Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-06-12
Democratic Platform.
The Committee on Resolutions, ytheir Chair
man, Mr.. HaLett, Of Massachusetts,, sunni
The fcIlonino RPDOrt

man, VT. udGei, 81 -hdSSdCHuStttS, SUpHt-
the toliowing Report.
| Resolved, That the American Democracy
| place their trust in the intelligence, the pa
trioti>m and the discriminating justice Of
'Ae American people.
ReSOLred, That we regard this as q distinc-
tive feature o! our political creed, which we
are proud to maintain before the world, as
the great mora emeni in a form of govern
ment springing from and upheld by the po-
pJlar will; and we contrast il with tie creed
and practice OF Federalism, under whatever
name or form, which seek to palsy the will
OF the constituent, and which cnnceives nc
| mposture too monstrous for the popular
credulity.
R>so'Usd, therefore. That, entertaining
these views, the Democrit,c party OF this
Union. through their delegates assembled in
a genera Convention. coming together in a
spirit Of concord, of devotion to the doctrines
and faith of free representative govern
ment, and appealing to their fellow citizens
| for the rectitude of their intentions renew
and re-assert before the American people
the declarations of principles avowed Y then
when on former occasions, in general Con
vention, they have presented their Candidates
for popular sufrages.
/. That the Federal Government is one o.
limited power, derived solely from the Con.
stiiuton; and the grants o.! power made
therein ought to be strictly construed by al
the departments and sgerts of the Govern.
ment, and that it is iIexI e en-; and dan: :er.
ous to exercise doubtful constitutions
powers.
.. That the Constitution does not confer
upon the General Government the power t.
commence and larry on general system o.
internal improvements.
8. That the Constitution does not confer
authority upon the Federal Government,
directly or indirectly, TO assume the debt,
of the several State, contracted for local q
internal Improvements, or Other States pur-
poses, nor would such assumption be Just OF
expedient.
4: That justice and sounl policy forbid
the Federal Government to its:er 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 ou: com.
mon country. that every citizen and every
section Of the country has right to demand
and in ist upon an equality of rights and
priv lege', and to complete and ample pro-
lection of persons and property from domes,
tic violence or fo.ei RI aggression.
5. That il is the duty of every branch OF
tae Government 10 enforce ami practice the
mo rigid economy in conducting our pub
| aff-ifs, and tiat no more revenue ought
to be raised than is required to delray tie
necessary expenses of the Government, and
for the gradual, eut certain extinction OF the
public debt.
6. Thai the proceeds ofthe public lan1e
ought to be sacredly applied to the national
objects specified in the CoDsiisution; and
that we are opposed to any law for the dis
tributon of such proceeds among the States
as alike il expcd ;cnt in policy aid repugnan,
to the Constitution.
7. That Congress has no power to charter
national bank; that we believe such an in
stitu'ion one o. hostility to the best inter
ests of the country, dangerous to our repub-
lican institutions and the liberties of the
people, and calculated to place the business
of the country within the control Of con-
centrated money power, and above the laws
and the will of the people; and that the re-
suits of DemcGsatic legisla ion in this and all
other financial measures upon which issues
have been made between the two ,litical
parties of the country, have demons:r ted
to clidid and practical men of all parties
their solndness, safety and utility in all
business pursuits.
s. That tie separation of the moneys oI
the Government from banking institutions
is in ispensable FOR the safety of the fun,s
of The Government and the rights of the
peopl'.
9 That we are decidedly opposed to TAX
Ing from the President the qla fled veto
power, by which he is enabled, under re-
strictions and resPons bi.ities amply suff-
cient to guard the public interests to sus-
pend the passage Of bill whose merits can
not secure the approval Of two thirds of the
Senate and House of Representatives, until
the judgment Of the people can be obtained
thereon, and which has saved the American
people from the corrupt and tyranncal do
mination OF the Bank of the United States
and from currupting system of general in
ternal imp, owe ments.
10. That the liberal principl S embodied
by JefsSson in the Declaration of InGepen-
dence, and sanctioned in the Constitution
which makes ours The land Of ioerty IL the
asylum OF the oppressed OF every nation,
have ever been cardinal principles in the
Democratic faith, and every attempt to
abridge the privilege Of becoming citizens
and the owners of soil among US, ought to
be resisted with the same spirit which swept
the alien and sediiion laws from our statute
books.
And WHEREAS, Since The foregoing de-
claration was unanimously adopted by ou;
predecessors in Matt ,naI Conven uns,a ad-
verse political and religious test his been
secretly organic, d BY party claiming 10 be
exclusively American, it is proper that the
American Democ eh uld clearly define
its relations thereto, and de, lare is deter
mined opusi,ion TO all secret political sorie-
ties by whatever name they may be called
Resotred, That the foundation of this
union of States having been laid in, and its
prosperity, expansion, and pre-eminent ex-
-