The Washington union., 1858-02-07
THE CINCINNATI PLATFORM AND KANSAS Az.
FAIRS MR. DOUGLAS IN 1856

claflliB uiat the pfopoScu aohiSoioh vi hasas into
the Union the slavery clause of the constitution onh
having been submitted TO direct vote of The peopa
ia in violation of tie spirit Of the act Of 1854 and
of the Cincinnati platform, which was the creed Of
the party in the great contest OF 1896. We have hs
advantage. at all events, of full record and wa
prefer TO consult its declarations Its testimony
behalf of the course which the democratic party hss
thought proper to pursue in relation to affairs
in Kansas. The, subject was one which engaged le
undivided attention of the Cincinnati Convention, Il
had been the cause of bitter controversy between
the democracy and their opponents IT had been
made preext for the organization of the republicaD
party which had sought to build up, upon it, ire
concilable antagonism between The North and the
South. aeste +sg vSYrb tE g.se a
Thus after considering other questions involved in
the administration Of the federal government, affect
ing the diversified interests of the American peo
pie. the convention proceed TO make this solemn
avowal Of its principles with reference to the matter
now in controversy
And that we may more distinctly meet the issue on
which sectional party subsistng exclusively on saver
agitation relies to test the fidelity OF the people
North and South to the constitution and the Union
81 Resolved That, claiming fellowship with, and de-
string the cooperation Of, all who regard the pesers
ton of the Union under the constitution the para
mount ISSUE and repudiatng all sectional parties and
platforms concerning domestic slavery which seek en-
bro the States and ncte to TREASON and armed resancp
to law in the Territories and whose avokcd purpose
cons,immated, must end in civil war and dsunon The
American democracy recognise ana adopt the principles
contained in the organic laws establishing the Territories
of Kansas and Nebraska as imbodying the only sound
and safe solution of the slavery question upon which the
great national idea Of the people of this whole country
can repose in its determined conservatism OF the Union
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. CONGRESS WITH SLAVERY IN STATE
TEnaiToRY, OR IN THE DIsrRIcr or CoLuABIA"
This record is sufficiently explicit upon the ques.
ton which was the subject of anxious delibcraion
by the convcnticn five consult the history Of the
controversy which gave rise to it, 1T will be found
by the simplest reference to the organization Of the
republican party, which first put in issuc the isc
ted question Of the repeal of the Missouri Compre
mise, and then suddenly abandoned it by the adop
ton of complete anti-slavery platform, making
Kansas theatre, in which were performed the poit
cal comedies and tragedies gotten up by the poGd,
co-literary vagrants and engineers OF the republt
cans all over the North, that it completely meets
the issue forced upon us. The very central plank
this platform and the vital power that was expected
TO sustain the whole work, was the agitation Of 'hs
slavery question:" the dsavowal Of the legal author
ity of the territorial government of Kansas, refusal
to vote at elections, the construction of the revo
tionary government at Topeka, and many other--w
may say almost infinite devices, by which the de-
mocracy Of the North sought to be discreditea
and defeated. We met this formidable array Of
4 H.. x.snl.., ~, 1o,
hration
Rcsolred That we recognise the right Of the people Of
all the Territories including Kansas and Nebraska act
ing through the legally ard airlye7ressN uH q mory
of actual yesde and whenever the number Of their In
habitants ustifes it, to form constitution with r
out domssc aarey and he admitted into the Union upon
terms of perfect equality with the other States
We thus present the record Of the issue which The
convention at Cincinnati adopted, and upon which
Mr.. Buchanan was placed in nomination and elected
by the suAfragcs Of the American people. Nothing
can be more clear more explicit, more reasonable,
and Just 1t is national basis upon which every
honest man can stand-a basis of essential union as
broad as the confederacy and as deep as the most
patriotic purposes and instincts could make it. And
how were the nominees Of the great democracyr re-
ceived by the country? Did the North or the South
hesitate, falter, or stumble in their support2 Was
the tone of approval tame, questionable, or doubt
full Were not the men and the platform fully sus.
tained7 We answer in the potent language OF MI
Douglas, as he addressed the hast y-assemblcd pec
pie of this city, who, with hearts filed with noble
impulses called upon the distinguished senator IRON
Illinois for word approval, encouragement and Cd
vice. After avowing that "wc had candidate @
the presidency whose reputation was as wide-h
was about to say, the republic, but he would Sy
as civilization" he proceeded to the discussion
Kansas affairs thus
s.Ihe platform was equally explicit in reference TO tn
disturbances in relation to tho Territory of Kansas
declared that to be punished and resista0s
to the laws was to be put down. That was the whcT
question involvcd-whether the supremacy OF the law
should be maintained or whether mob violence should
overcome the officer Of the law On this question
tween law and violence, the democracy Ind oxpres0
their sentiments; they say that the laws shall DC os
ted SO long as they stand upon the stautc-book bh' "
black republicans say that they will trampe upon Wv
law and shoot down the officers who execute It, be'ap
they do not like the law. The whole question W@ a
whether law and order and the constitution shall prevail
or whether lawless violence and mob law shall fu1
their stead.
And the principle Of the black republicans is 70 oW
such laws as they like and rcpndate those they 90
like They claim protection under the constitution ~
refuse 10 Weld obedience it, The difference between
them and the democracy is that the democracy suli
the constitution in all its parts with equal hde'ty WIZ
out reference to whether they like or dislike it, Hn
excuse for man say that he docs not like law ai
therefore will not obey IT, Did they ever know crlD
nal who liked the lawi Applausc breakers i1r aI'r
Al a. or nM