Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-04-18
Cincinnati National Platform

Cincinnati National Platform.
Below We give the resolutions Of tho Cincinnati
National Convention, adopted June 4th, 1856,
which nominated Japcs Buchanan for President.
We shall from time to time, republish those as the
creed Of the Democracy:
Resolred, That tho foundation Of this Union Of
States having been laid in, and its prosperity,
expansion, and pre-cminent example in free gov.
eminent built upon entire freedom in matters Of
religious conccrnment, and no respect Of person in
regard to rank or place Of birth no party can
justly be deemed national, constitutional, in
accordance with American principles which bases
its exclusive organization upon religious opinions
and accidental birth place. And hence political
crusade in tho nineteenth century, and in the
United States Of America, against Catholic and
foreign born is neither justified by the past hsto-
ry future prospects Of the country in unison
with the spirit Of liberation and enlarged freedom
which distinguishes the American system Of pop.
ular sovereignty.
Resolred That We reiterate with renewed ener-
gy Of purpose, the we'll considered declaration of
former Conventions upon the sectional issue of
Domestic Slavery, and concerning the reserved
rights of the States.
l. That Congress has no power under the Con-
stituton to interfere with Or control the domestic
institutions of tho several States, and that such
StHte5 arc inc SOLO onu proper Judges OF every
thing appertaining to their own affairs not pro-
hibited by the Constitution that all efforts Of the
aboltionists, or others, made to induce Congress
to interfere with questions Of Slavery, or to take
incipient steps in relation thereto, are calculated
to lead to the most alarming and dangerous con-
sequences, and that all such efforts have an inev-
liable tendency to diminish the happiness of the
people and endsnger the stability and permanency
af the Union, and ought not to be countenanced
by any friend Of our political institutions.
2. That tho foregoing proposition covers, and
was intended to embrace the whole subject Of
slavery agitation in Congress-; and therefore, the
Democratic party Of the Union, standing on this
national platform, will abide by and adhere to
faithful execution of the acts known as the Com
promise measures, settled by the Congress of 1885,
'the act for retaining fugitives from service or
labor" included which act being designed to
carry out an express provision of the Constitution,
cannot, with fidelity thereto, be repealed, or SO
changed as to destroy or impair its efficiency.
3. That the Democratic party will resist all
attempts at renewing in Congress cut Of it, the
agitation Of the slavery question, under whatever
shape or color the attempt may be made.
4. That the Democratic party will faithfully
abide by and uphold the principles laid down in
the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions of 1898,
and in the report of Mr.. Madison to the Virginia
Legislature in 1892 that it adopts those principles
as constituting Of the main foundations Of its
political Creed and is resolved to carry them out
in their obvious meaning and import.
And that we may moro distinctly meet the is
sue ON which sectional party, subsisting ex-
clusivey upon slavery agitation, relies to test
the fidelity Of the people, North and South, to tho
Constitution and the Union
l. Resolyed, That claiming fellowship with, and
desiring the corporation of all who regard the
preservation of the Union under the Constitution
as the permanent issue-Snd repudiating all SEQ
tional parties and platforms concerning domestic
slavery, which seek to embroil the States and in
"a A.
Territories and whose avowed purposes, if con-
summatcd, must end in civil war and disunion.
The American Democracy recognize and adopt
the principle contained in the organic laws es-
tabishing the Territories Of Kansas and Nebras-
ka as embodying the only sound and safe solution
of the slavery question" upon which the great
national idea of the people Of this country can
repose in its determined conservatism of the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. by Congress with Slave
ry in State or Territory, or in the District Of Co.
lumbia.
O. That this was the basis Of the Compromise
of 1s50-confrmed by both the Democratic and
Wing parties in National Conventon-ratifed by
the people in the election of 1S52-and rightly
applied in the organization of Territories in 1854.
g. That by the Uniform application Of this De-
cratic principle to the organization Of Territories
and to the admission of new States, with or with
out domestic slavery, as they may elect-the equal
rights Of all the States will be preserved intact
the original compacts Of the Constitution main
tanned inviolate-and the perpetuity and expan.
sion of the Union insured to its utmost capacity of
embracing, in peace and HARMONY, every future
State that may be constituted or annexed, with q
republican form of government
Resolved, That We recognizs the right Of the
people of all the Territories, including Kansas
and Nebraska, acting through the legally and
fairly expressed will uf . majority Of actual resi-
dents, and whenever tho number Of their inhabit-
ants justifies it, to form Constitution, with or
without domestic slavery, and be admitted into
the Union upon terms Of perfect equality with the
other States.
Resolved, finally, That in view of the condition
of popular institutions of the Old World, and the
dangerous tendencies of sectional agitation, COM
bined with the attempt to enforce civil and relig
ious disabilities against the right of acquiring and
enjoying citizenship in our own land-a high and
sacred duty is devolved with increased response
bility upon the Democratic party Of this country,
as the party of the Unien, to upheld and maintain
tho rights of every State in the Union Of the
States and to sustain and advance among us con-
stitutlonal liberty, by continuing to resist all
monopolies, and exclusive legislation for the ben
eft of the few, 1T the expense Of the many, and
by q vig9lant and constant adherence to those
principles and Compromises of the Constitution,
which are broad enough and strong enough to
embrace and uphold the Union . it was, tho
Union it shall be, in tho full expansion Of the
energies and capacity Of the great and progressive
people.
l. Resolced, That there are questions CONNECT.
with tho foreign policy Of this country, which arc
inferior to no domestic question Whatever. The
time has come for the people of the United States
to declare themselves in favor Of free and pro-
gressive free trade throughout the world, and by
solemn manifestations TO place their moral in
fuence at the side Of their successful example.
2. Resolred. That our geographical and political
position with reference to the other States Of this
continent, no less than the interest Of our com
merce and the development Of our growing power,
requires that We should hold as sacred tho prnci-
ing and import admit of no misconstruction; they
should DO applied with unbsnding rigidity.
8. Resolved, That the great highway which
nature, as we'll IS the assent Of those most imme-
diately interested in tho maintenance, mas marked
out for free communication between tho Attain
tic and the Pacific oceans and constitutes one Of
the most important achievements realized by the
spirit of modern times and the unconquerable en-
ergy Of our people. That result should DO secured
by timely and efficient exertion Of the control
which We have tho right TO proclaim over it, and
no power on earth should DO suffered to impede
or clog its progress by any interference with the
relations which it may suit our policy to establish
between our Government and the States within
VII ose dominion il lies. We can, under no circum-
justment OF all questions arising out Of it.
I. ResolUed, That in view Of 80 commanding
an interest tho people Of the United States can
not but sympathise with the efforts which are
being made BY the people Of Central America to
regensrats that portion Of the Continent which
5. Reso1ced, That the Democratic party will ex
pecs of the next Administration that every proper
effort will be made 70 insure our ascendsncy In the
Gulf Of Mexico. and ~ maintain permanent
protection to the great outlets through which arc
smptisd into it, Eatsn the products raised out Of