The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-07-06
The American Platform.

llon the Platform adopted by the American Party.
! 1t meets with our warm disappro6aIion; because
lis formation is mystery. and lis various con-
sIruc'ions and motives, well the proposers of
the several clauses, entirely unknown because
II subverls State rights, and overrides the Cons-
tuition.
1t is provided in the Constitution 1" ;ha, each
House shall keep journal Of its proceedings, and
from time TO time publish The same, excepting such
parts may require secresy," which lauer is n
known applies 10 our relations with foreign govern
ments, and in contemplation Of state OF war. No
one can understand properly the CenslituIon Of
the United States who does take the Drbale in
the Conventions that formed and adopted it, and
know what interests suggested different clauses
and why they were rei'cied accepted. Pub
I'cl'y OF proceedings in matters Of political prnci
pies has been sacredy preserved and adhered 10,
with the single exception Of the famous Hartford,
! CONVENTION. until III. formation Of this Order in
| Massachusetts. Even the party caucuses, which
have always been regarded with much OdIum
! IN this Stale, convened but for the purpose IF
nominating candidates, were much less objection
able than this for discussing and adopting prlnci-
pies. A majority does not give the party the right
!" " PIC ~ -"crtsY in its deliberations no more
| than 1t gives 1t the TgH -L.;a, o,,, o,b,r
guarantee of civil and religious liberty: EI9iI
Conventions assuming the deliberate for the public
good, violates a fundamental principle Of r"pUbI
canism when it conceals its proceedings from the
people,. If they act rulers, ihen the ruled should
know what action taken and what Influences
were brought 10 bear. II but representatives,
then their published proceedings should be equally
required. For instance: 1t is declared in he
Platform " that the Union is the great paramount
political good, and The primary Object OF patriotic
desire,' and il also pledges those who endorse it
TO suppress all gcograp phica discrimination, or the
belief that there n real difference Of interests and
views beta cen the different sections.
.IoI thoo .,IIF.
political good" or the "primary object of patriotic
desire.'' This is new doctrine for South Caro-
lima. Our Haynes, McDufie, Cahouns, and
| others of more recent anecrdents, have been IN
he habit of crying out "Libery first, Union alter
wards " and the doctrine of nuIlifying uncon-
stitutional act, regarded essential 10 liberty
| Now hear it proclaimed that the judiciary
! power OF the United States only legally ex-
| pound and ascertain in all doubtful disputed
points, and corollarv :his, "a habit of revcr
entia obedience TO the laws, whether national,
! (how fond some becoming of the work, State
or Municipal, until they are repealed or declared
unconstitutional by the proper aurhorirIes." This
"habt of reverential obedience" is mast danger
Gus one, particularly at his time. There is
storm gathering at the North that must disrupt the
! Union, and no resolving the '' Jnion the grea.
paramount good" can save it, unless the South
| embrace this dangerous doctrine Of " revcreDal
obedience" and submits, or take their stand by the
Democracy of Georgia fully resolved TO maintain
their constitutional rights, dIsruPtit. The doc.
trne Of States rights is based upon the fate that
the General and State Governments are co-ordi.
nate, and that g the General Government is not
made the final Judge OF the powers Delegated to it,
since that would make its discretion, and not the
Constitution, the measure Of its powers
This is the States right doctrine of Mr.. Calhoun;
and that South Carolina is noX going to abandon
it to embrace Mr.. Webster's consolidated theory,
we can not believe. Mr.. Calhoun, in his Disqui.
sition on The Constitution, says, all reliance on the
judiciary for protection, under The most favorable
view that can be taken, must, in the end, prove
vain and iusory. Again, in The resolutions offer
ed by him in the Senate Of the United States, he |
lays down The following. We earnestly beg every |
States right TO read it and compare it with The
American Platform:
"That the General Government Mt is not made !
the final judge of The powers delegated TO it, since
that would make lis discretion. and not the Con |!
stirution, The measure Of its powers but that,
in all other cases Of compact amongst sovereign |
pares without any common Judge, each has an
equal right to Judge for itself, well OF the in /
fraction as of the mode and measure Of redress' |
Now, the other hand, let compare with !
this the resolution offered at The same time by Mr..
Webster, 10 oppose those OF Mr. CaIhoun's:
THAT there is supreme law, consisting OF the
Constitution OF the United States, acts Of Congress
passed in pursuance of it, and treaties and that,
10 cases not capahIe of assuming the character Of
a suit IN law equity, Congress must Judge OF it,
and finally interpret this supreme law, often as
1t has occasion to pass acts Of legslatloD and in
cases pabIe Of assuming, and actually assuming,
The character oc a suit the Supreme Court Of the
United States is the final interpreter"
1t will be seen that this resolution, like the A.
merican Platform, submits all disputed points TO
the General Government. with this difference, that
while Mr.. Webster submits points to the Ju-
dcial power, and others to Congress the Plat.
form submits them all TO the Judicial. Let those
who look with favor this platform, reflect well
before they determine TO abondon the time hon.
ored principles OF their State and immortal States
man, to embrace those Of Mr.. Webster, the cham
pon Of consolidation. 1t may be said that they
are pledged to full recognition Of the rights Of
the several States but let it be remembered that
Mr.. Webster and Alexander Hamilton always
prnfessed 10 respect the rights Of the States, bu
like this PLATFORM entertained views that subverted
them.
We object to the platform again. because it
over rides The Constitution. Mr. Madison, in the {
"FederaI)st," speaking Of the qualifications of vo-
ters for Representatives, says: Under these rea-
sonable limitations, the door of this part of the
Federal Government is open 10 merit OF every
description, whether native adopted, whether
old or young, and without regard TO poverty or
wealth, TO any particular profession OF religious
faith. In reference to a religious test the Con.
stitu,ion says: But no religious test shall ever