Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-02-27
THE WING PLATFORM.
ADOPTED AT BALTl MORE. JUNE s, 1862


The Wings Of tn e United States, in
Convention assemble I'd, firmly adhering to
the great conservati, e republican princi-
Piles by which they arr controlled and gov
erned, and now. as ever, relying upon the
intelligence of the American people, with
an abiding confidence in their capacity for
sefgoyernment and their continued devo-
ton to the Constitution and the Union,
do proclaim the following as the political
sentiments and dete rminathons, for the
establishment and maintenance Of which
their national organization as party is
effected:
/. The Government of the United States
is of limited character, and 1T is confined
to the exercise of powers expressly granted
necessary and proper for carrying the
granted powers into full execution, all d
that all powers not thus granted or neces-
sarily implied are expressly reserved TO
the States respe ctively and TO the people.
III. The State, Governments should be
held secure in their reserved rights, and
the General Government sustained in its
constitutional powers, and the Union
should be reveTed and watched over as
" the palladium of our liberties"
iii. 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, as
announced in ibis Farewell Address, Of
keeping oursely es free from all entangling
alliances with foreign countries, and of
never quitting o ur own to stand upon for
eign ground. THAT our mission as a Re-
public is not to propagate our opinions,
or impose OH OF her countries our form OF
government, by artifice or force, but TO
teach by example, and show by our sue
cess, moderatio n, and justice, the bless
ings of selfgo, eminent and the adyan-
tages Of free int 'titutions.
Nv. That VIII, re the people make and
control the Gov ernment, they should obey
its constitution, laws, and treaties, as they
would retain their self-respect, and the re-
spect which they claim and will enforce
from foreign powers.
V. Goyernm ent should be conducted
upon principles Of the strictest economy,
and revenue efficient for the expenses
thereof, in time of peace, ought 10 be
mainly derived from duty on imports,
and not from rect taxes; and, in levying
such duties, so und policy requires a Just
discrimination and protection from fraud
by specific duties, when practicable,
whereby suitab le encouragement may be
assured to Am erican industry, equally to
all classes and 10 all portions Of the coun-
try.
vi. The Go Institution vests in Congress
The power to open and repair harbors, and
remove obstru ctions from navigable rivers
and il is expedient that Congress shall ex-
ercise that power whenever such improve
menfs are necessary for the common defence
or for the pro lection and facility of com
mercc with foreign nations or among the
States such Improvements being, in every
instance, national aud general in their
character.
VII. The Federal and State Govern
ments are parts Of one system, alike ne
cessary for the common prosperity, peace,
and security, and ought to he regarded
alike with a cordial, habitual, and immova-
BILE attachment. Respect for the authority
Of each, and acqniescence in the constitu-
tional measures of each, are duties re-
CURED by the plainest considerations OF
National, Of Sta tie, and individual welfare.
VIII. The s,ries Of acts of the 3lst
Congress, commonly known as the Com
promise or Adjustment, (the act for the
recovery Of fugit ives from labor included, }
are received and acquiesced in by the
Wings ofthe United States as final set
Element in primo iple and substance, of the
| subjects 10 which they relate and so far