Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-02-18

OPPOSITION PLATFORM,
Resolved, |. That IN,
reckless extravaganza Of ,ht
preceding and present ad
Illustrations Of the Fedora
Government. by which III,
public expenditures have
been increased from fifty q
nearly one hundred million.
OF dollars, and the public
debi Is greatly enlarged, 10 a
wrong that must be correct
ed. and should be rebuked.
.. That the recommends
tions Of the President, tha,
Congress shall d!Sest itself
Of the war and treaty ma
king power, and confer theln
upon himself. subjeciing, q,
the same time, the army and
navy TO hi. control. coupled
with the proposition for
enormous appropriations
out Of the public treasury, to
carry out his Views, arc the
most astounding that have
been ever submitted TO the
consideration OF the Ameri'
can people. aud call for the
most uneQuivocal condem.
nstion rha, the public voice
can pronounce.
In our relations With other
1 States, We recognize all ct
,hos. international ohliea'
,ions which our position, as
4 member OF the great fami'
ly Of nations, imposes on us,
and We would ever conform
TO the requirements Of those
obligations.
5. That We are opposed 70
the doctrine Of "fr.. trade
and direct taxation" main
tanning that revenue sum
Glen, for an economical ad
minis,ra,iOn OF the Govern
ment ough, 10 be raised by
specific duties on foreign i'm
ror,s,ion~. And. in adjust
In: a tariff. We hold that il |,
;ae duty OF Congress 10
make such Determinations
a. will Afford I" American
industry the incidental ad'
yan,aces 20 which 1t Is justly
| cn.i,led.
4. That the public lands
are held by the General Go
vcrnmen. in trust FOR the
banef, OF all the States
that such disposition should
be made Of them as will
rnure. hy = distribution oi
the proceeds q! the sale
thereof, equally to the bene
q; of all; that Virginia who
gave most. and has received
least, should now be allowed
TO have her just proportion,
/ and that any party that op'
poses this Is opposed to the
hes, interests of the state.
and allows, II !; does not "a
yor. d continuation Of ths
/ heavy ,axe, which aiilict her
people.
5. That. in respect 10 the
Territories, We adhere to the
principles Of the Compro'
mise measures OF $50; we
repudiste the modern doe
trin.s OF "squxtt,r sOSc'
reisnty" and .alisp suf
frage." and hold that. to the
inhabitants Of the Terrific
rieS, who are lawful citizens
Of the uniicd States, belong,
the right, when they come
to form 4 sia,e Constitution,
10 fashion their domestic in
s,itution>. according TO their
oun pleasure. with the pr:-
vilege Of admission Int" the
Union upon equsl,e1ns with
the citizens OF the other
States, whenever they have
tn. requisite population for
one member Of the House o:
Representatives.
6. That by their nnan!-
nous endorsation OF the pre-
sent Administration, the De-
,nocraiic Convention of this
State, lately held At Peters
burg. have assunlst the re-
sponsihility Of all #s errors
and misdeeds Of which We
complain, and upon their
party and their nominees the
public judgment must be
pronounced.
I. That the Hon. John
I.e,eh-r, In his declared will
ingness to divide this ancient
Commonwealth, for the pur-
rose Of exterininating slave
rs from the section In which
he resided, committed an Of
fence which Is withou; jusli.
fica,ion, excuse, or pallia.
tiou, and upon him we in.
woke the deliberate judgment
Of the people OF this State.
:. That the unfinished and
reproductive condition IN
which our great lines Of in
,rrnal Improvement have
been left TO lsnguish de-
mands that ths best exer-
lions Of all should be direct
ed TO their early completion.
Q. That the Union OF the
States, as established by the
Federal Constitution. Is the
surest guaranty Of the liber'
,y of the people, and the
safest support OF their peace
and prosperity, and We de:
precaie all measures, and
repudiate all parties, that
tend TO It's overthrow.
We hold the powers con-
Hded TO the General Govern
men, as sacred trusts. TO be
faithfully exercised for the
common benefit, and We de-
plore any sectional organ
lzation which threatens TO
pervert those powers 10 the
ends OF injustice aud opprcs-
sion. We know Of no diver.
sity Of interests among the
several States Incompatible
with an administration OF
the Government coincident
with the equal rights Of each,
aud we hold Il 10 be- the du-
" OF the Federal Govern
nient, and each department
OF IL, within the just limit,
Of the Constitution, to pro-
mote, by every means, The
great interests Of all 'he
States.