Washington sentinel., 1855-02-18
From the Hartford Times.
The Democratic Convention.

The Democratic State Convention met at
New Haven, Connecticut, on Wednesday, Feb
ruary IA. The rain poured in torrents all day,
and still there were nearly or quite three hun
dred delegates present-the vote for Governor
showing two hundred and eighty-one votes, at
time when several committees were on duty.
There were undoubtedly three hundred dele
gates in the hall and committee rooms at the
time. The Convention was composed of intel
ligent men-the old and true Democrats who
never swerve from the principles of that great
party which has sustained our country in war
and peace more than half o century-and sus-
tanned it, too, against the worst of factions and
powerful moneyed combinations, backed by the
Federal National Republican." "Whig,"
Abolition" and other political combinations.
The President of the Convention remarked that
it was one of the largest delegated conventions
he had ever attended during the past thirty
years. 1t was harmonious in its action; and
the platform of principles which it has estab
lished is sound, and will rally the men of sound
principles in its support. Faction and secret,
intolerant organizations, must be short-lived.
The principles Of Democracy will be sustained
by the people.
Mr.. Hamersley, from the Committee on Re
solutions, presented the following
RESOLUTIONS.
Resolyed, That the strict adherance of the
President of the United States, to those great
principles of constitutional government which
have received the entire sanction Of the Demo
racy Of the Union, and the checks which he
has interposed upon Legislation at war with
those principles, by his vetoes Of the Insane
Land Bill, and the River and Harbor Bill, as.
sure US that under his administration the coun
try will be secure from any inroads upon that
Constitution, which is the written bond uniting
thirty-one sovereign States and on the strict
construction Of which depends the harmonious
existence Of our confederated system.
Resolced, That the power of Congress over
the Territories Of the United States, should be
only employed to such an extent as the necessi-
ties Of the case may require, and for the equal
benefit of all the parties to the federal COM
pact, and that when any Territory, having the
requisite number of inhabitants, applies for
admission into the Union as sovereign State
she must, to be received as a co-eqal member
Of the family Of States be admitted with such
constitution as her people may ordain, provided
said constitution does not conflict with the or
ganic law Of the confederacy.
Resotred, That those just and equitable laws
providing for the naturalization OF those born
in other lands, established in accordance with
VIC PAihSipiCo Va thc oikuCfo vi Tue bcCidTdllOn
of Independence, and continued to this day
without any interruption, save that caused BY
the bigoted Federalists under the administra.
ton of John Adams, have contributed to the
growth Of this Republic, and to the faterniza-
tion Of its inhabitants; and that these laws are
essentially the part of that wise American policy
which, founded on comprehensive and phian-
thropic basis, has signaized our beloved
country as the home of the exile and oppressed,
and will make her as renowned for her power
and greatness, as she is distinguished for her
freedom and enterprise.
Resolred, That in order TO recognize in the
most solemn form the principles OF religious
freedom, the Constitution Of the United States
doth ordain that Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment Of religion, or
prohibit the free exercise thereof" and that
the various States have, almost without excep.
tion, incorporated some distinct acknowledg
ment of religious liberty into their several Con.
stitutions, and that thus religious freedom has
become by the action of the sovereign States,
and Of that General Government whose powers
are derived from those States, great AMERr-
CAN PRINCIPLE.
Resoired, That political parties organized
with the view of shutting out from all posts of
political trust the members of any religious de-
nomination, do virtually condemn that system
of religious liberty, which is American in its
character, bene6cent in its conception, and
which has greatly promoted the harmony and
happiness Of the people; and that all political
organizations, founded on hatred Of religious
creed, or prejudices Of birth, are alien to the
great ideas Of American Liberty and American
progress, and deserve the condemnation of
American Freemen,
Rcsolred, That while we would favor all laws
adapted to promote good order, temperance,
and social virtues, we hold TO the reform and
amendment of all enectments no matter what
their professed objects, which necessarily and
unreasonably invade the domestic hearth, and