The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1859-09-15
KEN HA. WIS:
Republican State Nominations.
Democratic Resolutions.

DenOcFaL1c beSOIutAOhs'
The late State Democratic Convention, passed
a series of resolutions singular enough, because
the acts of the party have been in direct opposi-
ton to their sentiments. They therefore appear
designed as a sort of "clapItrap" to catch voter,
with no expectation of their becoming practical
ly the basis of the political action of the party.
For instance, they avow in favor of the home
stead measure, declaring d" in favor of granting
limited portions of the Public Lands to actual
settlers" However right such policy may be,
the democracy have never given any proof OF
their attachment to it; on the contrary, the par
ty has put itself on the record, as determinedly
opposed to free homeSteads to actual settlers
The party may talk favorably at home, in favoe
Of such a scheme, for political effort but when
Il comes to voting, quite the reverse appears.
We need only refer to the Homestead Bill be-
fore the last session of Congress the history of
the measure in that body is simply this The
Republican members without single exception,
voted IN favor of the Homestead Bill land by the
aid of few northern and western democrats car
ried it through the House; while the democrats
as a party,vote steadily againstit. The Home
stead Bill passed the House at three different
times, on each of which occasions it was oppos-
ed by the democrats as above stated.
When the Homestead Bill reached the Sem
ate, it was opposed by ths leading democratic
Senators, and was by them defeated Though
the Bill was never put on its final passage in the
Senate, and therefore never brought to direct
vote, yet on all the preliminary questions the
republican Senators were in fauOr of the Bill and
the democrats opposed to it. While, therefore,
the Wisconsin democrats profess attachment
to the policy of free homes to the homeless, the
party has put itself on the record, both in the
House of Representatives and Senate of the Uni
ted States against the Homestead Bill.
Again, the Democratic convention at Madi-
son, attempts to ride two horses on she subject
of slavery in the Territories this is the more
difficult task inasmuch as the animals ran in
opposite directions. The resolutions recognize
the doctrine that the people of the Territories,
have tho power to legally control slavery within
their limits the resolutions also recognize the
Supreme Court as the interpreter of the Con-
StitutiOn on tho question of Slavery Here,
then, the democracy avow two Antagonistic doc
tTines the decisions of the Supreme Court car
ry slavery into the Territories beyond the pow
of the people to control it.. One of these doc
trineS, enunciated by the Convention, must
therefore be false.
On the subject Of Know Nottingham the Dem
ocratic Convention makes the usual flourish of
trumpets being careful to confne its speciica--
tionE to Massachusetts, and cautiously abstain
ing from rebuking any democratic State, which
I proscribes foreign born citizens. In the matter
of the rights of naturalized citizens leaving their
homes in this country to 60 abraad, the demo.
cratic resolutions are antagonistic to the doc
J trines promulgated by the Administration. The
Administration through Gen. Cass, tells foreign
. born citizens, Your naturalization in this
country will not exempt you from that claim
should you voluntarily return thither'" These
warning opinions in the ranks of the democracy,
mast be settled as best they can. The resolu.
tions Of the democratic convention also declares
against the revival of the slave trade and Con-
gressional slave code for the Territories. These
protestatCns, must Of course, be intended for
Bome portion of the democratic family, mas
much AZ no republican has ever proposed the
opening of the slave trade, or a slave code for
the Territories. Many influential democratic
journals, are clamorous for removing the pres
emit restrictions TO the slave trade; and a still
greater number for the enactment iby Congress
of a Slave code for the Territories, Demands
: for such Congressional action are con stantly
appearing in southern newspapers; recent
number of the Richmond Enquirer declares the
Douglas doctrine. that Congress has no power
to control the question of slavery in the Terrific
rieS, as bad as the Black Republicanism,' of
Seward, SC. When democratic delegates from
Wisconsin, come to meet this issue in the Charles
ton Convention, they will very likely be obi
ged to retract the opinions expressed at home.
1t is proper to judge of party by its acts as
whole-by its general course of policy, and its
collective national avowals The democratic
party prdes iGself on its nationality and so long
therefore, it processes to belong to the political
brotherhood, it is responsible for its national
acts and national policy. Isolated expressions
of sentiment in county or State conventions
differing from the national sentiment of the par
ty, may be madefor political effort; but democ
racy is after all, to be judged by its national leg
iSlation and national councils.