Des Arc citizen., 1860-08-08
The Democratic Platform.

The Democratic Platform.
 RESOLVED, That the platform adopted by the Democratic party at Cincinnati be affirm ed, with the following explanatory resolutions
 1st That the government of territory, or ganized by an act of Congress, is provisional and temporary, and, during its existence, all citizens of the United States have an equa right to settle with their property in the Ter. rifory without their rights either of person o property being destroyed or impaired by con gressonal or territorial legislation.
 2d. That it is the duty of the Federal Gov ernment in all its departments to protect, .wher necessary, the rights of persons and prSperty in the Territories, and wherever else it's con stit, tional authority extends.
 2d. That when the settlers in Territory having an adequate population, form State constitution, the right of sovereignty commen- ces and being consummated by admission into the Union, they stand on an equal footing with the people of other States-and the State thus organized ought to be admitted into the Fed eral Union, whether it's constitution prohibits or recognizes the institution of slavery.
 4th. 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, at the earliest practicable moment.
 5th. That the enactments of State Legisla- lures to defeat the faithful execution of the fu- gitive slave law arc hostile in character, sub versive of the constitution, and revolutionary in their effect.
 9th That the Democracy of the United States recognize it as the imperative duty of this government to protect the naturalited cit fzen in all his rights, whether at home or in foreign lands, to the same extent as it's native born citizens.
 Whereas, one of the greatest necessities Of the age, in political, commercial, postal and military point of view, is speedy communi- cation between the Pacific and Atlantic coasts !; therefore, be it
 RESOLVED, That the Democratic party do hereby pledge themselves to use every means in their power to secure the passage of some bill to the extent of the constitutional author ity of Congress for the construction of a Pa cifc railroad from the Mississippi river to the Pacific ocean, at the earliest. practicable mo- ment.
 THE CINCINNATI PLATFORM.
 RESOLVED. That the American Democracy plsce their trust in the intelligence, the patri- otism, and the discriminating justice of the American people.
 RESOLVED, That we regard this as distinc- tive feature of our political creed, which we are proud to maintain before the world, as the great moral element in form of government springing from and upheld by the popular will; and we contrast it with the creed and practice of federalism, under whatever name or form, which seeks to palsy the will of the constitu- ents, and which conceive no imposture too monstrous for the popular credulity.
 RESOLVED, THEREFORE, That entertaining these views, the Democratic party of this C- nion, through their delegates assembled in a general Convention, coming together in spirit of concord, of devotion to the doctrines and faith of free representative government, and appealing to their fellow-citizens for the rec titude of their intentions, renew and reassert before the American people the declal ations of principles avowed by them when on former oc- casions, in general Convention, they have pre- sented their candidates for the popular suffra- ges.
 I. That the federal government is one of limited power, derived solely from the consti- tuition and the grants of power made therein ought to be strictly construed by all the de- partments and agents of the government; and that it is inexpedient and dangerous to exer- else doubtful co1stitutional powers.
 2. That the constitution does not confer upon the general government the power to com mence and carry on general system of inter nal Improvements.
 3. That the constitution does not confer au- thority upon the general government, directly or indirectly, to assume the debts of the sev- eral states, contracted for local and internal Improvements, or other state purposes, nor would such assumption be just or expedient.
 4. That justice and sound policy forbid tn e federal government to foster one branch of in- dustry to the detriment of any other, or to cherish the interest 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 insist upon an equality of rights and privileges, and to com plete and ample protection of persons and property from domestic violence or foreign aggressions
 5. That it is the duty of every branch of the government to enforce and practice the most rigid economy in conducting our public affairs. and that no more revenue ought to be raised than is required to defray the necessa- " expenses of the government, and for the gradual but certain extinction of the public debt.
 G. 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 distribu tion of such proceeds among the States, as alike inexpedient in policy and repugnant to the constitution.
 I. That Congress has no power to charter a national bank that we believe such an insti- tuition one of deadly hostility to the best in terests of the country, dangerous to our re-
 
 people, and calculated to place the business of the country within the control of concentra- ted money-power, and that the result of the Democratic legislation in this and all other f- nancial measures upon which issues have been made between the two political parties of the country have demonstrated to candid and prac- tical men of all parties their soundness, safe- ty, and utility in all business pursuits.
 8. That the separation of the moneys of the government from banking institutions is indis- pensable for the safety of the funds of the government and rights of the people.
 9. That we are decidedly opposed to taking from the President the qualified veto power, by which he is enabled, under restrictions and responsibilities amply sufficient to guard the public interest, to suspend the passage of a bill whose merits cannot secure the approval of two-thirds of the Senate and House of Re- presentatives, until the judgment of the peo- pie 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 corrupting system of general internal improvements.
 ID. That the liberal principles embodied by Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, 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 abrdge the privi- lege of becoming citizens and the owners of