Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1856-07-30
Democratic National Platform.

q i : a. T. . a s.
Resolped, That the American Democ
racy place their trust in the intelligence
the patriotism and the Discrimination,
ustice Of the american people. T. :
ResOioed. That we regard this As i
distinctive feature Of our political creed
which We are proud to maintain befor
the world, as the great moral element i
. form Of government springing from an,
upheld by the popular win !: and we con
trast it with the creed and practice o
Federalism, under whatever name o
form. which seeks to palsy the will o
the constituent, and which conceiyes NJ
imposture too monstrous for the popular
credulity.
3 e Resolved, therefore, That entertaining
these views the Democratic party ofthi'
= Union, through their delegates assembled
in q general Convention, coming togeth
er in a spirit Of concord, Of devotion t
the doctrines and faith of free represen
tatiye government, and appealing to tl1eil
fellowrcitizens for the rectitude Of theil
intentions, renew and reassert before the
American peoplethe declarations Of prin.
ciples avowed by them when on former
occasions, in general Convention, they
have presented their candidates for pop.
ular suffrages. II. =.
l.! That the Federal Government is
one of limited power, derived solely from
the Constitution; and the grants ofpowsr
made therein ought 70 be strictly con-
strued BY all the departments and agents
Of the Government; and that it is mex.
pedient and dangerous to exercise doubt
full constitutional powers.
2. That the Constitution does not con-
fer upon the General Government the
power to commence and carry on gen.
eral system Of internal improvements.
8. That the Constitution does not con-
fer authority upon the Federal Govern
ment, directly or indirectly, to assume
the debts of the several States, contract
ed for local and internal improvements,
or other State purposes, nor would such
assumption be just or expedient. ..1 Il.
+ 4. That Justice and sound policy for
bid 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 por-
ton Of our common country /; that every
citizen and every section of the country
has rightto demand and insist upon an
equality Of rights and privileges, and to
complete an ample protection of persons
and property from domestic violence or
foreign aggression. ~. ~ i !
5. That It is the duty of every branch
Of the Government to enforce and prac-
tice the most rigid economy in conduct
ing our public affairs, and that no more
revenue ought to be raised than is re-
quired to defray the necessary expenses
ofthe Government, 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 Consti-
tuition; and that we are opposed to any
law for the distribution Of such proceeds
among the States, as alike inexpedient in
policy and repugpant to the Constitution.
T.. That Congress has no power to
charter a national bank; that we believe
such an institution one of deadly HOSTILE.
ty to the best interests Of the country,
dangerous to our public institutions and
the liberties Of the people, and calculated
to place the business of the country with
in the control Of concentrated money
power, and aboveth laws and the will Of
the people and that the results of Dem
ocratic Legislation in this and all other
financial measures upon which, issues
have been made between the two politi-
cal parties Of the country, have demon
strated to candid and practical men Of all
parties, their soundness, safety and utili-
~ in all business pursuits.
. 8. That the separation of the moneys
Of the Government from banking institu-
tons is indispensable for the salty of the
funds Of the Government and the rights
Of the people,. !
! 8. That we are decidedly opposed to
taking from the President the qualified
veto power, by which he is enabled, un-
and responsibilities amply
sufficient to guard the public interests, to
suspend the passage Of bill whose mer-
its cannot secure the approval Of two
thirds Of the Senate and House Of Repre-
until the judgment Of the peo-
pie can be obtained thereon, and which
has saved the American people from the
and tyranical domination Of the
Bank of the United States, and from a
corrupting system of general internal inn
10. That the liberal principles embo-
died by Jefferson in the Declaration of
Independence, and sanctioned in the
Constitution, which makes ours the land
Of liberty and the asylum Of the Cypress
ed of every nation, have ever been cardi-
nal principles in 4the Democratic faith,
and every attempt to abridge the privi-
lege Of becoming citizens and.the owners
Of soil among US, ought TO be resisted
with the same spirit which swept the
alien and sedition laws from our statute
books.
Aad phereas, Since the foregoing dec
laration was uniformity adopted by our
in National Conventions,
IN adverse political and religious test has
been secretly. organized bya party claim
ing to be exclusively American. it is pro-
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