Washington telegraph., 1852-09-22
ELECTORS FOR 1852
TEEE; WING PLATFORM.

The Whigs OF the United States in convention
assembled. firmly adhering to the great conserva-
tive republican principles by which they are con-
trolIei and governed, and now, as ever, relying
upon the intelligence of the American people.
with an abiding confidence in their capacity ior
self government, and their continued devotion to
the Constitution and the Union, do proclaim the
following as the political sentiments and teterm-
nations for the establishment and maintenance OF
which their national organization party Is Ell
iected:
/. 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 full execution, and
that all powers not thus granted or necessarily i'm
piled are expressly reserved to the Safes resnec-
lively and 70 the people.
2. The State governments shou9 be hed secure
in their reserved rights. and the General GoveTn-
ment sustained in It's constitutional powers. and
the Union should be revered end watched over as
'!the palladium o: our liberties"
g. That while struggling freedom, everywhere,
enists the warmest sympathy OF the Wing party.
we still adhere to the doctrines OF the Father OF
his Country announced III has Farewell Ad-
dress of keeping ourselves free from all entangn9
alliances with foreign countries and ofnever quit
ting our own to stand upon foreign ground. That
our mission as a Republic is not to propagate car
opinions OF impose on other countries our Orm of
government, by artifce force, but to teach by
example. and show by our success, moderation,
and Justice the blessings of self-govemment; and
the advantages of free institutions.
4. That where the people make and control the
Government, they should obey It's Constitution,
laws and treaties, they would retain their self
respect and the respect which they claim and will
enforce from foreign powers.
5 Government should be conducted upon prin-
ciples of the strictest economy, and revenue sui
f.
ought to be mainly derived from duty on lm-
ports and not from direct taxes; and iii evying
such duties sound policy requires just discrmin-
alton and protection from fraud by specific duties,
when practicable whereby suitable encourage
ulent 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 power
to open and repair harbors and remove obstruc-
tiols from navigable rivers and 1t is eXpedient
that Congress shall exercise that power mhcncrcf
sh improvements accessory for tie de-
fence or for the protection cal facttuy of commerce
with foreign nations among the States; such i'm
provements being. In every instance, rational and
general in their character.
T. The Federal and State Governments are parts
of one system, alike necessary for the common
prosperity peace ard security, and ought to be
.rarled alike with cordial habitual, and irIrnov-
able attachment. Respect for the authority of
each, and ocoluiescence in the constitutional meas
ures OF each, duties required by the plainest
consideration OF national, OF State, and individual
Melfare.
8. The series of acts of the 31st Congress, COM
monty known as the Compromise or Adjustment,
(the act for the recovery ftugtives from labor III
cludci.) are received and acquesced N by the
Wings of the United States fna, settlement,
in principle and substance of the subjects 10 which
they rea te. and far these acts concerned,
we will maintain them, 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 oat the
requirements OF the Constitution, and deprecate
all further agitation Of the questions thus settled
as dangerous 10 our peace and will dlscoantenance
all effects to continue renew such agitation
whenever wherever or however made, and we
will maintain this settlement as essential to the
nationality OF the Whig party and the integrity of
the Union.