The Winchester appeal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1856-1856, 1856-06-14
Democratic Platform.

up Oi negative DIIHclplcS tIlTOuShoul'
except the last four or five resolutions
which were afterwards declared not
to be essential principles, but such as
the party would recommend. 1t is
amusing if not dcplorabIc to see the
manner in which they have evadcd
the issues witch they have pretended
to meet. They are true to themselves
in opposition to Native Amcricanism,
by their insinuations of restrictions on
the liberty of conscience, which they
know no party in the country advo-
cate. Gen. Pierce more than a year
ago laid down the position Of the DEM
ocratic party on internal improve
ments to be, that Congress has no right
under the Constitution to appropriate
the funds Of tho Government to inter-
nal improvement, except in cases OF
strictly national concern. And this
was for long time prominent ar
ticle Of democratic faith, but now in
this new'platiorm the doctrine is evil
IDENTIFY modified. and says that the Gov
eminent should not commence and
carry out any general system of inter
nal Improvement, no reference being
made to any exceptions in favor Of
national purposes, showing that at
this time they make no distinction OK
ccpt as to general system Of improve
mcnt, admitting Of as many particular
or special eases as they choose, thus
making a full surrender of their old
prcjudiccs to the wing policy. Still
if the American party, or if the Wing
party was alive and advocated the old
principle in their platform, the demo-
Gratis would have opposition to it an
item Of their faith.
The most alarming omission in their
deliberations in the Convention was
that no one dared to propose plank
Of opposition to the dangerous ques-
ton Of territorial sovereignty, much
less did they insert one in the platform.
That strange omission now fills our
mind with fears FOR the independence
of the South, that very thing which
their Southern organs have declared
the most odous and dangerous of all
slavery questions. Had the Southern
delegates limited such a thing in the
Convention it would have looked as if
they were willing to make some effort
to secure and sustain their rights, but
they did not dare to chirp on the sub
.jrct, entirely cyading the point by
merely saying that Territories had the
right to say whether they would Or
would not have slavery when they
come TO fern constitution to be adj
miltcd into the Union, IA position that
no body ever questioned, except Will
mot provisoisis. The platform does
not say one word about the limited
powers Of a territory, while n terrific
~. Oh no, that would have knocked
Mr.. Cass out of the ring, which they
would not dare to do. They knew that
would not do. As their platform now
stands, Mr.. Buchanan (if elected
might lend the aid of the general gov.
crnment TO drive Southernors out of
any new territory with their slaves, if
the foreign squatlcr Of the territories
should say that slavery should not OK.
ist there. We ask is there q man
south of aboitiondom that would SUBJ
init to it "if any, speak, for him has
democracy offended" But when men
silently refuse to demand their rights,
is it probable that they would dare to
contend for them when they are taken
from them3 We do honestly believe
hat the Southern men who went to
hat Convention would tamcly submit
Tor the sake of purity, to the dictation
Of "ihus far to slavery, given by the
North. We have this to say then: if
such is the spirit of the South this
Union is safe under all circumstances,
whether the Constitution is or not
What a noble magnanimity and self
,srifcing virtue this thing patriotism