The national Republican., 1860-11-26
BELL AND EVERETT PLATFORM.

BELL AND EVERETT PLATFORM.
| Whereas experience has demonstrated that
platforms adopted by the partisan Conventions
Of the country have had the effect to mislead
aud deceive the people, and at the same time
to widen the political divisions of the country,
by the creation and encouragement OF geograph.
ical nud sectional parties therefore,
Re diced, That It is both the part Of patriot
ism and Of duty to recognise no political prin.
ciple other than the Constitution of the country,
the union of the States and the enforcement
Of the laws and that as representatives Of the
Constitutional Union men of the country, in
National Convention assembled, we hereby
pledge ourselves to maintain, protect, and de-
fend, separately and untedly, these great prin.
ciples Of public liberty and national safety
against all enemies, at home and abroad, be-
lieving thereby peace may once more be re.
stored to the country, the just rights Of the
people and Of the States re.estsblished, and the
Government again placed in that condition Of
justice, fraternity, and equality, which, under
the example aud Constitution of our fathers,
has solemnly bound every citizen Of the United
States to maintain more perfect union, estab-
lish JUSTICE insure domestic tranquility, pro.
vide for the common defence, promote the gen.
eral welfare, and secure the blessings Of iber.
ty to ourselves and our posterity.
DOUGLAS AND JOHNSON PLATFORM.
Resolred, That we, the Democracy Of the
Union, in Convention assembled, hereby de.
clare our aflirmance of the resolutions unani.
mously adopted and declared as platform Of
| principles by the Democratic Convention at
| Cincinnati, in the year 1856, believing that
Democratic principles are uncbangeable in
their nature, when applied to the same subject
matter; and we recommend as the only further
resolutions the following:
Resolred That it is the duty of the United
States to afford ample and complete protection
to all its citizens, whether at home or abroad,
and whether native or foreign.
Resolued, That one of the necessities of the
age, in a military, commercial, and postal
point Of view, is speedy communication be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific States and
the Democratic party pledge such constitution
al government aid as will insure the construc-
ton of railroad to the Pacific coast at the
earliest practicable period.
ResolDed, That the Democratic party are in
favor of the acquisition of the island of Cuba,
on such terms as shall be honorable to our.
selves and Just to Spain.
ResolUcd, That the enactment of State Leg
isatures to defeat the faithful execution Of the
fugitive slave law are hostile in character, sub
versive Of the Constitution, and revolutionary
in their effect
ReSolred, That in accordance with the in.
depreciation Of the Cincinnati platform, that,
during the existence of the Territorial Govern
ments, the measure of restriction, whatever it
may be, imposed by the Federal Constitution
Oh the power of the Territorial Legislature
over the subject of the domestic relations, as
the same has been, or shall hereafter be, finally
determined by the Supreme Court of the Uni.
ted States, should be respected by all good
citizens, and enforced with promptness and
fidelity by every branch Of the General Gov
| ernment.
BRECKINRIDGE AND LANE PLATFORM.
Resolued, That the platform adopted by the
Democratic party at Cincinnati be affirmed,
with the following explanatory resolutions:
| First. That the Government Of Territory
organized by an act of Congress is provisional
and temporary, and during its existence all cit.
izens of the United States have an equal right
to settle with their property in the Territories,
without their rights, either Of person or prop
erty, being destroyed or impaired by Congress
sional or Territorial legislation.
Second. That it is the duty of the Federal
Government, in all its departments, to protect,
when necessary, the rights of persons and prop
erty in the Territories, and wherever else its
constitutional authority extends.
Third. That when the settlers of Territory,
having an adequate population, form a State
Constitution, the right of sovereignty COM
! mences, and, being consummated by admission
into the Union, they stand on an equal footing
with the people of other States; and the State
thus organized ought to be admitted into the
Federal Union, whether its Constitution pro.
hibits or recognises the institution of slavery.
Resoired, That the Democratic party are in
favor of the acquisition of the island of Cuba
on such terms as will be honorable to ourselves
and just to Spain, at the earliest practicable
moment.
Resoiped, That the enactment of State Legis.
latures to defeat the faithful execution of the
fugitive slave law are hostile in character, sub
versive of the Constitution, and revolutionary
in their effect.
Resolved, That the Democracy of the United
States recognise it as the imperative duty Of this
| Government to protect the naturalized citizen
| in all his rights, whether at home or in foreign
lands, to the same extent as its native-born cit
| izens.
Whereas one of the greatest necessities of
the age, in political, commercial, postal, and
military point Of view, is speedy communica-
ton between the Paciic and Atlantic coasts
therefore be it
Resolped, That the National Democratic party
do hereby pledge themselves to use every means
in their power to secure the passage Of some
bill, to the extent of the constitutional author.
ity of Congress, for the construction of a Pa.
cific railroad from the Mississippi river to the
Pacific ocean, at the earliest practicable mo.
ment.
REPUBLICAN ASSOCIATIONS.