The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-15

RESOLVED, That the Independent Democrah
party is not organized for the purpose OF a sec
tiOnal warfare upon the constitutional rights
interests of any portion of the country; that w
are warmly attached to the Union and TN
Constitution of these United States that ou
efforts for the restriction and final overthrow
Slavery are dictated by sincere desire .
place our country and its Constitution in sucf
a position that we may, without the blush
shame. invoke for them the blessing Of HEAVIER
and the support and sympathy OF good men
and that in these efforts we intend TO meet ant
discharge our constitutional duties and obliga
tons
"ReS0iped That the platform OF principe '
adopted mt the National Convention OF lnde
pendent Democracy assembled at Buffalo 10
lS4S, and again at Pittsburgh in 1852, CONT
nues to receive our unqualified appreciation ano
support IL.
Resolved, That LibertN-to secure when u
ourselves and our posterity the Constitution
was framed and adOpted-is the great nation
al interest, to maintain defend, and promote
which, We may appeal to true. hearted mer
from every part of the country that slavery
local. sectional, and temporary, having no yalic
sanction in human legislation and that IL
seeking to protect our Government from being
usurped. controlled, and administered by the
slayeholding interest, we are practically carry
ing out the advice Of the Father OF his Country
and adopting the only course which can be
pursued to render our institutions and Govern
ment stable and perpetual.
/ Resolved That we continue to regard the
act of Congress known as the Fugitive Slave
Law with the deepest adherence, and our CON
victiOns that it is as clearly beyond the pale OF
the Constitution as it is beyond the sanction OF
all right legislation are convictions which we
expressed at the period Of It's enactment and
/ which have been only strengthened by Gil SUD-
seduent reflection that the time has now fully
come when a decent respect to the opinions OF
a large and intelligent portion OF our fellow
citizens demands of the Judiciary OF the Gov
eminent that not only the question OF the con-
stitutionality of this law but If the whole rela-
ton Of the Federal Government to the institu
ton Of Slavery, be re-examined and settled, not
upon the authority of precedent, but upon the
original and fundamental principles of natural
and constitutional law.
"ReSOiUed, That upon questions affecting the
internal policy Of this State, we continue to az
firm the doctrines of previous Conventions and
hence we maintain that a wise and true policy
demands that the constant care of the State be
directed to the passage Of laws which shall &C.
cure equal rights and privileges to all its citi-
zens and the right of trial by jury to all, with
out regard to color or condition to encourage
the diffusion of general education among all the
people to promote the interests of agriculture,
and especially by the establishment of schools
and colleges devoted to agricultural science,
and by encouraging the conversion Of all lease
hold estates into estates in fee to hasten de-
gelopment Of all the resources Of the State, by
fostering q wise and prudent system of inter-
nal improvements; to provide for the preserva-
ton of the public morals, and the right of each
citizen to be secure from the vices of every other
citizen; to reduce taxation and crime by proper
and stringent legislation, directed against the
causes of taxation and crime and, finally, to
attach to the soil of the State those who may
be born upon it, by recognising in all its policy
the high destiny to which n gracious Providence
has maniiestly invited it, to become the first
among the States of the earth"
The resolutions were supported in an able
and eloquent speech, by Hon. John p. Hale of
New York after which they were taken up,
soverally, and the preamble and first resolution
were unanimously adopted.
]. b. King, of Otsego, moved to strike out the
reference to the Buffalo platform, in the second
resolution.
The motion was debated by Messrs King,
Hale, Roberta, and others, and then lost
The second, third, and fourth resolutions
were then unanimously adopted.
MIR Hutchina, of OnOndaga, moved TO recon-
nit the fifth resolution, with instructions to re-
port, in more distinct terms, an approval Of and
demand for the Maine Law.
81 L.,
by Messrs. Cuyler, Sprague, Salisbury, King
and others; after which the motion was lost
and the resolution, as originally reported, wa
adopted.
Mr.. Sprague, of st. Lawrence, then oficre,
an original resolution, that the principle of tn
Maine Law be adopted IA district measure O
the independent Democracy of the State o
New York.
Mr. Cuyler, of Wayne, prepared an amend
mcnt, to the effect that no person be nominate,
to any office by this Convention, not known t.
be sound upon this question.
These propositions also elected much discus
sion, in which it was insisted on the one han,
that the demand of the times was the unequiy
ocal avowal of the Milne Law by the indie
pendent Democracy; and on the other, tina
such demand was sufficiently mot in the resolu
tons already adopted. AT length, on motiei
of Mr.. Hale, of New York, the resolution ant
amendment were laid upon the table.
Hon. Gerrit Smith was then introduced t,
the Convention, by Mr.. Hale, in a few appro
pirate remarks; to which Mr.. Smith happily
but briefly responded
On motion, the Chairman appointed the fol
lowing gentlemen State Central Committee
Lyman Clary, Robert X. Raymond, E. l.
| a A L a ~
daga ID X Frost, of Madison; Samuel d
Porter, of Monroe r. II. Spencer, of Oswego
and f.. A. Stansbury, of New York
Mr.. Fogg of Monroe, offered the iollowin,
resolution:
Resolued, That this Convention hail will
pleasure the establishment of the DAILY ant
Weekly Chronicle in this central city Of tn,
State and we cheerfully commend it to the In
dependent Democracy of New York, as an I'D
vocate of our views and measures"
Several members thereupon demanded tn
insertion of other FREQ Democratic journals
and, discussion ensuing, the resolution was lost
Mr. Snow, of Madison explained the pun
pose of the resolution, and moved that the vot
of rejection be reconsdered. Carried
Mr. Snow then moved the adoption Of th
following resolution as substitute; wdch wa
UNANIMOUSLY adopted:
"ResolUed, That this Convention hail wit
satisfaction the establishment Of the Dd,i
Chronicle in this city being the first daily pape
devoted to the Free Democracy published in tn
State, rs cheering evidence that agitation
not to cease and we hail it as welcome nd
ditlon to the number of able advocates of on
cause in the Empire State"
The Committee on Nominations by Mr. Fogg
their Chairman made the following report
which was unanimously adopted:
Secretary Of State-Charles BaSedgwick, 0
Onondaga,
ComPtroiler-Seth M. Gates, of Wyoming
Attorney Generdt-John Jay Of New York
Ireasurer-Nathan Soulc, of Onondaga
Canal ommissiOner-Charles G. Case.
Prison inSpeetor-Horacc Boardman, of Gin
ton.
Engineer-Silas Cornell, of Monroe