M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-07-05
IEMOCRA7IC PLATFORM.
Report of the Committee on Ileso.
IuliOns,


submit tie Jollgeing RpOrl
Resolped, That lie American Democracy
place their trust in the intelligence, the pa
lroIism, aud the discriminating justice Of
the American people.
Rtsoired, Tat We regard this as q dis
tinctiVe feature OF our political creed, which
we are Proud 10 maintain before the world,
us the great moral element in a form ol gov
ernmenl spTlnging from and upheld By the
popular will; aud we contrast it with the
creed aud practice ol Federalism, under what
ever name or lorm, which seeks to palsy tie
will Of the constituent, aud which conceiY.s
no imPos'uye too monsrous Tor The popular
creduIily.
RsS0lv,d, therefore, That, entertaining
these views, the Democratic party Of this
Union, through their Delegates assembled in
d general Convention coming together in a
Bpril Of concord, utdcyotion u the doctrines
aud faith OF ilee representative government,
aud appealing to their ci.ow-ui!lzens for the
rectiuds Of THEN intentions, renew and re-
assert before the American people, the dec
laralious OF principles ayuwed By them
when, Oh former occasions in general Con-
ventlon, they have presented tAglr candidates
for the popular suliagts
|. That the Federal Government is o0c Of
limited POWER, derived solely from the Con.
stlluti0n; and the grants Of power made
therein ought TO be strictly construed by all
the de aIimenls and agents of the govern
ment; and hat it is inyXpedient and danger
Gus to exercise doubtful constitutional pow
as.
2. That the Constitution does not confer
upon the General Government the power to
commence and carry on Il general system OF
internal Improvements,
3. That the Constitution does not confer
authority upon The Federal Government, di.
rcctly or indirectly, to gssume the deb,s Of
the severa States, contracted for local and
internal Improvements, or other State pur,
oses; nor would such assumption be Just OF
eXpedent.
4. That justice and sound po'ry forbid
the Federal Goyenmert TO foster one branch
OF industry to the detriment OF any other, or
10 cherish the interests OF one portion 10 the
injury of another portion Of uur common
country; that every citizen aud every section
Of the country has Tight to demand and in
sst upon an equality frights and privileges
and to complete an ample protection Of per-
sons ord property from domestic violence OF
70 elgn aggression.
D. That it is the duty OF every branch Of
tie Government to enforce and practice the
most rigid economy i'll conducting our pub
liz affairs, and that no more revenue ought
10 be raised than isrequired TO delroy the ne
cessary expenses Of the Government, and for
the graduul, but certain extinction Vi the
public debt.
6. That the proceeds Of tie public lands
ought to be sacreily applied TO the national
objects specified in the Constitution; and
that we are opposed to any law for the dis
tri5uiOn ofsuCh proceeds among the States
es alike ineXpedicnI in policy and relusuont
20 the Constitution.
q. That Congress has no powcyto charter
national bank; that we believe such an insl-
luton one Of deadly hostility to the st in.
teresls OF the county, dangerous to our re.
publican institutions and the lib rites OF the
people, and calculated 70 place the business
oil the country within the conuol OF a con-
centratr ted money power aud 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 tie two political
parties of the country, have demonstrated to /
candid and practical men oraI Iparties,their
soundness, safety, and utility, in al. business
pursuits.
8, That the separation Of the moneys of
the Government from banking institutions i /
indispensable for the safety OF the funds Of
the Government, and the rights Of the pe0-
pie.
8. That we are decidedly opposed to TAX
ing FROM the President the qualified veto
power, by which be is enabled under rcstlic.
lions and responsibilities amply suiii.iaut to
guard the public Interest,", TO suspend the
passage Of a bill whose merits cannot secure
the approval of :wo-thiYds Of the nate and
House oil Representatives, until the iUdg-
ment of the people can be obtained thereon,
and which has saved The American people
from the corrupt and tyranuical domination
Of the Bank OF the United States, and from
a corrup.ing system ol general internal in-
proyemtnte.
10. That the liberal principles embodied
by Jefferson in the Declaration OF Iudepcn.
dence, and sanctioned in the Constitution,
which makes ours the land Of liberty and the
asylum Of the oppressed Of every nation,
have ever been caIdinal principles in the
Democratic filth, and every attempt to
abridge the privilege Of be, oning citizens
and tie owners Of soil among us. ought TO be
resisted with the same split which swept
the alien ald sedition laws hom ogl statute
books.
And, WHEREAS, Since the foregoing De-
laratiOn was uniformly adopted by Cur pre-
deCessors in National Conventions, an at.
verse political and religious test has been
secretly organized by party claiming to be
exclusively American, it is proper that tie
American Democracy should clearly define
its relation thereto, and declare its deter
mined opposition to all secret political So
cioties, by whatever name they may be call
ed.
Resolved, That the foundation Of this un
ion of States having been laid in, and its
prosperity, expansion, aud pre.eminent ex-
ample in free government, built upon entire
freedom in matters Of religious concernment,
and 10 respect of person in regard 10 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 opin-
ions and accidental birthplace. And h. nee
q political crusade in the nineteenth cgnlu-
opJ - tho TT,;faJ Ct,fps NJ Ar,aripa