Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-07-04


for closer scrutiny.
CHAPTER H. OLD AND NEW STUFF MINED
TOGETllER-MOSTLN PRO-SLANEll
"And Whereas, Since the foregoing dcclara
ton was uniformly adopted by our predcces-
sors in National Conventions, an adverse po-
litical and religious test has been secretly or
ganized by a party claiming to be exclusively
American, it is proper that the American
Democracy should clearly define its relations
thereto, and declare its determined opposition
to all secret political societies, by whatever
name they may be called.
Rcsolrtd. That the foundation Of this n
ion of States having been laid in, and Its
prosperity, expansion, and precmincnt exam
pie in Free Government built upon entire
freedom in matters of religious cpncerhihrh''
and no respect Of person in regard 90 rank or
place of birth-no party can justly he ueehtu
National, Constitutional, OF in accordance
with American principles. which bases ITS eA-
elusive organization upon religious opinions
and accidental birthplace. And hence Il po-
litica crusade in the nineteenth century ana
in the United States Of America, against
Catholics and foreign born, is neither lusti-
cd by the past history or the future prospects
Of the country. nor in unison with the spirit
of liberation and enlarged freedom winch pc
culiarly distinguishes the American system
| of popular government,
Resolred, That we reitcratc with renewed
energy of purpose the wel-considered declAr-
atons of former Conventions upon the sec
tonal issue of domestic Slavery and concern
| ing the reserved rights of the States
J. That Congress has no power under the
Constitutions to interfere with or control the
domestic institutions of the several States
Al. hn E|la NJ rtraDr
Judges of everything appertaining to their
own affairs, not prohibited by the Constitu-
ton that all efforts Of the Aboitionsts or
others. made to induce Congress to interfere
with questions Of Slavery, or to take lncpl-
ent steps in relation thereto, are calculated
to lead to the most alarming and dangerous
consequences !; and that all such efforts have
an inevitable tendency to diminish the halpi-
ness Of the people, and endanger the stability
and permanency of the Union, and ought not
to be countenanced by any fri nd Of our po-
lltcal institutions.
.. That the foregoing proposition covers
and was intended to embrace, the whole sub
iect of Slavery agitation in Congress ; and
therefore, the Democratic Party of the niul
standing on this national platform, will abid,
by and adhere to faithful execution of til,
acts known as the Compromise Measures, set
tied Ivy the Congress Of lc5G; - the act fol
retaining iugitives from service or labor,
included which act being designed to carry
out an express provision of the Constitu
tion, cannot, with fidelity thereto, be repeal
ed, or so changed as to destroy or impair it
efficiency.
B. That the Democratic Party will resis
all attempts at renewing, in Congress or uu
of it, the agitation Of the Slavery question
under whatever shape or color the attemp
may be made.
T. That the Democratic Party will faith
fully alide by and uphold the principles lai
. down in the kentucky and Virginia Rcsolu
tions Of l79S, and in the report OF MIR. MApl
son to the Virginia Legislature, IN l199 tina
it adopts those principles as constituting ON
Of the main foundations of its political creed
and is resolved to carry them out in their Oh
yious meaning and import,
lhis part of the platform shows first
preamble and resolution against " a part
claiming to be exclusively American ~
If in our country there is, or has been, an
set Of men more secret in their iu,rgucS, q
more proscrptive in their practice than tn
} pro slavery managers Of the 50 called demo
cratic party have always been, we do Il,
! know where they can be found, The iuu
resolutions which follow are SAID to be o
"the sectional issue OF domestic slavery, an
concerning the reserved rights of the States,
/. This is a new stick put in fora dishoI
est purpose and nothing else, Congress ht
no power to interfere with OF control the Dc
mestic institutions (slaycry Of course
c meanD of the several States" Well, wl
says II has Starting with that proposition
s conceded by ALL it craitily slides of to one cl
u tirely different and treats it as if it were Il
y same. "All efforts, it says, " Of abolition
o lists or others to induce Congress to intereI
n with questions Of slavery, or to take iuciliel
d steps in relation thereto, are dangerous al
alarming. The word "Aboltionsts' is stuC
l. in as a scare-crow t. the simple minded, al
y to operate against "oTnERs as sort oima
1t dog epithet of reproach. But Irhat "questior
n of slavery" trhat " incipient steps are a
l. the world warned to refrain from Has II
= fugitive slave law-or IL proposition to l
open the slave trade something to do wi
;, " questions of slavery The fact is, it
4, considered democratic in the highest dcgr
10 to mcddle with questions of slavery, whe
ever slavery is to be ertcndcd and tho pow
81 of Shareholders is to be made stronger, a.