Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-06-16
The Democratic Platform.

This document may be found on our fourth page,
and every reader can Judge of it for himself. II
contains good deal of the humbuggery s clap-trap
unusually found in such emanations; some vague
generalites to swell out the paper ana give it an
imposing appearance, to which every body will
readily assent; and some few ineligible and ex-
plict resolutions, all of which, however, are not
distinctly Democratic in their character.
The platform processes to be based on the intel
ligehce and patriotism of the people. Very well,
the Constitution places all parties on that ground,
and it is best to make virtue of necessity. The
declaration that this is peculiar feature in the
Democratic creed, is not sustained by the past his
tory of that party or by its recent acts.
The general government, it is asserted, has no
power to commence and carry on general sys-
ten of internal improvements" The inference
then is that it may finish general system already
underway, and commence and carry on'' partic-
ular improvements not yet begun. Every State,
City and neighborhood interested in any enter
prise of the kind, will of course be persuaded by
the Democracy that its scheme is not precluded by
this resolution.
The resolutions intended to cover the tariff
question amount to nothing at all. Southern free
trade men will interpret them to suit their views
and Pennsylvania, New jersey and New England
tariff Democrats will explain them as not at all
hostile to Their cherisheJ, interests.
On the subject of national bank the platform
is very plain and decided. 1t stabs the defunc,
monster in vital part,and yapours over the corpse
in admirable style. A similar scence was exhibit
ed many years ago on the field of Shrewsbury
when Fastaff thrust his sword into the body of the
dead Percy, and looked to be an earl or duke fol
| his prowess.
The resolutions relating to the Compromise and
slavery agitation are at first sight all that could be
desired. The great wonder is how they came to
be adopted by a Convention largely composed Of
Freesoilers and Secessionists. But the New York
Post, the organ of the Freesoil Democracy insists
that they were not really adopted by the Conven-
ton. Three-fourths of the members, it says, had
left the room, and ''not more than dozen of the
rest knew what was doing" "Something was
read which no body heard'-'the ayes in that
fragment ola Convention, just in the hustle OF
breaking up, were more numerous than the noes,
and the President declared the resolutions adopted
ga platform made in this MANNER" says the Post,
''does not even deserve the name of farce" A
correspondent of that paper, who was member Of
the Convention, says, moreover, "1he attempt To
declare the Compromise measures a. tinatity, or
part of the Constitution, Interchangeable and sacred
,cas not countenanced By the Contention for mo-
ment" The Post, however, supports the nomi-
nees while it repudiates the platform, and so its
party generally will probably do.
In reference to the public lands, the platform de-
clares against the distribution of the proceeds a
mongst all the States. But the land ITSELF may be
given away in any quantity to some of them. 1t
must be very consolng to the Virginia Democracy
burdeued with taxes, increased fifty per cent over
the last year, to learn that all relief from source
from which they may justly demand it, is denied
them.
As for some of the other items of the platform,
we give the running comments of the Richmond
WMg:
The adoption of the principles of the Declare
ton of Independence was certainly bright idea.
and gives very emphatic proof of the progressive
spirit of Democracy. The man who invented that
deserves gourd button by way of encouragement
for future efforts.
The late war with Mexico was very right
eous war but nothing is said in favor of the Rev
dictionary war and that of 1912 Whence 1t is
to be Inferred that neither of those great struggles
is favorite with the Democracy!
The last resolution is a paragon of unmeanlng
generalities. For the life of us we can extract
nothing from it. We suppose it was thrown In FOL
.'the rest of mankind"