Washington telegraph., 1852-08-11
THE WING PLATFORM.

The Wings of the United States. in convention
assembled firmly adhering to the great conscrva-
tive republican principles by which they are con-
trolled and governed, and now as ever, relying
upon the intelligence of the American people
with an abiding confidence in their capacity fol
self government and their continued devotion to
the Constitution and the Union. do proclaim the
following as the political sentiments and eeterm-
nations for the establishment and maintenance OF
which their national organization a party is eff
tected:
|. The government of the United States is of a
limited 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 necessarily jm
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 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
his Country. announced in his Farewell Ad-
dress OF keeping ourselves free FROM all ertang!ing
alliances with foreign countries, and oinever 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 Selgovernment; and
the advantages of free institutions.
4. 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-
ciples of the strictest economy, and revenue suf-
fcient for the expenses thereof, in time of peace,
ought to he mainly derived from a duty on i'm
ports and not from direct taxes: and in evying
such duties sound policy requires just discrimin-
alton and protection from fraud by specific duties
when practicable, whereby suitable encoura ge-
ment may be assured to American industry. equal
ly to all classes and to all portions of the country
6. The Constitution vests in Congress the power
to open and repair harbors and remove Obstruc-
tions from navigable rivers; and it is expedient
that Congress shall exercise that power uhcncrc
such improvements necessary for the de-
fence for the protection aud facility of commerce
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, habttal. and inmov.
able attachment. Respect for the authority Of
each, and acqueScence IN the constitutional meas
ures of each, are duties required by the plaines
consideration of national, of State and individual
welfare
g. The series of acts of the 3st Congress. COM
monty known as the Compromise OF Adjustment
(the act for the recovery OF iugitves from labor in
cuded.) are received and acquiesccd in by the
Wings of the United States as final settlement
in principle and substance, OF the subjects to which
they relate, and, far these acts concerned
>ye will maintain them and insist on their 81 ric
enforcement, until time and experience shall dc.
monstrate the necessity of further legislation tc
guard against the evasion of the laws on the one
hand, and abuse of their powers on the other, moi
irnpairng their present efficiency to carry out the
requirements of the Constitution, and we deprecatc
all further agitation of the questions thus settled
as dangerous to our peace, and will discountenanco
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 Whig party and the integrity o
the Union.