M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-11-01
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Report the Committee ON ResO
nIiOnS.

triotism, and the discriminating justice ol
The American people.
Resolred, That we regard this as dis
tnctive feature Of our political creed, which
we 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 conceives
no imposiure loo monsIrous for The popular
cIedulity.
Rssolued. therefore. That, entertaining
these views, the Democratic party of thi:
Union, through their Delegates assembled in
general Convention, coming together in q
spirit Of concord, of devotion TO the doctrines
and faith Of free representative government
and appealing to their fellow. citizens for the
Tectitude of THEN intentions, renew and re.
assert before the American people, the dec
larations OF principles avowed by then
when, OIL former occasions in general Con
vention, they have presented their candidates
or the popular sufftages.
/. That the Federal Government is one o.
limited power, derived solely from the Con
stiiution; and the grants of power made
therein ought 10 be strictly construed by oil
the depart Itments and agents Of the govern.
ment; and that it is iOexpedient and dagger
Gus to exercise doubtful constitutional pow
eFs.
2. That the Constitution does not confer
upon the General Government the power to
commence and carry on general system oil
internal improvements.
3. That the Constitution does not confer
authority upon the Federal Government, d.
rcctly or indirectly, to assume the debts OF
the 4everal 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 10 the detrlment OF any other, or
10 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 right to demand and in
sist upon an equality of rights and privileges
and to complete an ample protection OF per-
sons ard property from domestic violence or
foreign aggression.
5. That it is the duty of every branch Of
the Government to enforce and practice the
most rigid economy in conducting orr pub
lie affairs, and that no more revenue ought
10 be raised than is required to defray the ne
cessary expenses Of the Government, and for
the gradual, but certain extinction Vt the
public debt
6. 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.
uibution ofsuch proceeds among the States,
as alike inexpedient in policy and repugnant
20 the Constitution.
7. That Congress has no power 10 charter
bank; that we believe such an nsti-
tuition one OF deadly hostility TO the best in
terests of the country, dangerous to our re.
publican institutions and the liberties o the
people, and calculated 10 place the business
Of the country within the contIol Of con-
cenirated 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 poitica
parties of the country, have demonstrated to
candid and practical men of all parties, their
safety, and utility, in all business
pursuits.
s. That the separation CT the moneys Of
the Government from banking institutions is
for the safety Of the funds of
the Government, and the rights Of the peo-
pie.
9. That we are decidedly opposed to taxi
ing FROM the President the qualified veto
power, by which he is enabled, under restrc
lions and responsibilities amply sufficient to
guard the public interests, to suspend the
passage OF a bill whose merits cannot secure
The approval of .wo-thrds Of the Senate and
House Of representatives., until the judg-
ment of the people can be obtained thereon,
and which has saved the American people
from the corrupt and tyranncal domination
Of The Bank Of The United States, and from
A corrupling system OF general internal i'm
10. That the liberal principles embodied
By Jefferson in the Declaration Of Tndepen.
lence, 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 .he
faith, and every attempt to
abridge the privilege of becoming citizens
and the owners OF soil among u.s. ought 10 be
resisted with the same spirit which swept
The alien and sedition laws from our statute
books. 4
And, WHEREAS, Since the foregoing dec
aration was uniformly adopted by Cur pre-
Iecessors in National Conventions, an ad- !
;erse political and religious test has been I
Iccrety organized by party claiming to be
American, it is proper that the ,
merican Democracy should clearly define s
IS relation thereto, and declare its deter >
mined opposition to all secret political So ,
,ieties, by whatever name they may be call !
d. -...- ;
Resolvcd, That the foundation Of this un
on of States having been laid in, aud its
expansion, and pre-eminent ex- ,
ample in free government, built upon entire
freedom in matters Of religious concernment,
ind 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
3 political crusade in the nineteenth centu-
~, and in the United States OF America,
sgainst Catholic and foreign-b born, is neither
justified by tine past history or the future