The true Democrat., 1856-07-22
Address of Elias N. Conway to the People of the State of A,Lans.s

all the counties of the State. In fifty or ifty one out of hfty-iour counties resolutions Were passed, l believe, in favor of my nomination. and the three or four counties which had mi specially instructed in my favor were represent. ed Tn the state convention and their deleoates dld not oppose, but united in nominatino mo by exclamation.
 Such compliment, bestowed by the demo- cratic party of this state fills my heart with gratitude. The convention adopted platform of principles which are democratic, and fully approve them. The nomination have accent ed, and am candidate for reelection to the once of Governor of the State of Arkansas.
 My sentiments on political qu tons, now engrossng the attention of the public, I sub- mt to your kind consideration in this address.
 am and ever have been opposed to the es- taoiishlnent of national bank-to a protective tariff winch unjustly taxes one portion of the people for the benefit of another-to the dis trbutlon of the proceeds of the sales of the pubic lands among the several states--t to the as sumption by the federal governments of the debts of the several states contracted for local internal improvements or other state purposes--t to the in- reference by Congress with the domestic institu tlohs of the several states-I am opposed to striking from the constitution that part which gives the President qualified veto power (which has thrice saved the American people from the corrupt and tyrannical domination of the Bank of the United States
 am opposed to all attempts of abolitionists. freesolers, black republicans and their allies who seek to deprive the south of constitutional rights by restoring the unconstitutional Missouri con- promise hne l have confidence in the intelli. gence ot the people, in their patriotic devo ton to our republican intitutions, and believe that the people of the territories are fully ca pable, and have the right, to form and regu- late their domestic institutions in their own way, subject only to the constitution 1 hear tily approve the Kansas ebraska act which recognizes this principle, which is in harmony with the great republican axiom that the peo- pie are capable of self-governm ent.
 1 hold that whenever the number of nhab- tants of a territory justtes it, the people have the right, "acting through the legally and fairly expressed will of a majority of ac- ual residents, to form constitution, with or without domestic slavery, and be admitted in- o the Union upon terms of perfect equality with the other states.''
 The federal government in its action should be confined to its limited powers which are de- rived solely from the constitution. "The powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people," This provision of the con- .titution should be held in remembrance, and the rule of strict construction followed by all the departments and agents of the govern ment, so that the federal power may not entrcnch upon the reserved rights of the states and of the people.
 The federal government does not possess ho t0 m raj system of internal improvements; but is limited by the constitution in conducting and carrying on works of internal improvement in the states, to such as are clearly national and necessary. 1 hold that the moneys of the go- vernment should be kept separate from bank ing nsttutions-that rigid economy should be enforced and practised by every branch of the government, and no more revenue raised than is required to dcfray the nescessary expenses of the government.
 "The liberal principles embodied by Jetfer- son n the declaration of independence, and sanctioned in the constitution, which makes ours the land of liberty, and the asylum of the oppressed of every nation, have ever been cardinal principles in the democratic faith and every attempt to abridge the privilege of be- coming citizens and the owners of soil among us, ought to be esieted with the same spirit which swept the alien and sedition laws from our statute books"
 am in favor of the faithful administration of the existing naturalization laws aud am op- posed to any change in the time of residence required by them l am opposed to proscrb- ing any citizen on account of the place ot hs birth am opposed to diminishing or enar2- ing the civil and political privileges or capacities of any citizen on account of his religion. l am .l, R,,ti f may be asked who is in favor of uniting church and state? contend that eligious intolerance IS the first step towards it-a step in favor of monarchy--a blow at the cOnstitution-an as sault upon our republican insttutions-a begin ming made to crush out our civil liberty and re- l ligious freedom. The constitution declares that
 Conq,ess s1aU n1ake no lalO rspecting a establsh- oaent ot yeligion, or projttbting the free exercise MereQf" and that no religious test shaH e0er be reg4irei as qualification to any o?3ice or public | trust uaEertle United States The constitution IS binding on every citizen. It IS not lawful for any citizen to place himself under obligations whether publicly or secretly, to oppose, disregard or nullify any provision of the constitution.
 lam opposed to all secret political societies by whatever hamc they may be called.
 I belive " that the American or Know Noth- ing party, by its secret meetings Its cereinonlais, | it's oaths and mummeres, has tended to demoral ze public sentiment; whilst by embracing, as 1t now does. great sectional issue, and adopting, as it has done in it's very inception religious ln- tolerance, and political and civil incapacity be- cause of the accident of birth, as primary prin- ciples of political action, violates the spirit ot both the state and federal constitutions, and aims deadly blow at the highest and most sacred rights of man." The constitution oi the State of Arkansas declares, "naat an men hare q natural and indefeasible right to W0rst1p AkmioHty God acoor1ing to the dictates c tear oaon oonsciences-that no human authority can, an any case chateuer, inteere oi the 7aghts C c0scear'ce; aad ttat no prefereace sIaaU ever be GIVEN to any reliqious establishment or mode cf Dorshap, anu thu tue ciI rights priUileges or cdpac't'es 2 any citizen s1aN n no aoise be dinintshed or entargea oa account of his religion" The provisions ot the federal and state constitutions which have ouoted are founded upon eternal principles of justice and liberty. Then let all patriotic cltl zens mite and maintain the constitution as lt as preserve the Unon-secure to the states thelr eonalitv-cause the faithful observance and execution of all the stipulatjons of the consti- tution-thwart the antislavery party Tn Its efforts to destroy the equal rights of the slave holder and slave holding states-secure "equal and exact justice to all men of whatever state or pursuasion, religious or political" and pre- serve and transmit to future generations our noble government with all its inestlmable oies- sings of civil liberty and religious freedom.
 STATE POLICY.
 When candidate for the office of Governor of the state in June, 1852, l issued an address to the people in which stated, "l am friend of internal improvements and am gra- tifed to witness the lively interest aroused in the public mind on the subject."-"If elected Governor of this State, it will afford me plea sure to sanction all just and constitutional le- gslation to encourage railroads and other inter- nal improvements, without imposing state tax, or involving the state in debts which she can not honestly pay'-that "for the details of plans and the enactment ot laws to emoody and carry out the wishes of the peope Ill rela- tion thereto. I shall look to the General Assem- h,, ooro;n,x frosb from the people of every