The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-07-28
MISSISSIPPI PLATFORM.

State Convention of the Democracy Of
Mississippi was held at Jackson, the State cap
ital, on the 4th of July The following resolu-
tions were unanimously adopted. 1t will be
seen that they fall somewhat short of the ultra
positions which are maintained by the Leading
newspapers in that State. Not word is said
about repeating the laws which prohibit the
African slave trade. They declare in favor OF
slave code for the Territories; and in the
event of the election of a Black Republican
President in 1860, they pledged the State of
Mississippi to "hold herself in readiness to CO.
operate with her sister States Of the South, in
whatever measures they may deem necessary
for the maintenance of their rights as coequal
members of the Con!ederacy." This is decided
ly moderate language for Mississippi "Den-
ocratic " Convention. We had been led to sup
pose that there were no two opinions among the
Democracy of that State upon the question of a
dissolution of the Union in the event of the
election of Republican President But it
seems that the fre-eaters believe in the maxim
of Falstaff, that discretion is the better part
of valor." The resolutions are as follows
" UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED IN CONVENTION,
July 5, 1859.
"ReSolUed, That we reannounce as the basis
of party action the platform of principles laid
down by the Democratic party in the National
Convention of 1856; and hold that the doctrine
of mon interference with the institution Of Sla-
very, in States, Territories, or District of Column
bia, does not nor was it intended to conflict
with the assertion of the power of Congress to
Of ba Of he
al States, who may choose to settle in the Ter
ritories which are the common property of all
the States.
"ReS0iUed That, in the language Of the Su-
preme Court of the United States, the right of
property in slaves is distinctly and expressly
affirmed in the Constitution and the only
power over it, conferred upon Congress, is the
power coupled with the duty of guarding and
protecting the owners in their rights as thus
declared.
"Resolped, That Mississippi will stand by her
sister saveholding States in insisting upon the
enforcement by all the departments of the
Federal Government of their constitutional
rights as thus expounded by the Supreme
Court of the United States.
6 ReSOIred, That in the event Of the election of
Black Republican candidate to the Presiden-
cy, by the sufrages of one portion of the Union
only, to rule over the whole United States upon
the avowed purposes of that organization, Mis-
sissippi will regard it a declaration of hostil
ity, and will hold herself in readiness to CO.
operate with her sister States of the South, in
whatever measures they may deem necessary
for the maintenance of their rights as coequal
members of the Confederacy.
"Resolred, That we feel it incumbent upon
the Democracy of Mississippi again to declare
that the acquisition of Cuba by the United
States is commercial and political necessity,
and that we will hail with pleasure every proper
measure that looks to its accomplishment
and, further, we can never consent to its appro-
priation by any foreign Power"