Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-09-18

i
laws from our statute books.
AND WHEREAS Since the foregoing declaration
was uniformly adopted by our predecessors in Ma
tional Convention, an adverse political and relig-
ious test has been secretly organized by party
claiming to be exclusively American; it is proper
that the American Democracy should clearly define
its relations thereto and declare its determined OBJ
position all secret political societies, by whatever
name they may be called.
j Resolred That the foundation of this Union of
States having been laid in, and its prosperity. eX-
pansiOn. and pre- eminent example in free govern
ments built upon entire freedom in matters of
religious concernment, and that no respect
of person in regard to rank or place of birth:
no party can Justly be deemed national constitu-
tOnal, or in accordance with American principles
which bases its exclusive organization upon religious
opinions and accidental birth place. And hence, Il
political crusade IN the nineteenth century, and in
the United States of America. against Catholics
and foreign born. neither justified by the past his.
tory or the future prospects of the country in
unison with the spirit of liberation and enlarged
freedom which peculiarly distinguishes the Ameri-
can system of popular government.
ResOlced, That we reiterate. with renewed ener-
gy of purpose, the wellconsidered declarations of
former Conventions upon the sectional issue OF do
nestle Slavery, and concerning the reserved rights
of the States:
l. That Congress has no power, under the Con
situtlOn, to interfere with or control the domestic
institutions of the several States. and that such
States the sole and proper judges Of everything
appertaining TO their Affairs not prohibited bv
the Constitution; that all efforts of the Abolitioniss
or others, made to interfere with questions OF
slavery. or 70 take incpcnt steps in violation there
to, calculated to lead to the most alarming and
dangerous consequences; and that all such efforts
have an inevitable tendency to diminish the happi-
ness of the people. and endanccr the stability and
! 80 81,
ced by any friend of our political Institutions
>. That the foregoing proposition covers, and
was ntcd to embrace. the whole subject of slavery
in Congress; and therefore, the Democratic party of
the Union, standing this national platform, will
abide by and adhere to faithful execution of the
acts known the Compromise Measures settled
by the Congress of 1850; the "ac retaining fur,
tives from service or labor, included; which act
being designed to carry out express provision of
the Constitutions cannot, with fidelity thereto. be
repealed or so changed to destroy or impair It's
efficiency.
3. That the Democratic party viii resist all at
tempts at renewing. III Congress or out of it, the
agitation of the slavery question, under whatever
shape or color the attempt may be made.
4. That the Democratic party will faithfully
abide by and uphold the principles laid down in the
Kentucky and Virginia resolutions of 1888 and in
the Report of Mr. Madison to the Virginia Lcgis-
lature. i'll 1893: that it adopts those principles as
consttutin. one of the main foundations of political
creed. and is reso' to carry them out in their OBJ
vious meaning and import.
And that we may more distinctly meet the issue
on which sectional party, sulsisting exclusively
on SLAYER agitation, now relies to the fidelity of the
people north and south, TO the Constitution and the
Union:
l. Resolced. That. clai'aing fellowship with and
desiring the cooperation of all who r. nd the pre-
scrvation of the Union under the Constitution a
I ,,fN.r,,E -,
ties and platforms concerning domestic slavery
which seek to embroil the States and ncite to trea
son and armed resistance to law III the Territories:
All whose avowed purpose, if consummated, must
end in civil war and disunion-the American De
mocracy recognize and adopt the principles con
tanned in the organic laws establishing the Terrific
ries of Kansas and Nebraska a. cmbotvinp the on
~ sound and safe solution of the slavery question
upon which the great national idea of the people of
this whole country can repOse in its determined
conservatism Of the Uni0n-NOX- INTERVENTION By
CONGRESS WITH SLAVERY N STATE AND TERRITORY
OR IN THE DIsTRICr or COLUMBIA.
,. That this was the basis of the Compromises of
le5il-contirmed 10y both the Democratic md Wing
parties in national Cony entiOns-latifed by the
people in the election Of 1852 and rightly anplied
to tn organization of the Territories OF ie51.
3. That by the uniform application of this Demo-
cratic principle TO the organization of Territories
and to the admission of new States, with or without
domestic slavery. as they may electric equal
rights OF all the States will be preserved intact
the original cOmpacS the Constitution maintain
ed inviolatc-ald the perpetuity and expansion OF
this Union insured to its utmost capacity of embra-
cling, in peace and harmony, every future Amcri-
can State that may he constituted or annexed, with
a republican form OF government.
ResotUed. That We recognize the right of the
people Of all the Territories, including Kansas and
Nebraska, acting acting through the legality and
ftir ,f Of
dents, and whenever the number of their inlllbit
ants lustifies 1T, to form Constitution, with or
without domestic slavery, and be admitted into the
Union upon terms OF perfect equality with the other
States.
Resolred, finally, Tina, in view of the condition
o popular institutions of the Old World (arId the
dangerous tendencies Of sectional agitation, com
bined with the attempt to enforce civil and rcigi-
Gus disabilities against the rights of acquiring and
enjoying citizenship i'll our land, high and sacred
duty is devolved with increased Responsibility upon
the Democratic party of this country, the party
OF the Union, to uphold and maintain the rights of
every State, and thereby the Union ofthe States:
and to sustain and advance among constitution
al liberty, by continuing to resist all monOp0lies
and exclusive legislation for the few at the expense
OF the many, and by Vieilant and constant adhcr-
ence to those principles and compromises of the
Constitution which are broad enough and strong
enough to emb race and uphold the Union as il was
".
the full expansion of the energies and capacities OF
this great and progressive people.
i. Resolred, That there are questions connected
with the foreign policy ofths country which in
ieror to 10 domestic questions whatever. The
time has come for the people of the United States
to declare themselves i'll favor of free trade
throueout the world and, by solemn manifestations,
to place their moral influence at the side of their
successful example.
2 ResolUed, That our geographical and politi-
continent, less than the interest of our COM
merce and the development of our growing power,
requires that should hold rs sacred the princi-
plies involved IN the Monroe doctrine; their bear
ing and import ADMIT of no misconstructOn; they
should be applied with unbending rgidity.
s. ResoLoed, That the great highway which ma
ture, well as the assent of the State most i'm
medately interested in its maintenance has mark
ed out for free communication between the At
lantic and Pacific Oceans, constitutes one OF the
most important achievements realized by the spir-
it OF modern times and the unconquerablc energy
OF our people. That result should be secured by IA
timely and efficient exerton of the control which
we have the right to claim over il, and no power
OH earth should be sufficient to impede or clog its
progress by any interference with the relations 1t
may suit our policy to establish between our gov
eminent and the governments of the states within
whose domains il lies. We can, under no circum
stance, surrender our prcpondcr,nce IN the adjust