The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-01-17
uemnorntio PIatform.

WHEREAS, The time is fast approaching
when the American people are again to be
called upon in consouance with the require
ments of the Constitution and laws, to de-
| termine by their suffrages what principles
shall be recognised and adhered to in the
administration of public affairs, and to Sc
lect the agents who are to be invested with
the high trust of carrying those principles
into effect therefore, it is by this Conven-
ton, representing the Democracy of Indiana,
this day
Rcs0Loed, 1st. That our Federal Govern
ment is one of limited power, derived solely
from the Constitution; that the grants of
power made therein ought to be strictly
construed by all departments and agents of
the Government, and that it is inexpedient
and dangerous to exercise doubtful Constitu-
tional power.
ID That now, as heretofore claiming fell
lowship with and earnestly desiring the
operation of all who regard the preservation
of the Union and the Constitution as the
paramount issue, we again declare our utter
Reputation of all sectional parties and plat
forms concerning domestic slavery which
tend to embroil the States and incite to trea-
son and armed resistance to law, and whose
avowed purposes, if consumated, must end
in disunion and civil war.
Sd. That the history of the past fully
attests the correctness and wisdom of the
adoption by the American Democracy of
the principles contained in the organic laws
establishing the Territories of Kansas and
Nebraska as embodying the only safe and
sound solution of the slavery question, upon
which the great National idea of the people
Of the whole country can repose in its de-
termined conservatism of the Union non
/ int nv with eli in,
State or Territory, or in the District of Col
umbia.
4th. That it has been fully demonstrated
that by the uniform application of this
| Democratic principle to the organization of
| Territories, and to the admission of new
States with or without domestic slavery, as
they may elect, the equal rights of all the
States may be preserved intact, the origi-
nal compacts of the Constitution maintain
ed invioate, and the perpetulty and expan-
sion of the Union insured 10 its utmost
capacity; embracing, in peace and harmo-
ny, every future American State that may
| be constituted or annexed with Republic
can form of government.
9th. That in the harmony and union of
the Democratic party consists the strongest
bond of union among the several States of
this Confcderacy; and that the harmony and
union of our party can only be maintained
| by strict observance of, and faithful adj
herence to, the established rules and regu-
latiOns of the party; therefore, be it further
resolved, that, in the contest now going on
! for the election of Speaker in the House of
Representatives, at Washington, it is the
imperative duty of every Democrat from
Indiana to stand firmly by, and support by
his vote for that Office the regular nominee
of the Democratice party.
9th. That it is the deliberate opinion of
this Convention that the subject Of slavery
has been too long mingled with party poll
tics, and rs the result has been the creation
of sectional parties, contrary to the advice,
letter and spirit Of the Farewell Address of
the Father of our common country; that,
| therefore, it is the duty of every citizen,
North and South, East and West, to dis
| cOuntenance all parties and organizations
that thus violate the spirit of the Constitu-
ton and the advice of Washington.
18th. That in recognizing its importance, a
measure of great national interest in secur-
ing our ascendency in the Gulf of Mexico,
and maintaining permanent protection to
American commerce, we shall hail with sat
isfaction the success of any efforts which
may be made by the present, or any future
Administration, for the honorable and peace
ful acquisition of Cuba.
9Th. That any distinction amongst citizens
on account of their religion or place of birth,
continues to be utterly reprobated by the
Indiana Democracy, in common with their
brethren of the other States, as neither JUS
titled by the past history future prospects
of the country, nor in unison with the spirit
of liberation and enlarged freedom which
peculiarly distinguishes the American sys-
tenn of government; and that we most
earnestly denouuce the unjust and dispara-
ging imputation upon the character OfOur for
eign born population, contained in the recent
enactments incC fpoFated in the laws of that
State by the so-called Republicans of Massachu-
sets, whereby class of white men whose
rights are entitled to equal respect with
those ST all others, are deprived of privi-
leges and immunities accorded even to the
negro, and whereby most OdiOus example
has been set, from which that party, if sue
ccssful in retaining power, may feel justified
in perpetratiag there and elsewhere new
aggressions and outrages on that portion of
our population.
eth. That the incipient efforts foreshad-
owed by the Opposition, or so called Repub-
lican party, to kindle anew the fires of fl-
naticism with a view to the establishment
of such laws as calculated to infringe
on the Constitutional rights of the people
in determining what they shall eat and
what they shall drink or wherewth they
shall be clothed, will hereafter as hereto
fore meet with our most persistent oppo-
sition.
IOtL. That the Democracy of Indiana
entertain high appreciation of the ability
and capacity of distinguished Chief |
Magistrate, James Buchanan, and that he |
has our patriotic wishes for the success of |
his administration, and that we will on all (
Il
carrying out the principles of the Demo- !
cratic panty against the unjust and unprin- !
cipled attacks of the Republican party
18th. That we appreciate the past labors |
of our present State Executive, Ashbel p. |
Willard. in behalf of Democratic princi- /
pies, and congratulate him upon the sue /
cess which has attended his administration.
18th. That as a statesman of tried charac-
ter, and a citizen in whom all sections of the |