The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-12-04
The Resolutions.


The national democracy throughout the
Union will read with profound satisfaction
the noble solutions unanimously adopted
by the convention. They are drawn with
singular felicity, and will command an APP
proving response from every true democrat,
whether at the North or the South. The
endorsement given to the administration of
President Peirce was cordial and emphatic.
The whole proceedings give full assurance
of a brilliant democratic triumph in the
Granite State in March next. The follow
ing are the resolutions:
Resotred, That while the shifting organ
izations of our opponents have neither per-
manency of name nor consistency of doc
trine, it is at once the merit and the glory
of the democratic party that its great and
guiding principles are immutable, its pur-
poses fixed, and its name time -hOnOred and
unchanging.
Resolucd, That we hold to a strict con-
struction of the constitution, abstinence
from the exercise of undelegated or doubt
full powers, an economical administration
Of the State and federal governments, and
a scrupulous observance of the reserved
rights of States and of individuals.
ReSoIccd, That democracy has no secre-
cy, and requires no oaths; that while it
publicly avows, as q fundamental principle,
freedom of conscience, without distinction
of religious faith, the political equality of
all whom the law recognises as American
citizens, without reference to the accident
of birth, it relies for success upon open dis
cussion and the intelligence of the people;
we, therefore, dcnOunce the know nothing
organization, so-called, as intolerant in its
warfare upon the freedom of religious be-
I {
justly exclusive in its requirements of birth
and blood, and anti-republican and danger
Gus in its methods of secret political action,
as corrupting in its encouragement of Sc
crct combination and falsehoOd, reprehen-
sible in its objects, and mmanly and dis
honorable in the modes by which it seeks |
their accomplishment
RcS0LUed, That we believe in the car
dinal doctrines of State rights and popular |
sovereignty; that we recognise in its broad |
est sense, as just and salutary, the princi- |
pie that to the people of every organized |
State and Territory belongs of right the |
prerogative of regulating for themselves |
their own domestic and local affairs within |
the limits of the constitution; and that we |
denOunce all violations Of this principle, |
whether by the interference of the aboli- |
tionists of the free States or by the aggres- |
siOns of their abettors in the work of Sec
tional agitation from the slave States.
ReS0tUed, That the constitution of the U. |
States is founded upon the fundamental |
principle of entire and absolute equality a.
nOng all the States of this Union; and it is |
lot competent for 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
internal concerns, which the federal con-
sttution has not imposed upon the original
States; and that any effort on the part of
Congress, or any other power, to violate
his principle should be met and resisted by |
Ill good citizens as al attempt to trample
lpon the constitution and destroy the Un-
on.
RcSolucd, That we arc in favor of q judi
,ious regulation of the sale of spirituous Ii
Iuors; but we believe the law Of the last
legislature, miscalled AN act for the sup
preston of intenperance, to be unconsti-
utional, illiberal, and oppressive in theory,
md calculated i'll practice to aggravate the
cry evils it was proposed to remedy: we,
therefore,, advocate its immediate repeal
RcsoLred, That the ovcrturning of the es-
ablished judiciary, and the substitution in
is stead of the discarded project of the fed
,ral party of 1913, by the dominant fac
ion of the organic law, in disregard of the
wishes and to the detriment of the interests
# the people of the State. The people will
cstore the integrity of the constitution and
einstate the judiciary upon its ancient
Resoired, That the know-nothing admin
stration in this State, by its illibcral, vindic-
i've, partisan, and unconstitutional lcgis-
ation-by its unparalleled prescription of
aithfd public officers, and by its appoint
nent Of incompetent and unprincipled men
o so large an extent in their places--by its
,alpable misrepresentation of the public
sentiment of the State upon national ques-
ions of vital Importance, and by its ruth
ess invasion of the sacred rights of indivi-
luals-have shown it to be unworthy of the
confidence of just and patriotic Ople,
md deserving of the severest condemna-
ion and we have abundant evidence that,
II the next election, the people viii hurl
hcse unfaithful servants from the seats they
lave disgraced, and restore honest men and
patriotic party to power.
ReSoLUed, That the present national ad-
minis has been true to democratic
principles, and, therefore, true to the great
most determined opposition, it has main
aimed the laws, enforced economy, fostered
progress, aud infused integrity and vigor
nto every department at home. 1t has
,ignally improved our treaty relations, ex-
ended the elds of commercial enterprise, !