The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-04-28

what chs ID moevasis Party - Ainnsss-
q u Com mitted TO-

what shs Dsmoes.,,s Party % Mismsss-
"a u Cemmittsd 70.
Those Democrats among rs who propose,
that we shall 90 into the Fall canvass BE- J.
looming through the cir Of non commitalism
instead oftreading maniully upon the ground
Of principle, seem to forget that the party
at the Threshold Of our State organization
solemnly announced the principles which
should form the basis Of it's isith and the
guide Of its action 10 the future. Among
the resolutions Of the first Democratic State
Convention was the following:
Resolved, Tint the Democracy Of Minnesota
adopt the platform Of the Democratic National
Convention, held In 1855, at Cincinnati, and now
~ heretofore, proclaim their devotion to the
| sovereignty Of the people, and the rights Of
the States; plsdging their best exertions To
continue the ascsndeney Of those great card
nal principles in the State and Nation.
That no misrepresentation might exist re
garding the Interpretation Of the principles
Of the Cincinnati platform, the Convention
thought proper to elaborate in detail its IN.
Outstanding Of them. SO, it was unaui-
mously
Rssoirsd Thstth Union Of the States IL now
exposed TO danger by the introduction OF the
question Of slavery into National politics; and
10 avert that danger. and hvsby to secure Cu
furs bIhmphs OF democratic prtneipiss, the De
mocracy Of Minnesota ayow the following
grounds OF cooperation with their fellow citi
zens Of all the States:
~ A. -,
wholly Withdrawn from Congress, and shall
cease to be agitsted by propositions in Demo.
cratic National Conventions, whether for or
against the institution
Second, Non Intervention with Slavery In the
States where II exists, and a strict observance
Of oil Constitutional obligations to the citizens
Of Southern rs well a. Northern States:
Third, That the people Of the Territories,
through their Legislative Assemblies and Con.
| sttutional Conventions, shali have and exercise
full and exclusive power TO legslate upon all
domestic question:, including the relation Of
! master and servant.
Resolved. That tho present is suitable oc
casion TO urge upon our Democratic brethren
OF the Union, that ths Executive and judicial
officers Of tho Territories should be elected by
tho people thereof, II competent to elect the
legislative Assembly Of a Territory, the peo
pie cannot be incompetent 10 choose who shA II
execute and expound the laws OF their enact
ment.
And tho present State Executive, in his
speech before the Convention, accepting the
nomination which had been unanimously
rendered, showed bis understanding OF the
principles to which the party was pledged,
and upon which tho canvass was to be con.
Quoted, by remarking-
We have been charged by them (ths Repub.
lcans) with being . pro slavery psrty--an 90.
! cusation which every man within the sound Of
my voice knows to be false. We deny the
right Of Congress TO any Jurisdiction over this
question, and No deny it, power TO az to this
or that State or Territory You shall or you
shall not have this or that domestic institution
In your midst We are oil opposed to slavery
extension, 30 far ~ that object can be attained
within tho limits Of the Constitution; but We
hold u 10 the right Of each State and Territory
TO settle these matters for themselves, without
interference nom any quarter This Ia one OF
tho cardinal principles Of the Democratic party.
These were the doctrines most discussed
before the people at our first State election.
They informed the canvass with oil Of its
spirit. and rendered the contest successful.
That was eighteen months ago. Has De-
moeracy changed within those eighteen
months' Or has great principle, which
was then ons Of the cardinal principles OF
the Democratic party" and which was EN-.
braced to " avert danger to the Union
and to secure future triumphs of Demo-
cratic principles" become obsolete within so
short space OF time Has the Democratic
party, inaugurated y Jefferson. and sue
ccssfully sustained through q half century OF
our country's history. suddenly become so
imbccio aud ephemera an organization that
its principles cannot stand the wenr and tear
Of a year and hali' We commend these
queries to our non-commttaists for answer
shalt we have = Party OF q Personal
Canvass Nsat FAM
II the latter, then Platform would be a
supcrtiuity and An ANNOYANCE tn tho cap1;