New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-04-14
Pennsylvania Democratic STATE
Rights Convention.

HARRISBURG,
The Democratic State Rights Convention me. this
ing. The attendance was very large. Alexander
Mckinney presided.
The Hon. John Hickman made speech Of an hours
length, in which he said:
Those who talk of Cancellation and compromises
between and the self constituted oracles OF the
Democratic party, can have but feeble appreciation
of the real cOrdon o. things Let this truth be msdo
prominent that there is eternal antsgouisn between
Freedom and Slavery. The struggle between them Is
but iust begun, and is going in our midst. We
have acted honorsbly, benevolenty, and longer
forbearance with the South not only ceases
10 be vir,uous, but becomes cowsrdly and base.
The North has rights long held in allegiance truly, yet
rot lost; We will save them; by walls and Gre and
blood, IL reed be, viii cave item. We will resist
aggression the part of the South, but not her co.,
stitutona gusrattes and will force plain, distract
unequivoca recognition of the Iightfl claims Of the
North; nothing more and nothing less. Further q
usurpaaon has been accomplished Snlch saps at the
very foundat on OF our political structure Mr.'bu.
chansn has demanded the absorption OF the powers OF
Congress n those of the Executive. To carry out his
cherry he has assaled the representatives OF the
people, brbed the vena, rewarded the aspiring,
alarmed the timid deceived the honest. More re-
Gently, however, when the recommendations OF the
President thought to favor the agricultural and
manufacturing States; when the proprety OF new
tariff law was suggested; when the so-called Demo
cratic Members Of the Senate the House, even the
Cabinet officers raised the voice Of denuuciatory oppo-
sitiop it all right, aud rebelions becsne loyalty
And yet Pennsylyanians see nothing wrong 10 tnlsi
y,
the limbs of beings more seryile and debssed. We
charge further upon the administration of Mr. Blu
ohanan one main cause by which we have reached the
poiLt Of rational insolvency, reckless prodlgaliy IN
the expenditures of the public money and the prevail
ing vice in the Departments of the Government. he
referred to the Van Buren, administration, when the
expenditures Of the Government were thirty-seyen
millions. This he pronounced very extraVaRsnt but
nothing 10 compare with the present time, waen tue
expenses were increased to hundred millions. lie
then alluded to the yards, all crowded with su-
penum erares while the expenses of the bost-Ofice
Department greatly augmented. These proceed
ipgs, which he characterized outrageous and in
dorsed IA genuine by Convention purpoItng to rep
resent the Democratic party of the State
He then declared that MIR. Buchanan and his cohorts
were Incompetent, aud concluded amid overwhelming
applause. His address was quite lengthy, and pro-
duced considerable effect.
The Committee reported resolutions to the following
effect That here to day to resist every attempt
TO weaken overthrow the creed OF the Demo or stc
party-o unite for the purpose of restoring IN all ther
vgor and purity the great truths that have heretofore
made the Democracy the co1quering organizsno
which contributed to the enduring welfare OF the
Union; that this Convention most solemnly declares
its warm attachment to the union of the States, to
maintain which it pledges all its powers ana nas ior
this end it is duty oppose every nirseton OF
those principles, which constitute the only bsas OF
that union because faithful observance of them can
only secure its existence and public happiness.
That we are bOnnd 10 regard the Administration ss
Having forfeited the confidence of the people and TO
enounce it unworthy of the support OF the Demo
ratio party that the attempt of the Administration
disregard the covenant OF 1885, and in ts stead
rect despotic test TO compel obedience to doctrines
ubversive of republican liberty, was the work not Of
he Democratic party, but of men who had resolved
pom ambitious purposes that we reindorse the prin-
ipes of popular sovereignty, nonnterventlon IN tho
erritores by the States nonnterventon BY Congress-
with Slavery in the Territories and non.intervention
by the Federal Executive with the franchises OF the
eople of the States, that we repudate the PLATFORM
the Convention Of March, and that no matter
what the decision of the Supreme Court may be on
that abstract question, tti the rgnt OF the people to
make slave territory sfree territory perfect and
complete under the Nebraska bill.
series of resolutions were adopted, and the Con-
yention adjourned with great enthusiasm.