M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-10-04
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Report OF the Committee On Reso-
buttons.
The C0mmiliss on Resolutions, by their
Chairman, Mr.. Hoilett, Of Massachusetts,
submit fhe f0llOiping RfDOrt =

CHdtTmdU, mr. 1utletl, " MdSedtNu9ttt -
submit The toiLoiuing Report !.
ReSoired, That the American Democracy
place their trust in the intelligence. the pa
triotism, and the discriminating justice Of
the American people.
Resolred, That we regard this as dis
tinctive feature Of our political creed, which
we are proud to maintain before the world,
as the great moral element in form OF gov
emment springug from and upheld by the
popular will; aud we contrast it with the
creed and practice Of Federalism under what
ever name or form, which SEEKS TO palsy The
will Of the constituent, and which conceiv's
no lmpOsure too mOnslrOUs for The popular
credulity.
Resolued. therefore. That, entertaining
these views, the Democratic party of this
Union, throUgh'their Delegates assembled in
a general Convention, coming together in a
spirit OF concord, of devotion to the doctrines
and faith OF d free representative government,
and appealing to their fellOw.Cli2ens for the
recliude Of them intentions, renew auJ re-
assert before the American people, the dec
larations Of principles ayowed By them
when, Ola former occasions in general Con-
yenton, they have presented their candidates
VI the popular sufirages.
/. That the Federal Government is one Of
limited power, derived solely from the Con
sttution; and the grants of power made
therein ought to be strictly construed by all
the departments and agents of the govern
ment; and that it is ineXpedient and danger
GUS to exercise doubtful constitutional pow
eTs.
2. That the Constitution does not confer
upon the General Government the power to
commence and carry on a general system OF
Internal Improvements.
3. That the Constitution does not confer
authority upon the Federal Government, di-
rcCtly or indirectly, to assume the debts OF
the teveral States, contracted for local and
internal Improvements, or other State pur'
poses; nor would such assumption be just or
eXpedent.
4. That Justice and sound policy forbid
the Federal Government to foster one branch
of industry to the detriment Of any other, or
to cherish the interests Of one portion to the
injury of another portion of our common
country; that every citizen and every section
of the country has a right to demand and in
sist upon an equality Of rights and privileges
and to complete an ample protection OF per-
sons ard property from domestic violence or
foreign aggression.
g. That it is the duty of every branch of
the Government TO enforce and practice the
most rigid economy in conducting our pub
lie affairs, and that no more revenue ought
to be raised than is required to defray the ne
cessary expenses of the Government, and for
the gradual, but certain extinction Of the
public debt.
8. That the proceeds Of the public lands
ought to be sacredly applied to the national
objects specified in the Constitution; and
that we are opposed to any law for the dis
tribution ofsuch proceeds among the States,
as alike inexpedient in policy and repugnant
20 the Constitution.
7. That Congress has no power to charter a
national bank; that we believe such an insti-
luton one Of deadly hostility to the best in
terests of the country, dangerous to our re-
publican institutions and the liberties OF the
people, and calculated to place the business
of the country within the control of con-
cenRa ted money power, and above the laws
and the will of the people; and that the re-
suits Of Democratic Legislation in this and all
other financial measures upon which issues
have been made between the two political
parties of the country, have demonstrated 10
candid and practical men of all parties, their
soundness, safety, and utility, in all business
pursuits.
8, That the separation Of the moneys Of
the Government from banking Institutions is
indispensable for the safety Of the funds Of
the Government, and the rights Of the peO-
pie.
9. That we are decidedly opposed to taxi
ing from the President the qualified veto
power, by which he is enabled under restric.
lions and responsibilities amply sufficient to
guard the public interests 10 suspend the
passage Of a bill whose merits cannot secure
the approval of .wo-thirds Of the Senate and
Houss Of Representative, until the judg-
meul Of the people can be obtained thereon,
and which has saved the American people
from the corrupt and tyrannical domination
of the Bank Of the United States, and from
cotrup!ing system Of general internal i'm.
provements.
10. That the liberal prinCi pies embodied
by Jefferson in the Declaration Of Indepen.
dence, and sanctioned in the Constitution,
which makes ours the land of liberty ,and the
asylum Of the oppressed of every nation,
have ever been cardinal principles in The
Democratic faith, and every attempt to
abridge the privilege Of becoming citizens
and the owners Of soil among us. ought to be
resisted with the same spirit which swept
the alien and seditiOn laws from our statute
books.
And, WHEREAS, Since the foregoing dec
laratiOn was uniformly adopted by Cur pre-
decessors in National Conventions, an ad.
verse political and religious test has been
secretly organized by party claiming to be
exclusively American, it is proper that the
American Democracy should clearly define
its relation thereto, and declare its deter.
mined opposition to all secret political So
ceties, by whatever name they may be call
ed.
RESOLVED, That the foundation Of this un.
ion of States having been laid in, and its
prosperity, expansion, and pre.eminent ex-
ample in free government, built upon entire
freedom in matters of religious concernment,
and no respect of person in regard 10 rank or
place Of birth; no party can Justly be deemed
national, constitutional, or in accordance
with American principles, which bases its
exclusive organization upon religious opin-
ions and accidental birthplace. And hence
political crusade in the nineteenth centu-