Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-06-20
RESOLUTIONS OF THE
BALTIMORE CONVENTION.

chairman of the Committee appointee
to draft an address to The people of tht
Y. S. They We're unanimously adop-
ted:
Resoloed, That the American De
mocracy place their trust, not in facti-
'lous symbols, not in displays and APP
peals insulting to the judgements and
subversiye of the intellect of the people,
but IN clear reliance upon the intelli-
gence OF the patriotism, and the dis
eliminating justice of the American
masses.
Resolred, That we regard this as a
distinctive feature of our political creed
which we are proud to maintain before
the world, as the great moral element
20 form of government, springing
from and upheldby the popular willard
we contrast it with the creed and prac-
tlce Of Federalism, under whatever
name or form, which seeks to palsy
the Will OF the constituent, and which
concelyeS no imposture too mohstfous
Tor the popular credulity.
ResoIred, therefore, That entertain
ing these views, the Democratic party
Of this Union, thro' their delegates as
sembled In general Convention Of
the States, coming together in a spilit
OF concord, of devotion to the doctrines
and faith Of free representative gov
ernment, and appealing to their fellow
citizens for the rectitude Of their inten-
lions, renew and re-assert before the
American people, the declaration of
principles avowed by them, when on a
former occasion, in general Convention
they presented their candidates Cor the
popular sufifages:-
1. That the Federal Government is
one Of limited powers, derived solely
from the Constitution, and the grants
Of power shown therein ought to he
strictly construedby all the departments
and agents Of the Government, and
that it is inexpedient and dangerous to
exercise doubtful constitutional power.
2. That the Constitution does not
confer upon the General Government
the power to commence and carry on
a general system Of internal improve
ments.
3. That the Constitution does not
confer authority upon the Federal Gov
eminent, directly or indirectly, to as
sumo the debts of the several States,
contracted for local internal improve
ments, or other State purposes; nor
would such assumption be just and ex-
pedient.
4. That justice and sound policy
forbid the Federal Government to fos-
ter one branch ofindustry to the detri-
ment of another, or to cherish the in
terestg OF one portion Of our common
eountry--that every citizen and every
section Of the country has a demand
and insist upon an equality of rights
and privileges, and to complete an am
pie protection of persons and property
from domestic violence or foreign ag-
erosion.
5. That it is the duty Of every branch
of the Government to enforce and prac-
tice the most rigid economy in conduc-
ting our public affairs, and that no
more revenue ought to be raised than
IS required to defray the necessary ex-
penses of the Government.
6. That Congress has no power to /
charter National Bank; that we be-
lieve such an institution one Of deadly
hostility to the best intereststs of the
country, dangerous to our Republican
institutions and the liberties of the peo-
pie, and calculated TO place the bust
ness Of the country within the control
Of concentrated money power and a.
Dove the laws and the viii of the peo-
pie.
7. That Congress has no power un-
der the Constitution to interfere with
or control the domestic Institutions of
the several States, and that such States
are the sole and proper judges Of every
thing appertainingto their own affairs
not prohibited by the Constitution;that
all efforts Of the Abolitionists or Others,
made to induce Congress TO interfere
with.qnestions af slavery, or to take
J incipient steps In relation thereto, are
calculated to lead to the most alarming
and dangerous consequences; and that
all such efforts have an inevitable ten
dency to diminish the happiness of the
people, and endanger the stability anc
permanance of the Union, and ough
not to be countenanced by any frienc
to our political Institutions.
8. That the separation Of the mon
eys of the Government from banking
institutions, is indispensable for TIL
safety of the funds of the Government
and the rights of the people.
9. That theliberal principles embod
led by Jefferson in the Declaration c
~ c4toyoI IN fh