Washington telegraph., 1852-09-08
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS FOR 1852.
THE WHsG PLATFORM.

The Wings of the United States. in convention
assembled firmly adhering to the great conserva-
tive republican principles by which they are con-
trolled and governed, and now, as ever, relying
upon the intelligence of the American people,
with an abiding confidence in their capacity for
self government, and their continued devotion to
the Constitution and the Union, do proclaim the
following as the political sentiments and Geterul-
inations fer the establishment and maintenance OF
which their national organization as party Is Ell
fected:
1. The government of the United States is of a
limited character and it is confined by the exercise
of powers expressly granted by the Constitution,
and such as may be necessary and proper for car
rying the granted powers into tuii execution, ana
that all powers not thus granted or necessarily IN
piled are expressly reserved to the States respec-
lively and to the people.
?. 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 liberties"
g. That while struggling freedom, everywhere.
enlsts the warmest sympathy OF the Whlg parry,
we still adhere to the doctrines of the Father OF
his Country. announced In his Farewell Adj
Dress of keeping ourselves free from all entanSng
alliances with foreign countries and ofnever quit
ting our own to stand upon foreign ground. That
our mission as Republic is not to propagate our
opinions. or impose on other countries our form OF
government, by artfce force but to teach by
example, and show by our success. moderation,
and Justice, the blessings OF sell-goveInment 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 woul retain their self
respect and the respect which they claim and will
enforce from foreign powers.
s. Government should be conducted upon prn-
ciples of the strictest economy; and revenue sui-
ficient for the expenses thereof, III time OF peace,
ought to be mainly derived from duty Gu M
ports and not from direct taxes; and III leyylnS
such duties sound policy requires just discrmin-
alton and protection from fraud by specific duties,
when practicable, whereby suitable encourage
ment may be assured to American industry, equal
ly to all classes and to all portions of the country
g. The Constitution vests in Congress the powe"
to open and repair harbors, and remove obstruc
tions from nayigable rivers; and 1T Is expcdlent
that Congress shall exercise that power ""eaeser
such aiproUeaentS 1tecesSaFy for the common de-
fence OF, for the protection and facldy Of commerce
with foreign nations or among the States; such Im-
provements being, in every instance, national and
general in their character.
T. 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 a cordial, habitual, and immov-
able attachment Respect for the authority of
each and acquiescence in the constitutional meas
ures of each, are duties required by the planest
consideration of national, o State, and individual
Melfare.
s. The series of acts of the 31st Congress, COM
monty known as the Compromise or Adjustment,
(the act for the recovery OF tu4gltiVes from labor IN
cluled1 are received and actiuiesced in by the
Wings of the United States as a final settlement.
in principle and substance, OF the subjects to which
they relate. and. far these acts are concerned,
we will maintain then and insist On their strict
enforcement, until time and experience shall de-
monstrate the necessity of further legislation to
guard against the evasion of the laws on the one
hand, and abuse OF their powers on the other, not
impairing their present efficiency to carry out the
requirements of the Constitution, and He deprecate
all further agitation of the questions thus settled,
as dangerous to our peace, and will discountenance
all effects to continue or renew such agitation,
whenever wherever or however made, and we
will maintain this settlement essential to the
nationality OF the Whg party and the integrity Of
the Union