Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-04-20

ttOn OF tDOSe principles Wnlcn constitute the
only basis of that Union, because q faithful
tence and the public happiness.
Resoiued, That holding the General Admin
istration responsible for certain grave depar-
lures from public duty and Democratic princi-
pies, we are bound to regard the AdminiStra-
tion as having forfeited the confidence of the
people, and to denounce it as unworthy of the
support of the Democratic party.
Resoired, That when the Democratic party
in 1856 was solemnly committed in National,
State, and County Conventions to the funda-
mental principle that the people of the Ter
ritories, like those of the States, were to be
left perfectly free to decide for themselves
whether slavery should or should not exist
within their limits, subjected only to the Con-
stitution OF the United States, We entered into
solemn covenant, which, notwithstanding
the conduct of faithless public servants, we
hold ourselves bound to maintain at all haz-
ards, and to carry out in letter and spirit.
g ReSoLred. That the attempt of the General
Administration TO disregard this covenant
and in its stead to erect despotic test to COM
pei obedience to doctrines subversiye of Re-
publican liberty, was not the work of the rep
resentatives of the Democratic party, but of
men who had resolved upon the destruction of
that organization for their own ambitious pur-
poses; and that this reputation of right and
endorsement of wrong was fifty followed by
remorseless war of Federal power upon State
sovereignty, and by an arrogant prescription
of all Democratic organizations and Demo-
cratic champions who would not follow the
shameless example.
Res0fred, That We deliberately and heartily
re-assert and re-endorse the great principle of
popular sovereignty and non-intervention as
well in the Territories in the Stales, nom
Intervention by Congress with slavery in the
Territories, and non-interyention by the Fed
ara1 tiy,. In tha rf h..
pie of the States, and that every effort to force
the Democratic party of this country upon any
other platform should be rebuked as q prepa-
ration for lasting disgrace in the first place.
and for lasting and deserving defeat in the
second.
Resolred, That this principle of popular SOW
ereIgnty and non-intervention, lying, as it
does, at the basis of all our free institutions,
enunciated and accepted, North and South, by
Legislatures and courts, 10y Congressman and
candidates, substituted, in 1850 for an obsolete
Congressional rule, and re-&sserted in 1854,
after the repeal of the Missouri Compromise
is the only principle that will forever remove
the question of slavery from the halls of the
National Legislature, and prevent the triumph
of the enemies of the American Urion.
Resoired, That we regard with undissembled
indignation and alarm the attempt of the Fed
eral Administration, backed by its dependents
in the North, and the disunionists of the
South, to committhe Democratic organization
to the scandalous doctrine that in defiance of
the pledges of the Democratic party in 1856,
and in disregard of the legislation of 1850
and 1854, the people of the Territories shall
have no control over the question of slavery,
but that slavery must be protected againt the
popular will, not merely by the courts, but by
congress, and, per consequence, by the army
and the navy and that, regarding the resolu-
ttons of the Convention which assembled at
Harrisburg, on the 10th of March, as having
accepted this monStrous heresy, we hereby re-
pudIate the platform and candidates of that
Convention.
Resoired, That long and constantly as we
have advocated the rights of the South in the
North, and solictous as we are to preserve
amicabe relations with the people of that
portion of the Union, candor compels us to
say that We can never cooperate upon the
declaration of purpose to ignore and insult
the popular voice in Territories after all the
obligations of the past and that we appeal
to our rfellow-countrymen, in that quarter OF
the Union, not to lend their countenance to
policy, the effect of which is to consolidate
fanaticism here, and to place them inextrica-
bly, in the wrong.
Resotred, That we are irreconcilably oppos-
ed to any and every attempt to disturb that
adjustment, or to reopen the slave agitation
either by re-opening the African slave trade,
or by the adoption of slave code for the
Territories by the action of Congress, when
the people fail to do it for themselves, or in
any other form whatsoever.
Resolred, That the welfare of the country
imperatively demands jealous resistance by
the people of the corruptng influences of
Federal power, whenever they are unwarranta-
bly, exercised; that we are keenly alive to the
existence of the dangers which all great states
men of the Democratic party have predicted
from the prostitution of the vast patronage of
the General Government to the accomplish
ment of partisan purposes; that under the pres
ent National Administration, the worst fears
OF the patriot statesmen of the earliest days
of the Republic, on this subject, have been
realized and that the events of the last two
years have sadly illustrated the truth of the
remark of James Buchanan in 1927, in his
speech against the prostitution of Federal
patronage to political ends by the Admins
tration OF John q. Adams, that ssthe nature
of man is the same under republics and under
monarchIes. The history of the human race
proves that liberty can never long be preserv-
ed without popular jealousy. 1t is the con-
dition of its enjoyment. Our rulers must be
naTrOuUiy tCdfched."
ReSoired, That We are alike opposed TO
Northern and Southern disunionists, regard
ing them as natural allies, one to the other
each appealing to the passions and preiudices
of its own section against the peace and har-
money of the Union, and demanding Con-
gressional Intervention for its own section
alone, contrary TO the right of the people of
the Territories to govern themselves
Resoired, In the language of Stephen A.
Douglas, sslt matters not what way the Su-
preme Court may hereafter decide as to the
abstract question whether slavery may or may
not go in to a Territory under the Constitu-
tion; the people have the lawful means to in
troduce it or exclude it, as they please, for the
reason that slavery cannot exist day or an
br.,- -
police regulations. Those police regulations
can only be established by local LEGISLATION