Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-06-10
The Democratic Platform.

| nuinDcr-but give NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 'hht We "'"y
commence the canvass at the proper place and in
the proper way. II begins with the Resolutions
adopted in Baltimore in 1852
Resolved, That the American Democracy place
their trust in the intelligence the patriotism and the
| discriminating Justice of the American people.
| Resolved That we regard this rs distinctive
feature OF our creed which We are proud TO maintain
before the world ms great moral element IN form
of government, springing from and upheld by pop
| nlar will and contrast 1t with the creed and
practice of Federalism uudey whatever or form,
which seeks palsy the vote OF the constituent aud
which eonceiyes imposture too moDsirons for the
| popular credulity.
RESOLVED therefore, That entertaining these views,
the Democratic party of the Union through their
delegates assembled In General Convention OF the
States conyoning together in spirit Of concord, OF
devotion to the doctrines and faith ola free repre-
sentative government, and appealing to their fellow
citizens for the rectnde Of their intentions, renew
aud reassert before the American people the declara-
ton of principles avowed by them when, on former
occasions In general convention they presented their
| candidates for the popular sulrages
| /. That the federal government Is one OF limited
powers derived solely from the Constitution, and the
grants of power made therein ought 10 be strictly
construed by all the departments and agents of the
| government and that isinexpedient and dangerous
| 10 exercise doubtful constitutional powers
2. That the Constitution does not confer upon the
General Government power 10 commence and car-
| ~ n general sy stem Of internal improvements.
g. That the Constitution does not confer authority
upon the Federal Government, directly indirectly,
To the debts of the several States, contracted
for local internal improvements other State pur-
poses would such assumption be just or expe-
dent.
4. That justice and sound policy forbid the Federal
Government to foster one branch of industry TO the
detrmen Of any other, to cherish the interests of
one portion TO the injury Of another portion of our
common country that every citizen aud every
tion of the country has right to demand and insist
| upon equality of rights and privileges and com
| pete and ample protection of persons and property
| from domestic violence and foreign aggression.
B. That 1t IL the duty of every branch of the gov
eminent TO enforce and practice the most rigid econ
| omy In conducting our public affairs, and that no
more revenue ought TO be raised than is required TO
defray the necessary expenses of the government and
for the gradual but certain extinction OF the public
debt.
| @. That Congress has power TO charter n Ma
tional Bank that we believe such nm institution
of deadly hostility TO the best interests of
try dangerous to our republican institutions and the
liberties of the people, aud calculated to place the
business of the eoun try within the control of n
centrated money power and above the laws and will
of the people and that the results of Democratic leg
isation in this and all other financial measures upon
which issues have been made between the two politi-
cal parties of the country have demonstrated TO prac
teal men, of all parties, their soundness safety and
utility, In all business pursuits
Z. That the separation of the moneys of the Gov
eminent from all banking institutions is indispensable
for the safety of the funds of the and the
rights of the people.
3. That the liberal principles embodied by Jefer-
son in the Declaration of Independence and sanction
toned in the Constitution, which makes the
land of liberty, and the asylum of the oppressed OF
every nation have been cardinal principles in
the Democratic faith and every attempt to abrdgc
the privilege OF becoming citizens and owners of soil
among us ought to be resisted with the spirit
which swept the alien and seliion laws from our
statute book,
o. That Congress has power under the Const-
tuition to interfere with control the domestic in
situations of the several States, and that all such
States the sole aud proper judges of every thing
appertainng TO their own affairs, not prohibited by
the Constitutions that all efforts of the abolitionss
others made to induce Congress to interfere with
questions of slavery to take incpient steps in
laton thereto calculated TO lead to the aar
ing consequences; and that all such efforts have
inevitable tendency to diminish the happiness of the
people, and endanger the stability and pcrmanency
of the Union, and ought not to be countenanced by
any friend of our political institutions.
Resolved, That the foregoing proposition covers
and was intended to embrace the whole subject of
slavery agitation in Congress- and therefore the De
ocrac party of the Union, standing on this national
PLATFORM will abide by and adhere to faithful exc
cution of the acts known the compromise measures
settled by the last Congress- the act for reclaim in
fngitives from service or labor included which act
being designed to carry out express provision oi
the constitution cannot with fidelity be repealed ol
so changed rs TO destroy or impair its efficiency.
Resolved, That the Democratic party will resist i
attempts at renewing in Congress, out of 1t, t'
agitation of the slavery question, under whatever
shape color the attempt may be made.
Resolved, That the proceeds of the public land
ought To be sacredly applied to the national objects
specified in the constitution, and that we are opposed
to any law for the distribution of such procee Dis ~
mong the States alike inexpedent in policy an,
repugnant to the constitution.
Resolved, That we are decidedly opposed to taknj
from the President the qualified Veto power, by whic
he is enabled, under restrictions and responsihil
tiles amply sufficient guard the public interests, t.
suspend the passage ola bill whose merits cannot sc
| cure the approval of two-thrds of the Senate an
House of Representatives until the judgment of TIL
people can be obtainedthereon and which has save
the American people from the corrupt and tyran ca
dominion of the Bank of the United States, and fr On
| a corrupting system of general Internal Improve
ments.
Resolved, That the Democratic party will faithful
abide by and uphold the principles laid down In tn
Kentucky and Virginia resolutions of 1898, ON
in the report of Mr. Madison to the Virginia Leg
islature in l799-that it adopts these principles a
constituting one of the main foundations of its pot
ica creed and resolved to carry them out In the
obvious meaning and import.
| That in view of the condition of the popular inst
buttons in the Old World, high and sacred duty
involved upon the Democracy of this country, ms til
party ofthe people,to uphold and maintain the right
of every State and thereby the union of the States
! and to sustain and advance among them constitution
al liberty, by continuing to resist all monopoes
exclusive legislation for the benefit of the few at Il,
| expense OF the many, and by vigant and consta
adherence to those principles and compromises c
the Constitution-which are broad enough and stron
enough to embrace and uphold the Union as it is an,
the Union as it should be-in the full expansion O
the energies and capacity of this great and progress
. sive people.
The following are the supplementary resolu
tions in relation to the Kansas Nebraska questio,
and the foreign policy Of the Government:
! And whereas, since the foregoing declaration wa
. uniformly adopted by predecessors in Nationa