Squatter sovereign., 1856-06-24

and proper judges Of everything appertain-
ing TO their own affairs, not prohibited by
the Constitution; that all efforts of the ab-
litionisis or others, made to induce Con-
gress 10 interfere with questions ofslayery,
OF to take Inciplent steps in relation there
| TO ate calculated to lead 10 the most alarm
Ing aud dangerous consequences; and that
all such efforts have an inevitable tenden-
cy TO diminish the happiness OF the people.
aud endafger the stability ami peslnanen-
cy of the Union, and ought not to be couE-
tenanced by any friend OF our political in
siitutions.
2. That the foregoing proposition covers,
a;,d was intended TO embrace the whole
subject of slavery agitation in Congress:
and therefore, the Democratic party of the
Union, standing on this national platform,
wiii.abide by and adhere TO- faithful ex-,
ecution Of tie acts known IS .he Compro
mise measures, settled by tie Congress OF
1850; "ihe act for reclai,ning iugitives
IRON, service or labor included; which act
being designed TO carry out an express
provision oil the constitution, cannot with
fidelity thereto, he repealed, or SC, changed
| as TO destroy or impair its efficiency.
3. That the Democratic party will resist
all attempts at renewing, IN Congress or
out OF it, the agitation oi the slavery ques
ton under whatever shape or color the at.
tempt may be made.
4. That the Democratic party will faith
fully abide by and uphold, the principles
laid down in the Kentucky and Virginia
resolutions OF 1888, aud in the report OF
Mf. Madison TO the Virginia Legislature,
i'll 1890; that it adopts those principles as
constituting one OF the main foundations
OF it's political creed, and is sresolved 10 car
ry them Out IN their obvious meaning and
import.
And that we may more distinctly meet
the ISSUES on which a sectional party, SUBJ
sisting exclusively on slavery agitation,
now relies to test the fidelity of the people,
north and ssou,k; to the Constitution and
the Union
Rcsolred. That claiming fellowship with
and desiring the cooperation OF all who
regard the preservation ofthe 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 incite
the Territories; and whose avowed purpose
disunon-the America Democracy recog
nize and adopt the principles contained in
the organic laws establishing the Terrific
ries OF Kansas and Nebraska as e,nbody
ing the only sound and safe solution of the
slavery question, upon which the great ma
tional idea of the people OF this whole
country can repose in its determined con-
serraton of the Union; Northumberland
by the Congress with slavery in State and
Territory, or in the District of Columbia.
2. That this was the basis Of the COM
promise OF 1850. confirmed by both the
Democratic and Wing parties in National
Conventions, ratified by the people in the
election OF 1852, and rightly applied to
the organization OF Territories in 1850.
8. That by uniform application of this
Democratic principle to the organization
Of Territories, and 10 the admission of new
States, with or without domestic slavery,
as they may eject, tie equal rights OF all
the States will be preserved intact. the or
igiIal compacfs of the constitution main
tanned inyiolatc and perpetual, and expan-
sion Of this Union insured 10 its utmost ca
pacity OF embracing in peace and harmo-
ny every future American State that nav
be constituted or annexed with Republic
cali form OF government.
Resolved, That we recognize the right
of the people OF dli the Territories, includ-
ing Kansas and Nebraska, acting through
the legally and fully expressed will Of
tmaiority of actual residents, and whenever
the number OF thoir inhabitants justiies it,
to form a constitution, with OIL. without do.
olestic slavery, and te admitted iio the
Union upon the terms Of perfect equality
with the other States.
Resolced, finally. Tha, in view OF the
condition of popular institutions in the Old
World, (and the dangerous tendencies Of
sectional agitation, combined with the al
tempt 10 enforce civil and religious disa-
bilities against the rights of acquiring and
enjoying citizenship, in OUR own land, a
high ard sacred duty is devolved with in
creased responsibility upon the Democratic
party of this country, as party of the I'm
ion, to uphold and maintain the rights of
every State; and to sustain and advance
among us constitutional liberty, by contin-.
uing to resist all monopolics and exclusive
Legislation for the benefit OF the few at the
expense oil the many, and by a viglant and
constant adherence to those principles and
compromises Of the Constitution, which are
broad enough and strong enough 10 en-
brace and uphold the Union as it was, the
Union as it is, and the Union as it shall
be, in the full expansion of the energies
and capacity OF this great and progressive
people.
/. Resoloed, Taat there are questions
connected with the foreign policy Of this
country, which are inferior to no domestic
question whatever. The time has come
for the people of the United States to de-
clare themselves In favor of free seas and
progressive free trade throughout the warid,
and by solemn manifestations. to place
their moral influence a, the side of their
successful example.
2. Resolued, That our geographical and
political position with reference TO the other
States of this continent-no less than the
interest Of our commerce and the deyeloD-