The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-09-06
Congressional Convention.

se- Congressional Convention.
The delegates representing the Democ-
rscy Of the I7lh Congressional District ol
Ohio, met in Convention in Barnesville,
ISept. I. 1854, and organized by appoint.
ling Gen. C. HOOVER, Of Belmont. Pres
1ident; JOHN STEWARD. OF Monroe, WIN
HILLYER, Of Noble, and N. KENNoN, oi
Guernsey. Vice Presidents; and N. H
Grows, of Belmont. Horace HOLLAND, ol
Monroe, and WIN. Tracy, of Noble, Sec
retares.
On motion committee Of four, to con.
sst of one from each county. was appoint.
ed by the Chairman to draft resolutions
expressive of the sentiments Of the De-
mocracy OF This District. The committee
consisted of S. M. HowEY, of Belmont,
FRANCIS CREIGHTON. of Guernsey, JABEz
BEDFORD, Of Noble, and JOHN w. HARRIS,
Of Monroe.
The committee in due time reported by
their Chairman, S. NJ. HowEY, the follow.
ing resolutions. which, after being discuss
sed were unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That the Democracy OF this
Congressional District have undiminished d
confidence in the integrity, wisdom and
patriotism of our present chief magistrate,
FRANKLIN PIERCE; that his answering de.
votion to the Constitution and the Union
his unfinching determination to enforce
the laws Of the United States-his vigilant
guardianship over the rights ofour citizens
a thome and abro oad; his faithful adherence
10 democratic principles aud measures, all
command our respect and merit our warm.
est appreciation.
Resolped, That in our present Repre-
sentative in Congress, the Hon. WILSON
SHANNON. we have also undiminished con-
tidence; that his open. manly. anti-section-
al course on the great Nebraska question
entities him 10 our sincere thanks; that
with such Representative our rights will
always be safe; that. though his enemies
may traduce his character and impugn his
motives, their malignant shafts will fall
harmless at his feet, being protected by
the Ryis Of the Con siitutiOn. and sustain
ed by an intelligent and patriotic con-
stituency.
Resolved. That inasmuch as the Con
sti,u,ion guarantees tn each and every State
the right to manage its own domestic con-
Germs and regulate its own domestic insti-
tuiions in its own way.-therefore any
legislation on the part Of Congress, which
would initiate against this right, however
indirectly or remotely, should be sednlous-
ly guarded against. 5-ses
Resolred, That with the Father Of his
country we deprecate the formation OF
political parties by geographical lines. as
dangerous to the peace. stability and per-
petuity of the Union; that no North-no
South-no East-no West, politically
speaking, should be recognized; that, in
the language of that venerable sage. we
should .'frown indignantly upon every at
tempt TO ALLEVIATE any portion OF our coun.
try from the rest, or 10 enfeeble the sacred
ties which now link together the various
parts"
Resolved. That the present crisis affords
to the Democracy glorious opportunity
OF demonstrating their fidelity TO the Con.
stitution and their appreciation Of the pa
lriotc admonition OF the iar-seeing Wash
lington. by arraying themselves in solid
phalanx against The traitorous designs ol
isunionists, and to thwart their insane
schemes tor alternating one portion OF the
confederacy from the other by sectional
issues and geographical distinctions.
Resolred, That Congress has no power
to legislate on slavery. either in States OF
\ Territories. (as no grant of such power is
found in the Constitution. That we con-
slider the passage OF the Nebraska bill a
final adjustment Of this vexed question, as
II declares il to be s.the true intent and
meaning OF this act not to legislate slave.
~ into any territory orState, orio exclude
it thereirom. but TO leave the people per-
fectly free to form and regulate their do
mestic institutions in their own way. sub.
lject only to the Constitution Of the United
States"
RESOLVED, That the safety and perpetu.
ay of the Union, depend. in great meas.
ure, on an adherence TO this doctrine oil
..non-inierven,ion" Of Congress inthe do
mestic affairs OF States or Territories
That we disapproye OF any further agita-
ton ol the subject as fraught with evil, and
will resist ell efforts Of factionisis or fu.
sionists to procure the s'repeal Of the re.
i
1 Resolued, That this Convention recog-
nize no higher .av, in governmental policy
than the Constitution Of the United States.
and repudiaie all loose and Unauthorized
constructions Of that sacred instrumen.
which declares. that 1.-THE powers not dele
gated to the United States by the Consti
tuition. nor prohibited by il 10 the States
are reserved to the States respectively OF
to the people," and that ..the citizens oi
each State shall be entitled to all the priv.
ileges and immunities of citizens of the
several States
Resolped, That il behooves the Democ-
rscy of this District-taking the Constitu
lion for their guide--to stand firm in de.
Ience Of the measures intended 10 carry
out its provisions and restore it to lis prim-
tive simplicity. as understood in the days
Of Jefferson, Madison and Monroe. before
blus light federalism, with its handmade
aboliiionism, had garbled and perverted j,
to suit their sectional. anti democratic pur.
poses. . ..=ss