corruptions which pervade some of the
departments of the government: as shown in disgracing
meritorious naval officers through prejudice or caprice; and as
shown in the blundering mismanagement of our foreign relations.

14th. Therefore, to remedy existing evils, and prevent the
disastrous consequences otherwise resulting therefrom, we would
build up the "American party" upon the principles hereinbefore
stated.

15th. That each State Council shall have authority to amend
their several constitutions, so as to abolish the several
degrees, and institute a pledge of honor, instead of other
obligations, for fellowship and admission into the party.

16th. A free and open discussion of all political principles
embraced in our platform.

The HON. MR. WATKINS, a renegade from the American ranks, in East
Tennessee, delivered a speech in Congress on the 6th of May, 1856; which
speech we find reported in the _Washington Union_--a speech which
betrays an utter ignorance of the point he undertook to discuss. It is
due to _his betrayed constituents_ that we should expose his ignorance,
and the blundering fallacy of his attempts to justify his turning
_Locofoco Cataline Judas Sag-Nicht_! He says, as reported by his
political organ-grinder:

"But, sir, the platform recently adopted by the Philadelphia
Convention cannot receive my approbation. I cannot support Mr.
Fillmore, or any other distinguished Whig, upon that platform.
The only solitary plank in the Philadelphia platform of June,
1855, was the twelfth section--that section which denied to
Congress the right to interfere with slavery in the
Territories, declaring the doctrine of non-intervention, and of
popular sovereignty in the Territories. But, sir, that plank in
the platform was stricken out by the convention recently held,
and the sixth resolution of the platform then adopted
substituted in its place. And what does that resolution
endorse? Is there any non-intervention in the sixth resolution
of the Philadelphia platform? Is there any denial of the right
of Congress to interfere upon the subject of slavery in the
sixth resolution of the Philadelphia platform? Certainly not."

In lieu of the _June_ platform, we have this _February_ platform. The
June platform contained _no such denial to Congress_, as is here alleged
by Mr. Watkins,