Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-07-13
THE DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION Al
HARRISBURG.

The Pennsylvania Democracy assembled in Con
veution at Harrisburg the ltl Of July, and III
proceedings are before us.
The Convention organized by selecting for Prcs
dent the Hon. J. CLANCY Jones, Of Berks county
who on taking his seat, made brief md eloquent
speech.
| The morning session was taken up in making the
nomination for Canal Commissioner MIR. Arnold
Pumer was nominated, and the nomination ''madt
unanimous" amidst great applause
| The Committee OH Resolutions was composed o
tw.ntveirht persons, one from each Senatorial Dis
trict to be selected 10y their respective representa-
tves.
Upon the re assembling Of the Convention-even
ing scssion--at Il o'clock, Mr.. $. w. Black, from
the Committee Oh Resolutions, submitted the follow
ing:
Resolved, That the Democratic party need not, on
old md settled issues to declare ts princp in de-
tail 1t il sufficient for 10 say that we belong to
| the Democracy of the Union, and recognize no geo.
traphical lines between the North and the South
The interests If all parts OF the country ARE the snne
| RI us and so far AZ in our power will maintain
the constitutional rights of every State with uniform
| fidelity.
| Resolved, That every one who makes our country
his home and loves the Constitution, the laws and
I
| American. His birthplace not of his own Sc
| lection and should do him neither good nor harnl-
| his religion il between himself and his God, and
should be left to his own Judgment conscience and
responsibility.
| Resolved, That We regard the secret Order, COM
monty called "Know No;hings," ms an organization
dangerous to the prosperity and peace of the coun-
try We consider its designs rs unconstitutional ana
void of patriotism; being at once Oppnse' to the
spri: OF true Christianity and Just and manly Ane-
rican sentiment.
| Resolved, That the Democratic party reitcrate and
re-asscrt their confidence in, and adherence to- the
political creed promulgated by Thomas Jefferson in
his first inaugural address. and practiced by Madison,
Monroe Jackson Van Buren,, Polk, and Pierce, i'll
their admnisraiOusihat these principles require no
conoeanent, and TINT experience has fully eterlnln-
ed their applicability to all the interests OF the Amc'
rican people.
Resolved, That we have undimimshod confidence
in the ability and integrity Of Franklin Pierce, and
his administration of the government of our country
Resolved, That the views and principles of the
present State administration, embodied in tho acts
passed by the recent Legislature aud approved by
| the Governor, by which hc interests of the State
have been or proposed be, seriously and inlu.
riously affected contrasts strongly with the wise and
iudjciOus management Of the government by Govern
or Bigler, and tend to show the danger of entrust;
the control Of the Commonwealth to the hands OF
men who are swayed by funatcism and governed by
prejudice. r,,, ,;,o1 or.
forts to the election OF Arnold Puner, the candidate
| for Canal Commissioner, whom we have this day no
minated without dissenting voice.
After the reading Of these resolutions the Hon. IL.
q. Wright, from the same Committee OH Resolutions,
rose to present the Minority Report, and said
will now read the minority report, and will state,
in advance that the principal bone Of contention was
upon the Temperance and Abolition questions 1ley
are the points wish TO subscribe to the resolutions
which the majority of the committee have reported,
but my objection to them il that they do not 20 Tar
enough. AS chairman Of the committee, drafted a
set Of resolutions which l will now read TO the Con-
| vention Us the
| MINORITY REPORT.
The Democracy of the Slate of Pennsylvania, as
semblcd by their delegates, at Harrisburg, OH the
ith Of July, 1855, d" resolve
| |. That the Democratic party III Pennsylvania
stands to-day where it ever has on the broad plat
form of the Constitution--nor does it know or
acknowledge any, "highcr law" or better rules OF
| political action than embraced within lis pro-
visions. Perfect in ITSELF it requires no ln'plIca-
ton or constructon-the rights of the people equally
protected, aud in language which cannot be misun-
derstood
Injunction of Washington, in his farewell address by
| frownng Indignantly on everything calculated 10
sever the Union weaken the bonds which hold tne
great family of the States together and this can only
Be done by cOnfning the national government strictly
within the limits of the Constitution.
g. That the peace, harmony, and prosperity Oh l,e
country depend the undisturbed enjoyment of the
rights guaranteed to the States and Territorles ana
that among these stand preennenty and in bold re.
lief State rights State sovereignty, aud the freedom,
of the people to make their laws and govern ana
direct their own local institutions in their own way.
4. That any intervention by the Federal Govern,
ment to alter change direct the rights vested and
reserved in the States and the people thereof, an
act Of usurpation and ofno power or force Whatever
Nor have the people Of one State the right to inter-
fare in the domestic and social relations OF another
because it is in violation of the federal compact ana
fraueht with imminent peril to the best interests oil the
whole country. .,o ION.
Constitution gives PoTysg Tsgro to the .sysrR Tsp
u. @ the contrary commits all legislation on that
subject to the States in 9,a Which ssnos eSs a1w With il I
.ba roo' os tho nnnsayeholdins States, or by their
ss,ss Sc sa of hs GSn4
HSery sompi 10 unep it. which no honest and
fair-mnded citizen should countenance.
g. That when portion of our -ctlzens cnoost
to settle upon territory of the United States beyond
decentralization of State they have the same rgn 6nG
that we enjoy, to regulate their domestic aHas, "h
establish their own Institutions and every refusal oy