The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-12-08
TAc rext state Convention.


The Next state Convention.
We hope the call of the Central Commit |
Tee, will be promptly responded to, BY eve-
" township in the county. The next Dem
eeratic State Convention will be one Of
more than ordinary interest and importance.
Twenty three Presidential Electors are to |
be chosen, and the appointment of State
Central Committee is to be made, in addition
to the ordinary business Of nominating can
didates for State Offices.
Another consideration, 10 that Of adopting
platform. This is no new thing, it is true.
The principles Of our party change not, and
the leading planks in our platform, are the
same a. in the days Of Jefferson and Jack
con. But each year in the progress Of our
government, there arise new exigencies,
causing intense excitement, bringing into
life new parties, arraying one section OF
che country against another, aRd at times,
even threatning the very existence Of the
government itself. On such occasions,
men are in danger Of mistaking prejudice
for principle,aud wild impulse, for the die
tatea Of sound judgment. 1t is wise there
fore, to 60 back to first principles, and ap.
ply them to the exigencies Of the hour. 1t
% also necessary. to place particular EN-.
phasis upon those articles Of our creed
which require an immediate and rigid appli-
0ation. 5 .-
For instance, the doctrine of Popular
Sovereignty, ID a. old as the government and
IL the irs. and most important article in our
political faith. Nov, while questions re-
lating to the institutions of Kansas, are pen
ding, when powerful sbolition party at the
North, and powerful pro-slavery party at
the South, are each violating this well set
tied principle OF the constitution, and at
tempting to wrest he4right Of self-govern.
ment, from the people Of the Territories.
and when disorder and even civil war, are
the legitimate fruits Of that violation, it is
proper that the Democratic party, the only
constitutional and conservative party in the
Union, should come forward and reiterate
IN bold and emphatic.language, the declara-
ton, that oil power Of government is derived
from the consent Of the people governed,
(. end that the people Of every State and ter
sitory, have the right to regulate their own
domestic affairs. without Congressional in
reference, and that Congress has no
tight In the admission of new States, to set
up any tests, that were no, applied to the
original thirteen which formed the constitu-
ton" Jf
Again, Civil and Religious Freedom and
political Equality, are the very foundation
stones, Of the government. They have been
cherished in the heart Of every genuine
Democrat, since 1he formation of the party.
But nov, when. IN organization has been
formed for the purpose Of putting down re-
hgious liberty sad political equality. when
the black banner of prescription is raised
and men begin the work Of persecution,
when in every nook and corner of the land,
midnight councils are in session, when false
hood ID taught by the taking of damnable
oaths, when treachery is encouraged as a
cardinal virtBe, and treason to the spirit and
letter Of the constitution, is meditated and
the whole land is scotrged with . political
Pestilsnce, it is right, it 10 our duty, to come
eut, and reafirm, that civil. and religious lib
srty il the right Of ell men, and iii the
language of Washington, that the "bosom of
America is open to receive not only the H.
iustrious and respectable stranger, but the
down-trodden and oppressed of all nations,
and oil religions whom ve shall welcome TO
participation with NJ In ell our rights and
privileges"
30 with other features Of our creed
which The times and circumstances require
to be noticed by the convention. There is
but one course for the Democratic party to
pursue, and that is strGigh ahead, swerving
neither to the right or left, bending neither
to the North or the South. It is national
organization. and embraces the whole union
In its sphere. Let the convention then,
take : bold and manly stand. Let each
delegate and each member Of the party in
Ohio, bold to the great land MARKS which
tbe constitution has set up, and no eombi-
nation Of factions and isms, can triumph
over us. The Union sentiment is ye,
strong in the hearts Of the American peo-
pis.