The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-05-04
The Charleston Convention.


The Charleston Convention. -
Annexed are the three platforms pre-
,isely as they were reported to the Con-
vention on Friday last:
MAJORITY PLATFORM.
Mr.. Avery, of North Carolina. present.
ed the following from the majority of the
Committee on Resolutions:
ResOlUed That the Platform adopted at
Cincinnati be affirmed, with the follow
ing resolutions.
l. Rcso1red, That the Democracy of the
United States hold these cardinal princi-l
pies on the subject of slavery in the Ter
ritories: lst, That Congress has no pow
er to abolish slavery in the Territories
ID, That the Territorial Legislature has
no power to abolish slavery in any Terri
tory, nor to prohibit the introduction of
slaves therein. nor any power to exclude
slavery therefrom, nor any right to de
stroy or impair the right of property in
slaves by any legislation whatever.
3 ReSolced, That the enactments of
State Legislatures to defeat the faithful
execution of the Fugitive Slave Law are
hostile in character, subversive of the
Constitution, and revolutionary in their
effect
s. ReSolced, That it is the duty of the
Federal Government, to protect. when
necessary, the rights of persons and prop
erty on the high seas, in the Territories,
or wherever else Its constitutional author
ity extends.
4. Resolred, That the Democracy of the
Nation recognize it as the imperative du-
ty of this Government to protect the nat
uralized citizen in all his rights, whether
at home or in foreign lands, to the same
extent as its native born citizens.
5. Resolced That the National Democ-
racy earnestly recommend the acquisition
of the Island of Cuba, at the earliest
practicable period.
Whereas. that one of the greatest ne
cessties of the age. in n political. COM
is a speedy communication between the
Pacific and Atlantic coast-Therefore,
be it
ReSolred, That the National Democrat
ic party do hereby pledge themselves to
use every means in their power to secure
the passage of some bill for the cOnstruc-
ton of a Pacific Railroad, from the Yves
tern line of the Mississippi river to the
Pacific Ocean, at the earliest practicable
moment.
Mr.. Avery was instructed, as Chairman
of the Committee, to report this Plat
form. lie was further instructed to say
that entire unanimity did not prevail on
a portion of the resolutions.
The first and third resolutions in rela-
ton to slavery in the Territories. and the
duty of the General Government to pro-
tect the right of person and property,
were adopted by n bare majority of the
Committee. The second resolution, in
-, -. h. I !
the fourth resolution. in relation to nat
uralized citizens. were adopted unani-
mous,y, and the fifth resolution in rela-
ton to the acquisition of Cuba was adop-
ted without a division The last resolu-
ton of the series, in reference to the Pa
cific Railroad, was adopted by a majority
The majority report is presented in the
name of seventeen States, fifteen of
which are slaveholding States, with the
addition Of California and Oregon. The
minority report, including that of Massa-
chusetts, would represent sixteen non
slaveholing States, having l76 electoral
votes. against l27 electoral votes repre-
sented by the report of the majority.
MINORITY REPORT.
Mr.. Payne, of Ohio, presented the fol-
lowing:
l. Rcsolrcd That we. the Democracy of
the Union, in Convention assembled.
hereby declare our atlirmance of the res
buttons UNANIMOUSLY stGUTtCTI
clared as Platform of principles by the
Democratic Convention at Cincinnati in
the year 1856 believing that Democratic
principles are interchangeable in their ma
ture when applied to the same subject
matters, and we recommend. as the only
further resolutions, the following:
2. ReSoiced, That all questions in re-
gard to the rights of property in States or
Territories arising under the Constitution
of the United States are judicial in their
character, and the Democratic party is
pledged to abide by and faithfully carry
out such determination of these questions
as has been or may be made by the SUI
preme Court of the United States.
3. ResoLced, That it is the duty of the
United States to afford ample and com
plete protection to all its citizens, wheth-
er at home or abroad, and whether ma
tive or foreign born.
4. RGSolrcd. That one of the necessities
of the age, in a military, commercial and
postal point of view. is speedy commune
cation between the Atlantic and Pacific
States: and the Democratic party pledge
such Constitutional Government aid as
will insure the construction of Il railroad
to the Pacific coast, ut the earliest practi-
cable period.
5. Rcsolred, That the Democratic party
are in favor Of the acquisition Of the
Island of Cuba, on such terms as shall
be honorable to ourselves and just to
Spain.
6. Resoiced, That the enactments of
State Legislatures to defeat the faithful
execution of the Fugitive Slave Law. are
hostile in character, subversive of the
Constitution and revolutionary in their
effect.
ANOTHER MINORITY REPORT.
Mr.. B. F. Butler, of Massachusetts,
from the same Committee, presented the
following minority report, signed by him
self, as a substitute for the minority re-
port presented by Mr.. Payne:
Resolred, That we, the Democracy of
the Union, in Convention assembled.
hereby declare our affirmance of the
Democratic Resolutions unanimously
adopted and declared as n Platform of
Principles at Cincinnati, in the year 1886,
without addition or alteration believing
that Democratic principles are unchange-
able i'll their nature, when applied to the
same subject matter. and we recommend
as the only farther resolution, the follow
ing:
Rcsolccd, That it is the duty of the
United States to extend its protection
alike over all its citizens, whether native
or naturalized.
Mr.. Avery, Mr.. Payne and Mr. Butler
addressed the Convention at length in
support of their respective reports.
Mr.. YanceY followed Nj RuIlnr in q