Washington telegraph., 1852-08-18
THE WE3sG PLATFORM.

The Wings of the United States. in convention
assembled firmly adhering to the great conserva-
tive republican principles by which they are cor
trolled and governed, and now, as ever, relying
upon the intelligence of the American people
with an abiding confidence in their capacity br
self government and their continued devotion to
the Constitution and the Union do proclaim the
following as the political sentiments and &eternl-
nations for the establishment and maintenance OF
which their national organization party IS ef-
fected:
l. The government of the United States is of a
limited character and it is cophned by the exercise
of powers expressly granted by the Constitution
and such as may be necessary and proper for car
rying the granted powers into fuli execution, and
that all powers not thus granted necessarily I'M
piled are expressly reserved to the States respec-
lively and to the people.
2 The State governments should be held secure
in their reserved rights, and the General Govern
ment sustained in its constitutional powers, and
the Union should be revered and watched over as
"the palladium of our libertieso
3. That while struggling freedom, everywhere
enlists the warrlcst sympathy of the Wing party
we still adhere to the doctrines of the Father OF
his Country as announced in his Farewell Ad-
dress of keeping ourselves free from all entangIng
alliances with foreign countries, and ofnever quit
ting our own to stand upon foreign ground. That
our mission as Republic is not to propagate our
government by artifce or force, but to teach by
example, and show by our success, moderation,
and Justice, the blessings OF seli-goFeTnment and
the advantages of free institutions.
A. 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 VIII
enforce from foreign powers.
s. Government should be conducted upon prn-
cples of the strictest economy, and revenue sut-
fcent for the expenses thereof in time OF peace.
ought to be mainly derived from a duty on i'm
ports and not from direct taxes; and in levying
such duties sound policy requires a just discrimn-
alton and protection from fraud by specific duties,
when practicable, whereby suitable encourage
ment may be assured to American industry equal
ly to all classes and to all portions of the country
g. The Constitution vests in Congress the power
to open and repair harbors. and remove Obstruc-
tions from nayigable rivers; and it is expcdient
that Congress shall exercise that power rheaerer
such improvements accessory for the de-
fence or for the protection and facility of
with foreign nations or among the States such I'M
provements being in every instance, national and
general in their character.
T. The Federal and State Governments are parts
of one system, alike necessary for the common
prosperity, peace and security, and ought to be
garded alike with cordial, habitual, and immov
ablo attachment Respect for the authority of
each and acquiescence in the constitutional meas
ures of each are duties required by the plainest
consideration of NATIONAL of State, and individual
welfare.
8. The series of acts of the 31st Congress COM
monty known as the Compromise or Adjustment,
he act for the recovery fugitivcs from labor in
cluded) are received and acquesced in by the
Wings of the United States final settlement,
in principle and substance of the subjects to which
they relate and, so far these acts concerned
we will maintain them, and insist on their strict
enforcement until time and experience shall de-
monstrate the necessity of further legislation to
guard against the evasion of the laws on the one
hand. and abuse of their powers on the other not
impairing their present efficiency to carry out the
requirements of the Constitution, and deprecate
all further agitation Of the questions thus settled
as dangerous to peace, and will discountenance
all effects 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 party and the integrity Of
the Union.