M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-10-11
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Report OF the Committee ON Reso.
IutiOns.

ouO"t" "p yVt~WtHI htpUTt
ResOlred, That Tie American Democracy
place their trust in the intelligence. the pa
triotism, aud the discriminating justice o
the American people.
ResOlred, That we regard this as a dis
tinctiye feature Of our political creed, which
've are proud to maintain before the world
as the great moral element in form Of gov
eminent springing from and upheld by the
popular will; and we contrast it with the
creed and practice Of Federalism, under what
ever name or form, which seeks to palsy The
will of the constituent, and which conceive'
no imposiure loo monslrous for the popular
credulity.
Resolved. therefore. That, entertaining
these views, the Democratic party of this
Union, through their Delegates assembled in
a general Convention, coming together in 0
spirit Of concord, of devotion to the doctrines
and faith of free representative government
and appealing to their felow.citizens for the
Tectitude of THEN intentions, renew and re-
assert before the American people, the dec,
larations Of principles avowed by them
when, Oh former occasions in geneOl Con-
veltion, they have presented their candidates
or the popular suffIages.
/. That the Federal Government is one oil
limited power, derived solely from the Con.
stitution; and the grants of power made
therein ought TO be strictly construed by all
the departments and agents of the govern.
ment; and that it is ineXpedient and danger
Gus to exercise doubtful constitutional pow
eTs.
3. That the Constitution does not confer
upon the General Government the power to
commence and carry on general system Of
internal Improvements.
3. That the Constitution does not confer
authority upon the Federal Government, di-
rcctly or indirectly, to assume the debts of
the several States contracted for local and
internal Improvements, or other State pur
poses; nor would such assumption be just or
expedient.
4, That justice and sound policy forbid
the Federal Government to foster one branch
OF industry TO the detriment OF any other, or
TO cherish the interests OF one portion TO the
injury Of another portion of our common
country; that every citizen and every section
of the country has o right to demand and in
sst upon an equality Of rights and privileges
and to complete an ample protection Of per-
sons ard property from domestic violence or
foreign aggression.
B. That it is The duty of every branch of
the Government TO enforce and practice the
most rigid economy in conducting our pub
lie affairs, and that no more revenue ought
TO be raised than is required to defray the ne
cessary expenses Of the Government, and for
the gradual, but certain extinction Of the
public debt.
s. 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 dis.
tribution ofsuch proceeds among the States,
as alike inexpedient in policy and repugnant
20 the Constitution.
z. That Congress has no power to charter
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.
publican institutions and the liberties oil the
people, and calculated to place the business
OF the country within the control OF con-
centra ted money power, and above the laws
and the will of the people; and that the re.
suits Of Democratic Legislation in this and all
other financial measures upon which issues
have been made between the two political
parties Of the country, have demonstrated 10
candid and practical men of all parties their
Soundness, safety, and utility, in all business
pursuits.
8, That the separation Of the moneys of
the Government from banking institutions is
indispensable for the safety OF the funds of
the Government, and the rights of the peo-
pie.
8. That we are decidedly opposed to taxi
ing FROM the President the qualified veto
power, by which he is enabled under restric.
iions and responsibilities amply sufficient to
guard the public interests 10 suspend the
passage of bill whose merits cannot secure
The approval of .wo-thirds OF the Senate and
House OF Representatives, until the iudg-
ment Of the people 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
a corrup!ing system OF general internal i'm.
10. That the liberal principles embodied
by Jefferson in the Declaration OF Tndepen.
ucuNVI ulu euHCuoICu III 'ue CUuSLlluIlOU,
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 privilege of becoming citizens
and the owners OF soil among US. ought 10 be
resisted with the same spirit which swept
the alien and sedition laws from our statute
books.
And, WHEREAS, Since the foregoing dec
laration was uniformly adopted by Our pre-
1ecessors in National Conventions, an ad-
verse political and religious test has been
secretly organized by party claiming to be
exclusively American, it is proper that the
American Democracy should clearly define
It's relation thereto, and declare its deter
mined opposition to all secret political So
cieties, by whatever name they may be call
I'd.
Resolved, That the foundation Of this un.
ion of States having been laid in, and its
expansion, and pre-eminent ex-
ample in free government, built upon entire
freedom in matters OF religious concernment,
and no respect of person in regard 10 rank or
place Of birth; no party can justly be deemed
constitutional, or in accordance
with American principles, which bases its
exclusive organization upon religious opin.
ions and accidental birthplace. And hence
d political crusade in the nineteenth centu.
Ty, and in the United States OF America,
against Catholic and foregn-b born, is neither