Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-09-02
rhe minnesota Democracy.

At a Convention OF the Democracy OF Min
nesota held on the 18th of August, at the
Capital of the State. the following series of
resolutions were adopted as the platform of
the party :,
We, the Democracy of Minnesota, by our
Delegates In Convention assembled, do affirm
and resolve
l. That the States of the Union are sover-
eign and equal; and the powers not expressly
delegated 10 the Federal Government are re-
tanned by the people of the States.
2. That The people of the Territories are
Justly entitled 10 the undisturbed regulation
of their local affairs, free from Intervention
by Congress or by any State. and subject only
to the Const tuition Of The United States; that,
on attaining the number OF Inhabitants equal
to the ratio of representation in the lower
House of Congress, such people have the
right To organize State Government, and
demand admission into the Federal Union;
ard that, in the organization OF such State
government, the people, by the will of the
majority, fairly expr ssed at the ballOt-box,
have the exclusive light TO adopt any consti-
tuition which does not conflict with II Repub-
lcan form of Government.
s. The Democracy of Minnesota reiterate
and fully endorse the National Democratic
platform adopted by the National Democratic
Convention at Cincinnati in 1856 and further
declare that the institution of slavery, under
the Constitution of the United States. can
only become pertinent political question
within the State or Territory where IL is pro-
posed to establish, retain, or abolish it; that
the citizens of such State or Territory, re-
spectively, have exclusive jurisdiction of the
subject matter within its own limits; and
that, therefore. Congress has no power to
tablish or protect slavery in or to exclude
slavery from any of the Territories of the
United States.
4. That auy attempt to II open the African
slave trade is disgraceful to the age and
country; and that the Government, and sor
did conspirators against the peace, honor, dig
nifty, aud existence OF the Union.
5. That American citizenship embraces
persons of all creeds and nationalities, who,
under the laws, acknowledge, and render al
Iegiance to the American Government; and
that the Democratic party recognises no dis
tinction between such citizens. whether native
born or naturaliZed. but guarantees to all
alike the same political rights at home and
the same Governmental protection abroad.
And we further declare that The amendments
To the constitution of Massachusetts, placing
additional restriction, upon the admission OF
foreign-born adopted citizens to the right Of
suffrage. is an act of the Republican party,
an open avowal of principles which are
secretly and covertiy held by that party in
Minnesota, and wherever that sectional or
ganiZatiOn exists; which lis manifested by the
fact that they have placed in nomination for
the suflrages of the native and adopted citi-
gems of Minnesota. Jas. Ii. Baker, for Secre-
tary of State, G. E. Cole, for Attorney Gen
eral, and William Window for Representa-
tive in Congress, three open and avowed
Know othings.
Sinth. That all laws of the United States,
duly enacted, should be obeyed and respect
ed unless declared unconstitutional by the
judicial tribunals; and that the aid and en-
enlargement given by the Republican party
in Ohio, Wisconsin, and elsewhere to resist
the laws, convict it of being sectional, trea-
sonable, and revolutionary in its objects and
aims.
Seventh That the principles embraced in
the measure known as the Homestead Bill
were and are of Democratic origin; first in
troduced into Congress by member OF that
party, and. during the last session, voted for
by our Senators and Representatives; and
that the provisions of any future homestead
bill should apply to settlers thereafter to To-
cate upon public lands, and those now settled
upon them, as well as to lands subject to
private entry or to preemption; that the at
tempt OF the Republican party to claim 1t as
their measure is, therefore, preposterOus and
absurd. but that, on the contrary. the policy
of the Republican party has been. and now is,
the distribution OF the proceeds of the public
lands amongst all the States thus despoiling
the public land States for the benefit of the
older States of the Union. as witnessed by its
advocating the passage of the agricultural
college bill during the last session of Con-
gress in advance of the homestead bill. thus
taking from the State of Minnesota over three
q l., l.. Al
same 10 the older States thereby creating
State land monopOlies in our midst, and dis
posing of the public domain they professrd
by the homestead bill to be DESTROYS of dOnat-
ing as homes for the homeless.
Eighth. That all sales of the public lands
are contrary to the aettled policy of the De-
mocracy of Minnesota. and this Convention
pledges the influence of the party in oppO>i-
ton to any disposition of the public domain
other than to actual settlers under the OPP
Grafton of a liberal homestead or pree:np-
ton law; that The sale at this time of the
lands now adve' t!sed in this State would be
oppressive TO the pioneer settlers upon the
public domain, obnoxious to the earnest and
trequenty-eXpressed sentiments of the De-
mocracy of the State. and repugnant to the
policy indicat' d by Andrew jackson aud en-
dorsed by the President in his inaugural add
dress. This Convention, therefore. most re-
to pos Ipone those sales, a means of pre-
serving numerous class from actual ruin,
and contributing to the best interests of the
State.
3. That the covert opposition of the lea
ders of the Republican party in this State to
the admission of Minnesota, aud the open op-
position of the Representatives Of that party
in Congress to the admission of both Minneso-
Ia and Oregon, demonstrate the hypocrisy of
Republican professions us being the peculiar
friends of free States.
10. That the charges made by the late Re
publican Convention that the officers of the
State aud the Democratic party had lamp r
ed with the purity of the bIIlot-box to secure
their ascendency at the last State election il
dishonoring to tine State, and still more so to
those VINO make them. as they know them to
he false aud untounded; and the fact that
their candidate for Governor was repeatedly
invited and challenged 10 test the question
before the legal tribunal of the State. which
he and his political friends declined to do.
affords the most convincing proof that neither
he nor they believed what theyso vehemently
asserted; and in thus repelling their foul
charges we declared our unlimited confidence
in the integrity and patriotism of the present
State Administration.
IL. That the present numerous representa-
ton in the two Houses of the Legislature is
an unnecessary source of expense to the
people OF the State, and that this, as well as
the present expensive system of county
government, should be changed, and the
people relieved from the exhorbitant taxation
10 which they are now subjected; and that
this Convention. therefore, pledges the Demo-
cratic party of the STATE TO use its power to
change the present system of county govern
ment. to reduce the representation in the
Legislature to the lowest number consistent
with the interests of the State. aud TO provide
for an economical administration of the
government in all its departments.
II. That the connexion of Lake Superiod
and the Mississippi river with Puget's Souno
by railroad is a great national work, vital I'd
the defence and permanence of the Union; ano
the democracy OF the State stand pledged IL