Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-04-07
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7,ls5e,
DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES u PLATFORMS.

newspaper, or listened 10 The haranSues vi
Democratic orators, has not seen and heard
he Wing party denounced as party des-
:itu.e of principles and the Democracy laud-
I'd as the only true National party Ac-
cording to Locofoco testimony there is no
such thing as Wing party while Democ-
cacy Is. welded together in "unity Of spirit
and the bond of peace" We have even
heard 1t asserted that there is no one prin-
2iple upon which Wings in every portion
If the Confederacy are united. In view of
these frequent and wholesale denunciations
Of the Wing party, let US examine for amo-
nent the claim which Democracy asserts
20 immutsble principles and national organ
cation.
For this purpose, we invite attention to
he string of resolutions passed by the late
Richmond Convention, and dubbed pat
form. This platform is said to be an en-
cellent platform-oEe of the very best plat
forms ever constructeG-and is endorsed
as such by the Richmond Enquirer. 1t is
an extensive platform, "broad enough to
hold not only the Democracy Of Virginia,
but of the whole Union - and yet we VEN
ture to say, not single man Of the numer-
Gus aspirants forthe Presidency in that party
can stand upon it without slipping through,
Let Us see:
The first resolution re-afirms the worn
out resolutions of $780," which, as eve
ry body knows, mean any thing, every
thing or nothing at all. According to our
understanding of them we can stand very
comfortably on that plank in the Richmond
platform ourselves and so doubtless can
all men of all parties. They are monstrous
plant and convenient material and hence
We find them used up in every DEM
ocratic platform that has been erected since
their passage. CAss, DOUGLASS, BUCHAN-
AN, &c., &C., may all heartily endorse the
resolutions of9S-99," and yet differ as
widely as the poles, in their Interpretation
Of the document.
In the second resolution, however, it is
declared ''That Congress has no power to
appropriate directly or indirectly the pro-
ceeds Of the sales Of the public lands, or to
grant directly or indirectly, the public lands
to the purposes of internal Improvement"
This is a comprehensive resolve, and GER
tainly constitutes pretty broad plank IN
the platform. But is it broad enough to
hold CASS, DOUGLASS and a host Of others
in the Western States? 1t is well known
that many of the most prominent men In
the party, have voted both directly and IN
directly in favor of internal improvement
by the general government; and yetwe find
the Virginia Democracy declaring war a.
gainst the principle and announcing with
all the impudence imaginable that "the De-
mocracy of the whole Union can stand
along side of them.
The third resolution denounces with pc
culiar rim, specific duties and the princi-
pie of protection, while JAMES BUCHANAN,
the favorite of Virginia Democracy, with
almost the entire party in his State is known
20 favor discriminating Tariff We be-
iieye he voted for the tariff of 1912. Com.
Stockton, too in his late Trenton speech
lvows the doctrine of protection above board
nd says protective Tariff has always been
democratic measure" in New Jersey
So it is in all the manufacturing States.-
And yet this anti-Tarif plank in the Vir-
gnia platform is "broad enough to hold the
Democracy Of the whole Union p
The fourth resolution declares that "the
Federal Government ought to adhere. in
:heir foreign policy to the maxims inculca-
led by the Father of his Country" Can
Gen. CAss aud Judge DOUGLASS endorse
thise Can any one recognize in the fill
clustering harrangues of these gentlemen at
The KossuTH banquets, any traces Of de-
yotion to this Democratic % principle , any
SAVIOR Of the sentiments Of WASHINGTON
These are the resolutions promulgated by
ne Virginia Democracy as embodying the
principles of the party in addition to which
She Baltimore platforms of 1874 and 1913
are re-af6rmed--ds FIR as applicable 10 The
present condition of the cOunt,y-that is to
say. to suit the convenience of every body.
Now we defy any body to point out one
single principle set forth in these resolutions,
apon which the so-called Democratic parry
ere united, and in reference to which the
prominent candidates for the Presidency
are not at direct variance! And yet should
either of them get the nomination of the
Baltimore Convention, these patriotic plat
form builders will throw up their hats, waste
oceans of ink and weaken their lungs in eff
forts to promote his election. In the eighth
resolution it is declared that ''the vote of
the State in the Baltimore Convention,
ought to be gwen for such candidate as
will command the greatest strength in the
Democratic party throughout the Union,
and whose principles are Known to conform
most strictly to the Democratic Republican
faith" .Availabihty is the prime consider
alton principles but a secondary NATTER
In this resolution it is distinctly admitted
hat none Of the prominent candidates for
The Presidency square up eracliy to'the