The Placer herald., 1856-08-23
Democratic Platform in full


We give at length the "Platform' adopted by
the Cincinnati Convention. The resolutions o.
the Baltimore Convention. which are re-afffrmed
are as follows:
Resolcea That the American Democracy place
their trust in the intelligence. the patriotism and
the discriminating justice of the American people
Res0lred. That we regard this as q distinctive
feature of our creed which we are proud to main
tain before the world as a great moral element in
form of government sprnging from and upheld
by a popular will. and contrast it with the
creed and practice of Federalism, under whatever
name or form, which seeks TO palsy the vote OF
the constituent, and which conceiyes no impOsture
too monstrous for the popular creduLty.
Res0lred. therefore, That entertaining these
views the Democratic party of the Union. through
their delegates assembled in a general Convention
of the States converting together in a spirit Of
concord. of devotion to the doctrines and faith Of
a free representative government, and appealing
to their tellowctizens for the rectitude of their
intentions, renew and re-assert before the Amerl-
can people the declarations of principles avOWed
by them, when. on former occasions. in general
convention they presented their candidates for
the popular sutfrages.
l. That the federal government is one of limit
ed powers. derived solely from the Constitution.
and the grants of power made therein ought to be
strictly construed by all the departments and
agents of the government; and it is neypedient
and dangerous to exercise doubtful constitutional
powers
2. That the Constitution does not confer upon
the general government the power to commence
and carry on a general system Of internal i'm
prOvements.
g. That the Constitution does not confer au-
thority upon the federal government directly and
indirectly. to assume the debts Of the several
States contracted for local and internal improve
ments. or other State purposes: nor would such
assumption be Just or eXpedient.
A. That Justice and sound pollcy 1Ofpld the
Federal Government to foster one branch OF in
dustry to the detriment OF any other or to cherish
the interests of one portion to the injury OF ano-
ther portion of our common country; that every
citizen and every section of the country has a
right to demand and insist upon an equality of
rights and privileges. and a complete and ample
protection of persons and property from domestic
violence and foreign aggression.
). That it is the duty Of every branch OF the
Government to enforce and practice the most
rigid economy 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 gradual but certain eX-
tinction of the public debt.
6. That Congress has no power to charter a
National Bank that we believe such ali institution
one Of deadly hostility to the best interests OF our
country. dangerous to our republican institutions
and the liberties of the people, and calculated to
place the business of the country within the con
troll of concentrated money power. and above
the laws and will of the people: and that the re-
suit of Democratic legislation in this and all other
financial measures upon which issues have been
made between the two political parties OF the
country, have demonstrated to practical men 0
all parties their soundness, safety ana utility III
all business pursuits.
T. That the separation of the moneys of the
Government from all banking institutions is in
dispensable for the safety of the funds of the
Government and the rights of the people
8. That the liberal principles embodied by JET
in tba Tan n1ara IN pf
sanctioned in the Constitution, which makes ours
the land Of liberty. and the asylum of the oppres
sed of every nation. have ever been cardinal prln
ciples in the Democratic faith, and every attempt
to abridge the privilege Of becoming citizens and
owners of the soil among us ought to be resisted
with the same spirit which swept the alien and
sedition laws from our statute book.
g. That Congress has no power under the Con
sttution to interfere with or control the domestic
institutions of the several States, and that all such
States are the sole and proper Judges OF every
thing appertaining to their own affairs not pro
hibited by the Constitutions that all efforts OF the
Aboitionsts or others 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 dangerous con-
sequences, and that all such efforts have an inevl-
table tentency to diminish the happiness of the
people and endan ger the stability and permanency
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 there
fore the Democratic party of the Union, standing
on this national platform, will abide by and ad-
here to faithful execution Of the acts know as
the Compromise Measures settled by Congress. the
act for retaining fugitives from service or labor
included; which act being designed to carry out
an express provision Of the Constitution, cannot
with fidelity thereto, be repealed, or so changed
as to destroy or impair its efficiency.
Resoled, That the Democratic party will resist
all attempts at renewing in Congress, or out OF
it, the agitation of the slavery question, under
whatever shape or color the attempt maybe made
ResOlyed, That the proceeds Of the public lands
ought to be sacredly applied to the national OBJ
iests specified in the Con:ttason, aua that we