, 1856-07-25

that the American democracy should clear
ly define its relations thereto therefore,
/. ReS0ird, That the foundation OF this
Union Of States having been laid in lis
prosperity, expansion and pre-emiucnt cX-
ample in free government, butt upon entire
freedom in matters of religious concern,
and no respect of persons in regard to rank
or place of birth, no party can justly be,
deemed national, constitutional, or III ac-
cordance with American principles, which
bases its exclusive organization upon rellS-
ions opinions and accidental birthplace.
2. Res0iced, That we reiterate with re-
newed energy of purpose the well consider
ed declarations of former Conventions upon
the sectional issue of domestic slavery, and
concerning the reserved rights fthc States;
and that we may more distinctly meet the
issue on which q sectional party, subsisting
exclusively OH slavery agitation, now relies
to test the fidelity of the people, North and
South, to the constitution and the Union,
8. Resoircd, That claiming fellowship
with aud desiring the cooperation OF all
who regard the preservation Of the Union,
under the constitution, as the paramount
issue, and repudiating all sectional parties
and platforms concerning domestic slavery
which seek to embroil the States and inclte
to treason and armed resistance to law in
the Territories, and whose avowed purposes,
il consummated, must end in civil war and
disunion, the American democracy rccog-
nize and adopt the principles contained in
the organic laws establishing the Terrific
ries of Kansas and Nebraska, as embodying
the only sound and safe solution of the sla-
very question upon which the great national
idea of the people of this whole country
can rcpose in its determined conservatism
of the Union non-interiercnce by Con-
gress with slavery in States and Terrific
ries that this was the basis Of the COM
promises of 1850, confirmed by both the
democratic and whig parties in National
Conventions, ratified by the people in the
election of 1852, and rightly applied to the
organization Of Territories in 1854; that
by the uniform application of this demo-
cratic principle to the organization of Ter
ritories and the admission of new States,
with or without domestic slavery, as they
may elect, the equal rights of the States
will be preserved intact, the original COM
pactS of the constitution maintained inyio-
late, and the perpetuation and expansion
of this Union ensured to its utmost capaci-
ty of embracing, in peace and harmony
every future American State that may be
constituted or annexed with republican
form Of government.
4. RcsOlrcd, That We recognize the right
of the people Of allAhe Territories ,-inclu-
ding Kansas and Nebraska, acting through
the fairly expressed will of the majority Of
actual residents and whenever the num-
ber of their inhabitants justifes it, to form
constitution, with or without domestic
slavery, and be admitted into the Union
upon terms of perfect equality with the
other States.
5. Rcsolred, That the democratic party
recognizes the great Importance in politi-
cal and commercial point Of view, Of a safe
and speedy communication within our own
Territory between the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts of this Union and it is the duty Of
the federal government to exercise prompt
ly oil its constitutional powers for the at
:ainment of that object. %
6. Resotrcd, .faaHH That the condition
of popular institutions in the Old World
and the dangerous tendencies to sectional
agitation, combined with the attempt to
enforce civil and religious disabilities
against the rights of acquiring and enjoy
ing citizenship in our own land, high and
sacred duty has devolved, with increased
responsibility, upon the democratic party of
this country, as the party Of the Union, to
uphold and maintain the rights Of every
State, and thereby the Union Of the States,
aud to sustain the advance among US Of
constitutional liberty, by continuing to re-
sst all monopolies aud exclusive legislation
for the benefit Of the few at the expense Of
the many, and by vigilant and constant
adherence to those principles and compro-
misses of the constitution which arc broad
and strong enough to embrace and uphold
the Union as it was, and the Union as it
shall be, in the full expansion Of the ener-
gies and capacity Of this great and pro-
grcssive people.
The following are the resolutions upon
the foreign policy Of the country
l. Resolred, That the questions connect
cd with the foreign policy Of the country
ore inferior to no domestic question what
ever. The time has come for the people Of
the United States to declare themselves in
favor of free seas and progressive free trade
throughout the world, and, by solemn mani
festations, place their moral influence by
the side Of their successful example.
2. Resolred, That our geographical and
political position in reference to other
States on this continent, no less than the
interest of our commerce, and the develop
ment of our growing power, requires that
VIC hold sacred the principles involved in
the Monroe doctrine, and their binding i'm
port, which admits of no misconstruction,
and should be applied with unbending
rigidity.