The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-09-02
RESOLUTIONS OF THE TENNESSEE DEMOCRACY

RESOLUTIONS OF THE TENNESSEE DEMOCRACY
The only open enemies Of the constitution of the United
States those who unable to explain away its njunc-
lions desperately repudate and dsobey its obligations
Bot there Others Who while affecting to be controlled
by its provisions and to acknowledge its guarantees have
adopted creed and from which have sprung as
from fountain of bitter waters unnumbered evils to that
safeguard of public and private rights. There is no
party which enlists any considerable number of cit
zens indeed that does not make at least profession of
solicude for the constitution portion of its platform
but there are many belonging certain organizations who
unconsciousy follow the lead of those public and
reckless spirits who would undermine and destroy
that constitution because it is the formidable barrier
sgainst fanaticism and civil commotion.
Hence, it is of lasting importance to the general
welfare, now and in time to come that parties should
be judged by their deeds, and not by their words
by the harmony of their doctrines and the unity
of their actions, all degrees of latitude and in
every State Of the Union 1t this virtue which gives to
national platform its significance and its strength and
il is the absence Of this virtue which renders all attempts
TO fashion national platform upon the lettering ounda
lions of ausion Of crude ideas and personal ambitions
nently and always failure.
Platforms become realities and not rhapsodes in such
state Of things and the nolitical organization which
able to stand strong upon the solid and substantial
groundwork of the constitution of the United States
which is ready to cope in every State with the and
the open enemies of that instrument and is willing to &C
cpt all the duties and all the sacrifices of such position
such organization becomes essential the existence
and to the vigorous operation of the constitution that
sacred instrument to the vigorous operation of the
ment itself And such organization is the democratic
party.
At no time since the constitution launched into
beingnot when the Articles of Confederation sup
piled feeble aud Intellectual bond of union 1.-THE result of
years of intense discussion and excitement haye the
American people been profoundly interested in the
recognition Of those great principles which, in the hands
of wise men, produced she system of compromise
upon which our liberties depend. The evil which
induced the colonies to appeal to The omnpo
tence Of Paramenof that proud and arrogant Parlia-
ment which, instead Of trial by jury and the habeas
pus erected admiralty courts in England to try Amer-
cans for offences charged against them committed in
England instead of the privileges Of Magma Charta null
lifted the charter itself of Massachusetts, Bay shut up the
port of Boston, sent armies and navies to keep the
and teach the colonies that Hampden rebel and AL
gernon Sydney tratorn While therefore, the colonies
needed some system of their own by which to maintain
themselves unit against heir foes and to build up free
and equal nation capable alike to protect itself and per-
petuae its example to after times it became important
that they should not erect government which might be-
great consolidated evil in the future, closely
sembling the despotsm from which they seeking
escape To the rights of the States that the
people might not be interrupted In their local govern
ments, and might Be l free TO gorcrn themselves in their
ray according 10 the spirit Of The Declaration Of In
dependence and to yield just enough of their rights,
in equal proportion Mat anton might be formed
for Tie protection Of all against the foreign enemy and for
such general objects might be necessary all the States
and get impossible to be accomplished unless BY such union
from these great principles sprung the constitution which
holds together with bond of brotherhood and circles
almost world with its just and compromises
and its wise adaptations to all conditions Of But
this constitution not consummated without great and
trying tolls and ribulatons the part of those who
framed it, The questions that vexed then.
The domestic institutions of the South and other points of
difference agtaed this day occasioned earnest socude
and dangerous conflicts; but the who framed that in
sFument did pause Of faltcr until their work
compished. Washington presided the convention
which gave this constitution and around his incarnate
and lustrious example, like stars that wait upon the sum-
though lost in his brliiancy, others only less
distinguished for great deeds and sesacr6cng patriot
ism.
To show how tho constitution perfected, in what
spirit and with what sacrifices the following testimony
Of the Hon. Theodore Frenghuysen, of New Jersey,
Whose identity with strong anti-savery sentiment is
shown by his language is most important and opportune
II is from recent Grafton of Mr.. Frclnghuysen:
'When the constitution OF the United States under
sdvissmen by the law of naonz slave escaping to free
country became free. The saveholding States unw
ling form union upon the basis of that international law
between independent States They proposed TO the free
States if you wish to unite with and thus form peo
pie bonds than by the law of nations then
this of fugitive slave be modified that shall
the right to reclaim in your State that
have in any county State Our orethers agreed
to this modification and the thirteen colonies
adopted it, and thus left slavery domestic institution in all
the States where it excited.
This is the political state Of the question, and
therefore, disturb IT, Al great moral and social
evil 1t open to free consideration and debate all
other matters pertaining 20 moral duty; but politically
agreed TO where found it, and that with the
ssvehodng States with all its responsibilities. The whole
case Is with them.
gravely momentous subject encompassed By per-
peyn difficulties cali for debsra and cAndor and
good temper And than this invokes afrcsh the
cherished feelings that formed thu American
constitution, which has long and ilusousy shown
how much N human wisdom and forecast and how much
Dors Of divine bengu crowned this arst great experiment