The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-03-09
4olitifal.
Democratic Platform for the Campaign.


blow as they suppose, to squatter sovereignty
and Douglas. AS the first definite move
ment for the presidential contest and way
mark for the future, it is Of sufficient conse-
quence to be put upon record. The resolu-
tons are the production Of Senator Davis of
Mississippi, slightly amended in caucus, and
as accepted by the committee to be presented
to the Senate, are as follows:
l. Resolrcd, That in the adoption of tie
federal constitution, the states adopting the
same acted as free and independent so,er-
eigns, dele eating portion OF their powers to
be exercised by the federal government, for
the increased security of each against danger
domestic as well as foreign and that any in
termeddling by any one or more states or by
a combination of their citizens, with the do
mestic institutions of the others, on any pre-
text. whether political, moral or re!is sous,
with view to their disturbance or subver-
sion, is in violation of The constitution, insul
ting to the states SO interiered vita, endan-
gers their domestic peace and tranquility
objects for which the constitution was form
ed--and, by necessary consequence, serves
to weaken and destroy the very Union it,
self.
Q Resolred, That negro slavery, as it ex-
lists in fifteen states of this Union, composeS
an important part of their domestic insttu
tions, inherited from their ancestors. and eX
listing at the adoption Of the constitution, by
which it is recognized as constituting an i'm
portant element Of the appor,;onmen, of the
power among the states, and that 10 change
of opinion or feeling on the part Of the nom
sayeholding states of the Union in relation
to this institution can Justify them or their
citizens in open and systematic attacks there
on with view to its overthrow. and that ali
such attacks are in manifest violation of the
mutual and solemn pledges to protect and
defend each other, given by these states re-
>pectively on entering into the constitutional
compact whet formed the Union. and man
iftst brt ach Of faith and violation of the
most solemn obligations
! 3. Resolred. That the Union of these
states rests on the equality of rights and
privileges among It's members, and that it is
especially the duty of the Senate, which re-
presents the states in their sovereign capaci-
". to resist all attempts to discriminate I'll
ther III relation 10 persons or property, so as
in the territories. which are the Common
possessions o! the United Sta:cs-.o give ad
vantages to the citizens of one state which
are rot equally secured to those of eyery
other state.
i. Ecsolred, That neither Congress nor
territorial Legislature whether by direct leg
islation or legislation Of an indirect Or un
friendly nature, possess the power to annu
or impair the constitutional right Of any cit!
zen of the United States TO take his STAY,
property into the common territories. bu, i
is the duty Of the federal sovernmeu, ther
to afford for that as for other species of pro
pertv, the needtul protection. and if expert
encr should at any time prove that the .jud:
, ciarv does not possess power to insure adc
quate protection, it will then become th
duty Of Congress to supply such 4 dettien
cy.
D. Resolred, That the inhabitants Of a
! organize territory Of the United eS,whe
b they rightly form constitution, to be admit
ted as a state into the Union, may then. fo
the first time Ike the people Of a state wl!e
). forming a new constitution, decide for then
selves whether slavery, as a domestic :n>titt
ton shall BE maintained or orprohib,ed with
their jurisdiction. and if Congress shall az
" nit them as a state, "they shall be receive
J. as state INTO the Urion with or withol
e slavery as their constitution may prescribe
- the time of their admission"
:. 6. Resolre|. That the provision of Il
constitution for the rendition of tugitiv,
from service or labor, without the adopto
of which the Union could not have bee
d formed and the laws of l19t and 1870, III
n were enacted to secure its execution. AMI II
main features of which, being similar, be-
the impress Of nearly seventy years Of san
" ton by the highest Judicial authority, ha,
a unquestionabe claim to the respect and o
ser,ancc of all who enjoy the benefits pf OF
=. compact of Union, and that the acts of sta
"a Legislatures to defeat the purpose, or nu!Ii
e. tEe requirements of that provision, and I!
,r laws made it, pursuance of it, are hostile
:, character. subversve of the constitution, re
=" olutionary in their effect, and if persisted
% must sooner or later lead the states iniur
- by such breach of the compact to exerci
>" their judgment as to the proper mode al
measures OF redress.
X This is stronger slavery doctrine than t
et Northern Democracy have ever before be-
1e asked to swallow The first ard second II
j, olu,ions are jesutically ingenious, and a
~ therefore intended to deny the right of mt
al and religious discussion and agitation
e. gainst slavery in The free states, as in VIC
, tion of the constitution. A necessary cor
~ larry from this declaration is that lesislati
to suppress such agitation must be had, a
or that liberty of speech and the press again
Il slavery cannot be tolerated in these Unit
~ States-but the time to say that openly /
not quite come The third, fourth and fl
'' resolutions deny the right Of the squat
sovereisns N any territory to exclude sla
W ", ry or hamper it with Douglass trick Of
'. friendly legislation. and declare it the d,
of Congress to protect slavery in the terri
r;es by special legislation, in case the jud
ll,, airy does not afford it sufficient protecti
ian The last resolution denounces state legi:
re- ton against the fugitive slave law, and viii
81 up with carefully blunted justification
90 disunion if these state laws were not rep,
ose ed.
The discussion of these resolutions in
the senatorial caucus lasted f, hours on Sat
ere day, and was very animated. Mr.. Push
an Ohio said if this platform was adopted at