Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-04-27
Cincinnati National Platform

NtuCSu00t1 NdtAOu0K l0t1ObMs
Below we give the resolution Of the Cincinnati
National Convention, adopted June 4th, 1856,
which nominated James Buchanan for President.
We shall, from time to time, republish those as the
creed of the Democracy
Hesolccd, That the foundation Of this Union Of
States having been laid in, and its prosperity,
expansion, and pre-eminent example in free gov.
eminent built upon entire freedom in matters Of
religious concernment, and respect Of person in
regard to rank place Of birth no party can
Justly be deemed national, constitutional, in
accordance with American princip pies 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 histo
ry or future prospects Of the country, in unison
with the spirit of liberation and enlarged freedom
which Distinguish s the American system Of pop.
ular sovereignty.
Resolred That we reiterate with renewed ener-
~ of purpose the well considered declaration of
former Conventions upon the sectional issue Of
Domestic Slavery, and concerning the reserved
rights of the States.
l. That Congress has no power under the Con-
stitution to interfere with " control the domestic
institutions of the several States, and that such
States are the sole and proper judges of every
thing appertaning to their own affairs not pro-
hibted BY the Constitution that all efforts Of the
abolitionists, or others, made to induce Congress
to interfere with questions Of Slavery or to take
incipicnt steps in relation thereto, calculated
to lead to tie most alarming and dangerous con-
sequences, and that all such efforts have inev-
tia Die tendency to diminish the happiness Of the
people and end anger the stability and permanency
af the Union, and ought not to be oountenanced
by any friend Of our political institutions.
2. 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 a
faithful execution of the acts known Us the Com
promise measures, settled by the Congress of 1885,
1.-The act for retaining fugitives from service or
labor" included; which act being designed to
carry out an express provision OF the Consttut on
cannot, with fidelity thereto, be repealed, or so
changed 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
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 1893. 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 which q sectional party, subsisting ex-
cusivey upon slavery agitation, relies to test
the fidelity Of the people, North and South, to the
Constitution and the Union
l. Resolrcd, That claiming fellowship with, and
desiring the cooperation of all who regard the
preservation OF the Union under the Constitution
as the permanent issue-Snd repudiating all Sec
tiOnal parties and platforms concerning domestic
slavery, which seek to embroil 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 disunon.
The American Democracy recognize and adopt
the principle contained in the organic laws es-
tablishng 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
Union Non-interference by Congress with Slave
ry in State or Territory, in the District Of Co.
lumbia.
2. That this was the basis of the Compromise
Of le50-cOnfrmed by both the Democratic and
Wing parties in National Convention-rati6ed by
the people in the election of l852-and rightly
applied in the organization of Territories in 1854
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 clect-the equal
rights of all the States will be preserved intact
the original compacts of the Constitution main
tanned involate-and the perpetuity and expan.
sion Of the Union insured TO its utmost capacity Of
embracing, in peace and harmony, every future
State that may be constituted or annexed with a
republican form of government.
Resolred, That we RECOGNIZES the right of the
people of all the Territories, including Kansas
and Nebraska, acting through the legally and
fairly expressed will uf q majority Of actual resi-
dents and whenever the number Of their inhabit-
ants justifes it, to form Constitution, with or
without domestic slavery. and be admitted into
the Union upon terms Of perfect equality with the
other States.
Resolred, finally, That in view of the condition
of popular institutions of the Old World, and the
dangerous tendencies Of sectional agitation, CON-
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
bilty upon the Democratic party of this country
a the party Of the Union, to upheld and maintain
tho rights of every State in the Union of the
States and to sustain and advance among US oon-
stitutlonal liberty, by continuing to resist all
monOpoies, and exclusive legislation for the ben
eft Of the few, at the expense Of tho 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 as it was, the
Union as it shall be, in the full expansion Of the
energies and capacity Of the great and progressive
people.
l. Resotoed, That there are questions CONNECT.
with the foreign policy Of this country, which are
inferior to no domestic question whatever. The
time has come for the people Of the United States
to declare themselves in favor Of free seas and pro-
gressive free trade throughout the world, and by
solemn manifestations to place their moral in
1uence at tho side Of their successful example.
=. Resotced. That our geographical and political
position with reference to the other States of this
continent, no less than the interest of our CON-
merce and the development Of our growing power,
requires that should hold rs sacred the princi-
pies involved in the Monroe doctrine their bear
ing and import admit Of no misconstruction; thoy
should be applied with unbending ,igidity.
3. RESOLVED, That the great highway which
nature as we'll as the assent Of those most imme-
distely interested in the maintenance, has marked
out for . free communication betwsen the Attain
tic and the Pacific oceans, and constitutes ono Of
the most important achievehe nts realized by the
spirit Of modern times and tho unoonq uerable en-
ergy Of people. That result should be secured
by timely and efficient exertion of the control |
which we have the right to proclaim over it, and |
no power earth should be suffered to impede |
or clog its progress by any interference with the |
relations which it maJ suit our policy to establish
between our Government and the States within |
whose dominion it lies. We can, under NO circum-
stances, surrender our preponderence in the ad-
justment OF all questions arising out Of it.
4. Resotoed, That in view Of so commanding
an interest. the people Of the United States can
not but sympathise with the efforts which are
being made by the people Of Central America to
covers the passage across tho Isthmus.
8. Resolced, That the Democratic party will e.
pecs Of the next Administration that every pr,rer
mort will be made to insure ascendency in the
0nf Of Mexico. and " maintain permanent
profession to the great outlets through which Ar
.nptied ints its waters the products raised ont Of
me SOIL, and the commoditiee created By the in
1ustry q the people Il euI Weeten valleys. and
+ ~ Usies It isVs.