Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1859-10-01
PLA ITO n M

w the Dem 'cracy Of Minnesota. by our Dele
gates III Convention assembled, do affirm and
icsove-
First That the States Of the Union arc SOW
ere'gn and cqRal; and tho powers notexPrcssly
delegated to the Federal Government are re-
tanned BY the people Of tn: States.
Sccond--Fimt tho people Of the Territories
are Justly entitled to the unListurbcd reputation
Congress or BY any State. and subject only to!
tho Constitutions Of the United States; that, OH
attaining the number Of inhabitants equal toI
the ratio Of representation in the lower house
ofCongross, such people have the right to or
ganixe . State government d and demand ad-
mission into the Federal Union; and that, in
tho organization Of such State Go> crnmcnt, the
People, by the will OF the majority fairly cx-
pressed ut the ballot-hox, have the exclusive
right t" adopt any constitution which does not
conflict with a Republican :orm ofgovcrnmcnt.
Thir,l--'rho Democracy OF Minnesota rcitc-
rate, and fully endorse the National Democrat
ic Convention ut Cincinnati, in 1856. and fur
thcr declare that the institution of slavery I'M
Dc! the Constitution OF the United States, can
only become " pertinent political. question
within the stare or Territory where it is pro
posed to establish, retain. or abolish it; that
the citizon> Of such State or Territory. rcspcc-
tivoly, have exclusive j,lris LECTION OF tire Sub
ject matter within its, own limits; and that,
therefore, Congress has no power TO establish
or protect slavery in, or to exclude slavery
from, any OF the Territories OF tn: United
States. --g9-ltf Gf..-
Fourth-That any attempt to reopen the AZ
rican Slave Trade, is disyracctul to the age and
country; and that the advocates OF this iuhu
man traffic are enemies to the government. ana
sordid c"nsr traitors against the peace, honor,
dignity. and existence Of the Union.
Ffth--That American citizenship embraces
persons Of all crcods and nationalitics, who,
under tho laws, acknowledge and render allie
glance to the American government; and that
between such citizens, whether native born or
snatisalizcl, but guarantees to all alike, the
same political rights ut home, and the same
governmental protection abroad. And we fur
thcr declare that the amendment to the Con-
stitution Of Massachusetts,, placing additional
restrictions upon the admission OF foreig.: born
adopted citizens to tac right OF suffrage, is An
act Of the Republican party, and that we hold
them responsible for 1t, rs an open Avowal Of
principles which arc secretly and covcrtly held
ny that party in Minnesota. and wherever that
sectional organization exists; which i, mani
tested by the fact that they have plncciin NOM
ination for the su,frages of the native and
adopted citizens Of Minnesota, James II. Baker,
for Secretary, Of State, Gordon +. Cole. for AT
tcrnst Gsncl"l. and William, Window, for
Representative ini Congress. three open and
nvowcd Know NothingS.
duly enacted. should be obcyed and respected
unless declared unconstitutional by the judicial
tribunals; and that the aid and encouragement
given BY tho Republican party in Ohio, Wis
consin. and elsewhere, to resist the laws, con-
Wet it OF being sectional, reasonable, and rev.
dictionary in its objects and aims.
Scycnth-That the principles embraced in
tho measure known as the Homestead Rill were
and arc of Democratic origin: first introduced
III to Congress by II member Of that party, and,
during the last session, voted for by our Scna-
tors aud Representatives; and that tho provis-
NJ .l@.,
to settlcrs thereafter to locate upon public
lands, and those now settled upon them, us
we'll rs to Ian Is subject to private entry or t.
presumption; that the attempt Of the Rcpubli-
can party to claim it rs their measure is, pre-
postc rous and absurd, but that, on the con:era-
ry, the policy Of the Republican;party ha. been.
and now is, the distribution of the proceeds of
the public lands amongst all the States, thus
dcspoiling the public land States for the benefit
ofthe older States Of the Union. as witnessed
rGl College Bill during the last session Of Con-
gross, in advance of the Homestead Bill-thus
taking from the State Of Minnesota over three
millions Of acres OF land and donating the same
I" tho older States, thereby creating State Land
Monopolics in our midst and disposins Of the
pubicdomain they protested by tile Homestead
Bill to be dcsirous Of donatingas homes for the
homeless.
Eighth-That all sales ofthc public lands are
contrary to the settled policy Of the Democracy
Of Minnesota, and this Convention pledges the
influence Of the party in opposition to any dis
position OF the public domain other than to ac-
tual settlers under the operation Of a liberal
homestead or presumption law Tina. the sal,
at this time Of the lands now advertised in this
State, would PC oppressive to pioneer settlers
nest and frequent expressed sentiments of the
Democracy Of the State, and rcpusnant to the
policy indicated by Andrew Jackson and en-
d$Issd BY the President in his inaugural address.
This Convention therefore most respectfully
and urgently solicit the President to postpone
rous class from actual ruin, and contributing
20 the best interests Of tho State. .'
eNintt That the covert opposition Of the
leaders Of the Republican party in this State to
the admission Of Minnesota, and the open Opo-
eition Of the Representatives Of that purity in
Congress, to tho admission Of both Minnesota
and Oregon, demonstrate the hypocrisy of Re-
publican pretsnsions as being the peculiar friend
Of FREQ St;.tos. ra -..ri... a,tt IN F}sf vg3s.<
Tepth--That tile charges made by the late
State and the Democratic party had tampered
with the purity Of tho ballot-box to secure thcil
ascsnlancy at the last State election, is dishon-
oring to the State, and still moro SO to those
who made them, ." they know them to be false
and unfounded and the fact that their candl
date tor Governor was repeatedly invited and
challenged to tcst tho question before the lega
tribunals Of the State, which he and his polti
cal friends declined to do, affords the most con
vincing proof that neither he nor they belle vc6
what they 80 vchemectly asserted. And ir
thus rspclling tAcir foul charges, we declare
ourunl}mitsd confidence, in the integrity ane
patriotism Of the present State Administration
Elovcnth-That the present numerous rep
resentaton in the two houses OF the Legsla-
turc u an unnecessary source Of expense to thu
people Of the State, and that this, rs we'll AZ
tho, present expensive system Of county gov.
eminent, should be changed, and the peopl,
relieved from the exorbitant taxation to which
they are new subjected and that this Con
vention, therefore pledges the Democrat,
party Of che STATE to Use its power to chang,
the present system Of county government, t
reduce the representation in the Legislature t.
the lowest number consistent with the Interest,"
Of the State, and to provide for an economics
administration OF the government in all its uc-
partmentS. a. l.- ~ ID p
TwclNl-'rhat the connection Of Lake Su
pcrior and the Mississippi River with Puget,
Sound by railroad, is great national work
vital to the defense and permanence Of til,
Union and the Democracy Of tho State stanc
pledged to urge the early construction of :
railroad over the Northwestern route, and tn,
extension Of the provisions Of the reciproct,
treaty frOH,its present western limits to tn,
Pacific, and thus secure the early and rapi.
development of the fertile regions of countr,
upon and west Of our northern frontier.
Thirteenth That it is the duty of the reopl,