Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-07-24
For TIE EhINFFff.
THE AMERICAN" PLATFORM.
mo. Al

nance of the union of these Cidted States was Il
paramount political good" publish tile following r.
principles of notion by which this paramount poll
| cal good is to be accomplished:
| 81. Opposition to oil attempts to weaken or su
vert it.
81 Uncompromisins antngonsm TO every prircip
of policy that endangcrs it.
-. The advocacy of an equitable adjustment Of 4
political differences which threaten its integrity
| pcrpctuity.
IL. The suppression Of all tendencies 10 polite
division founded on geographical discrimination
or on the belief that there iS real difference ot int
rests and views" between the various sections OF Z!
! Union.
-. The full recognition of tie rights of the sewers
States Us expressed and reserved III the Constitution
and careful avoidance. by the general government
of all interference with their rights by legislative
executive action"
All this is very plausible and very sound in theory
and ii the practices of III. predecessors al the part
had been, and il this pary should be- ACCORDING
these rules many of the fierce conflicts OF parties
conflicts, which tried 10 the utmost the si:chS'h
the Uniul-which have, and nigh: hereafter aSi'ht
the Union might have been AMI would stili nc "'o!d
ed. But the reverse has been, n'Id VIII De- .'c pa"
ce OF this party for, in this very platform mere "
principles, which papahly violate The 'o"S'"u''o
and invade the rights OF the States.
Did il occur 10 the grcnt Council, when me
adopted these five sauary rules. that thcy were Il"
and each of them, Democratic principles prac'S'
uuu, against the Alien and Seditlon laws hSiiIiIs
two National Banks, the Protective Tariff system
the Internal Improvement system, the various Lan
Distribution und specializing schemes, and tie rcpeh
If the Missouri neutrality-suspicious. avowcd III IN
Resolutions of Is and 80, and III almost every plh'
form OF principles adopted by the Conventions Dt ~
Democratic partv for thc last Twenty-Five years! .
mis- tbe Convention WIS not ignorant: an1 yer the.
have thrown these principles before the pnoi'c III
strain of czultation u the rroductioa-new pr'nci
pies Of this rise, p"re P6lr!7''c and @'Ef"gH'M
ri Council" N they claim Ia be.
In the very platform, in which these five principles
IRE proclaimed. the Constitute OF IN. United STATE.
is, ia two several points, Panhiy v"!aich-l- III
the proposed d.tranch!sr!nc; ~ R"inan Catholic:
aud, ~, in the disfraucharn"ht ~! nr:ura!Acd ri-
zy,I- There is, n!sO, invasion III SAFE sovereignty"
in tw" pon:s-iSt, the silent concession al the pnw-
cr of The Federal Government Ia prohibit slavery ~
the Territories: and II, in the submitting to the final
adjudication al the Judiciary OF the Federal G"HctI'
ncni itself "f all '.,luub;u or disputed questions q"
constitutional power, whether between ;ne r''rr"'
ovrrnnrn! AMI citizens, Of between me rcdtl''' 'p
rernIncn am! STATE. u stated III the i1h 'r'c''
Of which ,ai! demonstrate in their proper order.
Ii ri- rrinry!rS ri action hc sound, and the De-
Inurrnr part has uniformly aci"d upon irln' wia'
is the country I" ga.M. 50 Ia: 4" these principles "
concerned, hy Discerning the D"m"cra'ic party from
power ard placing ihr government III III" names -!
This new secret and urGrrd party, composed prncl'
palIy Of ih men who f.dcrai>-. national! repI9'
jicai,s gbul:tinrSt~ and whi-S, utterly tailed! We
have no security that 'hcy will De wiser, better or
more discreet statesmen IN their new than IN Her ola
material being ia" same. Certain It l.,
that IN the spus.hui:tiTg democrats wh" hay" gone
+, them I'm, liz. ~;kc RI IA, SPILL, they Will iin': Dn:
little s,atcsmanlike material 10 comfort or instruct
them.
Tic ith article of this Grand national platform, aud
the first that embraces any practical pr.Ecpic IS
,.u anl ont, the federalism Of 1928, and strips each
STATE Of every particle OF lis sovereignty hcc'Ha'! ~
rs rrau- thus
s.lV. Obedience Ia the Constitution oi these !t"H
States, n the -upre;ns las OF the lahd ShcEe!iS '.'
cnrv upon all lis parts and mem hcrs; and s"aula?'
resistance to the spirit OF Innovation upon us Prc'
;,,s however spccious the prctrXt Avowin@ haf III
all doubtful or disputed points il may only b" legally
asc,r,aincd and cxpounded by the Judicial power "'
,Mc United States.
And, rs II corollnry to the above
81. 4 habit 0t rcverentnl obedience l" me ia"S'
whether NATIONAL State Municipal, untti they ere
either repealed or declared Unconstitutional ny '"'
proper authority. ,
y. = trnie. and sacred regard ior those acts OF
craftsmanship which I" b. rontrn-"is;n2n'nAr"
from arl- Of ordinary legislation, hy the fact al Their
uc;:Is al the nature nj cumracis ai"i agreements
md 80 10 be considered liked aud settled national
policy"
That the judicial department "f the United States
il one OF the departments os the ricrni government
the Judges al which appointed By the cxe"u'IE"
department and VII, receive their salaries from me
federal treasury is conceded fact. Th.: the states.
in tie formation Of the Federal government ever m
tended To commit its retained soycrci@nty,o %! reserve!
rights. 10 the exclusive protection &" TINS single '-
nrmrnt al the Fedora! government, II what cannot
be believed, AMI vii! not be Conceded ny ANY WISE
oymI or patriotic statesman. II is the very thIiir
which they lid not intend - do, II Is c"nc>l"cy &c
rr,ns ri.ied by the cnutinHo manner III which ihr
powers ut the Federal government n:c lmcted out
and the strctness with winch they are limited. MOI
,n,y so: to avoid any claim Of iurs LECTION over the
Iri.y nt ti,r I,Dll, the
Sales. not satisfied with the security derived from
the tar TINT ihi. jurisdiction wa, not impaired |" me
Federal government, ar either o' us departments
amendment To the Conrtiiu''"h' ID!
which state sovereignty ANA State rights, nor rA-
,rcssy delegated, reserved 10 the States II the
Fed ru Judiciary has the power clnined III TINS article
hen, indeed, is the government OF the United Hia"'
'OHs0id0i,d empire, and not tc'r9i-thcii, indeed,
ire the States DrOrjHcn and not S0rT"'gh. ! ms
y.. the principle oil the Federalism OF rs, and has
been the principle of Federalism in al it, variety o!
names ever since, DO not wonder that 1t should
hr the doctrine Of iha, lis legitimate spawn, The so.
called "Amcrcan party." This principle is either
false, ur the States are not sovereign.
In almost every attempted usurrh"n at power by
Federal LEGISLATION, or invasion Of the rights ol the
s. le. stLc Federal Judiciary have sustained til"
usarpa;ion. In cas". St!m ny rec0lcc!"ii' ha5
il s;Uni by the citizen or the Slhtr IN IL :nat, r;..
question Of power. What protection dil II aHoFa
oman" Lvd;.s Cooper ard others, against the iincon-
.ti,ntiona;y tyranny and oppression Of the detcSia
l,. alien ana sc,lltion Laws II neither saved them
from i;no o! Imprisonment. hut were the instruments
If their execution. Whhta:cnt iea"ims ncusue "ihc
Federal Government, which had no constitutional n-
hory for or which papably invaded III" rights o. Ill"
States has ;!.c Federal Judiciary arrested! Was II
The alien and scdiiion awsthc national baiIks-;hc
tar?sth" canal and rGa! b!s--thc river
and barber bills or The Hood OF pnLllc e;r'nr-nray
land bills In a!l--ncnriy MI %: these the reef;l
] JUDICIARY has been with the Government. But sell
dom il ever, has it, nor will II ever be. an c.iccv"
barrier between inc usnrpaiiums and expressions al
the Fcdcra! Government and the States ~ long rs il
j. administered hy n"n dependent upon TIC Federal
Executive for their Offices, and upon tho Federai l.c-
risialurc inr their salaries III" experience OF III"
inst md the history of maas sclshncss, afford sui:i-
ccnt evidence 81 this. Who, il this dry, and with
Sou;liron believes that tl.c Federal Juiicary rou
or would protect Stare state against The abolition ot
savrry-;he prohibition ol slavery in the territories
the experience Of the past before his eyes particularly
the rejection of n new State withont claus pf"hi-
hiring slavcry--or any like palpable aggression upon
tie sovereignty and rights OF the States There ARE
monv oLrr cases Of aggravated violations ut the
I,r.,i,u:!on, which nigh, be enumerated, equally
,Iari:r, and ye, this great National Council would
Submit al OF them to the iiuul adjudication o! the
Federal judiciary. This is the rankcst and most
odous federalism, worthy of the dur !.eSt days 81
Jnia adams administration, and Will be rcput:'ncd
Ly every Democrat or Wing maintaining tfu" STAT"
.his principles. The principles of the trcn'is o;
STATE rights mast hang very loosely about thea' III
dcrL if thcv can sustain a. party prJG!di!ninE sic
doctrine. Hitherto, the Executive by the power of ID"
veto ha, been the most effective barrier 10 IMPRESSIONS
and emcroachment- upon the rights Of IA" Slater and
rI.nn many occasions, that has falcl. For thee
snd such Tx" a-gr"ssions. the ng-ri:ved State must
he H., own Judge OF the Of redress. 81 the
resolution, and report of rs aul '99 maintain.
Asa corollary TO this article, tho Council incu'-
cafes Cn;'i.iEry,
Eist. l.aAit OF revcrcnlaI obedience 10 the laws,
NATIONAL State or l,rn!cpnI until they are either
pcnled or declared unconstitutional By the proper au-
ihority.' .
This is very fit cnroary 10 the article, anG H. III
principle la strict accordance with it. II ie federal
government si.onl abolish slavery in ne States, III
lie District Of Columbia, ard prohibit u ~ me 'cri
,r;r, this American par!y SAYS. submit il until it
j. rap..l,L or declared demonstrations! by ia" lrie
raj juciary although that may not be I'll doonS
Lei the aggression be palpably and as f'o!Iiii!
mn infrnciinn oil the constitution as 1t may he, ana h