Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1858-06-02
The Democratic Platform.

The Democratic Platform.
~hich nominated JOHN W. ELLIS for Gorernor,
april A. 1858:
WHEREAS Pursuant to the usage Of the Demo-
cratic party, Convention Of Delegates representing
the Democratic voters of the different counties of the
State has assembled in the town of Charlotte, it is
deemed proper occasion to express its opinion up
on the different questions before the people Of
the State and of the country at large, be it there
fore,
Resolred 1st That we cordially approve Of the
administration of James Buchanan believing it to be
marked by ability impar:ialty and devotion to the
Constitutional rights Of all sections Of the country;
and more especially do we endorse his position in
favor of the immediate admission of Kansas with
the Lecompton Constitution, and regard that meas.
ure essential to the quiet of the country, and
act of simple justice; the rejection Of which only
be viewed as a blow aimed at the equality Of the
States in the Union.
Resolred I'd, That Thos. Bragg. by the manner in
which he has discharged the duties Of his office as
Chief Magistrate of this State, has established
character for high executive talents and secured the
confidence and respect of all good citizens of the
State and we hereby tender him in behalf Of
constituents the expression Of their high admiration
and best wishes for his happiness and success
through life.
Resolred Sd, That we are anxious to see the re.
Of the different sections Of the State fostered
and developed, and to that end believe that such aid
should be given towards the forwarding to compile
ton Of the works of internal improvement already
begun, and the construction of such others may
be deemed expedent, the credit of the State, and
the means Of her citizens may permit, without in
juriously affecting the one or imposing too onerous
burdens on the other.
ReSolred 4th, That regard the distribution Of
the public lands their proceeds unconstitution
al antidemocratic and impolltic and its agitation at
the present time as emnently unpatriotic, because
being wholly impracticable, the sole tendency of
such agitation must be to divide and distract the
only party upon which the South can rely for the
defence Of her rights and interests in the Union.
This is the platform on which john W. ELLIS
stands. 1t is a sound and safe platform. l. is
plain direct, unequivocal and we believe it embod.
les the sentiments of large majority Of the people
of the State.
: But it is said Judge Ellis and the Democrats of
the State in favor of high taxes and an extrava-
CANT system Of internal improvements. This is not
true They not in favor of any system of i'm
| provements which would impose generous burdens" "
on the people. The pubic debt must be paid, and
the credit of the State preserved whether the taxes
remain they or have to be raised We are all
agreed as to that. So far internal improvements
are concerned, Judge Ellis stands the third re.
solution in the platform referred to- That resolu-
tion contains his views and these views are the same
in all portions of the State. But what after ALL has
the Governor of the State to do with these things
His duty consists, not in passing laws but in exc.
cutting them. He can only recommend to the Leg
isature-hc can neither make nor veto an appro-
\ pration. "a Democrat, for example, in section,
be in favor of a certain scheme of Improvement,
and Democrat in another section may oppose it,
and both may be good Democrats; for the plain
reason that the question is at last referred to the
Legislature whose duty it is to adopt the scheme or
reject it, just as it may choose. We can all stand
together on the resolution in the platform on inter.
nal improvements with Judge Ellis, our candidate
for governor; yet it is not to be expected that in
ranging the details of the system all agree. Ii
would be- therefore, unwse to fall out by the way
Let the people, who dsire certain laws passed, OF
certain propositions defeated, to it that their
members of the Legislature reflect their views; lei
them hold legislators and not the expounders
executors of the laws responsible for Objectionable
measures
But, says Mr. McRae, North Carolina is in ".
chronic Decline" And the gentleman labors t.
show that the State is languishng in all her grea
interests and growing poorer every day. The yer,
reverse is the fact. Worth Carolina nercr s.
popu1ous and so prosperous as she is now. Her ag
paid so we'll the mechanic arts arc receiving NOR
encouragement than heretofore; her lands in
creasing in value; her system CT Common Schools
superior to that of any other Southern State; he
works of internal improvement progressing, an
if all of them not paying such dividends as wer
5 expected, they are nevertheless developing rs
sources promoting trade and intercourse, and pre-
pairing the way for great future for the State;
0 the tide of migration has been checked Are thes
c the evidences of a chronic decline?" From 1s3
to 1910, the increase of our population was onl
about two per cent; from 1s4O to 1850 the ncreas
was fifteen per cent. And we have no hesitation
expressing the opinion that the of 1860 wi
show that the increase from 1850 to 1850 has bee
at least tnnenty fire per cent "chronic decline
q indeed? Is that the best argument which Mr. NJ
Rae could select to induce the the people of Mort
Carolina to beg the black Republicans for fe
c land warrants? A"chronic decline !"-the desea
= is incurable, says Mr.. McRae, except by the app
cation of land warrants-land lasters to the pater
Is Look at the facts, which state follows, fro
Is an official document: In 1s47 the lands OF Il
~ State town property included, were assessed al
N valued at $6s, ,629 672 Ga in 1885, the last asse:
ment at $99,9o7, ,Oa3 25, showing an increase
ic eight years of Mirty-one millions three hundred
of sirtyseren thousand three hundred and sirty d.
10 lars and ninety cents. Is that one of the e
dences, Mr. McRae, of this " chronic decline?"
Ii. The greater portion Of this increase, be it reme
" bered has taken place along the lines Of pub
works So if we have paid taxes for internal i
te provements we have done so by hundreds of tho'
ands while we have realized millions in the incre