Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1856-07-02

country, nor in unison with the spirit o.
federation and enlarged freedom which
peculiarly distinguishes the A mericau
system Of popular government. ,
| Resoiped, That we reiterate with. re-
newed energy Of purpose, the well-con'
sidered declarations Of former. Conven'
Itions upon the sectional issue OF, Domes.
tic Slavery, and concerning the reserved
rights of the States.,--
j Il. That Congress has no power under
the Constitution, to interfere with or con-
i troll the domestic institutions OF the sew
erale States, and that such States are the
sole and proper judges Of everythi ling APP
pertaining to, their own affairs, not pro-
hibited by the Constitution; that all ef-
forts of the abolitionists or other 3, made
to induce Congress to interfere with
questions Of slavery, or to take incipient
steps in relation thereto, are calculated
to lead to the most alarming and danger
GUS consequences and that all such eff
forts have an inevitable tendency 70 d.
minish the happiness Of the people, and
endanger the stability and permanency
of the Union, and ought not to be counte
nanced by any friend of our political in
situations. II ~
2. That the foregoing proposition COW
ers, and-was intended to embrace, the
whole subject Of slavery agitation in Con-
gress and therefore, the Democratic
party of the Union, standing on this ma
tional platform, will abide by and adhere
to faithful execution of the acts known
as the Compromise Measures, settled by
the Congress Of 1880; "the act for re-
claiming fugitives from service or labor"
included which act being designed to
carry. out an express provision of the
Constitution, cannot, with fidelity there
to, be repealed, or 50 changed as to de-
stroy or impair its efficiency. i
8. That the Democratic party will re-
sist all attempts at renewing, in Congress
and out Iii, the agitation<of tho slavery
question, under whatever shape or color
the attempt may be made. ~: |
I A. That the Democratic party will
faithfullydabide' by and uphold the prin.
ciples laid down in the Kentucky and
Virginia resolutions of 1898. and in the
report of Mr.. Madison to the Virginia
Legislature, in 1893; that itadopts those
principles as constituting one of the main
foundations of its political creed, and is
resolved to carry them out in their OBJ
yiohs pleaningiand import.
And that we may more distinctly meet
the issue on which a sectional party,
subsisting exclusively on slavery agita
ton, now relies to test the fidelity of the
people, North and South, to the Consti
tuition and the Union: :
/. Resolyed, That claiming fellowship
with, and desiring the corporation of all
who regard the preservation of the I'm
ion under the Constitution as the para.
mount issue-and repudiating all Sec
tional parties and platforms concerning
domestic slavery, which seeks to em5roil
the States and ineite TO treason an arm
ed resistance to law in the, Territories
and whose avowed purposes, if consum-
mated, must end in civil war and disun-
iou-the American Democracy recognize
and adopt the principles contained in
the organic laws establishing the Terri
tories Of Kansas and Nebraska as, embo.
dying the only sound and safe solution
of the "slavery question" upon which
the great national idea Of the people of
this whole country can repose in its de-
termined conservatism of the Union
Non interference by Congress with sla.
very in State and Territory, or in the
District Of Columbia.
g. That this was the basis Of the Com
promises Of 185o-confmed by both the
Democrtic and the Wing parties in ma
tional conventions-ratifed by the people
in theselection of 1859, and rightly appli-
ed to the organization of Territories in
1854.
= 3. That by the uniform application of
this Democratic principle to the organi-
cation Of Territories, and to the admis-
sion Of new States, with or without do
mestic slavery, as they may elect-the
equal rights of all the States will be pre-
served intact--the original compacts Of
the, Constitution maintained inviolate-I
and the perpetuity and expansion Of this
Union insured to its utmost capacity Of
embracing, in peace and harmony, every
future American State that may be con-
stituted or annexed, with "a republican
form of government. ~ ~
r Resolved, That we recognize the right
of the people Of all the territories, includ-
ing Kansas and Nebraska, acting through
the legally and fairly expressed win Of a
majority Of actual residents, and whenev-
er the number, of their inhabitants justi-
fees it, to form a constitution, with or
without domestic slavery, and be admit
ted into the Union upon terms of perfect
equality with the other States.
Z Resolvsd, finally, That in view of the
condition of popular institutions in the
Old World, and the dangerous tenden-
cies of sectional agitation combined with
the attempt to enforce civil and religious
disabilities against the rights of acquir-
ing and enjoying citizenship in our own
land, high and sacred duty is involved
with increased responsibility upon the
Democraticparty Of this country, as the
party of the Union, to uphold and main
tain the rights of every State, and there
by the union of. the States and to sus-