Washington telegraph., 1852-09-01
THE xVHKG PLATFORM.

e. The Wings of the United States. in convention
assembled firmly adhering to the great conserva-
tive republican principles by which they are con-
trolled and governed, and now, as ever, relying
rpon the intelligence of the American people,
with an abiding confidence in their capacity for
self government, and their continued devotion to
the Constitution and the Union, do proclaim the
following as the political sentiments and Geterm-
nations for the establishment and maintenance OF
which their national organization as party Is ell
fected:
II The government of the United States is of a
l;n;ted character and IT is confined 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 full execution, and
that all powers not thus granted or necessarily nm
piled are expressly reserved to the States respec
lively and to the people.
.. The State governments should he 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
othe palladium of our Ghertics."
Ai g. That while struggling freedom, everywhere,
enlists the warmest sympathy OF the w ing 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 al! changing
alliances with foreign countries, and ofn2ver quit
ting our own to stand upon foreign ground. That
our mission as Republic is not to propagate our
opinions or impose on other countries our form OF
government, by artifce force but to teach by
example and show by our success, moderation,
and Justice the blessings of seli-governmenti and
the advantages Of free institutions.
d. 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 powers.
S Government should be conducted upon prin-
cip!es of the strictest economy, and revenue suf-
r. e., h., in jr1p ot
ought to be mainly derived from duty on in-
ports and not from direct taxes; and III levylng
such duties sound policy requires just dlscrlmln-
alton and protection from trand by specfc duties,
when practicable, whereby suitable encourage
ment may be assured to American industry, equal
ly to all classes anil to all portions of the country.
6. The Constitution vests in Congress the power
TO open and repair harbors and remove obstruc-
tions from nayigable rivers; and it is exped!ent
that Congress shall exercise that power WieneUe-
such improvements are necessary for the de-
fence or for the protection and facility of commerce
with foreign nations among the States such I'M
provements being in every instance, national and
general in their character.
7. The Federal and State Governmentsare parts
of one system, alike necessary for the common
Drosperity peace and security, and ought to be re-
garded alike with cordial, habitual, and immov-
able attachment. Respect for the authority of
each and acquescence In the constitutional meas
consideration of national, of State, and individual
Melfare.
s. The series of acts of the 31st Congress, COM
monty known as the Compromise or Adjustment,
the act for the recovery of tugtives from labor in
cluded.) are received and acqalesced in by the
Wings of the United States as 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
endorsements 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
mI,airing their present efficiency to carry out the
requirements of the Constitution, and deprecate
all further agitation of the questions thus settled,
as dangerous to our peace, and will discountenance
all effects to continue or renew such agitation,
whenever, wherever or however made, and we
will maintain this settlement essential to the
nationality OF the Whig party and the integrity Of
the Union.