New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-07
THE BALTIMORE PLATFORM.

lelegIdpnsi nave wrought anu are SlllI
working mementous revolutions. Each
cycle has its victory greater than Waterloo.
The world of Mind sympathizes with that
of Matter. Hence Mankind are wiser,
more enlightened, than they were thirty,
twenty, or even five years ago. Millions
are unlearning old errors, are learning new
truths-(new to them, though old as the
universe)-so that you could hardly sug-
gest better test of anignoramus than his
believing and thinking on all subjects just
as his father and grandfather did. Move
ment is the test of Life, and to lie in cold
obstruction is Death.
The self-styled Democracy of this
country has held five or six delegated Ma
tional Conventions at Baltimore, at inter-
walls of four years respectively, and has
passed substantially the following series of
Resolves at three or four of them. We
have already printed them as set forth by
former Conventions; but here is the YER
sion of 1852:
EEsoLurIoSs OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL con-
NJ yENTIoN.
v Resored, That the American Democracy place their
trust in the Intelligence the patriotism, and the dscrm-
| mating justice Of the American People
Rtsoired, That regard this distinctive feature
Of our political creed which we proud to maintain
before the world, the great moral element In form
OF government sprDging from and upheld by the popu
lar will and we contrast with the creed and practice
| of Federalism under whatever nams form, which
seeks to PALSY the will OF the constituent and which
ceives no mposure too monstrous for the popular
| duly.
is the foregoing true Do you, reader no
matter of what party, find the party which puts
forth this declaration evincing any such dis
tinctye" trust in the popular intelligence,
patriotism and discrimination as is here boosted
Do YOU find them more willing than the Wings to
have both sides fairly presented to the People
and verdict rendered accordingly! Do you
really believe that South Carolina or Arkansas re-
poses proiounder trust in the intelligence and
| justice Of the masses than Vermont or Tennessee
does! Have you found the Wings particularly
| prone to monstrous impostures and experiments
on the popular credulity If not, what do you
think of the modesty, the courtesy the vemcty
Of the foregoing resolutions But let us pro-
| coed:
ResOired, therefore, That, entertaining these views
the Democratic party OF this Union through their Dele
gates assembled in General Convention Of the States
coming together In spirit of concord of devotion the
doctrines and faith Of free representative govern
nent and appealing to their fellow citzt for the
itude Of their intentions and redsser before the
American people the declarations OF principles avowed
by them when former occasions in General COnven.
on they presented their candidates for the popular
suffTsees.
l. That the FEDERAL Government Is one of limited
powers, derived solely from the Constitution and the
grants Of power made therein ought to be strictly con-
sued by all the departments and agents OF the Govern
ment and that it is nexpedient and dangerous to
else doubtful constitutional powers
We should have more patience with such
generalities as these if il were not notorious that
nearly every exercise Of doubtful constitutional
powers" has been the work of this same self |
righteous, strictly constituting Democracy Mr.. |
Jefferson the father OF the school Of strict con-
struction, yet he bought Louisiana of Napoleon, |
frankly admitting that the act had no warrant |
whatever in the Constitution. The absolute and |
unlimited Embargo, which soon followed was a
sweeping act of exceedingly doubtful constitutions
atty. The National Bank Of 1916 was chartered
by the Democracy, opposed by large majority of
the Federalists. The arbitrary removal by Gen.
Jackson of the Secretary of the Treasury in order
to wrest the Public Deposits from their law.pre-
l
inherent right in the President to place the Pub
lie Moneys wherever he saw fit, were clamorousy
applauded by the Democracy The Annexation
of Texas to our country by mere Joint Resolu-
tion Of Congress, in violation of treaties and at the
imminent hazard Of a war, was sustained by that
Democracy, though there is not syllable in the
Constitution to jdstify such acquisition, unless
by the most roundabout and dubious construction.
In the face of such facts-and these are but sam
ple-how nauseOus this Pharisaical cant about the
inexpediency of doing what the Democracy
never yet failed to do when anything was to be
made by ii Whenever war; rapne, aggression,
destruction is the game, Democracy is no stick
Ter; but talk ofIntenal improvement, encourage
ment to Industry, the promotion OF Arts and
Sciences, or anything in the way of Bene6ccnce,
aud Democracy Is parayzed by its fear OF trans
cendipg the Constitution.
. That the Constitution does not confer upon the l.
General Government the power 10 and cary
on a general system OF Internal Improvements.
Well, does it authorize Congress to prosecute
special works Of improvement or any works at
all ? Surely, if Congress may do any hing in the
premises, II should be something ge1lerai-that is,
calculated TO benefit all sections of the country.
Do you mean to cOntroyert this or what DO you
mean
?. That the Constitution does not confer authority
upon tie Federal Government directly OF indirectly.
10 assume The debts Of the several States contracted
for local Internal improvements, other State pur-
poses; nor would such assumption be just exPedieat
We'll, what party ever ssid it would be
4 That justice and round police forbid the Federal
Government 10 foster one branch of Industry y the Diet
I'M ent Of any ether, 70 cherish tie interests Of
ore portion to the Injury o. another portion OF our
common county; that every citizen, cGd every
section OF the country has night 70 dem nd aud
nsist upon an equality Of rights and privileges. ud to
OmPete and ample protection OF persons and prooe rty
rom dcmett TIC violence or foreign aggression
is not this most sneaking and cowardly reso.
luton Who ever maintained that Congress bas \
o. fiat & IL. 1 "a