Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-06-11
Democratic Platform,
ADOPTED BY THE BALTIMORE CONVENTION


their trust in the intelligence, the patriotism, and
the discriminating justice of the American pco.
pie.
= sResolped, That we regard this as distinc.
tive feature Of our political creed, which We are
proud to maintain before the world as the great
moral element in form of government spring
ing from and upheld by the popular will; and
we contrast it with the creed and of federalism,
under whatever name or form, which seeks to
palsy the will of the constituent, and conceiyes
no mposture too monstrous for the popular ere
dulity.
"Pesolpea, therefore, That, entertaining these
views the democratic party of this Union, through
their delegates assembled in general convention
of the States, coming together in spirit Of con-
cord, of devotion to the doctrines and faith OF
free representative government, and appealing
to their fellowcitizens for the rec.itude of their
intentions, renew and reassert before the Ameri-
can people the declarations of principles avowed
by them when, on former occasions, in general
convention, they presented their candidates for
the popular suffrage:
u. That the federal government is one OF linn
tied powers, derived solely from the constitution
and the grants of power shown therein ought to
be strictly construed by all the departments and
agents of government and that it is iaexpcndi-
ent and dangerous to exercise doubtful consttu-
tonal powers.
So That the constitution does not confer
upon the general government the power to com
mence and carry on general system OF internal
Improvements.
''3 That the constitution does not confer au
thority upon the federal government directly to
assume the debts of the several States contrac-
ted for local internal improvements or other State
purposes; nor would such assumption be just and
expedient.
20 That Justice and sound policy forbid the
federal government to foster one branch Of indus
try to the detriment of another or to cherish
the interest of one portion to the injury of anoth-
er portion of our common country; that every
citizeA, and every section Of the country, has
right To demand and insist upon and equality of
nights and privileges and complete and ample
protection of persons and property from domes-
tic violence or foreign aggressions.
"5. That it is the duty of every branch of the
government to enforce and practice the most
rigid economy in conducting our public affairs,
and that no more revenue ought to be raised
than is required to defray the necessary expenses
of the government and for gradual but certain
extinction of the public debt.
! "6. That Congress has no power to charter
national bank; that we believe such an institu
ton one Of deadly hostility to the best interests
Of the country, dangerous to our republican In
stitutions and liberties Of the people, and cacu-
lated to place the business Of the country within
the control of a concentrated money power, and
above the laws and theswi Of the people; aud
the results of democratic legislation, in this and
all other financial measures upon which issues
have been made between the two political par
! ties of the country, have demonstrated to can
did and practical men of all parties, their sound
ness, safety and utility in all business pur-
suits.
81. That the separation of the moneys of the
government from banking institutions is inds-
pensable for the safety Of the funds Of the gov
ernment and the rights of the people.
g.. That the liberal principles embodied by
Jefferson in the Declaration Of Independence,
and sanctioned in the constitution, which makes
our the land ofliberty and the asylum Of the op
pressed of every nation have ever been cardinal
principles in the dcmocrad,ic faith: and every at
tempt to abridge the privilege of becoming cti
zcns and the owners Of soil among us ought to
be resisted with the same spirit which swept
the alien and sedtion laws from our statute
books.
80 That Congress has no power under the
constitution to interfere with or control the do
mestic institutions of the several States, and that
such states are the sole proper judges of every
thing appertainng to their own affairs, not pro-
hibted by the constitution; that all effort of the
abolitiop;,ts or others made to induce Congress
to in:efere with questions Of slavery or to take
inciient steps in relation thereto are calculated
to lead to the most alarming and dangerous con-
sequences; and that all such efforts have an inc
vitable the tndency to diminish the happiness of
the people and endanger the stability and perma
nency of the Union, and ought not to be counte-
nanced by any friend of our political institu-
tions.
Resolved, That the foregoing proposition COW
ers and was intended to embrace the whole sub
iect of the slavery agitation in Congress- and
therefore the democratic party of the Union. STAN
ding on this national platform, will abide by
and adhere to the faithful execution of the acts
known as the compromise measures settled by
the last Congress- the act for returning fugtives