Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-09-25
whig Platform.

The Wings of the United States in convention
assembled, firmly adhering to the great conserva-
tive principles by which they are controlled and
governed, and now, as ever, relying upon the in
telllgence OF the American people, with an abb
ding confidence in their capacity for self-govern-
ment, and their continued devotion to the constitu
ton and the Union, do proclaim the following as
the political sentiments and determination, for the
| establishment and maintenance of which their
national organization as party is effected:
l. The Government of the United States is of a
limited character and is confined to the exercise
of powers expressly granted by the constitution,
and such as may be necessary and proper for carry
ing the granted powers into full execution; and all
powers not thus granted or necessarily implied are
expressly reserved for the States respectively and
TO the people.
2. The State Governments should be held secure
in their reserved rights, and the General Govern
ment sustained in its constitutional powers, and
the Union should be revered and watched over as
''the palladium of our lberties.D
3. That while struggling freedom everywhere
enlists the warmest sympathy of the Whig party,
we will adhere to the doctrines of the Father of
his Country as announced in his Farewell Address,
of keeping ourselves free from all entanging al
llances with orel gn countries, and of never quit
ting our own to stand upon foreign ground That
our mission as republic is not to propagate our
opinions, or impose upon other countries our form
of government by artifce or torce but to teach
by example, and show by our success, moderation
and justice, the blessings of self-government, and
the advantages of free institutions.
4. That where the people make and control the
government, they should obey its constitution,
laws and treaties as they would retain their self
respect and the respect which they claim and will
enforce from foreign powers.
s. Revenue sufficient for an economical admin
istration of the Government in time of peace,
ought to be derived from duty on lmpostS, and
not from direct taxes: and, in laying such duties,
sound policy requires Just discrimination, where
by suitable encouragement may be afforded to A
mercan industry, equally to all classes and to al
parts of the country.
g. The constitution vests in Congress the power
to open and repair harbors, and remove obstruc-
hons from navlgable rivers, whenever such i'm
provements are necessary for the common defence,
and for the protection and facility of commerce
with foreig nations among the States, said i'm
provements being in every instance, national and
general in their character.
J. The Federal and State Governments are parts
of one system, alike necessary for the common
prosperity, peace and security and ought to be re-
garded alike, with cordial, habitual and immo-
| vable attachment. Respect for the authority Of
each, and acquiescence in the just constitutional
measures of each, are duties required by the plain
est consideration of national, of State, and of in
dividual welfare.
O. 1 nat tne series OF measures coiliiuolNy
known as the Compromise, including the fugitive
slave law, are received and acquiesced in by the
Wing party of the United States as settlement
in principle and in substance-a final settlement
of the dangerous and exciting questions which
they embrace and so far as the fugitive slave law
is concerned, we will maintain the same and in
sist its strict enforcement, until time and expe-
rience shall demonstrate the necessity of further
legislation to guard against evasion or abuse but
not impairing its present efficiency; and we dep
recate all further agitation of the slavery question
as dangerous to our peace, and will discountenance
all efforts at the renewal or countenance of such
agitation in Congress out of it, whenever wher-
ever and however the attempt may be made; and
we will maintain this system of measures as po-
licy essential to the nationality of the Whig party,
and the integrity of the Union.