Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-03-15
Glorious Platform Of Principles,

the committee by John L. Dawson Esq
were unanimously adopted by the Penn
sylvania Democratic State Convention a
Harrisburg. They show that the Democ
racy Of the noble keystone State are tru'
to the Constitution, the Rights of thu
Union. Pennsylvania and Virginia will b.
together in the next election-in the grea
struggle between Natiopal Democracy
and Black Republicans.
Resolved, Tha, in the presen. distract
ed condition of parties, in which section
al and party issues have been allowed &c
attain dangerous supremacy, we re-
cognise in the policy o. the Democratic
party, that which rest. upon the Constitu
uon as its basis; and that it is the party
which above all Others has, in the Ian
guage of the ilInstrious Madison. ever con.
ilnued 10 hold the union ofthe States as the
basis Of their peace and happiness; to sup-
port The Constitution. which is the cement
of the Union. as well in its limitations as its
authorities; TO respect the rights and: au-
authorities reserved to the States and 10
lie people, as equally incorporated with
and essential to the success Of the general
system; and to avoid the slightest interiors
ence with the rights o. conscience or the
functions Of religion, SO wisely exempted
from civil jurisdiction.
Resolved, That by the general consent
of tae wise and virtuous OF all nations, the
fra mers of the Republic of the United
States, exhibited in their individual char
acters and in the result of their public de-
alterations, degree of virtue and a prac-
teal craftsmanship. TO which the history
of the world affords no parallel that in no
part Of the Federal Compact is the wisdom
of our fathers more conspicuous, than in
leaving the whole question of slavery to
the States in their separate capacities; and
that IN the provision for the re-deIivery OF
fugitive escaped from labor or service, they
demonstrate SENSE ofjustice-an appre-
citation OF the value Of the Union-an at
tachment to its preservation-an avoidance
of one-sided philanthropy, and impractica-
bic theories Of which pre-
sent proper example for the guidance
and imitation of US, their descendants.
Resolved, Thai we look only to the
Constitution, and the exposition thereof
which has been afforded by the practice
of Democratic administrations, for the
chart Of our policy. That ii csc constitute,
till the fundamental law is changed by
methods which itself provides, the high
est Ian Of our obedience as citizens; and
that we utterly discard that partial and
exaggerated sympathy the attempt to car
ry which into practice, IS at the peril of
our dearest interests as nation, and threat
ems the infection Of evils Of tenioid mag
nitude to those which it purposes to heal
Resolved, That the equality Of the
States is the vital element of the Consti-
tuition itself, and that all interference with
the rights of the States by those who seek
TO disregard the sacred guarantees OF the
past, and by all others; should be rebuked
with the ZANE spirit that would denouncc
and repudiateall attempts to erect odlous
distinctions between those who are emit
tied to share the blessings and benefits Of
our free institutions.
T Resolved, That the effort to direct the
pow er of the Government by anti-slavery
agitation, under the various remes and
phrases OF Free Soilism, Anti-N ebraska a,
ism Fusonism and epublicanism; and
by interfering with the rights OF conscience
in establishing religious test as quali6-
cation for ofli;e, by the secret oath. bound
society Of the Know N othings, is opposed
both to the letter and the spirit of Con-
st,tution, and to the earnest teachings aud
practice OF its earliest and mos. honored
administrators.
Eteso!ved, That we are now as eveI
analterably opposed to the doctrines ant
designs Of all organizations which con
| template the overthrow ofcivil and reli
gious rights Of the citizen; that the equal
ity OF the citizen, like the equality OF the
States, is sacred and inalierabie right
never to be interfered with by fact;ous par
ties and reckless legislation, without subver
sion Of the primary objects Of our politics
system. and reputation of the guaran
tees of the past and the hopes Of the fu
ture.
Resolved, That in the repeal OF the &C
known as the Missouri Compromise act
and the passage OF the act organizing Tia,
Territories OF Kansas and Nebraska, fire.,
from unconstitutional restrictions, the las
Congress performed work of patriot
sacrifice in meeting the demands of sec
tional excitement by mistaken adherence
to the fundamental law.
Resolved, That this legislation canno
be deemed unnecessary, but that it wa
expedient to meet the questions OF wbicl
it disposed, and which could never ADM
Of more easy settlement than at presen;
That we recognise in it the application I
the Territories of the united Utates, of tn
rules Of "equal aud exact justice to a
men" Of all sections of the confederacs
winch was designed by the trainers of ou
government. and which was defined q
one of its essential principles by the in
m ,rtal Jefferson.
Resolved, That the Democracy ofPenn
sylvania, following the counsel of some {
, the wisest statesman of the north and sout
t were ready, on more than one occasio
. in the past, to extend the Missouri Com
promise line to the Pacific, SO as to max
it the basis OF final settlement OF the ques
ton Of slavery in the Territories, bu
when this proposition was rejected j
1913, Oh the ground that it involved a
undue concession to the south, but the VI
: nv men who nov Glamor for l. restorato
: of the Missouri line, there seemed to j
but one wise alternative left, and that wa
| ~ raryr the wi ole ouestioh of slaverx I;