Washington sentinel., 1856-05-13


their individual characters and in the result Of
their public deliberations, degree OF virtue
and practical Statesmanship to which the
history OF the world affords no parallels that in
no part OF the Federal compact is the wisdom
OF our Fathers more conspicuous, than in leav-
ing the whole question Of slavery to the States
IN their separate capacities, and that in the pro-
vision for the redelyery of fugitives escaped
from labor or service, they demonstrated q
sense OF justice, an appreciation of the value Of
the Union, an attachment to its preservation,
an avoidance Of one-sided philanthropy and
impracticable theories Of government, which
present proper example for the guidance and
imitation Of us their descendants.
Iesotued, That we look only to the Constitu-
ton, and the exposition thereof which has been
afforded by the practices Of Democratic admin
istrations, for the chart of our policy. That
these constitute, until the fundamental law is
changed by methods which itself provides, the
highest LaU Of our obedience as citizens; and
that we utterly discard that partial and ex-
aggerated sympathy, the attempt to carry
which into practice is at the peril of our dear
est interests as nation, and threatens the in
fiction of evils of stenfold magnitude to those
which it proposes to heal.
Resotced, That the. equality of the States is
the vital element of the Constitution 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 same spirit that
would denounce and repudiate all attempts to
erect odious distinctions between those who are
entitled to share the blessings and benefits of
our free institutions.
Resolved, That the effort to direct the power
of the UOvarurnaut hv M; -o1o va~, o0;tot;oos
under the various names and phases of Free
Sollism, Anti-Nebraskaism Fusionism, and Re-
pnblicanism, and by interfering with the rights
OF conscience in establishing religious test as
qualification for Office, by the secret oath
bound society of the Know nothings, is opposed
both to the letter and the spirit Of the Consti
tuition, and to the earnest teachings and prac-
tlce OF its earliest and most honored admins
traitors.
Hes0tced, That we are now as ever unalter-
ably opposed to the doctrines and designs of
all organizations which contemplate the over
throw OF the civil and religious rights of the
citizen, like the equality Of the States, is q
sacred and inalienable right, never to be inter
fered with by factous parties and reckless egis-
lation, without subversion of the primary
objects of our political system, and repudia-
ton OF the guarantees of the past and the hopes
Of the future.
Resotped, That in the repeal of the act known
as the Missouri Compromise Act, and the pas
sage OF the act organizing the Territories of
Kansas and Nebraska free from unconstitu-
tional restrictions, the last Congress performed
q work OF patriotic sacrifice, in meeting the de-
mands of sectional excitement by unshaken
adherence to the fundamental law.
Resolced, That this legislation cannot be
dapmad nj Int lat -
to meet the questions of which il disposed, and
which could never admit Of more easy settle
ment than at present. That we recognize in
1T the application to the Territories of the
United States of the rule of "equal and exact
justice to all men," of all sections of the con-
federacy which was designed by the trainers
OF our government, and which was defined as
one OF Its essential principles by the immortal
Jefferson.
Resotred, That the Democracy Of Pennsyl-
vania, following the counsel of some Of the
wisest statesmen Of the North and South, were
ready on more than one occasioR in the past to
extend the Missouri Compromise line to the
Pacific, so as TO make it the basis Of final
settlement of the question Of slavery in the
Territories; but when this proposition was re-
jected in l84S, on the ground that il involved
an undue concession to the South, by the very
men who now camor for restoration of the
Missouri line, there seemed to be but one wise
alternative left, and that was to refer the whole
question OF slavery in the territories to the
people thereof, to be regulated as they may
deem proper; and we, therefore, cheerfully ex-
tend our hearty support to the policy Of the
government as recognized in the Compromise
measures of 1850, and embodied in the laws,
organizing the Territories of Kansas and Ne
braska.