Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-03-04

trine. practically applied. the peopl'
of State or q Territory are vesteC
with the right of ratifying or reject
ing. at the ballot-box, any Constitu
tion (the whole of it) that may b,
framed for their government; that aftel
the Sth January, 1853, neither Kansas
nor any other Territory ought to b,
admitted into the Union as a State
unless the qualified voters thereof hav,
been permitted to exercise such vested
right, and majority have declared in
favor of the Constitution accompany.
ing their application for admission.
4. That the policy of forcing Kan.
sas into the Union upon Constitution
already rejected at the ballot-box by q
large majority of the people for whose
government 1t was framed. is ruinous
that it involves an act of Congression.
al Intervention and criminal usurpa.
tion-accomplished, if at all, at sac
rlhce of the plighted faith of the ma.
ton, and in defiance of the principles
of self-government, to which the dele.
gate Convention of the Sth January
last pledged the Democracy of Indiana
that the same party now, in mass con-
vention, most solemnly protest against
the threatened treason TO its princi-
Piles, and repudiate the action of those
members Of Congress from this State
who shall approve of or vote for drag
ging Kansas into the Union upon the
Lecompton Constitution.
s. That the Democracy Of Indiana
are opposed to the retrocession of the
Wabash and Erie Canal. as we'll as
to any new arrangement with the
bondhol1ers thereof.
8. That in imitation of the system
successfully adopted by the L. States
Government, the State of Indiana
should establish an Independent treas
ury for the safe keeping Of the public
revenue.
10. That gold and silver only should
circulate as money; that charters for
banks of issue or moneyed monopolies
should not be granted, and that the
circulating mediums of the States
should be reduced to the constitutional
standard as rapidly as practicable.
ii. That the Monroe Doctrine of
non-intervention by European powers
in the affairs of this Continent, should
be insisted upon and enforced by the
United States Government.
II. That we recommend to our
friends throughout the State thor
ough organization upon the foregoing
platform Of principles.
13. That we are in favor of Home
stead Law, granting to every actual
settler homestead on the public lands,
free of all charge.
In addition to the above Platform
of principles, we declare as follows:
Resolred, That the organization in
favor of the Lecompton movement. as
Its principles and policy are developed,
reveals tendency to the distinctive
features of ancient federalism; that
their theory, in our opinion, involves
a complete Capitalization of the politi-
cal power of the Government; that we
fear that there is great danger of a re-
pudiation of the principle of the Ne
braska Act as a rule for the organiza-
ton of Territories.
Resolred, That primary assemblies
Of the Democratic party, alone, can
with propriety erect tests of party
faith; that the functionaries of their
creation have no such authority; that
we have witnessed with Indignation
the presumptuous attempts to read
out of the Democratic party many of
its oldest, ablest and truest members.
ResOlved, That the Hon. Stephen A.
Douglas is entitled to the gratitude
and applause of the American Democ-
racy, for his bold and triumphant vim
dication of the American principle of
selfgovernment; and that the Democ-
racy of Indiana, in mass convention
assembled, hereby pledge to him their
firm and undivided support; and fur
thermore, that we approve and indorse
the course, up to this time, of Messrs.
English, Foley, Davis and Niblack
upon the Kansas question in Congress.
Resolyed, That the Indiana State
Sentinel, by its prevarications, mis-
representations, and Inconsistencies. as
well as by its betrayal of Democratic
faith, and its injustice to members of
the party, has placed itself outside Of
the Democratic organization of the
State, and forfeited the patronage and
respect Of the party.
Resoived, That the Chair appoint
an Executive Committee of two from
each Congressional District, and one
from the City of indianapolis, whose
duty it shall be to watch over the in
terests and organization, to call such
Democratic meetings and conventions
as may from time to time be thought
necessary, and to take such other steps
as may be necessary and proper, look
ing to thorough organization of the
party for the coming canvass.
Resoived, That we recommend to
the National Democracy of the North
West the holding at an early day of a
Mass Convention at Chicago OF some
other suitable place. and that Com
mittee of Correspondence of five be ap-
pointed, to communicate with the De-
mocracy of other States relative to the
calling Of such Convention.