M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-10-23
The Democratic Platform Adop-
teti at the Cincinnati NnttOusd
Conventions zr..r ~ !

ted nc the CinclnnnTI National
Conventions zra.' ~
,s 2esolpsd, That the American Democracy
place their trust in the intelligence, the pat,
Iiotism. and the discriminating justice ol
the American people.
Rtsolred, That we regard this as dislinc-
tive feature OF our political creed which we
are prou,l 10 maiutsin before the world, as
the great motal element in a form OF govern
ment springing from snd up held by the poPu.
lar willard we contrast il with the creed and
practice of federalism, ,umier whatever name
or form, which seeks to palsy the will OF the
constituent, and which cOnceives no lmpos-
ture too monstrous for the popular creduli-
~.
Rssolrsd, h.rJore, That enter tanning these
views, the Democratic party Of the Union,
throueh their delegates assembled in general
Convention, coming together in spirit OF
concord, of devotion 10 the doctrines and
faith of a free representative government
and appealing to their fellow citizens Tor the
rec,itude of their intentions, renew and re-
assert before the American people the declam'
lions of principles avowed by them when on
former occasions, in general Convention,
they have presented their candidates Tor popu-
lar suifrages.
|. That the Federal Government is one OF
limited power, derived solely from the Con-
stitution that the grants Of power, therein
oupht to be strictly construed by all the de-
csrtments and agents Of the Government &.
and il is inexpeiient and dangerous to exer,
else doubtful constitutional powers.
Q. That the Constitution does not confer
uron the General Government the power to
commence and carry on general system OF
internal Improvements
3. That the Constitution does not confer
authority upon the Federal Government, di-
rectly or indirectly, to assume the debts OF
the several States, contracted for local and
internal improvements, or other State pur-
poses nor would such assumption be just. or
s1pedient.
4. That justice and sound policy forbid the
Federal Government to foster one branch oil
industry TO the detIiment Of any other, or to
cherish the interests Of one portion to the
injury of another portion of our common
country, that every citizen and every
section Of the country has a right to
demand and insist upon an equality Of rights
and privileges, and to a complete and ample
protection of persons and property from
domestic violence or foreign aggression.
5. That it is the duty of every branch Of
the Government TO enforce and practice the
most rigid economy in conducting our pub.
lie affairs, and that no more revenue ought
10 be raised than is required TO delray the
necessary expenses of the Government, and
for the gradual, but certain extinction OF the
public debt.
6. That the proceeds Of the public lands
ought to be sacredly applied TO the national
objects specified in the Constitution and
that we are opposed 10 any law for the dis
tribution Of such proceeds among the States.
as alike ihexpedient in policy and repugnant
10 the Constitution.
z. That Congress has no power to charter
national bank that we deem such all in
sutution one Of deadly hostility to the best
interests of the country; dangerous to or
republican institutions and the liber ties Of
the people, aud calculated to place the bust
ness of the county within the control Of a
concentrated money power, and above the
laws and the will nj the people; aud thai
the results OF Democratic legislation IL
this and all othe. financial measures upor
which issues have been made between tb'
two poltica! parties of the country, have
demonstrated TO candid and practical m7r
of all parties, their safety aud utility in 81
business pursuits.
8. That the separation Of the moneys o.
the Government from banking institutions
is indispensable for the safety of the funds
OF the Govemmentand the rights Of the peo'
pie.
9. That we are decidedly opposed to ia.
king from The President the qualified veto
poverty which he is enabled, under restric.
tions aud responsibilities amply sufficient to
guard the public interests, to suspend the pas.
sage of bill whose merits cannot secure the
approval OF two thirds of the Senate and House
Of Representatives, until the judgment Of the
people can he obtained thereon. and which
has saved the American people from the cor.
rupt and tyTannical domination OF the Bark
of the United States and from corrupting
system Of general internal improvements.
TO- That the liberal principles embodied by
Jefferson in the Declaration Of independence
and sanctioned in the Constitution, which
makes ours the land Of liberty and the asy
lum Of the oppressed of every nation, have
ever been cardinal principles in the the Dem
OcIatic faith, and every attempt 10 abridgC
the privelige of becoming citizens and ow
ners Of soil among us ought to be resisted
with the same spirit which swept the aieI
Snd sediton laws from our statute books.
And WHEREAS, Since the foregoing de
elaration uniformly adopted by our pre-
decessors in National Conventions, an ad
verse political and religious test has beeI
secretly organized by a party claiming to b
exclusively American, it is proper that tn
American Democracy should clearly defn
= its relations thereto, and declare its deter
mined opposition to all secret political soci
ties. by whatever name they may be called,
Resolyed, That the foundation OF this un
ion of States having been laid in, and it
prosperity. expansion and pre-. eminent ex
ample in free government built upon entir
freedom Of matters Of religious concernmen
and no respect OF persons. in regard to ranI
or place of birth K; no party can justly b
deemed national, or in accordance wit
American principles, which bases its exclu
sive organization upon religious opinion
and accidental birth.place. And hence
political crusade in the nineteenth century
aud in the United States Of fAmeiica. sgains
Catholics and foreign. born citizens is neithe
EoI H., tk f,.N