Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-11-01
NUMBER 24.
sesoiutions Passed by the Democracy
at Vine cennes


at Vincennes.
oar readers are already aware that large
AMI enthusiastic meeting Of the Democracy
Of Southern Indiana, was held a. Vincennes
onthe 18th inst. The following are the res
olntiohs adopted at that meeting; ther being
Ilie same as those adopted BY the State Dem
eeratic Convention Of Kentucky, at Lexing
t'f, and the Illinois State Convention. al Chi
ea4o. They breathe the right spirit and we
commend them to the careful pernsal Of cur
readers:
l. Resoloed, That The Constitution az tho
United States is political contract between
the people of independents sovereignties.
winch bestowS paramount authority 10 the
extent OF tho powers delegated, but leaves
those not delegated, to the States respective
" or to the people; that a vigilant guard
against the Capitalization ofthe reserved now.
ers Is essential TO the preservation of our in
stitntions, and that Congress has no rixhtfiii
authority to establish, abolish or prohibit sls.
very - the States or Ierlit..ric-
:. Resotped, That we re-affirm the tir1o-
honored principles of the Democracy, and be-
heNe that the only sure guarantee for the pub
nc tranquility Is by a slrict adherence to the
provisions of the Constitution and bv non-iu-
terventlot upon the subject Of slavery. applv-
ihg alike TO the States and Territories. oh
served IN the passage OF the ComproniSe
measures OF 1880, anc confirmed in the kan
sis and Nebraska act, the corollary Of the for
mer measure, by which Congress have de-
clared that il is their "true intent aud mean.
ing not to legislate slavery into any State or
Territory nor 10 exclude it therefrom. but "a
Leave the people thereof perfectly free 10 form
and regulate their domestic institutions in
their own way, subject 10 the Constitution OF
the United States;" and that we do pledre
ourselves TO maintain and execute the Com
promises of 1850 including the Fugitive
Slave Law, and the Kansas and Nebraska
Act Of 1854, as we held that they arc sise
and Just measures and shoyd remain undis
turbed for the preservation Of the national
peace, and the urion of the States.
3. Resolre5, That the Constitution of tho
United States is founded upon the funda.
mental principle Of entire and absolute equal
ity aInoLg all the States of this Uuion' and
it Is competent for the Congress or any other
power to impose upon new States coming
into the Union any condition or restriction in
respect to their domestic institutions or inter-
nal concerns which the Federal Constitution
has not imposed upon the original States; aud
that any effort on the part of Congress or any
power to violate this principle, should be met
and resisted by all good good citizeus, As ar
attempt to trample upon the Constitution AID
destroy our Union.
4. ResoIUed, That all men have natural
right antecedent to the formation of civil
society, and beyond the control of govern
mcnt, TO religious freedom, the surrender of
which is not necessary to the temporal well
fare Of the State and canDot be relinquished
even by the consent Of the citizen, in free
government; that much less can any mere
party or faction regulate that right by any
party compact, against his consent without
violating this cardinal principle, and the spirit
of our constitution, our lave, and our tree
government; and that the civil rights, privi-
leges or capacities Of any citizen should in no
wise be diminished OF enlarged on account Of
his religion.
D. Hesolved, That We dO.nCt recognize any
distinction among citizens of tie United
States based upon the aristociatic principle cf
birth, and we hold that il is dishonest 70 re-
pudiate the contract given by the govern
ment comforting all the rights of American
citizenship in IFS letters of naturalization,
and afterwards by a party compact to debaE
naturalized citizens from the full benefits
while we leave them subject TO the full bur
thens Of the agreement
6. Resolrea. That the open discussion Of
public affairs is the foundation OF tho intelli-
gence of the people and the safeguard of
freedom; that any secret association or broth
erhool for political objects is dangerous 20
free institutions, destructive Of social conf
dence, and contrary to the frank and manly
character Of a true American.
:. Resolcsi, That we conceive these princi-
pies vital for the maintenance OF the Con-
stituiion and the integrity of the Union, aud
that we invoke all patriotic citizens. irrespec-
tive of party opinions, 10 unite with us for
the precervaii0n Of the inestimahle blessings
Of civil and religions liberty.