The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-04-10
THE AMERICAN PLATFORM,


votion to tho Union. The support OF
such doctrines will sooner or later bring
the honest, patriotic, and conservative
men of all parties into union with the
party. The resolutions hate the ring OF
the doctrines Of olden times when patri-
otism and truth prompted the utterance
of mems opinions; and not, as now, when
politicai Conventions have become trad
ing posts for bartering the interests Of
the country for the emoluments and
honors Of office, among demagogues.
WHEREAS, We, speaking only for our
selves, not only see no reason why we should
abondon the conservatism of the American |
party, ard cease to maintain its principles, |
but every possible reason why we should ad-
here to them more tenaciously than ever,
that true national spirit may be preserved
TO counterfeit the dangers which may well
be apprchended from Southern sectionalism
under the lead of the Democratic party, and
Northern sectionalism rinde: the lead Of the
Republican party; therefore,
Reso,rec, That We will not uni.o with
either the Republican or Democratic party in
any party movement so long as they main
tain the principles now professed by Them.
Rss0lred, That, whatever We may do in
the future in reference to national affairs,
there is one thing to which we solcmnly
pledge oursclves-that is, that we will main
tain our nationality, and never unite with n
sectional party, whether Northern or South
ern.
Resolred, That the Government of United
States was, in our opinion, organized for
other purposes than merely deciding who
l. Ill H. hall ,ct hnt1 nftna-thnf
is its duty to "foster commerce., encourage
enterprise, and protect, as far as practicable,
the lives and property of its citizens" to
| ssafford substantial aid in the prosecution Of
great works of internal improvement Of
| :ruly national character''-to extend all such
proper protection to American labor and in
| dustry as shall be necessary to render it in
| dependent of the pauper labor Of Europe
| and so to conduct its affairs, with n view to
integrity and economy, as to advance the
public welfaee and augment the public hap
piness.
Resolred, That we owe our highest allegi-
ance to the American Union and that its
preservation, at every hazard and under oil
emergencies should be the first object as it is
the chief duty of every citizen of the United
States, and that we will rccist every attempt
to weaken its bonds, from whatsoever quar-
ter it may come, whether FROM the North or
South. We adopt the sentiments conveyed
by the Wings of this country, in lS4S, to
their brother Wings throughout the nation,
which the most of us then endorsed and
which. were expressed in these words: "Rs-
solred, That as W igs ard citizens Of Vigo
county-as Indanians-we love and cherish
the confederation of these States-that all
onr affections are conferred in the glorious
American Unon-that we know no difference
in our attachment to the MOI th and South
that, IN the language of the immortal
Washington, we"cherish q cordial, habitual,
and inrmcvnbie attachment TO that Union,
accustoming ourselves to think and speak Of
it as the palladium OF our political safety
aud prosperity. watching its preservation
with jealous anxiety, discountenancing what
ever may suggest even a suspicion that it
can, in any event, be abandoned, and ind;g-
nantly frowning upon the first dawning Of
every attempt to ALLEVIATE any portion of our
country from the rest or to enfeeble the
sacred ties which now link together the vari-
Gus parts These are the sentiments of the
citizens of Nigo, here assembled, and, by the
blessing of Heaven, we shall live and die by
them"
Resolued, That we arc opposed to and will
resist all efforts tc'array the citizens Of one
section Of our country against another upon
sectional or geographical issues.
Resolred, That we respond to the patriotic
sentiments recently expressed by the "Union
men" OF Platt county, Missouri, and like
them will adopt as the code of our political
, morals, the golden rule: '.To do TO Others
! Us we would they should do to u.s." will OPP
pose abolitionism, border ruffianism, and
every other fanaticism that has tendency
) to infringe tie rights of Others" and That
i. we will have for our MOTTO: The Constitu-
ton and the Union, new and forever, one
D and inseparable.
,Resolred, That we maintain, what the
B Aunarican ~ hos a1x pal hot
, the people Of a Territory, when they form
their constitution for admission into the
Union have the right to decide for them
r selves, whether they will or will not have
, slavery, and that they are entitled to admis-
= sion into the Union, whether they decide it
: one way or the other; it is their business, not
, ours, and we don't intend to trouble ourselves
about it.
t sResolred, That, in our opinion, Congress
a ought not to legislate on the subject of sla-
. very, either in the States, the District o.
II Columbia, or in any of the Territo OF tho
United States-but ought to let it alone.
Resolred, That the control Of domestic in
n situations of the StStcs, including slavery
belongs exclusively to the States themselves
L and the Federal Government has no right ol
{ power, under the Constitution, to interior,
with them, either directly or indirectly.
i sResolred, That anti-slavery convention
= ana cOuIluueu aIIoch5 IN the Northern StSCe
upon slavery as it exists in the States of tn,
y South have had a tendency to weaken tn,
8 attachment heretofore existing between tn
n two sections of the country, and to cndange
IL the peace of the Union-and should, there
l. fore, be discontinued.
- Resided, That the peace, happiness, auc
~ prosperity OF the country, as well us the secu
is rity of life and property, depend upon tn
~ faithful execution Of such laws as may b
enacted by the proper department of govern
ID mens-n alional or State.
IN Resolred, That we will not engage in an,
. crusade agsinst the Supreme Court Of tn
Il United States, nor its decisions, holding it t
of be absolutely essential to the preservation Q
our institutions that our judiciary should re
e. main independent Of political parties, an
hi because If it were otherwise, as Mr.. Clay de
clared in his lifetime, ''we should have moth
ing settled, nothing stable, nothing fixed
There would be general disorder and confus
d ion throughout every branch of administra
ton, from the highest to the lowest officers
- anirersdl RUllifcdt:or." We are opposed I
he qualification in every form.
n Res0lred, That, in our opinion, Kansas
- not entitled to admission into the Union un
ne der the Lecompton Constitution, nor undo
W any other that shall not &c fairly stbmitte
. to and approved of by majority of I'll