Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-10-30
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

miilt@lh before the world, as the great moral ele-
ment in Il form of government sIringing from and
upheld by the popular will and contrast it with
the creed and practice of Federalism, under what
ever name and form. which seeks to palsy the will
of the constituent; and which cOnccivcs impos-
ture too monstrous for the public credulity.
Rcsolred. therefore, That, entertaining these
views, the Democratic party of this Union through
their delegates assembled in general Convention,
coming together in spirit of concord, of devotion
to the doctrines and faith of free representative
government, and appealing to their fellow citizens
for the recttude of their intentions, renew and re-
assure before the American people the declarations
of principles avOwed by them on former occasions
in general Convention, they have presented their
candidates for popular suiiragcs.
l. That the Federal government is one of limit
ed power, derived solely from the Constitution; and
the grants of power made therein ought to he strict
" construed by all the departments and agents of
the government; and that it is incxpedien: and dam
gcrous to exercise doubtful constitutional powers.
.. That the Constitution does not confer upon
the General Government the power To commence
and carry on general system OF internal improve
ments
s. That the Constitution does not confer author
ity upon the Federal Government, directly or indi-
rectlv, to assume the debts of the several States
contracted for local and internal improv ements or
other State purposes, nor would such assumption
be just or expctent.
H. That justice and sound policy forbid the Fed
eral Government to foster one branch of industry
to the detrment of any other, TO cherish the in
terests of portion the injury of another por-
ton of our common country: that every citizen and
every section of the country has right to demand
and insist upon equality of rights and privileges,
and to complete an ample protection of persons and
property from domestic violence or foreign agrees
ion.
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
more revenue ought to be raised than is required
to dcfray the necessary expenses of the Govern
ment and for the gradual but certain extinction of
the public debt
g. That the proceeds of the public funds ought to
be sacredly applied to the national objects specified
in the Constitution: and that we are opposed to anv
law for the distribution of such proceeds among the
States, alike incxpcdient in policy and rcpunant
To the Constitution.
7. That Congress has power to charter a ma
tional bank that we believe such an institution one
Of deadly hostility to the best interests of the
try, dangerous To our republican institutions and
the liberties of the people, and calculated to place
the business of the country within the control of IL
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 upol which issues have been made be-
the two political parties of the country, have
demonstrated to candid ana practical men of all
parties, their sounlncss safety and utility in all bu
siness pursuits.
Z. That the separation Of the moneys of the
Government from banking institutions is indispcn-
sable for the safety OF the funds OF the GOvernm, mt
AMI the rights of the people.
Q. That we are decidedly opposed to taking from
the PrcSiden. the qualified veto power; by which he
is enabled, under restrictions and responsibilities
amply sUllicicn; to gnard the public interests, to
suspend the passage of a bill whose merits cannot
secure the approval OF twO-thrls 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 tyramical domination of the Bank of the Uni
ted States and from cOrrupting system of gcner-
al internal improvements.
TO- Tint the liberal principles embodied by JEFF
fcrson in the Dedication OF Independence and
sanctioned by the Constitution. which makes ours
the land Of liberty and the asylum of the oppressct
of every lton, have ever been cardinal principle
of the Democratic faith, and every ATTIC mft t,
abridSc the privilege Of becoming citizens and tn,
owners of soil among Us, ought be resisted wild
the same spirit which swept the alien and sediiion
laws from our statute books.
AND, WHEREAS, Since the foregoing declaration
was uniformly adopted by predecessors in Ma
tiOnal Convention. an adverse political and relig-
ious test has been secretly organized by party
claiming to be exclusively American; it Is proper
that the American Democracy should clearly define
its relations thereto and declare its determined OPP
position 10 MI secret political societies, by whatever
name they my be called.
Res0Ired, That the foundation of this Union of
States, having been Laid III, and its prosperity, cx-
plnSion, and pre-cmincnt example in free govern
mcnts built upon entire freedom in matters of
religious conccnment, and that no respect
of person i'll regard to rank place of birth;
no party can Justly be deemed NATIONAL cOns;itu-
tional, or in accordance with American principles,
which bases its exclusive organization upon religious
opinions and accidental birth place And hence.
political crusade the nineteenth century, and in
the United States of America, against Catholics
and foreign-born, Is neither justified by the past his
tory the future prospects of the country, nor in
unison with the spirit of liberation and enlarged
freedom which peculiarly distinguishes the Ameri-
can system of popular government.
Resotred, Thai we reitcratc, with renewed encr-
gy of purpose, the well-consdcred declarations of
former Conventions upon the sectional issue of do
mestic Slavery, and concerning the reserved rights
of the States:
1. That Congress has no power, under the Con
stitut0n, to interfere with or control the domestic
institutions of the several States, and that such
States the sole and proper judges of everything
appertainag to their own Affairs, not prohibited by
the Constitutions that all efforts of the Abolitioniss
or others, made to interfere with questions of
slavery or to take ncipicnt steps in violation there
to, are calculated to lead to the most alarming and
dangerous consequences; and that all such efforts
have an inevitable tendency to diminish the happi-
ness of the people and endanger the stability ami
permanently of the Union, and not to be countenan-
ced by any friend of our political institutions.
,. That the foregoing proposition covers, and
was inted to embrace, the whole subject of slavery
in Congress; and therefore, the Democratic party of
the Union, standing OF this national PLATFORM, will
abide by and adhere to IA faithful execution of the
acts known as the Compromise Measures, settled
by the Congress of lo5t; the "act retaining fng-
tives from service or labor included; which act
being designed to carry out an express provision OF
the Constitution, cannot, with fidelity thereto, be
rcpe lied, changed as to destroy or impair its
eiliccncv.