Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-05-07
Cincinnati National Platform.

DtlOW VIC give the IesUlutlOuSO I CINCINNATI
National Conv ention, adopted June l,h, 1856
which nominated James Buchanan for President.
We shall, from time to time, republsh those the
creed of the Democracy:
ResoIrsd, 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 concernment, and no respect Ut 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 hsto-
~ future prospects of the country in unison
with the spirit of liberation and enlarged freedom
| which distinguishes the American system of pop.
! uar sovereignty.
Resoired, That we reiteratc with renewed ener-
gy of purpose, the well considered declaration of
| former Conventions upon the sectional issue Of
Domestic Slavery, and concerning the reserved
rights Of the States.
!. That Congress has no power under the Con-
stitutiOn TO interfere with control the domestic
institutions of the several States, and that such
States are the sole and proper Judges Of every
thing appertaining to their own affairs not pro-
hbited by the Constitution; that all efforts of the
abolitionsts, or others, made to induce Congress
to interfere with questions of Slavery, or to take
ncipient steps in relation thereto are calculated
|. to lead to the most alarming and dangerous con-
sequences, and that all such efforts have an inev-
table tendency to diminish the happiness Of the
people and endsnger the stability and permanency
| If 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 q
faithful execution of the acts known as the Com
promise measures settled by the Congress Of 1850,
'thc act for retaining fugitives 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 It's 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 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 1893. that it adopts those principles
constituting one 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 more distinctly meet the is
sue on which a sectional party, subsisting cx-
clusvcly upon slavery agitation, now relies to test
the fidelity Of the peorie, North and South, to the
| Constitution and the Union
l. Resolred, That claiming fellowship with, and
desiring the cooperation of all who regard the
preservation of the Union under the Constitution
rs the permanent issue-snd regulating 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 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 cs-
n lish N ~ TQP IF I'D Nj
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
Unon-Non-interferenc by Congress with Slave
ry in State Territory, or in the District of Co.
lumbia.
2. That this was the basis Of the Compromise
of le50-confrmed by both the Democratic and
Wing parties in National Convention-ratifed by
the people in the election of lS52-and rightly
applied in the organization Of Territories in 1854
). 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 invioate-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 a
republican form of government.
Resofrcd, 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 a ma ority Of actual resi-
dents, and whenever the number Of their inhabit-
ants justiiies it, TO form Constitution, with or
without domestic slavery, and be admitted into
the Union upon terms perfect equality with the
other States.
Resolrsd Jinauy, Tha. in view of tho 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
a the party of the Union, 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
monopOies, and exclusive legislation for the ben
eft of the few, at the expense of the many, and
by vigilant and constant adherence to those
principles and Compromises of the Constitution.
which are broad enough and strong enough to
embrace and uphold the Union as it was, the
Union as it shall be, in the full expansion Of the
energies and capacity Of the great and progressive
people.
!. Resoiced, That therea 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.
solemn manifestations to place their moral in
fucnco at the side Of their successful example.
2 Resotced. That our geographical and political
postio with reference to the other States of this
continenf, no less than the interest of our COM
mercc and the development of our growing power,
requires that should hold as sacred tho princi-
pies involved in the Monroe doctrine their bear
ing and import admit Of no misconstruction; they
should be applied with unbcndiug rigidity.
B. Resolved, That the great high way which
nature, rs we'll rs the assent Of those most immc-
diately interested in the maintenance as marked
out for free communication betwsen the Allan
tic and tho Pacific oceans, and constitutes one Of |
the most important achievements realized by tho |
spirit of modern times and the uncomfortable en-
ergy of our people. That result should be secured
by timely and efficient exertOn of the control |
which We have the right 10 procam over it, and |
no power on earth should be suffered to impede |
or clog its progress by any interference with the
relations which il may suit policy to establish
between our Government and the States within |
VIII ose dominion it lies. We can, under no circum-
stances, surrender our prepOnderencc in the ad- |
justment OF all questions arising out Of it.
4. Resotred, That in view OF commanding |
an interest. the people OF the United States can
not but sympathizc with the efforts which arc
being made by the people Of Central America to
rcgensrate that portion Of the Continent which
covers the passage across the Isthmus.
8. Rcsotoef, That the Democratic party will ex-
pect Of tho next Administration that every pr3Jer
effort will be made to insure our ascendcncy in the
Gulf Of Mexico, and u maintain permanent
protection to tho great outlets through which arc
cmptied into its waters tho products raised out Of
the soil, and tho commodities created by the in