Washington sentinel., 1856-05-22
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM OF
PENNSYLVANIA lis 1T SUFFICI-
EMILY NATIONAL FOR EVERY
SECTION OF THE UNIONf


ciples" adopted by the Pennsylvania Demo
cratic State Convention assembled at Harris
burg on the 4th Of March last, and have as
signed it a prominent place at the head Of our
columns until nomination be made by the
National Convention. The resolutions em-
bracing this platform were submitted to Mr..
BUCHANAN by special committee appointed
by the State Convention to apprize him formally
of his nomination. and we follow the resolu-
tions with his reply to that committee. We
animation of this platform" without being
convinced of its entire soundness upon the
great issues of the day unless he be one of
those who are determined, in the face of light
and knowledge, to "retain the same opinion
still" and continue to charge the whole Demo
cratic party of Pennsylvania, and her distin-
guished candidate with falsehood and dupcity
That there are such now engaged under heavy
pay in the crusade against Mr.. BUCHANAN, on
account Of his great strength an the affections
Of the people, and aohicA he ,oM not barter
a,oay to secure the .tavor Of contrioing political
managers, we are well aware-THEY .cM not
be convinced, and we do not ask them to pay
the least attention to what we write. The
true, the honest, the enlightened PEOPLE,
who now form the mighty pillars of the great
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, which will sustain the
UNION as a ohole, and not by sections, are our
readers And they will do justice to our can
didata and n bia trna friapdo ar,nnr, ,,,bor, ma
proudly class ourselves
The Democratic Platform OF PennsyI-
vnnia.
ResolUed, That in the present distracted con-
dition of parties, in which sectional and 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 the illustrious 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 to the people, as
equally incorporated with, and essential to, the
success of the general system; and TO avoid
conscience or the functions of religion, SO
wisely exempted from civil jurisdiction"
Resolped, 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, 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 fugitives escaped
from labor or service, they demonstrated n
sense OF justice, an appreciation of the value of
the Union, an attachment to its preservation,
an avoidance OF sne-sided philanthropy and
mpracticable theories of government, which
present proper example for the guidance and
imitation of US their descendants.
Resolved That we look only TO the Constitu
ton, and the exposition thereof which has been
afforded by the practices of Democratic admin
istraiions, for the chart Of our policy That
these constitute, until the fundamental law is
changed by methods which itself provides, the
highest laao Of our obedience as citizens; and
that we utterly discard that partial and ex.
aggerated sympathy, the attempt to carry
which into practice is at the peril of our dear
est interests as nation, and threatens the in
Fiction of evils of tenfold magnitude to those
which it proposes to heal.
Resolped That the equality of the States is
the vital element Of the Constitution itself, and
that all interference with the rights of the
States, by those who seek to disregard the
sacred guarantees of The past, and by all Others
should be rebuked with the same spirit that
would dencunce and repudiate all attempts to
~ Aictfp katvu tbnc L.,
entitled to share the blessings and benefits Of
our free institutions
Resoired, That the effort TO direct the power
Of the government by anti slavery agitations
under the various names and phases Of Free
Soilism, Anti-Nebraskaism, Fusionism, and Re
publicanism, and by interfering with the rights
of conscience in establishing a religious test as
a qualification for Office, by the secret oath bound
society Of the Knownothings, is opposed both
to the letter and the spirit OF the Constitution,
and TO the earnest teachings and practice of its
earliest and most honored administrators
ResolUed, That we are now as ever unaItera
bly, opposed to the doctrines and designs of all
organizations which contemplate the overthrow
Of the civil and religious rights Of the citizen,
like the equality of the States, is q sacred and
inalienable right, never TO be interfered with BY
factious parties and reckless legislation, with.
Ouh N hhDNtfslOH VI ODltCtS OF our
political system, and a reputation of the guar.
antees Of the past, and the hopes Of the future.
Resolred That in the repeal Of the act known
as the Missouri Compromise act, and the pas.
sage Of the act organizing the Territories Of
Kansas and Nebraska, free from unconstitu-
tional restrictions, the last Congress performed
work Of patriotic sacrifice, in meeting the
demands OF sectional excitement by unshaken
adherence to the fundamental law.
Resotred That this legislation cannot be
deemed unnecessary, but that it was expedient
to meet the question OF which it disposed, and
which could never admit Of more easy settle.
ment than at present. That we recognize in
it the application TO the Territories Of the
United States Of the rule Of "equal and exact
justice to all men," Of all sections Of the Con.
iederacy, which was designed by the framer,
Of our Government, and which was defined as
one Of its essential principles by the immortal
Jefferson.
RESOLVED, That the Democracy OF Pennsyl.
vania, following the counsel OF some Of the