Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-06-12
PLATFORM OF THE DEMO
CRATIC PARTY AS ADOPTED
BY THE CINCINNATI CON-
VENTION.

L
| Resoloed That the American Democracy
place their trust in the intelligence, the patri
otism and the discriminating Justice OF the
American people.
Resotoed, That we regard this as distinc-
tive feature Of our creed which we are proud
| to maintain before the world as great element
in form Of government springing from and
upheld by a popular will; and we contrast it
with the creed and practice of Federalism, un-
der whatever name or form, which seeks to
| palsy the vote of the constituent, and which
| conceives no imposture too monstrous for the
popular credulity.
| Resoloed, Therefore, That entertaining these
views, the Democratic party of the Union,
| through their delegates assembled in general
convention of the States, convening together
in a spirit of concord, Of devotion to the doc
trines and faith of free representative gov
ernment, and appealing to their fellow citizens
for the rectitude of their intentions, renew and
reassert before the American people the decla-
rations of principles avowed by them, when,
on former occasions, in general convention,
they presented their candidates for the popular
suffrages.
l. That the federal government is one of
liberal powers, derived solely from the Consti-
tuition, and the grants Of power made therein
ought to be strictly construed by all the de-
partments and agents Of the government; and
that it is inexpedient and dangerous to exer-
else doubtful constitutional powers.
2. That the Constitution does not confer
upon the general government the power to
commence and carry on a general system of in
ternal improvements.
3. That the Constitution does not confer au-
thority upon the federal government, directly
or indirectly, to assume the debts of the several
States, contracted for local internal improve
| ments, or other State purposes; nor would
such assumption be Just or expedient.
A. That justice and sound policy forbid the
federal government to foster one branch of in
dustry to the detriment Of any other or to
cherish the interests of one portion to the in.
jury of another portion of our common coun-
try that every citizen and every section of
the country has a right to demand and insist
upon an equality of rights and privileges, and
a complete and ample protection of persons
and property from domestic violence and for
eign aggression.
5. That it is the duty of every branch Of the
Government to enforce and practice the most
rigid economy in conducting our public affairs
and that no more revenue ought to be raised
than is required to defray the necessary expen-
penses of the Government, and for gradual but
certain extinction of the public debt.
6. That Congress has no power to charter q
National Bank; that we believe such an insti-
tuition one of deadly hostility to the best interest
of our country, dangerous to our republican in.
stitutions and the liberties of the people, and
calculated to place the business of the country
within the control of concentrated money
power, and above the laws and will of the peo-
Pile; and that the results of Democratic legis
Ia, ;,,ft pd oil xth ~ al
upon which issues have been made between
the two political parties of the country, have
demonstrated to practical men of all parties
their soundness, safety and utility in all bust
ness pursuits.
Z. That the separation of the moneys of the
Government from all banking institutions is in
dispensable for the safety of the funds Of the
Government and the rights of the people.
8. 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 asylum Of the
oppressed Of every nation have ever been car
dinal principles in the Democratic faith, and
every attempt to abridge the privilege Of be-
coming citizens and owners of soil among us
ought to be resisted with the same spirit which
swept the alien and sedition laws from our
statute book.
9. That Congress has no power under the
Constitution to interfere with or control the do
mestc institutions Of the several States, and
that all such States are the sole and proper
judges Of everything appertaining TO their own
affairs not prohibited by the Constitution that
all efforts Of the abolitionists or others made
TO induce Congress to interfere with questions
Of slavery, or to take incipient steps n relation
thereto are calculated to lead TO the most
alarming and dangerous consequences, and
that all such efforts have an inevitable tendency
TO diminish the happiness Of the people and
endanger the stability and permanency Of the
Union, and ought not to be countenanced by
any friend Of our political institutions
Resoloed, That the foregoing proposition
covers and was intended to embrace the whole
subject Of slavery agitation in Congress, and
therefore the Democratic party Of the Union,
standing on this national platform, will abide
by and adhere to faithful execution Of the
acts known the compromise measures settled
by Congress, the act for reclaiming fugitives
from service or labor included which act be-
ing designed TO carry out an express provision
of the Constitution, cannot, with fidelity there
to, be repealed or so changed as to destroy or
impair its efficiency.
Resolred, That the Democratic party will re-
sist all attempts at renewing in Congress, or
out of it, the agitation Of the slavery question,
under whatever shape or color the attempt may
be made.
RESOLVED, That the proceeds Of the public
lands ought TO be sacredly applied to the ma
tional objects specified in the Constitution, and
that we are opposed to any law for the distri
button Of such proceeds among the States, as
alike inexpedient in policy and repugnant to
the Constitution.
Resolred, That we are decidedly opposed to
taking from the President the qualified veto
power, by which he is enabled, under restric.
tons and responsibilities amply sufficient to
guard the public interests, to suspend the pas
sage OF a bill whose merits cannot secure the
approval Of two.thirds of the Senate and House
Of Representatives until the judgment of the
people can be obtained thereon, and which has
saved the American people from the corrupt
and tyrannical dominion of the Bank Of the
United States, and from a corrupting system
of general internal improvements.
Resolped, That the Democratic party will
i e. L.. ~LglI L. c.xI.