Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-02-27
PLATFORM or THE VIRGINIA
a

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED By THE OPPOSITION PAR
TY OF VIRGINIA, N THEIR CONVENTION HELD
II RICHMOND THE 22ND, 23RD, PATH, aud 25TH
DAYS OF FEBRUARY, 1860.
l. RESOLVED That we hold the powers granted and
conferred on the General Government by the Constitution
of the United States OF America, sacred trusts to be
held and faithfully exercised for the common benefit OF
an the States aud the citizens thereof and We depore
all measures and party organizations, which tend to per
vert these powers ends OF injustice and oppressOn-
We know no diversity Of interest among the several
States or the citizens thereof incompatible with consti
tu,ions administration of the government consistent
with the equal rights of each and all; and we hold It TO
DE the duty of the Federal Government and each Depart
meut thereof within the Just limits OF the Constitution
10 promote by every means the interest and prosperity
Ofau.
. RESOLVED. That there ia no power or authority
in the Government of the United States or in any De-
parmen thereof 10 interfere with regulate, control al
Ter modify or abolish or impair the domestic institution
of slavery in the Sate-the entire right authority aud
power in regard thereto being reserved by, and excu
siyely appernug TO- the People aud Government oil tue
several states OF the Union.
g. RESOLVED That in respect to the Territories the
common property OF the United States OF America, we
adhere TO the principles Of the Compromise measures OF
1850. We hold that TO the inhabitants OF the IerIltO
rcs who are lawful citizens OF the United states belongs
the right when they come to form State Constitution
aud Government fashion their domestic institutions,
according TO their will and pleasure, adopting or re-
lectng the institution of slavery they may think prop
or with the privilege of admission into the Union upon
equal terms with the citizens of the other States when
ever they have the requisite population to ende them
thereto with restriction thereon but that prescribed
by the Constitution in guaranteeing to every State IN the
Union a Republican form of Government.
4 RESOLVED That to repeal the acts of Congress
prohibiting aud furnishing the Saye-trade is alike
WISE npOc and against the settled policy OF the coun-
3. RESOLVED. That we regard the unity of Govern
meut ordained and established by the Constitution OF the
United States main pillar in the edice OF our real
independence the support Of our tranquility at home,
our peace abroad of safety of prosperity Of
that very liberty Gnerwoyeu with every gament Of our
hearts, we Justly prize that regard as OF infinite
moment thai all should properly estimate the I'M
mense value of our National Constitutional Union
to our collective and individual happiness that we cher
i,h a cordial habtull and mmoyablc attachment TO it,
accusomng ourselves think and speak OF as the pal
hdium Of our political safety and prosperity watching
for its preservation with jealous anxiety, discounenan-
cling whatever suggest even suspicion that II can
in any event be abandoned and indignantly irowning
upon the first dawnngs OF every attempt TO ALLEVIATE any
portion OF country from the rest or enfeebe the sa
cred ties that link together the various parts and we de-
precae all measures and repudiate all parties that tend to
its overthrow.
G. RESOLVED That the recommendations Of the Presi-
dem, of the United States in his message to Congress, in
December 1885 that Congress shall divest itself of the
warmaking power aud confer on him. and invest him
with tbe mower OF making treaties without the advice and
consent Of the Senate and further TO subject the army
and navy to his control accompanied with demands Tor
enormous appropriations OF money TO carry out ms poll
ces and purposes are astounding and alarming 10 every
friend of constitutional liberty aud call Tor the most u-
qualified condemnation that the public voice can pro-
nOunce.
| Z RESOLVED, That the extravaganza and corruption
in the administration of the Federal Government IN Its
Executive and Legislative Departments by which the