Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-09-11

OF the Democratic faith, and every attempt to
abrdge 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 sedition
laws from our statute books
AND. WHEREAS. Since the foregoing declaration
was uniformly adopted by our predecessors in Ma
tional Convention, an adverse political and relig-
ious test has been secretly organized by party
claiming to be exclusively Americans: it is proper
that the American Democracy should clearly define
its relations thereto. and declare it, determined op
position to all secret political societies, by whatever
name they nav be called
Resolred That the foundation of this Union of
States, having been laid in and its prosperity ex
pansion, and pre- -cminent example in free govern
mcnts built upon entire freedom in matters Of
religious conccnment, ana that no respect
of person III regard to rank or place of birth j;
no ra'ty can justly bc deemed national, constitu-
tional. or in accordance with American principles.
which bases its exclusive organization upon relig ous
opinions and accidental birthplace. And hence. a
political crusade IN the nineteenth century. and in
the United States of America, against Catholics
and forcign-born, Is neither justified by the past his
tory or The future prospects of the country, nor in
unison with the spirit of liberation and enlarged
freedom which peculiarly distinguishes the Amcri-
can system Of popular government.
Kcsoired, That we reitcrate, with renewed cner-
y of purpose, the weconsdercd declarations of
former Conventions upon the sectional issue of do
mestic Slavery, and concerning the reserved rights
Of the States:
i. That Congress has no power, under the Con
stltuton, to interfere with control the domestic
institutions of the several States, and that such
States are the sole and propcrjudges of everything
appertdnng to their own affairs, not prohibited by
the Constitution; that all efforts of the Abolitioniss
or others, made to interfere with questions of
slavery, or to take ncipient steps in violation there
to, are calculated TO lead to the most alarming and
dangerous consequences: and that all .nch efforts
have an inevitable tendency to diminish the happi-
ness of the people, and endancer the stability and
permanency of the Union. andno to be countcnan-
ced by any friend of our political institutions
,. That the foregoing proposition covers, and
inted to embrace, the whole subject of slavery
in Congress: and therefore, the Democratic party OF
the Union, standing this national platform, will
abide by and adhere to a faithful execution of the
acts known as the Compromise Measures, settled
by the Congress of 1870; the "ac retaining fuoi-
tves from service or labor, included; which act
being designed to carry out an express provision of
the Constitution, cannot, with fidelity thereto be
repealed so changed as to DESTROY or impair its
efficiency.
3. That the Democratic party will resist all at
temptS ut renewing, i'll Congress or out of it. the
agitation of the slavery question, under whatever
shape or color the attempt may be made.
1. That the Democratic party will faithfully
abide by and uphold the principles laid down in the
Kentucky and Virginia resolutions of 1893. and in
the Report of Mr. Madison to the Virginia Legis-
lature, in lI99: that it adopts those principles a.,
constituting one of the main foundations of political
creed, and Is resolved carry them out in their OBJ
yi0uS meaning and import.
And that we may more distinctly meet the issue
on which sectional party subsistin@ exclusively
on slavery citation now relies 10 the fidelity of the
people, north and south. to the Constitution aid the
Union:
/. Resolrod, That, claiming fellowship with, and
desiring the cooperation of all who reg lrd the pre-
scrvation of the Onion under the Constitution a.
paramount issuc-and repudating all sectional par
ties and platforms concerning domestic slavery,
which seek to embroi the States and inctc to trea-
son and armed resistance To law III the Territories:
and whose avOwcd purpose, if contaminated. must
end in civil war and dismon-the American De
mocracy recognize and adopt the principles con
tanedn the organic laws establishing the Terrific
rics of Kansas and Nebraska. as cmbodvine the on
y sound and safe solution of the ''savcrv question
upon which the great national idea Of the people OF
this whole country repose in It's determined
conservatism of the Union-Nov- INTERVENTION nY
CONGRESS WITH SLAVERY ~ STATE AND TEgRIToRY.
OR IN THE DISTRICT OF CoLuMmA
,. That ihis was the basis Of the Compromises OF
lco0-cOnllrmcd by both the Democratic md W hi9
parties in national onvcntions-ratifcd bv the
people in the election of 1852, and rightly applied
to the organization of the Territories of lcJl.
). That by the uniform application of this Demo
cratic principle to the organization OF Territories
and to the admission of new States. with or without
domestic slavery, as they may electric equal
rights OF all the States will be preserved intact
the original c0mpdctS Ofthc Constitution maintain
ed inviolate-lnd the porpctuity and expansion of
this Union insured to its utmost capacity of cnbra-
eng, in peace and harmony. every future Ameri-
can State that may be constituted or annexed, with
a republican form OF government
ResoLred That we recognize the right of the
people of all the Territories including Kansas and
Nebraska. acting acting through the legality and
fairly expressed will of majority of actual resi-
dents, and whenever the number of their nlabit-
ants lustiiics it. to form Constitution. with ol
without domestic slavery, and be admitted into the
Union upon terms OF perfect equality with the other
States.
Rcsolred, fnGhy, That in view of the condition
of popular institutions of the Old World, (and the
dangerous tendencies of sectional agitation, com
blncf with the attempt t. enforce civil and rcgi
Gus disabilities against the rights of acquiring and
enjoying citizenship in land high and sacreo
duty is dcyolvcd with increased responsibility upon
the Democratic party OF this country, the party
ofthc Union, to uphold and maintain the rights o.
every State, and thereby the Union ofthe State .
and to sustain and advance among Us constitution
al liberty, by continuing 10 resist all monOpoies
ana cNciuSNc legislation iOfllc lew III illc expense
OF the many, and by vi.ilant and constant adher
cnce TO those princ piles and compromises of tho
/ Constitution which are broad enough and strong
enough to embrace and uphold the Union as it waS
the Union il j., and the Union it shall be, il
:ne full expansion of the energies and capacities OF
this great and progressive people.
/. RcsoiUed, That there are questions connected
with the foreign policy this country which are in
fcror to domestic questions whatever. Tn,
time has come for the people of the United State:
to declare themselves in favor of free trad,
Throughout the world and, by solemn manifestations
to place their moral influence ut the side OF then
successful example.
,. Rcsoircd hat geographical and poti
cal position with reference to other States of ti
continent, no less than he interest of our com
ncrcc and the development OF our growing power
requires that should hold as sacred the princi
pies involved in the Monroe doctrine: their bear
ing and import ADMIT OF DEMONSTRATION; the,
should he applied with unbending rigidity
). Resotred, That the great highway which m
ture, well the assent of the State most i'm
mediately interested in its maintenance has marx
+ ed out for free communication between the At
lantic and Pacific Oceans, constitutes one of tn,
most important achievements realized by the spr
it OF modern times and the unconquerable energy
of our people. That result should be secured bv :
timely ant. efficient cxcrtiOn of the control which
we have the right to claim over it, and no p0we
| on earth should Ie sufficient impede CLOG IL