Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-03-01
The New Democratic Platform.

The New Democratic Platform.
The Democratic Senate Caucus after con.
siderable Parlying, have finally disposed of
Douglas and his satellite, Pugb, by the
adoption of the following as a programme
for the Charleston Convention.
/. Resolved. That in the adoption of the
Federal Constitution, the States adopting
the same acted as Tree and independ emit soy.
~eie:gnties, dolrgating a p, rtion of their
powers to BIO exercised by the Federal Gov.
eminent, for the increased security of each,
against dangers domestic as we'll as foreign;
and that any intermeddling by any one or
more States, or BY q combination of their
citizens. with the domestic institutions OF
the others, on any pretext, whether political,
moral or religious, with the view TO their
disturbance or subversion, is in violation Of
the Constitution, insulting to the States 90
interfered with, c%ndangers their domestic
peace and tranquility-objects for which
the Constitution was formed-and, by neces-
sary consequence, serves 10 weaken and
destroy the Union itself.
2. RESOLVED, That Negro Slavery. as 1t
exists in fifteen States Of this Union, com.
poses an important portion OF their domes.
tic institutions, inherited from their ances.
tors, and existing OF the adoption of the
Constitution, by which 1t 10 recognized as
constituting IN important element of the
apportionment Of powers among the States;
and that no chunge Of opinion or feeling on
the part OF the non.slaveholdiny Suites of
the Union In re alton 10 this institution can
justify them or their citizens In open and
systematic attacks thereon, with a view to.
It's overthrow; and that all such attacks are
In manifest violation Of the mutual and sol.
m pledges to protect and defend euch
other. given by the States, respectively, on
entering into the constitutional compact
which formed the Union, and are q NANTES,
breach Of fuith and a violation of the most
solemn obligation.
3. RESOLVED, That the union of these
States rests on the equality Of rights and
privileges among its members and that it is
especially the duty OF the Senate, which
represents the States in their sovereign
capacity, to resist all attempts to discrimi.
nate either In relation to person or property,
so rs, in the Territories are the
common possession of the United States
to give advantages to the citizens of one
State which are not equally secured to those
Of every other State.
4, Resolved, That neither Congress, nor a
Territorial Legislature, whether by direct
legislation or legislation Of an indirect,
and unfriendly nature. possess the power to
unnul or impair the constitutional right OIL
any citizen Of the United States to take
this slave properly into the common Terri.
tories; but it is the duty of the Federal Gov.
eminent there 10 afford for that, as for other
of property, the needIul protection;
and II experience should at..any time prove
that the Judiciary does not possess power to
insure adequate protection, II will then be-.
the duty oil Congress to supply such
deficiency.
8. Resolved, That the inhabitants of an
organized Territory Of the United States,
they rightfully form II Constitution, to
admitted as a State into the Union, NAV
then, for the first time, like tho people of a
S'ate when forming a new Constitution
decide for themselves whether Slavery. as a
domestic institution shall be maintained or
prohibited within their jurisdiction; and i'll
Congress shall admit them as q State, they
shall be received into the Union with or
Slavery as their Constitution may
at the time Of their admission. /"
6. Resolved, That the provision Of the
for the rendition of fugitives
from service or labor, 'withou, the adoption
81 which the Union could not have been
and tho laws Of 1903 and 1850,
which were enacted 10 secure its execution,
and the main features Of which, being SINH.
bear the impress OF nearly seventy
Years Of sanction by thu highest j~udisial
authority, have unquestionable claim to the
and observance Of all who enjoy the
Of our con,poct Of Union; aud thai,