Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-06-30
Denlacratic State Platform.

gates in Convention asrem5led, hereby af-
irm tie platform Of principles adopted by
The General Convention OF the Democratic |
Party, al Cincinnati, on the 4th OF June
1855.
/. ReS5'red. That the organized Terri !
tori's Of Tie United States. although not |
endowed " ith al the attributes of soverei- !
gniy, are only held in the territorial cond-
ton until they attain 4 sufficient number Of
nhaIi'an's 10 authorize their admission n
TO the ates: and, therefore, are Justly enti. !
tied t. the right of self-government, and the |
undistributed regulation OF their domestic !
or local ulia;rs subject 10 the Constitution
of the United States; and that any attempt
by Congress. or any Of the States, 10 estab
!ish or Eaintsin. prohibit or abolish, the re-
istiOn If master and lave in Territory,
would be 4 departure from the original doc
trine Of our American Institutions; and that
We adj ere, immovably, to the principles OF
Non Intervention. By Congress, NTH S'arery
in the States and Territories" as declared in
the Kansas Nebraska bill. and openly dis
claim fellowship with those, whether at the
South or North. or the West, who counsel
the abandonment, limitation, or avoidance
Of that principle.
2 Resolved. That the suppressi of the
African and foreign save trade, by the
Feie,al Government, after the yea eighteen
hundred and seven, is one of the compro-
mses on the faith Of which the COnstitu-
ton was adopted, aud ,ur Union Of slave
holding and non slaveholding States firmly
established; that 4 revival Of that trade
would not only renew those cruelties which
once provoked the Indignation of the civil
zed world, buc would expose the slavehoid-
ing States 10 a constant terror of serVIle
insurrection, ,andthe mons saveholding States
of the border, like Ohio, 10 all mlschiefs
ard annoyance of I free black population,
for these reasons, with others, the Demo-
cracy of Ohio are opposed to any such re-
vsal. and to any measure tending in that
direction.
3. Resolsed, That the rendition of fugitive
slaves, upon demand of the persons entitled
to their service or labor, is duty impoesG
on every State of the Union by the terms
of the Federal compact; that the laws pass
ed by Congress to secure such rendition, in
1893 and 1860, ought to be promptly and
faithfully executed; and the leaders of the
self-sty led Republican party, in Ohio, by
persistent disregard of the Constitution of
the United States in this particular, have
shown themselves unworthy of the conf
dence of well disposed. patriotic, and peace
able citizens.
4. Resolved, That the opposition of tAe
Republican party in Congress to the admis-
siou of Oregon, exposes fully the utter
hypocrisy OF their pretensions to be this
peculiar friends OF free States.
5. Resolved. That we affirm the absolute
sovereignty Of the States of this Union in
regard to their domestic institutions, and the
perfect compatibility of the confederation
o: free and slave States 10 exist harmon-
ously together under the provisions Of our
Federal Constitution.
6. RESOLVED, That the acquisition of the
Island of Cuba is, in our opinion, eminent
y desirable fo- the safety and prosperity OF
our Republic and we should hail with pleas
ure any consistent with Justice, that would
accomplish this object. We can never Con-
sent TO its appropriation BY any of the pow
erfu! States O Europe, md would even Incur
the dangers o: war rather than acquesce
in such result.
7. Resolved, That the Democracy Of Ohio
disapprove the lavish grants of the public
domain, heretofore made by Congress to
Railroad Companies and other corporations;
brt are in favor of granting limited portions
of the public lands to actual settlers on
condition of bona-fde occupation and cul-
| tivation.
s. Resolved. That the Republican party
have in Massachusetts by allowing ''fugi-
tive slave from the South the right of suf-
| frage and Office in one year and requiring
for the same purpose of the naturalized Cit
zens residence of two years after naturai-
zation equivalent TO an extension of the
period for naturalization to seven years, at
tempted to degrade the foreign white man
below the level of the negro and mulatto.
8. Resolued. That the vgor and efficiency
of The Administration, manifested in the
adjustment of our difficulties writh Great
Britain, in regard to the right of search; in
the prompt and successful redress of wrongs
inflicted upon us by the Government OF
Paraguay; the decisive suppression of the
rebellion in Utah; in the enforcement of
the neutrality laws; in The impartia exc
cution of the Acts of Congress for the sup
preston of the Africsn slave trade, and for
| the rend ton of fugitive slaves, commands
our cordial appreciation, and we have full
confidence in its ability and inclination to
protect the rights of our citizens and uphold
the honor of our flag.
TO- Resolved, That we are opposed to
comforting upon negroes, mulattoes, or 9TH
er persons of visible admixture of African
blood, the right of suffrage, or any other
poll;ica right; desiring that the laws Of
Ohio shall be made, and her destinies con-
trolled. by white men exclusively, and for
the paramount interest Of the white race.
IL. Resolred, That we approve of the
principles of the Independent Treasury
Law, passed BY the late Legislature of this
State.
IL. Resolved, That we, the delegates in
this Convention, representing the Demo
cratic party of Ohio, and proposing no de-
parture from its ancient and well-tried prin-
ciples. nevertheless appeal to the People of
Ohio at large, as our fellow citizens equally
interested with us in the maintenance of the
Federal Union according 10 the letter and