M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-09-25


iect Of slavery agitation in Congress and
therefore, the Democratic party Of the Union.
standing on this national platform will
abide by and adhere 10 faithful execution
of the acts known as the Compromise Meas
ures, settled by the Congress OF 1880 "the
act for recaiming fugitives from service or
labor" included which act being designed
to carry out an express provision of the con-
stituton, cannot. with fidelity thereto, be
repealed, or so changed as to destroy or inn
pair its efficiency.
That the democratic party will resist all
attempts at renewing, in Congress or out oil
it, the agitation Of the slavery question, I'M
der whatever shape or color the attempt may
be made.
4. That the Democratic party will faith
fully abide by and uphold theprinciples laid
down in the Kentucky and Virginia resolu-
lions OF 1898, and in the report of Mr.. Madi-
son to the Virginia Legislature, in 1899;
that it adopts those principles as constituting
one of the main foundations of its political
creed, and is resolved to carry them out in
their obvious meaning and import.
And that we may more distinctly meet the
issue on which a sectional party, subsisting
exclusively on slavery agitation, now relies
to test the fidelity of the people, North and
South, to the Constitution and the Union
l. Resolrsd, That claiming fellowship
with, and desiring the cooperation OF all
who regard the preservation Of the Union
under the Constitution as the paramount is
sue--and repudiating all sectional parties
and platforms concerning domestic slavery,
which seek TO embroil the States and incite
to treason and armed resistance to law in the
Territories; and whose avowed purposes. il
consummated, must end in civil war and dis
union--the American Democracy recognize
and adopt the principles contained in the or.
ganic law establishing the Territories Of
Kansas and Nebraska as embodying the only
sound and safe solution of the "slavery
question" upon which the great national
idea U { the people Of this whole country can
repose in its tleterminated conservatism OF
the Union-NoN INTERFERENCE BY CONGRESS
WITH SLAVERY IN STATE AND TERRITORY, OR
IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
2. That this was the basis OF The compro-
mises of 1850 confirmed by both the Dem
ocratic and Whig parties in national conven-
tions-ratifed by the people in the tlettion
of 1852, and rightly applied 10 the organiza.
tiOn of Territories in 1884.
3. That by the uniform application Of
this Democratic principle to the admis-
sion of new States with or without domes
tic slavery, as they may eleC!-the equal
rights OF all the States will he preserved in
tact--the original compact of the ccnstitu.
tion maintained invIolate, and the perpetui-
ty and expansion Of this Union insured TO its
capacity ofembracing, in peace and harmo-
ny, every future American State that may be
constituted or annexed, with a republican
form Of government.
RssOlued, That we recognize the rights
OF the people fall the Territories including
Kansas and Nebraska, acting through the le.
gally and fairly expressed will of majority
OF actual residents, and whenever the num-
Der of their inhabitants justifies it, 10 form
constitution, with or without domestic slave
ry, and be admitted into the Union upon
terms Of perfect equality with the other
States.
Resolved, finally, That in view OF the
condition Of popular institutions in the Old
World, (and the dangerous tendencies of sec
tional agitation, combined with the attempt
to enforce civil and religious disabilities
aga inst the right of acquiring and enjoying
citizenship in our own land,) high and sa.
cred duty is devolved with increased respon-
sibility upon the Democratic party of the
Union, tu uphold and maintain the rights OF
every State and ther eby the Union of the
States; and to sustain and advance among
us, constitutional liberty, by continuing to
resist all monopolies and exclusive lpgisla-
ton fol the benefit of the few, al the expense
of the many, and by viglant and constant
adherence TO those principles and compromi.
ses Of the constitution which are broad
enough and strong enough to embrace and
uphold the Union as it was, the Union as it
is, and the Union as it shall be, in the full
expansion of the energies and capacities of
this great and progressive people.
|. Resolved, That there are questions
connected with the foreign policy of this
country which are inferior to no domestic
questions whatever. The time has come for
the United States 70 declare themselves in
favor of free seas and progressive free trade
throughout the world, and by solemn
manifestations to place their moral infu-
ence al the siGe of their successful exam
pie.
?. ReSOlucd, That our geographical anil
political position with reference to other
States of this continent, no less than the in
terest of our commerce and the development
OF our growing power, requires that we
should hold as sacred the principles invulv-
ed in the Monroe doctrine; their bearing and
import admit Of no misconstruction they
should be applied with unbending rigdi-
ty.
3. Resolved, That the great highway which
nature, as well as The assent Of the States
most Immediately interested in its mainten-
ance, has marked out for free communica.
ion between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
constitutes one of the most important
achievements realized by the spirit OF mod.
ern times and the unconquerable energy of
our people. That The result should be Sc.
cured BY timely and efficient exertion OF the
control which We have the right 10 claim
over it, and no power on earth should be suf.
fered to, impede or clog its progress by any
interference with the relations it may suit
our policy to establish between our govern
ment and the governments of the States
within whose dOminions it lies. We can,
under no circumstances. surrender our pre-
ponderence in the adjustment Of all ques-
tlons arising out oft.