Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-04-20
Cincinnat Il National Platform.

Cincinnati Il National Platform.
Below we give the resolutions Of the Cincinnati
National Convention, adopted June 4th. 1856,
which nominated James Buchanan for President.
We SHALL from time to time, republish those as the
creed Of the Democracy
Resolced, That the foundation of this Union Of
States having been laid in, and its prosperity,
expansion, and pre-eminent example in free gov.
eminent built upon entire freedom in matters Of
religious Government, and respect Of person in
regard to 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 opinions
and accidental birth place. And hence political
crusade in the nineteenth century, and in the
United States of America, against Catholic and
foreign born, is neither justified by the past histo
~ or 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 VIC reiterate with renewed encr-
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.
1. That Congress has no power under the Con-
stitution to interfere with control the domestic
institutio IS of the several States, and that such
States are the sole and proper judges OF every
thing aprertaining to their own affairs not pro-
hibted BY the Constitution that all efforts of the
abolitioni.ts, or others, made to induce Congress
to interfere with questions Of Slavery, or to take
incipient steps in relation thereto, calculated
to lead to the most alarming and dangerous con-
sequences, and that all such efforts have 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 the 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 the Com
promise measures, settled by the Congress of 1850.
''the act for retaining fugtives from service or
labor" included; which act being designed to
carry out 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 or 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 1885, that it adopts those principles
as constituting one of the main foundations Of its
political creed, and is resolved to carry them out
in their obvious meaning and import.
Anu tuat VIC may moro OlStluCIty uect INC Is
| sue on which a sectional party, subsisting ex-
clusvely upon slavery agitation, relies to test
the fidelity of the people, North and South, to the
Constitution and the Union
l. Resolced, That claiming fellowship with, and
desiring the cooperation of all who regard the
preservation of the Union under the Constitu
as the permanent issue-snd repudiating all Sec
tional parties and platforms concerning domestic
slavery, which seek to embroil the States and in
cite to treason and armed resistance to law in the
Territories and whose av0wed purposes, If con-
summated, must end in civil war and disuni0n.
Tho American Democracy recognize and adopt
the principle contained in the organic laws es-
| tablshing 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 it's determined conservatism of the
Un,on-Non interference by Congress with Slave
ry in State or Territory, or in the District of Co.
lumbia.
g. That this was the basis Of the Compromise
of 1S50-confrmed by both the Democratic and
Wing parties in National Convention-ratfcd by
the people in the election of l852-and rightly
applied in the organization of Territories in 1854
B. That by the Uniform application Of this De-
cratic principle to the organization Of Territories
and to the admission of new States, with with
out domestic slavery, as they may elect-ths equal
rights of all the States will be preserved intact
the original compacts Of the Constitution main
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 rc0gnizs 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 the number Of their inhabit
ants justiies 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
bned with the attempt to enforce civil and reig-
ous disabilities against the right Of acquiring and
| enjoying citizenship in our own land-a high and
| sacred duty is devolved with increased response
blity 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-
stitutional liberty, by continuing to resist all
monopolies, and exclusive legislation for the ben
eft of the few, at tho expense of tho many, and
BY vigiant and constant adherence to those
principles and Compromises of the Constitution.
| which are broad enough and strong enough to
embrace and uphold the Union IS it was, tho
Union Is it shal be, in the full expansion Of the
energies and capacity Of the great and progressive
people.
l. Resolred, That there are questions CONNECT.
with the foreign policy Of this country, which are
inferior to no domestic question whatever. The
time has come for the people Of the United States
to declare themselves in favor of free seas and pre-
gressive free trade throughout tho world, and by
solemn manifestations to place their moral in
fuencs at tho side Of their successful example.
2. Resolved. 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 Is sacred the princ-
pies involved in the Monroe doctrine their bear
ing and import admit Of no misconstruction; thew
should DO applied with unbsnding rigidity.
8. Resolved, That the great highway which
nature, as we'll as the assent of those most imme-
distely interested in the maintenance, has marked
out for . free communication betwsen the 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-
efgY of Qpr peQnle That result hauld ha aecured