The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-10-28


National affairs, contendcd that the
Republican press had misrepresented
his position, and in order to define
his present position, he read letter
written by him to the Free Press, in
which were embodied the following
resolutions of the Democratic State
Convention: 5f
/" Resolred, By the Democracy of
Michigan an State Convention assem-
6led e.ss,r $3.50 IN
1! That we strictly adhere to the
principles Of the Cincinnati platform,
as those only upon which our govern
ment can be safely administered, and
by which our. inestimable institutions
can be preserved.
2. That we read in the signs of the
times the most cheering evidence that
the day is rapidly approaching when
the whole country, without distinc-
ton or division, will cordially accept
the just and equal doctrine of Popular
Sovereignty, as enunciated by the
Cincinnati platform; that, in the judg
ment of this Convention, the princi-
Piles thus recognized and approved not
only import the sacred right of the
people of every Territory to form and
regulate, without intervention from any
quarter, all their local and domestic in
stitutions in their own way, subject only
to the Constitution of the United
States but equally import their clear
and undisputable right to have any
State constitution framed for them
submitted to their own full, free and
direct vote thereon, for approval or
rejection and we pledge ourselves to
the maintenance of this wise, equal and
democratic policy, with absolute fdel-
| ity.
4. That we adhere to the fraternal
policy of the Democratic party, which
confding in the wisdom of the people
of the Territories, and relying on their
superior fitness to determine what in
situations are fitted to their peculiar
wants and necessities, welcomes with
open arms and patriotic pride, each
new sovereignty, withits Institutions of
its own free choice to a brotherhood of
equal States. =.
After reading the above, he stated
that this was the distinct ground taken
by the democratic party, and steadily
maintained ever since. "That Con-
gress had no power to prohibit Slavery
in the Territories. That if the people
did not want slavery there, no power
under the sun could place slavery upon
them" Now in reference to the first
part of this statement, it seems incred-
ible that Mr.. Stuart should have made
so thoroughly false and foolish state
ment as the above. We venture to
assert that there is not schoolboy in
the land but that knows that in 1913
the Michigan democracy were in favor
of the Wilmot Proviso, and Congress
sional prohibition of slavery in the
Territories, just as the Republicans are
now. Mr.. Stuart was a champion of
the Wilmot proviso, and when up for
Congress in that year he circulated
hand-bill in which he pledged himself
to vote for the Wilmot proviso if elect
ed and now he says he has stood upon
that platform ever since, and stands
upon it now. We subjoin the platform
of the Michigan Democracy to which
Mr.. Stuart subscribed in 1913, and
which was formally incorporated as
the creed of the Michigan Democracy
at the Jackson Convention, Sept. 10th,
1910. Wilbur f. Storey was chair
man of the Committee which presented
the following resolutions, and Charles
E. Stuart acas also member of that
Committee. -.
J, "Resolced, That the Democracy Of
| Michigan stand upon the old Demo
cratic platform, adhering to, and
maintaining the principles in all past
political contests inscribed upon their
, nag, and around which the lion-hearted
f Democracy of the United States have
so often rallied. 5H.,.
"Resoloed, That we are opposed to
the extension ofslavery into the terri
tories of New Mexico and California,
believing them to be now free in virtue
of the laws of Mexico, and that its es-
Establishment in either of those Terrific
ries ought to be precented." haa bga
Now all the people of this State have
to do, is to compare the two sets Of
resolutions, and they will see that Mr..
Stuart has uttered an open and palpa-
: Bile falsehood. The resolutions of the
: late state Convention in endorsing the
Cincinnati platform, distinctly say that
. the people of a Territory can only pro-
hibit slavery when they come to form
a State Constitution. In 1s4S they
occupied the position that Congress
should prohibit slavery in the Terrific
: ries.
: But what does the Washington I'm
ion, the great central organ of the
e partv and the snecial ORGAN of the Adj