The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1852-07-09
THE OFFICIAL PLATFORM OF THE
WHIG NATIONAL CONVENTION.

| WHlG NATIONAL CONNENIION.
As there were some verbal inaccuracies in
the report of the Wing Platform, which we
published in our paper of the 25th June, we
annex the official copy, as adopted by the
Convention:
The wings of the U. States in Convention
assembled, firmly adhering to the great con-
servative republican principles by which they
are controlled and governed, and now as ever,
relying upon the intelligence of the Ameri-
can people, with an abiding confidence in their
capacity for selfgOvernment, and their con-
tinued devotion to the Constitution and the
Union, do proclaim the following as the poll
teal sentiments and determinations for the
establishment and maintenance of which their
national {. o.ganization as a party is effected:
! FIRST The Government of the United
States is Ola iimitsd character, and il is con-
fined to the exercise of powers expressly
granted by the Constitution, and such as may
be necessary and proper for carrying the
granted powers into full execution; and that
all powers not thus granted, or necessarily
implied, are expressly reserved to the States
respectively, and TO the people.
Second The State Governments should be
held secure in their reserved rights, and the
General Government sustained in its consti-
tutional powers; and the Union should be re-
vered and watched over as the palladium of
our liberties
Third-That while struggling freedom ev-
cry where enlists the warmest sympathy of
the Wing party, we still adhere to the doc
trines of the Father of his Country as an
nouEced in his Farewell Address, of keeping
ourselves free from all entangling alliances
with foreign countries, and of never quitting
our own to stand upon foreign ground. That
our mission as q Republic, is not to propa-
gate our opinions or to impose on other coun-
tries our form Of government by artihce or
force, but to teach by example, and to show
by our success, moderation and justice, the
blessings of self-govemment, and the advan-
tages of free institutions
Fonrth.-That where the people make and
control the Government, they should obey its
Constitution, laws, and treaties, as they would
retain their self.respect and the respect which
they claim and will enforce from foreign pow
ers.
FyM.-Government should be conducted
upon principles of strictest economy, and re-
venue sufficient for the expenses thereof in
time ofpeace, ought to mainly be derived from
duty on imports, not from direct taxes; and
in levying such duties, sound pol cy requires
a just discrimination and protection from fraud
by specific duties, when practicable, whereby
suitable encouragement may be assured to
American industry, equally to all classes, and
to all portions of the country.
Sirth. The Constitution vestsin Congress
the power TO apcs and riFs-ir knrbSrs, and re-
move distractions from nayigable rivers aid
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 commerce with for
eign nations, or among the States such inn
provements being, in every instance, national
and general in their character.
Seventh. The Federal and State Govern
ments are parts of one system, alike necessa-
ry for the common prosperity, peace and Sc
curity, and ought to be regarded alike with
cordial, habitual and immOvable attachment.
Respect for the authority of each; and ac-
quiescence in the constitutional measures of
each, arc duties required by the plancst con-
sderations of national, of State, and of indi-
vidual welfare
Eighth.- The series of acts of the 3lst
Congress, commonly known as the Compro-
mise OF Adjustment, 0he act for the recovery
of Fugitives from labor included,) are received
and acquiesced in by the wings of the United
States, as final settlement, in principle and
substance, of the subjects to which they re-
late, and, so far as these acts are concerned,
we will maintain them, and insist on their
strict enforcement until time and experience
shall demonstrate the necessity of further le-
ois atinn N rruard ofrnrnc ct tho ayosinn nf tho
laws on the one hand, and the abuse of their
powers on the other, not imparng their pre-
sent efficiency, Ito carry out the requirements
of the Constitution,) and we deprecate all
further agitation of the questions thus settled
as dangerous to our peace, and will discoun-
tenance all efforts to continue or renew such
agitation whenever, wherever, or however
made; and we will maintain this settlement as
essential to the Nationality of the Wing par
ty, and the integrity of the Union.