Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-06-23
EVENING SESSION.

The Convention having been called to order,
MIR 4 shmun, Chairman of the Committee Oh Res
elutions, stated that he had been instructed by the
Committee to present report, which, after much
deliberaton, conducted with e kndest and most
conciliatory feelings, had been adopted with very
great although not entire unanimity.
Mr.. Ashmm then took position near the Pres
dent's chair and read the resolutions as follows:
PLATFORM OF PRINCIPLES.
The Wings of the United States,in Convention
assembled, adherng to the great conservative Re
public n principles by which they are controlled
anu governed, and now, as ever, relying upon the
intelligence of the American people, with an abid-
ing confidence in their capacity for self-govern-
ment, and their continued devotion to the Consti-
tuition and the Union, proclaim the following as
political sentiments and determination for the es-
adjustment and maintenance of which their ma
tional organization as party is effected:
/. The Government of the United States is ofa
limited character and it is confined to the exercise
of powers expressly granted by the Constitution,
and such as may be necessary and proper tor car
rying the granted powers into full execution, and
that all powers not thus granted or necessarily i'm
piled are expressly reserved to the States respect
lively and to the people.
2. The State governments should be held Sc
|
eminent sustained in its constitutional powers, and
the Union should be revered and watched over as
''the palladium of our liberties"
3. That while struggling freedom, everywhere,
enlists the warmest sympathy of the Wing party,
we still adhere to the doctrines of the Father OF
our Country as announced in his Farewell Ad-
dress of keeping ourselves free from all entangling
alliances with foreign countries and OF never quit
ting his own to stand upon foreign ground. That
our mission az Republic is not to propagate our
opinions, or impose other countries our form oil
government, by artifcc or force, but to teach by
example, and show by our success, moderation
and Justice, the blessings of self-government 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 land the respect which they claim and Will
enforce from foreign powers
s. Government should be conducted on prlncI-
pies of srictest economy and revenue sufficient for
the expenses thereof in time Of peace, ought to be
derived from duty on mposts, and not from d.
rect taxes and in laying such duties, sound policy
requires a just discrimination, whereby suitable
encouragement may be afforded to American In
dustry, equally to all classes and to all portions OF
the country.
g. The Constitution vests in Congress the pow
er to open and repair harbors, and 1t is eXpedlent
that Congress shoud,exerci its power to remove
distractions from navigable rivers, ,rhenerer suc.
Improvements are necessary for hc common dyenee
and for the protection and facility OF commerce
with foreign nations or among the States; said I'M
provements being, in every instance, national ana
general in their character.
7. The Federal and State governments are parts
of one system, alike necessary for the common pros
peritv, peace and security and ought to be regard
ed alike, with cordial, habitual and immovabe
attachment Respect for the authority OF each,
and acauiesce in the constitutional measures OF
each, are duties required by the planest conslde-
ratons of national, OF State, and OF Individual wei
fare. 81.
4 3 That the series Of Acts of the 3lst Congress,
tho Act known as the Fugitive Slave Law includ-
cd are received and acquiesced in by the wing
marty of the U. States as settlement In principle
and substance of the dangerous and exciting ques-
tons which they embrace, and so far as they arc
concerned we viii maintain them and insist upon
their strct enforcement until time and experience
shall demonstrate the necessity of further leglsla-
ton IN GUARD against evasion ct the laws on the
one hand and the abuse Of their powers on the
otber-not mpairing their present efficiency and
we deprecate all further agitation OF the questions
TINS settled as dangerous to our peaceand Will dis
couptenance all efforts to continue or renew such
agitation whenever, wherever or however the at
tempt may be made; and we will maintain u tins
systcm as essential to the Nationality Of the Wing
nartv and the integrity Of the Union.
= The resolutions as they were read, were sevc-
rallv received with demonstrations of applausee
pecially those relating to the Compromise meas
ures. 80, ., <>r, >,
There were loud cries Of "Choate," "Choate,"
and Mr. Rufus Choate, of Mass, rose and said he
did not clearly apprehend the exact terms Of the
last resolution, but he understood in general that
it affirmed the inality of the Compromise. He
thanked God that there was courage enough to
mass them. and condemned, the false philanthropy
and fanaticsm Of the day, and expatiated general
" on the subject of Compromise, and then asked
why should we hesitateto declare in our judgmen'
that those measures shall remain permanent ad