Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-04-26
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

The Resolutions adopted by the late Democratic
State Convention embody the principles of the party
in so clear and full manner that one can mis-
apprehend misinterplet them.
The first Resolution reiterates the old doctrine of
rigid construction of the Constitution and the
result of such construction opposition to National
Bank, to Tariff for protection, and advocacy of a
Tariff for revenue of the Independent Treasury and
of economy in the public expenditures Ground is
also taken for carly payment of the public debt.
Large public debts the characteristics of monar
chjes and despotisms and it behooVes free people
to guard constantly against them.
These, then, the great lights, the landmarks
of Democracy, which have been followed by all true
Republicans from the days of Jefferson until now.
They were guides to jackson, and Polk, We have
the best reasons for believing they will be to Prcs
dent Pierce during his administration.
The Sc -ond Resolution expresses deserved conf
dence in President Pierce; and the third boldly ap
proves the Nebraska and Kansas bill, and tenders to
Senator Douglas and other members of Congress
from non-slaveholding States the thanks of the Con-
venon for their manly patriotic and national course
on this question. How different this from the Ian
grlage of the late Wing Convention That body did
not even refer to the Nebraska bl-it had no words
of cheer or commentator for Senator Badger Mr.
Kerr who have staked themselves upon and for it );
all we had was bare alusion to and approval of the
doctrine of non-interventon; and thus it was Con-
vention of Shareholders, the representatives of
Shareholders evaded issue SO important in its
consequences to the people of the State. Whggery,
party counselled this evasion and party alone was
consulted and obeyedl
The fourth and fifth Resolutions declare the old
and wel-setted doctrine that the public lands ought
to be held as a fund and disposed of for the
common benefit of all--first in the payment of the
public debt, and then in defraying the expenses of
the government, as to reduce the tariftaxes on
articles of prime necessity. It also declares that
that "any disposition of thescand for the sole
and exclusive benefit of any of the States would
be unjust and unconstitutional. We regard these
Resolutions as entirely sound and satisfactory; but
we have hesitation in saying that, as Democrat
and strict constructionist could have gone furth
err We are ready to protest against all measures
looking the distribution of the public lands among
either individuals States whether in the way OF
hornesteads gifts, for the benefit of the insane. If
Congress can provide homestead" free farms for
free men, it can provide them with horses and
ploughs to cultivate these farms; if it take care
by donations of the lands of the insane of the diff
erent States it also control other matters per
tanning to the internal police and regulations of the
Congress Of the United States, if it would consult
the real interests of the people, should extend pro-
lection to all and grant special favors to none; al
ways bearing in mind that the Constitution pre-
scrbes the limits of its powers and that there is
safety in the exercise of even doubtful powers. Let
the lands remain where they are, in the hands of
the government, to be managed as prudent pro-
pretor" would his own lands for the common bene-
fit of all Let the public debt be paid-let the
val force of the country be increased-let the tariff
articles of prime necessity Gncludng iron for the
farmer the mechanic, and for railroads) be reduced
and then, without looking to the aceumulationsof a
surplus in the treasury, but striving honestly against
it. if it should accumulate beyond the just and fair
wants of government, let it be deposited with the
States done during the administration OF Gen.
Jackson This, we at the same time confess, would
be an evil to which we would come only in the last
resorfor desire to the States kept as far as
possible from the appearance of dependence on
the federal centre; yet between the evil of an inn
mense surplus at Washington City, to tempt to ex-
ravagance and corruption and to be ready means
Of still further exalting and of giving oyershadowing
splendor to the general government and that of its
return restoration to the States out of the pockets
of whose people it had been drawn, we shonld GER
talnly choose the latter-especially such policy
has become, as were, precedent in the legislation
OF the country, and had the sanction of Gen. Jack
son and of all the members of the General Assem-
Oily OF this State one at the time twas adopted
The slrth Resolution is tribute fresh from the
Democratic heart to the administration of David S:
held, and to the man himself tribute as honora-ss
BILE to those who rendered as to him who received it.
The first Democratic Governor under the new Con-
sututlon, actuated in all he has done by sincere
desire to advance the interests of the whole State
and knowing party little as tits possible for any
party man to know it so far as State administration
and State affairs concerned, he5will retire from
MS post with as large measure of the public con-
Hoence as was ever enjoyed by any Executive wheth-
CT under the present or the old Constitution. The
resolution does him more than justice and the
applause with which it crested by the delegates
VI the Democracy was the best evidence that the
Committee, in framing it, had responded most truly
ner sympathies and expectations
, The secenth Resolution re-afirms the devotion of
uie Democracy, and indeed of the masses of the
to the great principle of Free Suffrage which,
4'ush defeated in the last Assembly by combine
"n OF federal members and by the opposition to it
VI Democratic member is Incapable of annihilation,
0 aNqt be incorporated in the State Constitution:
=. 4e Resolution breathes dissemination which will
Ssph over all obstacles, all difficulties, all preten
advocacy or friendship, come from what quar-