, 1859-01-14
The Douglas-Forney Platform.


4 large portion Of the American people orc
heartily sick and tired Of the continued agitation
Of 1he slavery question. They neither entertain
nor sympl1llse with any ultra views Oh this sub
jcct. They do not wish tn Infringe any of the
constitutional RICHES Of tie South, nor 10 disturb
the harmony Of the Union by any inuoya ous up.
on tie well established principles under Which it
has adylncel 50 rapidly upon TIE high road to
prosperity. They are oppuscd to all turiher Con-
gressiona! interference with slavery or tire benefit
q either section. They desire neither the proai.
bition by Coneress of slavery in tue Territories,
where It exists aud ale perfectly wiling to allow
tile tugitiVe.slave law to remain unchanged upon
the statute louks, aud tu be rI.idly enforced
They wish the question Of slavery in the Terrific
les TO be lett entirely to the decision Of the MO.
pie who arr to lDhabit them. II tic people f;tiry
LeC1s in favor Of the establishment OF s!ayery,
there will he 40 serious opposition 10 the admis.
sion Of new slave States iuto the Union. II Ter
ritorlal p pulaton5 decide in 1uyor OF FREE e IL
stitut9rs, they want no ob>tuctons raised against
the avc Juplishment Of their wishes. Neither DO
they s5mpathisc with any ultra ideas OF The
project OF reyiving the slave trade; ART bitterly
IMPOSED to any SPECIAL law Of Congress for til.
protection OF siaye property in the Tcrri;oric, !;
aud all efforts tu draw lie Of distinction between
The terms on which ire aud sl1sc States are tt
ba admitted into The Union, OF u oycrawe the
contrivauces as the Lecoupton Constitution,
ore regarded not only as unjust, but as utterly
unworthy Of 8 great and enlightened nation.
The practical ideas embraced in these senti-
ments will, ne think, become the basis Of the
controlling policy Of this nation at no distant
day. For time there may be an angty war be-
tween those On the one hand who aim at SO d.
recting the powers Of this Government as to
hasten and enforce similarity Of the insttu-
tions ot all the St2tes in defiance Of the inter-
ests and the wishes Of those wac inhabit them.
and those on the other hand who ain at con
verting this proud Republic into a mere propa-
gaudlss OF slavery, and who recognize no sub.
ject as vital and importout unless 1t relates TO
the protection OF extension Of that institution,
either by spreading It over our present Terrific
r!es, acquiring new slaTe sell, or importing
Bares from Africa.
Tue slavery question can easily be settled
upon system Of equal and exact Justice to all
sect'ons Of the union. Let Popular Sovereign
+ honestly prevail in the Territories, and the
great bone Of contention will at once be re.
moved; and let all the w-fapgled ideas in
volred in the projects for the revival of the
sare trade, Congressional protection Of slavery
IN the Territories, and compulsory conformity
the influence OF the General Government, be
totally ignored, as they should be, aud there is
an end to all further dispute.
1t l5 well for tue Democratic masses to be pre-
pared for the wiles OF the Politicians who wear
Tue livery and tske the pay OF tic Federal Ad-
ministratlou. Not only docs this influence aspire
to control the osEan,z hion II aiso asrires to uic-
tate the creed Of tue Democratic party. Fr hive
seen What it has already done how it has usurped
authority, aud sacrificed many Of the best mcD in
cur ranks to its own arrogant ex4ctiona. Last
sum Ter and autum, its creatures would lsteu ia
n'ae Of tue admonitions Of the times, but forced
| upon the Democratic tickets the tetrayers oil
| De1nccrAtic p,inclples, because the Admiuissra.
tiUn ut Washington would have # so. From tie
aour when these bctTayers have hccn rejected ut
tue polls. the sentiment i'll the Democratic rlusS
| against them has grown stronger aud stronger,
But the rancer of tie Administration has not been
molIllicd; it has grown more violent and unf,r.
| giving. Holding in its hands the Offices Of the
people. and possessing control over tue
| peoples money, it has Deliberately 1esolyad
10 >e.ze the Charleston Convention, and iI
that body TO defeat any man who can bs
elected; because any such man must stand forth
the uure}enting adversary Of the new scheme o
q slave code tn the Territories, or of Copgres
eional Intervention for the protection of slavery
in the Territories. Jefferson Davis has alreodJ
declared that re must come to this theory. The
Washington Onion almost daily advocates il
and now Ar. lversoo repeats his ADHESION to i
| ID angry elequence. Shall the adhe1eutb Of tht
present degraded dynasty be permitted to con
1nue their devastating course-be permitted tt
make nomination at Charleston. md lay dowz
| platform which shall be neither more nor LEM
than budget Of falsehood or deceit? No suc1
movement will ever be tolerated. The dsy hn
gone b. for any more OF these untneanjpe pIaki
tudsa4 The Democrats who fought against th
Administration last year, aud who Will con,inu,
this war, occupy high moral position whcl
they will not compromise. They are men, ant
high minded men-meu who have been seasoned
| to prescription, and who laugh at the threat
and intrigaes OF an Administration which the.
I IND In 80