The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-08-19
HILLsDALE, MICH. TUESDAY AUGUST 49, 1856.


are calculated TO lead TO the most alarming
and dangerous consequences; and that al
such efforts have an inevitable tendency 10 di
minish the happiness Of the people, and en-
danger the stability and permanency of the
Union, and ought not to be countenanced by
any friend of our political Institutions.
2. That the foregoing propositions were in
tended TO embrace the whole subject of the
slavery agitation in Congress; and therefore,
the slavery agitation in Congress; and there
FORE the Democratic party of the Union, stan
ding on this national platform, will abide by
and adhere 10 a faithful execution Of the acts
known as the compromise measures, settled
by the Congress Of 1850; "the act of reclaim
ing fugitives from service or labor" included
which act being designed to carry out an ex-
press provision of the Constitution, cannot
with fidelity thereto, bc repealed, or so
changed as TO destroy or impair its efficiency.
8. That the Democratic party will resist all
attempts at renewing, in Congress or out Of
it, the agitation of The slavery question, un-
der whatever shape or color the attempt may
be made.
s. That the Democratic party will faith
luil tulQt Nv upIOlb thc DiiuSiPiOo iott
down in the Kentucky and Virginia Legisla-
ture, in 1900; that it adopts those principles
as constituting one of the main foundations
of its political creed, and is resolved 10 carry
them out in their obvious meaning and i'm
port.
And that we may more distinctly meet the
issue on which sectional party, subsisting
exclusively on slavery agitation, now relies,
TO test Che fidelity of The people, North and
South, to the Constitution and the Union
Resolved, That claiming fellowship with |;
and desiring the cooperation Of all who re-
gard The preservation of tho Union under the
Constitution as the paramount issue-and re-
pudiating all sectional parties and platforms
concerning domestic slavery,-which seek TO
embroiI the States, and incite to treason and
armed resistance to laws in the territories; /;
and whose avowed purposes, if consummated,
must end in civil war and disunion-the
American Democracy recognize aud adopt
the principles contained in the organic laws
establishing the territories Of Kansas and Ne.
braska, Is embodying the only sound aud safe
soiuiion Of the "slayery question:" upon
which the great national idea of the people
Of this whole country can repose in its deter
mined conservation Of the Union-non-inter
ference by Congress with Slavery in State
anu Territories, or in the District Of Colum-
bis.
That this was the basis of the compromi-
ses of 1950-confrmed by both the Demo
cratic and Wing parties in national conven-
lions ratified by the people in the election of
1652-and rightly applied to the organiza-
tion of territories in 1854.
6. That by The uniform application Of this
Democratic principle TO tho organization OF
territories and Tie admission of new States,
With or without domestic slavery as they may
oiect, the equal rights Of all the States will
be preserved iniact-tho original cornpacts Of
tbs Consultation maintained inviolate--and
the perpetuiiy and expansion OF the Union
insured TO its utmost capacity of embracing,
in peace and harmony, every future Ameri-
can State that may be constituted or annex
cd. with republican form Of government.
Resolved, That we recognize the right of
all the terrtolies, including Kansas and Ne
bra ka, acting through the legally and fairly
expressed will Of a majority of actual residents
and whenever the lumber Of their inhabit-
ants iusifes il, 10 form Constitution with
or without domestic slavery, and be admitted
into The Union upon terms ofperfect equality
with the other States.
Resolved, finally, That in view Of the con-
dtion Of popular institutions in tho Old
World, land tho dangerous tendencies of
sectional agitation, combined with the at
tempt 10 enforce civil and religious disabil-
lies against the rights of acquiring and enjoy
ing citizenship in our own land d)-a high and
sacred duty is devolved with increased respon-
sibi,ity upon the Democratic party of this
country. as the party Of the Union, to uphold
and maintain the rights of every state. and
thereby the Union of the States; and TO sus-
tain and advance amongus constitutional lib
erty, by continuing to resist all monopoles
and exclusive legislation for Che benefit fthe
few at the expense of the many, and by
viglant and constant adherence to those
principles and compromises Of the constitu-
ton, which are broad and strong enough to
embrace and uphold the Union as it shall be,
in the full expansion Of the energies and ca
pacity Of this great and progressive people.
All Of the above were adopted unanimous
ly by the Convention.
l. Resolved. That there are questions con-
nected with the foreign policy of this country
which are inferior to no domestic questions
whatever.
The time has come for the people of the
United States to declare themselves in favor
of free seas and progressive free trade through
out the world, and by solemn manifestations,
to place their moral influence at the side of
thei successful example.
Adopted, 237 to l6. Georgia, Maryland,
Delaware, and North Carolina voted no.
Resolved, That our geographical and po-
litical position with reference TO the other
States Of this continent, no less than the in
tercsts Of our commerce and the development
of our growing power, requires that we shall
hold as sacred the principles involved in the
Monroe doctrine; their bearing and import
admit of no misconstruclion; they should be
applied with unbending rigidity.
Adopted, 239 to "a.
q IL