The Shasta courier., 1858-08-14
NUMBER %.
Platform OF the Douglas Convention.

/. Resolred. That all just powers of povarn-
ment are derived from the people : that tb;s
principle is recognized as fundamental bv ali
American Constitutions and by the Democratic
party.
2. Resolred. That the right>cf the people to
form and regulate their political institutions in
their own way, subject only to the Constitution
OF the United States as guaranteed to Kansas
and Nebraska, by their organic law. belongs
alike to the people of all other Territories of the
United States
3. Resotred, That while we adhere to the fun
damental principles embraced in the CINCINNATI
Platform of 1856, we especially renew aud re-
affirm that principle contained in the resolution
known as the popular Sovereignty Resolution. !,
Z ~ srs;c, The truc intent ard meaning Of that
gresoiuuon 70 pc, tiss shes i,eoraei sSsssse s. cr
Territory are Invested with the right OF ratifying
or rejecting at the ballot box any Constitution
that may be framed for their government; and
all attempts by the Administration and Congress
to coerce and bribe the people into the adoption
of particular Constitution, not thus ratified by
them are subversTve of the principles of pure
Democracy, and destructive of the equality of
the States under the Constitution
4. RESOLVED, That the recent attempts of the
Executive and Congress to force upon the peo-
pie of Kansas a Constitution which they have
rejected at legal election, is in violation of the
principles of the party which placed them in
power, derogatory to the positions they occupy,
and destructive Of our form of government.
5. ReSolced, That we regard with detestatiou
the passage by Congress, at its last session, of
the bill known as the "Englsh Bill" and look
upon it as an attempt to bribe free people into
the Endorsement of an odious Constitution as
calculated to create sectional feelings and cause
sectional jealousies as violation of the Fed
eral compact; a breach of the Compromises Of
the Constitution, and blow at the equality of
the States, in that it proposes to make large do
nations ofland, and admit Kansas into the Union
as State without reference to her population,
if she adopts the Leeompton Constitution, which
establishes slavery, while il refuses her people
admission until they obtain a population o {
ninety or one hundred and twenty thousand if
they prefer any other than the Lecompton Con-
stitution.
6. Resolued, That we heartily indorse the ac-
ton of those members of Congress who sustain
ed ''the Crittenden- Montgomery Bill" and who
opposed the English Bill at the last session of
that body.
Z. Resolced- That it is the right of the people
OF the States to regulate, in their own way, their
| political affairs that Federal office-hoders are
servants of the people, and the constant inter-
ference of those servants with the primary affairs
of party, whether by menaces of dismissal from
Office, by forced levies or by the distribution of
promises and moneys at the polls and elsewhere,
is incompatible with the spirit of our Constitu-
tions, State and Federal subversve of popular
liberty, and calculated to destroy the sovereign
ty of the States and centralize power at the Fed
eral capital.
8. Resolved, That the immediate action o.
Congress in securing the construction of Rail
road to the Pacific Is a recognized feature in oul
party policy Indispensable to our safety in wal
and prosperity in peace, and call upon ths
Administration to redeem its pledges, and de.
vote its energies to the consummation of thi
great work.
g. Resolred That we regard with favor tht
bill before Congress- atits present session, known
as the Homestead Bill" which proposes to do.
nate 10 each actual settler upon the public land.
of the United States one hundred and sixty
acres, and earnestly recommend the passage O.
! the same.
| 10. Reso5red, That relying implicitly upon the
soundness and integrity of the principles above
| set forth, and upon the justice and intelligence
of the masses. we present this platform to the
people of the State, and earnestly invoke the
active support of all in its yindcation and sue
cess, cordially inviting to full and equal COM
| munion all those of whatever creed who recog-
nize the justice of our cause in the doctrines we
profess, and who desire to participate in their
| triumph.