnan ; 28. B. Reilly.
Mr. Mark withdrew the resolution . otreretl,
in tin! morning..
Notnivati , ,ns were then unide for Canal
• Qui_te. :t ntuntjer of gelitk.-
mon' tverra lilaced in 60tninntion
trade and adi l pte(l that the
sari: ful n,)ininee of the Con ‘lentionshottld.
ziveto the State Central C.uttniittee },led re,
[, ,
ti
ler sheuld nr e :elihe, h i l a ti on t o the
snlject of Ku9w-Notl!ingistn, that if. he
derlini:d to take such ple.47 , ,lthat then the
State Central I.., , ,,nitnittee tutl•toriz.,,hl to
Inlke•a nomination in his steadt
The Cie' k real a ple , lge trout S. Camp
bell, and a letter from Arnol , l rumer. •
The Convention.then proceeded to ballot
for a .tandidate Canal Com Missioner, with
the following, result:
Ist • Ballot—Arnold 'flamer; 50; Wm..S.
Campbell, 37 ; John Rory., 0; George S c ott,
7 . ; Robert- Irwin, 3; Alexander Small, 4;
John . P. - Hoover, 4; Murray Whalon, 3; IL
Packer, -2.; Barnard - Reilly, 4.-124 Notes,
to a choice 1.30.v0!e9.. •
lte frit:lids ut nt 111!rt. Irwin, Jmnes
'Worrell; Murray Wltlon, 11. P. raeke'r,.Tolin
P. rloovvr and Bernard ItiOly; here withdrew
•
lialiot—Arnold Plummer, 110; S.
Campl,4:ll, 43 • :kiln fop . , 10; Groirge. Scott,
5 ; Mk:x:4:l4ler 4 , ----122. • - •
Ti)e Messrs.- 1105 s, Scott and
Small, here withdrew their natne;:. - • • •
3,1 133:10t-Arnold .Phipler; 77 -; Wrri. S.
0:1nlolJell, 46; 13ernwd Ricay, 1 7 -124 votes,
\411,1
~.„: ....,,,Ty to 1.4 choice 63.
're,idelit Ileclared Arnold Plummer
(fitly n . hated t 1 Detnoeratie candid*. for
Ca wil Coinmissi.mer. .
,The.Convt.ntion here ; took a recess
half past 7 O'clock. -
• The Convention re-a , seml , led at 7 oklock, -
and was called- to order by the - Prei - dent,
Hon. (;I;lnct,y Jones. •
Mr: ilktfis from the Committee on. 10soltt
tionq, submitted the following, - which! were
, „
reaft amid mu a piause :
_• •
Rcsoird, 'nut- the Democratic party_ need
tot, on old and _settled issues: to declare its
principles in detail.. It is sntli.:ient for usto
sat,' that we- Itlont-r to the Democracy Of the
Union. au I re,,tonize no geographical! lines
between the .N:s.trth and South. The itjterests
Of - all parts of the country are the same to
and so far-as in our rower we will maintain
the constitutional rights of every State with
uniform ti l,rlity.
•
.Resolv e d, .That evety one ,who makes-our
country his home, and loves the constitution;,
the laws and the liberty of the Union, is in
its largest sense, a True _American. His
birth-place was not his own selection, and
should do him neither good- norharrn—his
religion is between himself and his God, and
should be left to' his- Own judgment, con
science and responsibility.
I:feared:That we regard the secret Order,
.commonlv ".I(now:Nothin7s, as an
.organization dangerous to the prosperity and
- i peace of the country. We considti - r its de
sign q 3 um 4 ow•titutional and void of patriot
ism ; beinfr at once opposed to the spirit of
true Christianity =La pat. and manly Ameri
can sentiment. . ,
/?csoitted, That the Democratic party reiter
ate and re-assert their confidence in, and 'ad
herence-to the •folitiCal creed promulgated
by Thomas-Jetiersonin his firstinaugaral ad
dress, and- practiced by Madison, Monroe,.
Jackson, Vat} Buren, Polk-and Pierce, in
their . administration; - ---that these princi
pies require, -nO - concealment, and that es•
perience bus hilly determined-their applica
bility to all the interests Of the American
people, r -
Resolved, Mit we have undiminished con
fidence in the ability and integrity of Frank
jiu Pierce, and his administration of the
government of .our country,
Resolved, Th4t the views and principles of
the present StatP:Administration, as embodi
ed in the nets passed by the recent Legisla
ture, and approl..eAby the Governor, by AA: 114.11
the interests Of the State have beet or ate
proposed to be serionsly.and injuriously affect
ed, contrast strongly with the Wise and
ous management of the Gevernment by Cloy
ernor Bigler, and tend to show the danger
'of -entrusting the contra of the 'Common
wealth to the.handsof men who are . swayed
by fanaticism and governed,' by prejudice.
Resorted, That we'pledge our •party and
united.efforts to, the election of A.inold Plum-•
mer, the candidate. for Canal Cothinissioner,
whom we have this day nominated without a
dissentitit voice. -
1 of 2.
Mr. Wright--I will now read the minority
report, and willstate in advance that the
ptincipal bone: "41;f: contention, was upon the
Temperance.and Abolition questions. .They
They
are the points I wish to subscribe to the reso-'
lutiOns which the majority of the committee
have reported, but my objection - to them is
that they do not go far enough. As
man of the c4mmittee, I drafted alet of re' so.;
lutioas which I will now read to the Ponven , .
tion. as the minority report. —•- ' .
MfII I IIITY REPORT.
The Democracy . of.the State of Peatisylva:
AFTERNOON SESSION,
EVENING SESSION.
nia, assenibled by their' Delegates, - at Ilar- 2
risburg, ou 'the 4th of July, 1855, do resolve—..: 1
1: That the Democratin party in Penn-'
mivania stands to'sJ'Bv where it over his or,
the broad platform of 'the Constitution—nor
does it know or ackuOwledge any higher
law" or better rtiles of .political actton,,than
,are embraced; within its provision's.: Petfeet
within
,itselft--it TreqUires tio,imPlication-or
construction--the rights of the-people equally
protected, and its latortfage which cannot, 'be•
language
misioderstood.
• 1.. That obedience Should be given to the
solemn injunction of 'Washington, in his
Farewell, Addres's, by frowning : down indig
nantly everything' • calculated to - - sever
the Union or - .1?.-eaken the bonds whiiir
holds the great :family of States togethei—and
this can only be done:by Confining the. ail
•tional government Strietly Within the limits
of the. Constitution. '„
. .
. .
3. That the peace,'harmony and prosper
ity of the country depend on the•undisterberl
'enjoyment of the 'right.a guaranteed to the
States, and Territories-=and that among the* ,
stand promieentlyand , in - hold rebel . , State I
rights, State sovereignty, and the freedom
of the people to
ma
of own: laws and '
goYern and direct their own local institutions
in their own' waY. _ .! 1 .•
• ' '
4. That intervention. by the Federal' Gov' t
ailment to alter, change Or direct the rightti
vested and rescued in then State,; and people
thereof, is an act. of tusurpation, .and or nct
power 'or curets whatever. !Nor have. the .pear :
pie of one State .the right , to-interfere in the
domestic mud social relathins of another; be
eau l se it is itilviolation,of the federal Compact,
andfranght 'fyith immninent peril to the best
interest of the whemle country. . .
• 5. That time Consi t itution gives no noWer
to the Generid Crovernmentin regard te Negro
Slavery, but on the' Contrary, commits all.
:legislation , on the subject to the States: in
Witich it does now, or may hereafter exist.
Any direct interference :,with it by the people
of the noinslaveholding States, ' or by their
representatives; is n violation of the.Consti
, tution, and every attempt to evade the Con
-1 stitution by indirect interference, is a fraud
i -
1 npon •,it, which no honest. and fair minded.
I c4izeirshonl.f.counteaance. • :
1 62 -That When a ',Onion of our fellow citi
-1 zeds choose:to -t , ettle• upon Territory of the
I United States,, beyond the jurisdiction' of any
i State, that' they have the saute tight 'that we
enjoy, to regulate their domestie affairs, and
04ahlishtheir own ; institutions, and
_every
1 6 refusal by Congresst4 concede this right, is a
1•11ation of the catdinal principles.on which
I.
i ad republient(goveriainents exist
t i 7. That if' the : porde of the %vita:, Unioii,
by their teoresentati'Ves in .Congress .assem
i e
hied havn't, legitimate Tower to force slave
-
I ry or anti
% oslavery on the 1:eople of a territory :
it fmAlows;by much 'stiot - rer reason, that no
snch powi:r can he rightfully 'exercised by
i any self-constituted body within' the States,
and cotnoosed of' a -part only of the people.
•8. That every new State ought to be ad-1
\.
mitted into the Union with such a. Constitu
tion as•a majority of, the citizens thereof shall
I adopt; provided that' there is' nothing therein'
conflicting with Constitution of:the United
States, and Whether ,such State shall have
adopted or rejected slavery is noe.amatterof
inquiry by the Getter / al - thivernment.. The
adAmtion.oflany measure which would defeat
this Is a direct enerainchment on the popidat,
sUvereiemity of such ,State.
.. 9. That under thesicviews, and which we
believe to be correct. rite- bill ereetittg Nebraska
and Na*-As..Territelies, leaving the question
of,slaver:Wavillt time people was not only eon.-
stitutional, but expedient and proper; and thud
we do hereby eadt&se : and apptove the same:,
10. That we are . opposed to any chancre
in oar 'State: Constitution, , cenferring, upon
nea-roes the right of sutfrag,e.. We are .not
willing : that this eiass of " American sr shall
rule tMs 'Art of 'America 7 .--coaceding', to
other States time right to gratif%' 'their owe
tastes in this partieular,. however much we,
may -differ with,them in opinion.
11. 'That the secret, political oath bound
Order, commonly 'called "Know-Nothings"
—proscribing men on-Alme ground of their
! religions belief, andthe place of their' birth,
is a flagrant violafron of the Constitutiom.'un-
Iti.nd, Uncharitable and tin-Christian, and just
ly cb.sery cs- the scorn and contempt or every 1
honest man in the hand: - ~ . .
12. The Government ,of this Union was
the result of religious perseention,--and•
: rung- 1
1 ions toleration 'is • -its life-blood. That . the
1 Constitution of all the confederated States ae
knowlemlLre this as ((prevailing prinen'tie—tand .
that cla s s of men in our country, whO Would
, call into life 'a system of religions bigotry
! and infoleration, ;re not worthy .tolimild pow
er,bigotry'
, •
and the man who acknowledges theetlica
cv of -an oath obligatory on hint' to, tell a'
falsehood 'iii place. : ,..t . the truth, cannot be .re
n-arded •aS a patriot, and that is time last
of the, qualm/rem - tons of a state'sman.'
13. -The doctrine that'"Amercans should
rile America,-" is.. - true in every letter, and
such has ever - been the. case, but lie who in.
secret swears to proscribe hi's fellow 'and de
..give him of his civil and religious rights,
is no American, he;is the slave of attimPerial'
trnisteit' his: conscience is his hypocrisy, he
has no attribute of a freemilan,' and deserves
nit the pame.,
14. That the inordinate , increase of Bank
ing ell-pi nd 'at the late. Session, and the weak
and inconsistent cOurse of the present Execu
tive in; relation 'llereto, are calculated to
awaken anxiety acid alarm for the future, and
prove the fully of confiding 'the: powers of
(.;overtiment.tO hands incompetent to. their 1
- eserci,:e, and controlled by the speculating
and greedy interests that prey - upon the earn
ings of the peoph. : • _
15.. That the failure of the llouse . of Rep
-
1 resentativems at; the late Session to pass the
joint resolution proposing amendments to the
I Constitution against State iihd.Muncipal in
debtedness! was in contempt Of the popular
- will, and tlio interest and. security of the peo
ple. - it will bethe . imperative duty'rit the.
next Legistaturejfreed from the' elements. of
confusion, :inanity, and fanaticism Which in
fested Awl last, i to
,ie-c'onnnence t - 1 e work
ofreform, !which, when' consummated,. will'
protect labor, property and morals by pry
venting the creation :of, public dehts, and
will restore and preserve time character, the
credit and purity 'ofkour State Gofairnment.
and of our City, Cour . ,.and other 4uneipal
organizations, bylin limiting; them to. the per;
fortnanee-. of their, jpst and ..rightful ftitte,
tions: .•
16.. That the acts
the extirpation - of lice
ing other erstablielun
ous - liquors, wits'
lAgislar.yelra , er,
of pablic..opinion;
and incapable of ac
objects. Disputed i
it proceeds, impOtent
at property and Ten 3(
tion of - overruliOg
sentiment - or certain
existing evils. IA sly
ments; proinpted in
tioned.by publio opi
the principles of rei
that the - said
. 1 . 7; D I
That the
tofore. Ogimilviexh
in cheek .the eleinet
ion; to Conduct: wii
lion Of the: general
• of the last Session; for
iedl iv
iotels, While allo
nts.f the sale-Of
untvjie eteraise of the
wipout the . sanction
nperf*t in construction,
omplishin t ; its_ intended
1 . the principle on 'Nil:di:h
ifor 4044 'and striking
ns *About, tbejuStifica
eeesSity, general.: public
and thorough reform of
could give place to enact.
a ditferetrt spirit, Sanc
tion and in conformity to'
ablican government, and
Auld be repealed:
Imocratic party bas here
itited its attility to bold
its Of discord in the.Ul
- r i nccess tho adatinistra
..7nunetit, in peace and
In War' • ',and to secure Pretheis'ibe fate
resti .. .
And" welfare-the'. whole people, while
, . - Of .
all other political citgaizations have totally..
failed in •their- great Qbjectic or been tempera- ,
ry in existence and limited in usefulness—and 0
that it. deserves, therefore;',- - the confidence, re- •
:spec:tend support - of the people,..and is essen
tial to the probation. Of their - rights—andto
their advaneethent and .prosperity. , :
. 18. That -we approve and endorie the
ineasitroii of Franklin Pierce, and believe that -
he has . on all occasions adopted that line of
policy cendnetive to. 'the welfare and hener
'of the country, and 'particulr.in the exercise.
o f the veto power, be has .1)t carried out ibis
principles
,of the eonstituti arid-reaffirmed
the doctrines_ of Jetferion.and ackson. .. • *
i l / 4.1
'.• 10. That 'we admire the -open, talented
and inatily course of Henry A. Wise, per.
elect' of Virgiei:r in th recent - cittnpaignef
,by.
:that State, the bold and fvti.los,tnanner '
' in which , he exposed t l e intrigues . a,,ed:eon-
)
- conspiracies of a chessoilmen banded togeth , -
or, whose work was done, in scorer, and - ivhose
objects and designs - were the Attainment.of
political power, in' the overthr,oW of 'the Cori:
'stitution, and the proscriptionef the best then
in. the Republic. The. Keystone ott- thigi day,
hallowed by the - most patriotic'
_associations,
sends. to, the "Old ' Dominion" greeting, and
Dives assurance of the redemption - of Penn- .
sylvania, and a general . clearance of the. in 7
cubus Which has, though-, t&tirporarily; im
paired her, honer and'
. prosperity.
. 20. That weleaitily recommend the nomi
nation of,. Arnold Plummer; this day wade
for Canal CommissiOner, and Urge. upon the
Democracy Of the State his triumphat:elec- -.
Lion. - - -- - •
Mr. flutter- ! -Nr. President," I move, that
the resolutions reported bj , the geotlema - n
from Allegheny county, (Mr. Black;) be adopt
ed.
.
Mr. Hpfworth—l ;Dive to amend,by saying
- that the resolutions contained in the majori
ty report be taken.- up and • considered
....sepa
rately. _
Mr. 13 7 1:ight-:--I move to amend. by isubsti-- -
tuting the'! Minority . report."_
. The question wAs put .otthe amendments
'and it was decided in thelegative:7lr.
• The yeas and nays ,were .ordered sonr the
amendment to the amendment, and being
taken, resulted-4yeas 19; nays, - 89.. So it
was not adopted.
!Mr. Wright—l now move to amend by,
of tiring that portion of the -minority report,
which introduces . the kansas and"&braska
hill, as part of the majority report. pee reso
lution, 8, of the minority repOrt.i. 1'
Ou this resolution the yeas and nays -Were
' called and, l resulted as follows : Yeas }G, nays'
••
GO. • • •
Mr. TV - right offered-as an amendment: that
resolution in the Minority report which pro
vides-any change in . the constitution.author r i •
izing rregroe; to -vote, '[SeO-resolution .10, of
mitturi ty.report..] , • • • - 2 .1 : -
The yeas tied nays were ordered, and be t
ink taken resulted as followit Yeas 61, nayS
28;
,• \
, I •
Mr. rid/o.reirnoved to amend -the first resof
lution . 0 the majority report, so as to insers
after the ord - - " State" the Words." and re-
cognize i its 'widest extent • the priheiples
of poptila seyereignity in the territories;"., so"
that the sentence read-" The :interests
of all- parts of the country are the same to. us,
`and so fitr a._ in our power; ive. will maintain
the constittnionti{ -right of every State, arid_
ree_og,nize in its widest extent the-principle of
popular sovereignty in the territories." ,:_,„„d
On this amendment the veas and nays;
were called 'for; and being OCdered, resulted
yeas 01, tiaya 5. , '..
Chase called for the previona question,
which tray ordered, end the;majority .resolu,
Lions were adopted.
Mr.: Chase offered the folloivingt .
.Resolved, That the National Censtitntion
commits the institution of slavery .to
the control . of
.the Stases where it -has «sxis--.
tenee, and we will resist all.atteuapts: by- the
nori-slaveholding States to,interferowith the
rights guarlanteed to-the institution; so alsO
we Will resist - any attempt 'to use the powers
of the General Government to 'perpetuate-or
extend .the institution. 1. -
Resolved, That the takitia• possessieea of the
polls at the election. for the organization of
the Territory'. of Kansas by large - bOdies :of
men from Missouri, for the ptirpoSe of over- - -
awing the . bona fide residents of the Territory;
was .a, .gross infraction the lawrein.tid an
'outrage: that calls for the severest reprobation
of the lAnierican people, and `we therefore
most heartily endorse the - course pursued by
the - Ilan.. Iteeder, in his..patrtotieifforts
-to enfiirce
. the law,- and protect the 'rights .
of the ; people of 'Kansas froth.- violence. and .
usurpation. - • •
• A notion was Made t.. 6 lair the resolutions
the !table, - and bping put, was agreed to. •
Mr.i t ..4feKinney-1 have .the following reso
lution Ito offer : •
Resbleed, That the temperan c ce queslioit is ,
one Of morality solely,_ and 'morality ,must be -
educated not legislated into-the mind.. :That
the last Know-Nothing Legislature iii; passing
w properly denominated the . "jug law"
did legislate Up 4.511 a literal <pastier', which°
deserves no place in- Our -stattne beoka and
we therefore call for its unconditional repel
• 'Mr. Johnson moved to lay the resoluticin
on the table,' • ." • .
Mr. Wright.ealled for the yeas and nays
oni the motion, and they were ordered, and
being taken, resulted as.follows • •
YEAS—Messrs. Adams, James Anderson,
Alricks, Butler,: Barnitz, Bare, Baker, Brod
head, Bellis, Bower, Bowman, . Biter, Beyer,
13raWly, Brooks,,•Boisal, :Burkholder,
Clark, Chase, Duffield, Danner, EranS, Fittim
..rey, Graham, Guernsey, Hancock, Rutter,
:Hover, Hostetter,:tilaklethati,
Johnson, (Bucks,) JOhnsen,•(Phil*,)4.llitch
ter Jones, U. J. Jones; W.. C. lathes; Herr,
Ludlow, Lippeticott, longaker,.: Loomis;
Lockhart, MevlerLMayer, isrGr;iflOr
Orr,
Rambo., 'lttitter, Wilson, Reilly, Itank l en,-
,Schell, C. It Smith, John M. Sherrev Si
. ...,
Mon, Swart, Shirk, Wolf, Weiser, and
ley--59. -/ I
NAYS- 7 ...Messis:James•M.Andersou;Braek ,
.
en, M. - P:Boyer, -Coffretli, 'Carter, bulk
Guthrie, Hartzell,'
Huger, J. - Glancfrjoilei' , e' Kestcr, F. j;Keen.hi,
Laird; Lingenfelter, Maguire, Maxwell, Joni
S. Miller, P. It. Miller, pP. K: i !Ole
°eV, Palmer, Piet 4.Prirfer; Bernard,
Selfbridge, Searight, - Whithington, Weafe . k' •
and Wright-L-34. • 1 _ • .
. So the - resolution will laid on` the table.
Ludlow-Mr. President,', I offer the
foll Owing resolution:
Resolved, That the 'thanks of •thii konven
tion be presented to:this 'Officers 'for -the ahlq
manner in which 41tephave discharged-their
dutiert„. - • . •
,
:The ; resolution :was' agreed to.:.
Mi.l.lllaii--1. have, a resolution_ here, Mt.
Piesident, which I Should like :tO have read,
and cen.'side.red - by the Convention, .
The' Secretary - read tho'lrestdationasfol
* .. • • • -
• Resioleed i . That endorsing. the. Nebraska
'Kansas bill the . Detw.raey, of Penrisylvania
did net commit thetniel*s to accept the.,
lawless acts . , of-armed - aud organized bands'
from adjoining Staten-. as :an illnstration of
the doctrine of 'eviller sovereigntyy - hut iutea
ded . only to itiffini great - pnneitdeir of the
the sistutil toad Ale tettient of - the
territeriesilo. regulate-their...very dettlestic at