Washington sentinel., 1856-07-22

JoIl1N ~. hI1N tiDUE,
I ..AtlEtto OF KENrucKy. 44t5G
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permanent protection 81 the great outlets
through which are etnptci iato its waters he
4 products raised uponFthe soil, and the eop
modities created by the industry Of The people
of our Western valleys and the Unionat large.
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PLATFORM OF JAMES BUCHANAN, or
/ PENNsYLyaNIA.f -
"Resoired That in the present Distracted cpt,.
| dition of parties, in which sectional aad par.
| tial issues have been allowed TO attain a
dangerous supremacy, we recognise 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 theillustrions Madison. ever
| continued ito hold the Union Of the States as
the basis of their peace and happiness; TO sup
port the Constitution, which is the cement OF
| the Union, as well in its limitations as its au-
thorities to respect the rights and authorities
reserved TO the States and 10 the people, as
equally incorporated with and essentistlto, tie
success of the general system; aud TO avoid
the slightest interference with the rights o
conscience or the functions Of religion, 50
wisely exempted from civil jurisdiction
" Resoired, That by the general consent OF the
wise and 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, a degree Of virtue
and practical craftsmanship to which The
history of the world affords no parallel; that in
no part of the Federal compact is the wisdom
OF our Fathers more conspicuous. than in leav.
ing the whole question Of slavery to the States
in their separate capacities and that in the pro-
vision for the re-de!ivery of fugitves escaped
from labor or service, they demonstrated n
sense ofjustice, an appreciation OF the value oi
the Union, an attachment to its preservation,
an avoidance of one-slded philanthropy and
impracicable theories Of government. which
present proper example for the guidance aud
imitation of us their descendants. sa
"Resolred, That we look only to the Cousliiu,
tion, and the exposition thereof which has beer,
afforded by the practices Of the Democratic ad
minstrations, for the chart of our policy. That
these constitute, until the fundamental law is
changed by methods which itself provides, The
highest laio of our obedience as citizens; ard
that we utterly discard that particular and ex
aggerated sympathy, the attempt to carry
which into practice is at the pera of oui Gg4fs
est interests as nation, and threatens liz, ~
Fiction of evils of tenfold magnitude ,Qlhuse
which it proposes TO heal.
HeSOiced, lnat the equality oi Tile Staies y
the vital element of the Consultation itself and
that all interference with the rights of The
States, by those who seek 10 disregard the
sacred guarantees of the past, and by all others,
should be rebuked with the same spirit hat
would denounce and repudiate all attempts to
erect odious distinctions between those who are
entitled to share the blessings and benefits of
our free institutions.
"Rcsoloed, That the effort to direct the power
Of the government by anti slavery agitations,
under the various names and phases Of Free.
Soilism, Anti-N ebraskaism, Fusionisru, and Re-
pubicanism, and by interfering with the rights
of conscience in establishing religious test as
republication for office, by the secret oath-bonnd
society of the Knownothings; is opposed both
to the letter and the spirit Of the Constitution,
and to the earnest teachings aud practice Of It's
earliest and most honored administrators.
"Resolred, That we are now as ever unal,era
bly, opposed to the doctrines aud designs ot all
organizations which contemplate the overthroa
of the civil and religious rights Of the citizen.
which, like the equality of the States is 4 sacred
and inalenable right never to be inieriered with
by factious parties and reckless legislation, with
out subversion of the primary objects III o1r
political system, and repudiation OF The ! tllu.
aniees of the past, and the hopes of the falur,.
"Resolred, That in the repeal of theact known
as the Missouri Compromise act, aud the PISS
sage of the act organizing the Territories of
Kansas and Nebraska, free from uneonstit,-
tional restrictions, the last Congress performed
work of patriotic sacrifice, ia meeting The
demands of sectional excitement by unshaken
adherence TO the fundamental law.
."Resolred That this legislation cannot BE-
deemed unnecessary, but that il was expedient
to meet the questions of which il disposed, aud
uybiob nonll n nr
ment than at present. That we recognize II,
it the application 10 the Territories of Tie
United States Of the rule Of equal and sSac,
justice to all men, of all sections Of the Con.
tederaey, which was designed by the lramer
of our Government, and which was defined "a
one of its essential principles by the immortal
Jefferson 1
Resoiced, That the Demoeracv of Pennsyl
vania, following the counsel Of some Of the
wisest statesmen of the North and South. were
ready on more than one occasion in the past 10
extend the Missouri Compromise line TO Tie
Pacific, so as TO make il the basis OF a final set
tlement Of the question of slavery in the Terri
tories; but when this proposition was rejected
in l84S, on the ground that 1t involved an nm
due concession to the South, by the very men
who now camor for restoration of the Mis-
souri, line, there seemed to be bu, one wise
alternative left, and that was to refer the whole
question Of slavery in the Territories to the
people thereof, to, be regulated as they may
deem proper; and we, therefore, cheerfnly ex
tend our hearty support TO the policy Of the
Government ms recognized in the compromise
measures OF 1850, and embodied in the laws
organizing the Territories Of Kansas and Ne.
braska."
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