Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-07-01
PROCEEDINGS OF THE WING
NATIONAL CONVENTION.
hiDAi; Juhc &c.
EVENING SESSION.


EVENING SESSION.
The convention was called TO order at the
hour appointed.
Mr.. Ashmun, of Massachusetts,. rose and stat
ed that he was instructed to report from the
committee on resolutions. After much deibcru-
ton, conducted with great kindness and cordial 70
lty of feeling, he was pleased to say that the re-
port had been adopted with great unanimity. 90
lie proposed to read it and did so, as follows -
TIE PLATFORM.
The Wings of the United States, in Conven-
ton assembled, ndhering to the great conscrya
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, proclaim the fol-
lowing political sentiments and determination
for the establishment and maintenance of which
their national organization as a party is effected
/. The government of the United States is
of a limited character, and is confined to the cx-
ercise of powers expressly granted by the Con
stitutlon, and such as may be necessary and
proper for carrying the granted powers into full
execution, and that all powers not thus gran
ted or necessarily implied are expressly reserved
to the States respectively and to the people.
2 The State governments should be held Sc
cure ia their reserved rights, and the General
Government sustained in its constitutional pow
ers and the Union should be revered and watch.
ed over as &" the palladium of our liberties"
g. That while struggling freedom, every
where, enlists the warmest sympathy of the
wing party, we still adhere to the doctrines Of
the Father of his country, as announced in hi.
Farewell Address, of keeping ourselves free
from all entangllng alliances with foreign coun
tries, and of never quitting our own to stand up
on foreign ground. That our mission as n Re
public Is not to propagate our opinions, or i'm
pose upon other countries our form of govern
ment, by artlhce or force, but to teach by exam
pie and show by our success. moderation ant
justice, the blessings of self government, ans
the advantages Of free institutions.
4. That where the people make and contro
the government, they should obey its consttu
ton, laws aud treaties, as they would retain thei
self respect, and the respect which the will clam
and enforce from foreign powers.
D. Government should be conducted on pinci
pies Of strictest economy, and revenue, sutiicien
for the expenses thereof, in time of peace, ough
to be derived from duty on imposs, aud no
from direct taxes and in LAYING such dute.
sund policy requires Just discrimination, where
by suitable encouragement may be afforded {,
American industry, equally to all classes and t.
all portions OF the country.
u. The constitution vests IN Congress the pow
err to open and repair harbols. and it is expedi
ent that Congress should exercise its power t.
remove distractions from navigable rivers, when
ever such improvements are necessary for N,
common defense, and for the protection and facii
ty of commerce with foreign nations or among
the States sand improvements being, IN every
in-tance, national and general in their charac.
ter.
Z. The Federal and State Governments arc
parts Of one system, alike necessary for the com
mon prosperity, peace and security, and ough
to be regarded al ko with a cordial, habtual and
lmmovable attachment Respect for the author
ity Of each, and acquiescence IN the constitution
al measures Of each, are duties required by the
/ plainest consideration Of national, of State, ana
OF individual welfare.
&. That the series Of acts of the 3lst Con
/ gress the act known as the fugitive slave law
included are received and acquicsced in by the
wings of the United States, as a settlement, IL
substance and principle, of the dangerous and
exciting questions which they embrace, and 50
far as they are concerned, we viii maintain then
and insist upon their strict enforcement, until
time and experience shall demonstrate the ne
cessity of further legislation to guard against the
evasion Of the laws on the one hand, and the d.
base of their powers on the othor-not npairine
their present efficiency; and we deprccute oil
further agitation Of the questions thus settled, a,
dangerous to our peace, and viii discounteuance
all eholts TO continue or renew such agitation
whenever, lrhsreuer hotcerer the attempt may b,
made and we viii maintain this system as Is
sentiai to the nationality Of The Uh,g pariy ant
the integrity Of the Union.
As soon as the resolutionsi were read, Mr.
Choate rose and said that he thanked God tina
he had at length seen IN this assembly an ex
preston Of sentiment approved, for which he haC
commended, sometimes under adverse circumstan
ces, in old Faneuil Hall.
lie rcjolced that the subject of slavery was q
be excluded from the political affairs ofthe coun
try hereafter. He said that the whole system O
politics is but = compromises shadow of gooi
things to come. The harmony of the universe
itself Is but a compromise
lie referred most appropriately to the reconcil
iation Of the Roman tribes under Romulus. whel
they went forth 10 conquer the world In alud
ing TO the name of Daniel Webster, it was re
celyed with great applause. He said the Dem
ocratlc Convention had left them no alternatiy,
but to adopt the compromise.
They had covered over a multitude Of sin.
with the broad mantle of nationality. And thu
nationality must be adopted by this convention
or the wing party would be scattered to th
winds, and swallowed up.
lie remarked That II the two great parties
would agree that the whole subject matter O
slavery slavery should be omitted from their can
vass, harmony aud peace would prevail as it la.
never done before.
Mr.. Anderson, Of Ohio, after some personal al
lusons, stated that he opposed the PLATFORM
lie arrived at this conclusion by reasoning diff
ierent from all those which he had heard II,
objected to any effort to bolster up law by sucl
means as were here resorted to-
AT the same time he expressed his abhorenc
OF abolitlonlsm, and one of his principle obiec
tons to the law was that 1t was not strong e
nough to carry back all the fugitive slaves, an
tree ne 5roes and abolitionists with them A
the same time he thought this movement like tn
boys putting chip on their hats and daring eac
other to knock it off. Not only that, it was rub
bmg it in.
lie spoke at length, and frankly set forth III
reasons for his objection The constitution wa
a sufficient platform. He despised the idea q
platform originating, as it did, with Messn
Chase, Nanburen, Giddings and others at Buffalo
lie thought the platform was a mere trick, 90
up to trap that distinguished hero and patric
who has ever been the friend of his country, i
peace and IN war. Applause
lie would, were he in his place, were the te
commandments presented to him, refuse to TAX
the test, presented as they would be by thos
who had no authority to offer it.
Mr. Bolts, Of Va, did not rise 10 discuss III
platform 1t suited him in every particular. II
was National wing, and came here prepare