Washington telegraph., 1852-06-30
To the People of the State
of Arkansas.


FELLow-cIrIzENs: "By the long established
usage and custom of the democratic party. conyen
tons nave become Incorporated as an importan
article in the democratic faith
In accordance with this custom, State Demo
cratic Convention was held in Little Rock on the
third day OF last month"; and that convention die
me the honor to nominate me as the democratic
candidate for the office of Governor of the State o
Arkansas, and have accepted the nomination
and am a candidate for that high and important
station
The convention adopted and reaflirmed the Ken.
lucky resolutions of 179S and the Virginia Iesoli-
tons of 1899, as far as they are applicable to TIE
rights of the States and the present condition o
the Federal Unlon;0 and also reaffirmed the reso-
lutions passed by the Democratic National Con-
vention at Baltimore in 1913. These resolutions
1 approve, as they embody the principles and pol
icy OF the democratic party of the United States
of which party am and ever have been an hum
BILE but consistent member
am uncompromlsingly ly opposed to the establish
ment of a national bank-to protective tariff
which taxes one portion of the people for the bene-
fit of another-to the distribution of the proceeds
of the public lands among the several States-to
the assumption, by the federal government of the
debts of the several States contracted for local in
ternal Improvements or other State purposes-to
the interference. by Congress, with the domestic
conceive not authorized by the constitution.
They are pernicious in their tendency. and found
their origin In a lattudinous construction of the
constitution.
am opposed to changing the constitution OF the
United States by taking from the President the
veto power, (which has thrice saved the Amcri-
can people from the corrupt and tyranncal domin-
alton of the Bank of the United Statesu
The constitution ought not to be violated by the
general system ofinterhal improvements; and
should works ofinternal improvement be conduct
ed and carried on by the federal government in
the States, conceive that federal authority is linn
tied by the constitution to such are clearly ma
tional and necessary.
| consider it indispensablv necessary for the
safety of the funds of the government and the rights
OF the people, that the moneys of the government
should Ee kept separate from banking institutions.
In conducting all our public affairs every branch
of the government should ''enforce and practice
the most rigid economy, and no more revenue
ought to be raised than is required to deray the
necessary expenses of the government" The
liberal principles embodied by Jefferson in the
Declaration of Independence and sanctioned in the
constitution, which makes ours the land of liberty
and the asylum of the oppressed of every nation,
have ever been cardinal principles in the demo-
cratic alth and every attempt to abTidge the pre-
sent privilege of becoming citizens and the owners
of soil among us, ought to be resisted with the
same spirit which swept the alien and seIition
laws from our statute books"
| AN in favor of 'the preservation of the general
government in its whole constitutional vigor, as
the sheet anchor of our peace at home and safety
abroad" and of 'the support of the State govern
ments in all their rights, as the most competent
administrations for domestic concerns. and the
surest bulwarks against antl-repubican tenden-
cies"
The powers of the federal government are de-
rived solely from and are limited by the constitu-
ton. The constitution declares that "The powers
not delegated to the United States by the consti-
tution nor prohibited by it to the States are re-
served to the States respectively or to the people"
hold to the preservation Of the constitution as
it is without departure from its letter or spirit and
that 1.-The grants of power shown therein ought to
be strictly construed by all the departments and
agents of the government. and that it is inexpedi-
ent and dangerous to exercise doubtful constt,l-
tlonal powers"
To the exercise of unconstitutional or doubtful
powers NAV be traced those serious discontents in
the minds of the people. which on several occa-
slons threatened to disturb the operations of the
government.
'Our government is not to be maintained" said
General jackson, "or our Union preserved by in
vason the right and powers of the several States
In thus attempting to make our general govern
ment strong, we make it weak. Its true strength
consists in leaving individuals and States as much
as possible to Themselves in making itself felt not
in It's power but its benefcence-not in its control,
but in its rrotection-not in binding the States
more closely to the center, but leaving each to
move no5structed, in its proper orbit" To per-
petuate the Union and insure justice and domestic
peace and tranquility should strictly adhere to
the constitution and guard with ceaseess vigilance
against the insidious and dangerous doctrine of i'm
pcation and construction, lest by construing into
the constitution" and exercising powers not dele
gated, the federal government should become a
great political vortex. and swallow up the rights
of the States and the.liberties of the people.
In one portion of this conlederacy there exists
dark and baeful spirit of lanaticism which seeks
to rob the southern States of their constitutional
rights and its chief votaries when reminded OF
their obligations under the constitution and of the
fact that 1.-The several States the sole and pro-
per Judges of everything appertainng to their own
affairs, not prohibited by the constitutions, not
ly disregard the constitutional hts of the south
but boldly declare that there is a higher law than
the constitution"
The southern States should not slumber on their
constitutional rights but ought to be one in senti-
ment in maintaining then1-One in sentiment in
condemning and repudiating any candidate for the
Presidency other station. who holds political
fellowship with, or is under the control or influence
of any band of fanatics who will not obey and
support the constitution and laws.
We should venerate the wisdom our sages. and
when we find wholesome maXims recorded and
left by them as and-marks to guide our footsteps
in the path peace, liberty and safety let us mark
well their import, profit by them and hesitate
long before we change the rule OF action and line
of policy which they recommend. Their maxims
have borne the test of tme and under their policy
our coniederacy has prospered, and 'the area OF
freedom has been extended from ocean to ocean,
and ShOud the federal government contine IFS ac-
ton to the powers delegated by the constitution
and not entrench on those reserved to the States
respectively, or to the people," and in the Ian
guage of Mr.. Jefferson, extend "equa and exact
Justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion
religious or POLITICAL and seek peace, commerce
and honest friendship with all nations, entanglng
alliances with none,D and in the language of Gen
Jackson task nothing but what is right. and SUBJ
NIT to nothing that is wrong;' and for our own