Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-03-22
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE LATE
DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION,

OF resolutions; which were read and upani.
mously adopted:
Rcsolced, That in the present distracted
condition Of parties, in which sectional and
partial issues have been allowed to attain a
dangerous supremacy, we recognize in the
policy OF the Democratic party, that which
rests upon the Constitution as its basis. and
that it is the party which above all Others has
in the language of the illustrious Madison
ever continued "to hold the union of the
states as the basis Of their peace and happi-
ness; to support the Constitution, which is
the cement of the Union, as well in its llmi-
tations as its authorities to respect the
rights and authorities reserved to the States
aud to the people, as equally Incorporated
with aud essential to the success of the gen.
eral system and to avoid the slightest in.
reference with the rights of conscience or
the functions of religion, SO wisely exempted
from civil jurisdiction"
Res0lred, That by the general consent of
the wise aud the virtuous of all nations, the
trainers of the Republic Of the United States.
exhibited in their individual characters and
IN the result Of their public deliberations, q
degree of virtue and practical craftsmanship.
to which the history of the world affords no
parallel that in no part the Federal Com
pact is the wisdom of our fathers more con
Of slavery TO the states in their separate
capacities and that in the provision for the
re-devery Of fugitiyes escaped from labor or
service, they demonstrated a sense of Justice
An appreciation of the value Of the Union
An attachment TO its preservation--an
avoidance of one sided philanthropy, and
Impractical theories Of government-which
present q proper example for the guidance
aud imitation Of US, their descendants
Resoiced, That we look only to the Consti-
u:ion. and the exposition thereof which has
been afforded by the practice of Democratic
administrations, for the chart Of our policy
That these constitute, till the fundamental
law is changed by methods which itself pro-
videS the highest iap of our obedience as
citizens and that we utterly discard that
partial and exaggerated sympathy, the at
tempt to carry which into practice, is at the
peril OF our dearest interests as Nation,
and threatens the infection ofcvis of ten
fold magnitude to those which it proposes to
heal.
ReSJ'ced. That the equality OF the States
is the vital element OF the Constitution it.
self and that all interference with the rights
OF the States by those who seek to disregard
the sacred guarantees of the past. and by all
others. should he rebuked with the sane
spirt that would denouuce and repudiate all
attempts 10 erect oGious distinctions between
those who are entitled to share the blessings
and benefits Of our free institutions.
RcSoiccd, That the effort to direct the DOW
rr of the Government by anti-slavery agitr-
tion. under the various names and phases Of
Free. Soilism, Anti Nebraskaism. Fusionism
and RepnDlicanism and by interfering with
the rights Of conscience in establishing
religious test us qualification for Office, lay
b, Of ha
No,hings, is opposed both to the letter and
the spirit Of the Constitution, and to the
earnest teachings and practice Of its earliest
and most honored administrators.
R.S0lced That We are now as ever nnal-
terably opposed TO the doctrines and designs
Of all organizations which contemplate the
overthrow Of the civil and religious rights Of
the citizen that the equality of the citizen,
like the equality of the States, is a sacred
and inalcnable right. never to be interered
with by ractious parties aud reckless legisa-
{ on, without subversion Of the primary
objects of our political system, and a renudi-
alton Of the guarantees Of the past and the
hopes Of the future.
Pss0ired, That in the repeal Of tho act
known as the Missouri Compromise act, and
the passage Of the act organizing the Terri
torres of Kansas and Nebraska; free from
performed work of patriotic sacrifice in
meeting the demands Of sectional excitement
hy unshakeu adherence to the fundamental
law.
Rcsolced, That this legislation cannot be
deemed unnecessary, but that it was eXpe-
dent TO meet the questions of which it dis
nosed, and VIII ch could never admit of
more easy settlement than at present. That
we recognize in il the application 20 the Ter
r;tories Of the United States, of the rule of
equal and exact justice to all men" Of all
sections Of the coGfederacy, which was de-
signed by the trainers of our government,
and which was defined as one Of its essential
principles by the immortal Jefferson
ReSoIced. That the Democracy OF Fenn-
sylvania, following thu colrs Of some OF
the wisest statesmen Of the north and south,
were ready on more than one occasion in the
rast, Ia extend the Missouri Compromise
iiie 10 the Pacific, so as to make it the basis
,r final settlement of the question Of sla-
very in the Territories but when this pro
nosition was rejected in 1913. on the ground
hat involved an unGue concession to the
.nuIh, hy the very men who now clamor for
restoration of the Missouri line, there seemed
- bc bat one wise alternative left, and that
"a, Ia refer the whole question OF slavery III
ne Telritor to the people thereof to be
epulated as they might deem proper. and
yr therefore cheerlully extend our hearty
auport TO the policy Of the government as
,c0gnizrd in the compromise measures OF
80. and embodied in the laws organizing
70 Territories of Kansas and Nebraska.
Pcsolrcd, That UDerring indications point
the Hon. JAMES BCCHASAY, distinguished
Ike by his high personal character, his tried
rmdcracv, his great experience and eminent
arrsmanshp-as the nations choice for the
lice Of President of the United States, for
g term commencing on the 18th Of March,
~: and that we do hereby instruct our
lerates to the National Convention to as
mile in Cincinnati in June next, to use
,ir efforts 10 secure him the nomination to
at Office.
Pcso,red That at period when sectional
in its worst aspects attempts to under
ne the foundations Of the federal constitu-
n and when an abolition majority aspires
SUPREMACY in the popular branch of the
ional legislature, and with the prospect OF
icultics with foreign nations, who for their
noses may seek TO intercept and stay the
rress of free institutions on this conti-
I in order that they may more efiectualy
,st the advancing footsteps OF our repub-
n example the statesmanlike qualities of
rrs BrCyAyAx-his long and well tried
ices in defence OF the constitution-his
nate knowledge Of our relations with for