The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-07-22

Mr.. King the nominee OF the compromise
Democrats for Vice President is no less ex-
plicit In a letter written by him on the Goth
Julv. 1851. to c. H. Donaldson, he was pecu-
Harlv bitter upon independent Democrats ana
declared that $50 long as large portion OF
the former Democracy of the North lend them
selves 10 the advocacy of Free SOi doctrines, ana
make common cause with the infamous dgha-
TORS and AbolitOnsts, no portion OF the South
ern Democracy will ever be found acting In
concert with them. All our troubles have
arisen from the extraordinary conduct OF those
protesting Democrats &c Thus exhibiting
his devotion to the raukest Sectonalism, and
making adhesion thereto a test OF Democracy.
Such being the case, we cannot by any act
of ours support Gen. Pierce for the preslden-
tial Office. without losing our respect Tor the
principles which constitute the foundation OF
Democracy. To do so, would be to emulate
the conduct of the enterprising individual who
undertook to perform Shakespeare play OF
Hamlet. iritk the part of Hamlet omitted
Thomas jefferson, the apostle OF Democracy
in his writings upon our system OF Slavery,
says:
with what execration should the statesman
be loaded. who, permitting one half the citi-
zens thus to trampe on the rights of the other,
transforms these into despots and those into
enemies destroys the morals OF the one part,
and the amor pdtriG of the other" r
Can the liberties Of nation be thought Sc
cure. when we have removed their only firm
basis. conviction in the minds of the people
that these liberties are the gift of Godt That
thew are not to be violated but with His wrath
| tremble for my country, when | reflect that
God is just that His justice cannot sleep for
ever; that, considering numbers, nature, and
natural means only, a revolution of the wheel
of fortune, an exchange of situation, is among
possible events; the Almighty has no attribute
which can take side with us in such a contest
But we must wait with patience
the working of an overruling Providence, and
hope that that is preparing the deliverance of
these our suffering brethren. When the meas
ure of their tears shall be full, when their
tears shall have involved Heaven itself in dark
ness, doubtless a God of justice will awaken to
their distress, and, by ditfusing light and lib
crafty among their Oppressors, or at length by
his extermnating thunder, manifest his atten-
ton to the things of this world, and that they
are not left to the guidance of blind fatality"
Thomas Jefferson never hesitated to avow
his sentiments: and we, his disciples, cannot
to resist all attempts at agitation, we cannot
subscribe to. We therefore enter our protest
against it
When Convention calling itself Democrat
ic so far loses sight of the principles of De-
mocracy as to pledge itself and its candidates
to suppress agitation on a subject of command
ing Importance and the nominees of that Con-
vcnton accept the pledge, we hesitate not to
say that we feel bound by our allegiance to
Democratic principles to reject the pledge and
its candidates. We have abored for the De-
mocracy: we have reioiced at its triumphs, and
been depressed at its defeats We regret now
to separate from those of our brethren with
whom we have heretofore acted for the ad-
vancement of Democratic principles, who now
seem willing to compromise those principles for
Slaveholding support.
Men change, but principles are eternal. 1t
is for no slight cause that we now take stand
as Independent Democrats, independent of the
platform adopted by the politicians who as
sembed at Baltimore; but not independent of
the sacred principles of Democracy, which are
enshrned in the hearts of the American
people independent, as regards submission to
the insoent demands of the Slave Power, but
willing and DESTROYS to cooperate in all efforts
to establish and make permanent the great
principles upon which the Republic was origi
nally founded.
But some may ask, as you repudiate the
platform adopted at Baltimore, upon what plat
form do you stand! The question is pertinent
and easily answered. The Mass Convention
of Independent Democrats which met at Buffalo
in August lS48 resolved that our fathers
ordained the Constitution of the United States,
in order to establish justice, promote the gen.
eral welfare and secure the blessings of Lib
erty; but expressly denied to the General Gov
eminent all constitutional power to deprive
any person of life liberty, or property, without
due legal process; that Congress has no more
power to make slave than it has to make a
king; that it is the duty of the Federal Govern
ment to relieve itself from all responsibility for
the existence or continuance of Slavery, where
ever that Government has constitutional au-
thority to legislate on that subject, and is thus
responsible for its existence; that we will have
no more Slave States and no Slave territory
that we demand cheap postage for the people,
retrenchment OF the expenses and patronage
of the Federal Government the abolition of all
unnecessary Offices and salaries, and the cleo
ton, so far as practicable, of all civil officers
free grants Of land 10 actual settlers on our
public lands. and the abolition of the national
debt"
To this we may add the resolutions adopted
by the Independent Democracy Of Massaohu-
sets, at their recent Convention Mt Worcester
viz
Resolved, That we cordially concur in the
sentiment expressed by the late Democratic
National Convention, that the Federal Gov
eminent is one OF limited powers, derived solely
from the Constitution and the grants OF power
made therein ought to be strictly construed by
all the departments and agents of the Govern
ment; and that it is inexpedient and danger
Gus to exercise doubtful constitutional pow
ers and, therefore,
"Resolued, That Congress possesses no au-
thority whatever to legislate for the rendition of
fugitves from service or labor, such legislation
being dangerous encroachment upon the SOW
eregnty of the States. a clear violation of their
reserved rights, and, in the form which it has
assumed in the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, re-
pugnant to the principles of the common law,
to the spirit of Christianity, and to the senti-
ments of the civilized world. We therefore de-
mand its immediate and total repeal
"Resolred, That any future acquisition of ter
rtory by the United States whether by pur.
chase, treaty, conquest, or otherwise, ought to
be and must be upon the fundamental condi-
ton that Slavery shall be wholly and forever
excluded from such territory.
"Resolued, That the Constitution vests in
Congress the power to open and repair harbors,
and remove DISTINCTIONS from navigable rivers
and it is expedient that Congress shall exercise
that power WHENEVER SUCH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE NECESSARY FOR THE COMMON DEFENCE OR
FOR THE PROTECTION AND FACILITY OF COM
MERGE with foreign nations or among the
States.
Resolved, That the public lands of the United
States should be held as trust for the benefit
of the people, and should be granted in limited
quantities without charge to actual settlers