The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-24


r The Latest Platform.
We have repeatedly asserted that neithe
party can agree in national platform, which !,
not equivoca decitful or obscure-one TINT ha,
two meanings, or no meaning.
Some Of the Democrats have made the eifor,
in Virginia, and the attempt to face both ways
is amusing.
The following are the resolutions which we
find in the Richmond Enquirer. They Affect to
deal in State rights and federal powers, yet there
IS not one of them, asserting principle which
Mr.. WEBSTER cannot endorse. This is signiii-
cant When Virginia Democrats submit to such
measures AS the late compromise, or acquiesce,
or evade, they are compelled to put themselves
on the same platform of principle as Mr.. WEB
sTER, and all Others of his school 1t is well now
for the country to know aud consider this result.
In submitting to this compromise, or acqniesc-
ing in it, Virginia deserts the principles of her
republican statesmen, and goes over to the
Northern school Of Federalists These Virginia
Democrats have now but one more step to take,
and that is to nominate Mr. WEBSTER for the
next Presidency. 1t is neither magnanimous
nor just to take the doctrine and reject the great
expounder. The trivial differences that remain
on the tariff and currency questions can be easily
compromised now.
BASIS OF DEMOCRATIC HARMONY AND ACTION.
AT the adjourned meeting of the Democrats
of Virginia, now in this city, held at the Capitol
on Monday night, February 18th, 1851, Thomas
J. Randolph, esq, in the Chair, and IA. 3. Tom
lin esq, Secretary, the following resolutions
were adopted. The first were reported by ii.
A. Wise, esq, from the committee Of II, and
the 9th was moved by b. Rush Floyd, ESQ.,, as
n substitute for the concluding portion of that
committees report:
/. Resolped, That the Democratic party of
Virginia abides where it has ever stood, innov-
ably firm upon the joint basis OF the Rights of
The States and the Union Of The States.
|. ResoIred, ! hat they acknowledge fealty to
be due alike to the Constitution of the United
States and to the reserved sovereignties of the
States, as paramount laws of common country;
and they will maintain both,and repel alattempls
to invade either, by every means which may
lawfully be employed by good citizens and true
patriots.
g. Resolued, That as the Federal Union, in
viz VI Out Perfectly
larmonized with The separate and several State
sovereignties, there is no real ground for differ
ence in fact, and should be none in feeling be-
tween those who are the true friends of both
a. Resolved, That it is the object of this meet
ing to heal past and prevent future dissensions,
caused by the continued agitation of past issues
and OF the mode of their adjustment, among the
friends of the Union and of State Rights, of De-
inocracy and of the confederacy, of Liberty and
of Law.
g. Rcsolped, That all further agitation of
these issues and Of their late adjustment either
upon the one hand or upon the other, having no
practical end is now worse than vain and is dang
erous alike to all that is precious in the Union
and that is worth preserving in the States.
g. Resolred, That to appeal, on the one hand,
to State sovefeigntes now to attempt, by re-
sort to extreme remedies, to undo what has
been done, is to invoke them to risk the good
which is still left and which is too precious to be
jeoparded for that, whatever it be- which is lost
and which cannot be be restored. And, appeals
on the other hand, to love of the Union, and
the federal power, Intended to impair, if MOI des
tory, the rights Of the States and to destroy State
pride, are 10 les od.ous in doctrine than the,
are in the design Of converting the hottest zen.
timents of patriots into mere political capital, &c
he traded upon by that party Of consolidation
which is as destructive of the Union aud of The
Constitution Of the couftdsracy as it is of the
| Rights Of the States and of the Liberties of the
people
z. Resolred, That it is the duty and the aim
Of the Democratic party Of Virginia, to aid in
preserving all the rights and all the just ends
which our institutions, State and federal, were
intended to secure, and to endeavor to compose
and harmonic the elements of discord, North
and South, threatening to disturb our national
peace, the sister-hood Of our States and the
family friendship Of our people throughout the
republic.
8. Resolued That to that end the Der ocratit
| party, from lis principles of peace and brother
hood among men, from its devotion to human
liberty. from its love of justice and equality
from its hatred of all tyranny, in whatever form
it exists Is exerted, from its Jealousy of power
from its dread of dsunion and its equal detesta
ton Of central despotism, from its faithful I'd
helence to first principles, from its sacrifices il
the past, aud from its present relations and hopes
is, of all parties, -emnently best constituted
to counsel and to save the country in this crisis
| of danger.
| g. Res0lped, That this meeting cordially ten
ders to the Democracy of the Union an invita-
ton to unite with the Democracy of Virginia in
an organization on the principles indicated in the
foregoing resolutions.
The Dem oeratic papers of Virginia and the
Union were requested to publish the above res
outions.
| For the Southern Press.
State Rights.
At this crisis it becomes all, in the language
Of the Virginia Bill Of Rights, to recur TO the fun
damentaI principles, that the blessings of liberty
i