The Ripley advertiser., 1856-07-10
The National Democratic Plat
form.
Adopted u Cisesssdii, jsss atA, 1856.


REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
RESOLUTIONS.
The Committee on Resolutions. by thei'
Chairman. Mr.. Hallet. Of Massachusetts
submit the following report:
Resolved. That the American Democra.
cy place their trust in the intelligence.
the patriotism, and the discriminating jus.
tice Of the American people.
Resolved. That we regard this as dis.
tinctive feature Of our political creed, which
we are proud TO maintain before the world
as the great moral element in form ol
government springing from and upheld BY
de popular will; aud We contrast it with
the creed and practice Of feder slism, undeI
whatever name or form, which seeks 70
palsy the will Of the constituent, and which
conceives no imposture too monstrous fol
the popular credulity.
Resolced, therefore, That entertaining
these views. the Democratic party Of this
Usion. thro' their delegates assembled in
= general convention, coming together in
y spirit Of concord. Of devotion to the doc
trnes and faith Of free representative
government, and appealing to their fellow
citizens for the rectitude OF their intentions
renew and re-assert before the American
people the declarations ofprinciples avow'
ed By them when, on former occasions, in
general convention. they have presented
their candidates for the popular suifrages:
/. That the federal government is one
of limited powers, derived solely from the
constitution and The grants Of power made
therein ought to be strictly construed BY al
,he departments aId agents Of the govern
rnent & that tits inexpedient and dangerous
to exercise doubtful constitutional powers
2. That the constitution does not confer
npon the general government the power to
commence and carry on a general system
OF internal improvements.
;. That the constitution does not confer
authority upon the federal government. di.
rectly or indirectly, to assume the debts oi
the several States, contracted for local and
internal improvements or other State pur-
poses; nor would such assumption be just
Or expedient.
4. That justice and sound policy forbid
the federal government TO foster one
branch OF industry TO the detriment of any
other, or to cherish the interests OF one
portion to the injury Of another portion OF
our common country that every cilizen, and
every section Of the country, has right
to demand and insist upon an equality OF
rights aud privileges, and to complete an
ample protection of persons and property
from domestic violence or foreign aggres-
sion.
5. That it is the duty Of every branch
Of the government to enforce and prac.
eice the most figid economy in conducting
our public affairs, and that no more reven-
-ue ought to be raised than Is required to
'defray the necessary expenses OF the gov
ernment, and for the gradual but certain
extinction Of the public debt. =.
6. That the proceeds Of the public
lands ought to be sacredly applied to
the national objects specified in the conssi-
tuition; and that we are opposed to any law
for the distribution Of such proceeds among
the States. as alike iuexpedient in policy
and repugnant to the constitution.
7. That Congress has no power to char
ter national bank; that we believe such
an institution one Of deadly hostility 70 the
best interests Of he country, dangerous to
our republican institutions and the liberties
ofthe people, and calculated to place the
business Of the country within the control
,ofa concentrated money power. and above
the laws and the will Of the people; and
that the results Of democratic legislation,
in this and all other financial measures
upon which issues have been made be-
tween The two political parties Of the coun.
try, have demonstrated, to candid and
practical men ofall parties, their sound
ness, safety, and utility in all business pur-
suits.
8. That the separation Of the monies
vofthe government from banking institutions
is indispensable for the safety Of the funds
of the government and the rights Of the
people.
9. That we are decidedly opposed
to taking from the President the quail
6cd veto power. by which be is enabled,
under restrictions and responsibilities am
ply sufficient to guard the public interest,
TO suspend the passage Of bill whose
merits cannot secure the approval OF two
thirds Of the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives, until the judgement ofthc peo'
pie can be obtained thereon. aud which has
saved the American people from the cor
rupt and tvrannical domination OF The Bank
of the United States. and from a cCrrupting
system Of general internal improvements.
10. That the liberal principles embodied
by Jefferson in the Declaration Of lndepen.
dcnce, and sanctioned in the Constitution,
which makes ours the land Of liberty and
the asylum Of the oppressed Of every nation
have ever been cardinal principles in the
democratic faith, and every attempt 70
abridge the privilege Of becoming citizens
and the owners Of soil among vs., ought to
be resisted with the same spirit which
swept the alien and sedition laws from our
sIatute books.
And WHEREAS. Since the foregoing dec.
laration was uniformly adopted by our
predecessors in National Conventions. an
adverse political and religious 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 opposition to all secret political
societies, BY whatever name they may be
called.
Resolved, That the foundation Of this
union Of States having been laid in, and its
prosperity. expansion. and pre-eminent ex-
ample in free Government built upon en-
tire freedom in matters of religious con.