Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1856-07-02
Democratic National Platform.

:. lne I1uOHinS u tue lasioIM oooP'Su
BY the Cincinnati Convention: i
,Resolred, That the American Democ-
rscy place their trust in the intelligence,
the patriotism and the discriminating
Justice Of the American people.
Resolred, That we regard this as a
distinctive feature Of our political creed,
which we are proud to maintain before
the world, as the great moral element in
aform of government springing from and
upheld by The popular will and we con:
trast it with the creed and practice of
Federalism, under whatever name or
!; form, which seeks to palsy the will OF
the constituent, and which conceivcs no
imposture TOO monstrous for the popular
credulity. f., !. ~s<
Resotyed, therefore,, That, entertaining
these views, the Democratic party ofthis
Union, through their delegates assembled
= in general Convention, coming togeth-
err in spirit Of concord, OF devotion to
the doctrines and faith of a free represen-
tative government, and appealing to their
fellow-citizens for the rectitude Of their
intentions, renew and reassert before the
American peoplethe declarations Of prin-
ciples avowed by them when on former
occasions, id general Convention, they
have presented their candidates for pop
ular suffrages. =, u .
: ]. That the Federal Government is
one Of limited power, derived solely from
the Constitution; and the grants ofpower
made therein ought TO be strictly con-
strued by all the departments and agents
of the Government; and that it is mex:
pedient and dangerous to exercise doubt
full constitutional powers.
! 2. That the Constitution does not con-
fer upon the General Government the
power to commence and carry on gem
eral system Of internal improvements. i
8. That the Constitution does not conf
fer authority upon the Federal Govern
mont, directly or indirectly, to assume
the debts of tho several States, contract
cd for local and internal improvements
or other State purposes, nor would suchl
assumption be Just or expedient. 1
4. That justice and sound policy for
bid the Federal Government to foster one33
branch Of industry to the detriment of
any other, or to- cherish the interests Of
one portion to the injury Of another pof-
ton Of our common country; that every
citizen and every section of the country I
has a right to demand and insist upon an
equality of rights and privileges, and to
complete an ample protection of persons
and property from domestic violence or
foreign aggression. H.. i
5. That It is the duty Of every branch
Of the Government to enforce and prac.
tice the mostrigid economy in conduct
ing our public affairs, and that no more
revenue ought to besraised than is rel
CURED to defray the necessary expenses
Of the Government, and for the gradual,
but certain extinction of thepublic debt.
s. That the proceeds Of the public
lands ought to be sacredly applied to the
national objects specifedin the Consti-
tuition; and that we are opposed TO any
law for the distribution of such proceeds
among the States, as alike inexpedient in
policy and repugnant to the Constitutio n
+ 7. That Congress has no power to
charter national bank; that we believe
such an institution one Of deadly hostili-
" To the best interests Of the country,
dangerous to our public institutions and
the liberties of the people, and calculated
to place the business Of the country with
in the control Of concentrated money
power, and above the laws and the will Of
the people; and that the results Of Dem
ocratic legislation in, this and all other
financial measures upon which issues
haze been made between the two politi-
cal parties of the country, have demon
strated to candid and practical men of all
parties, their soundness, safety and utili- +
q in all BUSINESS pursuits. \ ,.s
8. That the separation Of the moneys
OF the Government FROM banking institu.
tons is indispensable for the salty Of the
funds of the Government and the rights
Of the people. trt = :. s4:ss.. III
9. That we are decidedly opposed to
taking from the President the qualified
veto power, by which he is enabled, un.
restrictions and responsibilities amply |
sufficient to guard the public interests, to
suspend the passage Of a bill whose mer-
its cannot secure the approval of two
thirds Of the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives, until the judgment Of the peo-
pie can be obtained thereon, and which |
has saved the American people from the
corrupt and tyranical domination Of the
Bank of the United States, and from a
corrupting system Of general internal inn
provements. -3@*. |
10. That the liberal principles embo-
died by Jefferson in the Declaration of
Independence, and sanctioned in the
Constitution, which makes ours the land |
Of liberty and the asylum Of the Cypress.
ed of every nation, have ever been eaxdi- |
nal principles in the Democratic faith,
and every attempt to abridge the privi-d
lege Of becoming citizens and the owners
Of soil among US, ought to be resisted
with the same spirit which swept the
alien and seditionllaws from our statute
books. = Z: Il + .stt. III .#sff...s.
: Ind whereasJ Since the foregoing dec
laration was uniformity adopted by our
predecessors in National Conventions,
an adverse political and religious test has
been secretly organized by party claim
inc n he exclusively American. il il nro.