Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-04-23
Cincinnati National Platform.

Cincinnati National Platform.
Below we give the resolutions Of the Cincinnati
National Convention, adopted June 4,h, 1856,
which nominated James Buchanan for President.
We shall from time to time, republsh those as the
creed of the Democracy
ResoLced, That the foundation Of this Union Of
States having been laid in, and its prosperity,
expansion, and pre-eminent example in free gov.
ernment built upon entire freedom in matters OF
religious Government, and no respect Of person in
regard to rank or place Of birth no party can
justly be deemed national, constitutional, or in
accordance with American principles which bases
its exclusive organization upon religious opinions
and accidental birth place. And hence political
crusade in the nineteenth century, and in the
United States Of America, against Catholic and
foreign born, is neither justified by the past hsto
ry future prospects Of the country in unison
with the spirit Of federation and enlarged freedom
which distinguishes the American system Of pop.
ular sovereignty.
Resotred, That we reiterate with renewed ener-
gy of purpose, the well considered declaration of
former Conventions upon the sectional issue of
Domestic Slavery, and concerning the reserved
rights Of the States.
/. That Congress has no power under the Con-
stituton to interfere with control the domestic
institutions Of the several States, and that such
States are the sole and proper judges Of every
thing appertaining to their own affairs not pro-
hibited by the Constitution that all efforts Of the
abolitionists, or others, made to induce Congress
to interfere with questions of Slavery, or to take
incipent steps in relation thereto, calculated
to lead to the most alarming and dangerous con-
sequences, and that all such efforts have an inev
liable tendency to diminish the happiness of the
people and endangcr the stability and permanency
at the Union, and ought not to be countenanced
by any friend of our political institutions.
9. That the foregoing proposition covers, and
was intended to embrace the whole subject Of
slavery agitation in Congress; and therefore, the
Democratic party of the Union, standing on this
national platform, will abide by and adhere to o
faithful execution of the acts known as the Com
promise measures settled by the Congress Of 1850.
"the act for retaining fugitives from service or
carry out express provision of the Constitution,
cannot, with fidelity thereto, be repealed, or so
changed as to destroy or impair its efficiency.
3. That the Democratic party will resist all
attempts at renewing, in Congress cut Of it, the
agitation Of the slavery question, under whatever
shape or color the attempt may be made.
4. That the Democratic party will faithfully
abide by and uphold the principles laid down in
the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions of 1898,
and in the report Of Mr.. Madison to the Virginia
Legislature in $780, that it adopts those principles
as constituting one of the main foundations Of its
political creed, and is resolved to carry them out
in their obvious meaning and import.
And that we may more distinctly meet the is
sue on which sectional party, subsisting ex-
clusivey upon slavery agitation, relies to test
the fidelity Of the people, North and South, to the
Constitution and the Union
l. Resol0ed, That claiming fellowship with, and
desiring the cooperation Of all who regard the
preservation Of the Union under the Constitution
as the permanent issue-gnd repudiating all Sec
tional parties and platforms concerning domestic
slavery, which seek to emlJfoil the States and in
cite to treason and armed resistance to law in the
Territories and whose avowed purposes, if con-
summated, must end in civil war and disunion.
The American Democracy recognize and adopt
the principle contained in the organic laws es-
tablishing the Territories Of Kansas and Nebras-
ka as embodying the only sound and safe solution
of the slavery question" upon which the great
national idea of the people of this country can
repose in its determined conservatism Of the
Observation-Disclosures by Congress with Slave
ry in State or Territory, in the District of Co.
lumbis.
2. That this was the basis Of tho Compromise
of ls5O-confrmed by both the Democratic and
Wing parties in National Convention-ratifed by
the people in the election of 1852-and rightly
applied in the organization of Territories in 1851
3. That by the Uniform application Of this De-
cratic principle to the organization Of Territories,
and to the admission Of new States, with or with
out domestic slavery, as they may elect-ths equal
rights of all the States will be preserved intact
the original compacts of the Constitution main
tanned inviolate-and the perpetuty and expan.
sion of the Union insured to its utmost capacity of
embracing, in peace and harmony, every future
Stote tn0t may De constituted or annexed, with a
republican form Of government.
Resolved, That We recogniss the right Of the
people of all the Territories, including Kansas
and Nebraska, acting through the legally and
fairly expressed will uf majority of actual resi-
dents, and whenever the number Of their inhabit-
ants justifies it, to form Constitution, with or
without domestic slavery, and be admitted into
the Union upon terms Of perfect equality with the
other States.
Resolved, finally, That in view Of the condition
of popular institutions of the Old World, and the
dangerous tendencies Of sectional agitation, com
bined with the attempt to enforce civil and relig-
ious disabilities against the right of acquiring and
enjoying citizenship in our own land-a high and
sacred duty is devolved with increased RESPONSE.
bility upon the Democratic party Of this country.
as the party Of the Union, to upheld and maintain
tho rights of cvery State in the Union Of the
States F.; and to sustain and advance among US con-
sttutional liberty, by continuing to resist all
monopolies, and exclusive legislation for the ben
eft of the few, at the expense Of the many, and
by vigilant and constant adherence to those
principles and Compromises of the Constitution,
which are broad enough and strong enough to
embrace and uphold the Union IS it was, the
Union rs it shall be, in the full expansion Of the
energies and capacity Of tho great and progressive
people.
l. Rcsolved, That thereare questions CONNECT.
with tho foreign policy Of this country, which are
inferior to no domestic question whatever. The
Time mas come LOT Tue PcOpiO Ol inc United NtatCS
to declare themselves in favor Of free seas and pre-
gressive FREQ trade throughout tho world, and by
solemn manifestations 10 place their moral in
husnce Mt the sido u their successful example.
2. Resolved. That our geographical and political
position with reference TO the other States of this
continent, no loss than the interest Of our com
merco and tho development Of our growing power,
requires that We should hold as sacred the princi-
pies involved in tho Monroe doctrine their bear
ing and import admit Of no misconstruction; they
should DO applied with unbending rigidity.
8. Resolved, That tho great highway which
nature, rs we'll rs tho assent Of those most imme-
diately interested In tho maintenance, has marked
out for free communication betWsen the Attain
tic and the Pacific oceans, and constitutes one of