M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-08-16
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Report Of the Committee on ResO,
lutiOns,

pldCC luflt lIuSl ~ bUc lHNclllBeHCc, tHt pd-
triotism, and the discriminating justice Of
The American people.
Rssolred, That We regard this ss q dis
tinctive feature Of our political creed, which
we are proud TO maintain before the world,
as the great moral element in form Of gov
ernmsnt spripging from and upheld BY the
popular will; and we contrast it with the
creed aud practice Of Federalism. under what
ever name or form, which seeks 10 palsy the
will Of the constituent, aud which conceives
no imposiure too monslTous iur the popular
Gfeduity.
Resolvsd. tlergfors. That, entertaining
these views, the Democratic party Of this
Union, through their Delegates assembled in
genera Convention, coming together in n
spirit OF concord, Of devotion to the doctrines
and faith of free representative government,
and appealing to their fellow citizens for the
Tectilude Of THEN intentions, renew and re-
assent before the American people, the dec
laralions of principles ayowed by them
when, Oh former occasions in general Con-
veniion, they have presented their candidates
for the popular suffrages.
!. That the Federal Government Is one OF
limiled power, derived solely from the Con
stituion; and the grants of power made
therein ought to be strictly construed by all
the epaI menls and agents of The govern.
ment; and that 1t is inexpedient and danger
Gus to exercise doubtful constitutional pow.
sB.
g That the Constitution does not confer
upon the General Government the power to
commence and carry on general system Of
internal Improvements.
g. That The Constitution does not confer
authority upon the FedeIa Government, d.
rcclly or indirectly, to assume the debts Of
the teveral States contracted for local and
internal Improvements. or other State pur'
poses; nor would such assumption be just or
expedient
4. That justice and sound policy forbid
the Federal Government to foster one branch
OF industry 10 the detriment OF any other, or
10 cherish the interests OF one portion to the
injury Of another portion of our common
country; that every citizen and every section
OF the country has right to demand and in
sist upon an equality of rights and privileges
and to complete an ample protection OF per-
sons ard property from domestic violence or
foreign aggression.
5. That 1t is the duty Of every branch OF
the Government to enforce and practice the
most rigid economy in conducting our pub
lie affairs, and that no more revenue ought
10 be raised than is required to defray the me-
cessary expenses of the Government, and for
the gradual, but certain extinction VI the
public debt.
8. That the proceeds Of the public lands
ought 10 be sacTedly applied 10 the national
objects specified in the Constitution; and
that we are opposed to any law for the dis
tribution ofsuch proceeds among the States,
as alike inexpedient in policy and repugnant
70 the Constitution.
7. That Congress has no power TO charter o
national bank; that we believe such an insti-
tuition one Of deadly hostility to the best in
terests OF the country, dangerous TO our re-
publican institutions and the liberties oil the
people, and calculated TO place the business
OF the country within the contIol OF a con-
centra ted money power, and 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 the two political
parties of the country, have demonstrated TO
candid and practical men Of all parties, their
Soundness, safety, and utility, in all business
pursuits.
8. That the separation Of the moneys Of
the Government from banking institutions is
indispensable for the safety Of the funds of
the Government, and the rights Of the peo-
pie.
9. That we are decidedly opposed to TAX
ing from. the President The qualified veto
power, by which he is enabled under restric.
lions and responsibilities amply sufficient to
guard the public interests, 10 suspend the
passage oi bill whose merits cannot secure
the approval of :wo-thims OF the Senate and
House OF Representatives, until the jUdg-
ment of the people can be obtained thereon,
and which has saved the American people
from the corrupt and tyrannical domination
of the Bank of the United States, aud from
a conupling system OF general internal i'm
provements.
10. That the liberal principles embodied
BY Jefferson in the Declaration OF Indepen.
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 cardinal principles in ;he
Democratic faith, and every attempt to
abridge the privilege of bet oming citizens
and the owners OF soil among us. ought TO he
resisted with the same split which swep,
the alien and sedtion laws from our statute
books.
And, WHEREAS, Since the foregoing dec
laralion was uniformly adopted by Cur pre-
decessors in National Conventions, On ad-
verse political and religious test has been
secretly organized BY party claiming to be
exclusively American, it is proper that the
American Democracy should clearly define
its relation thereto, aud declare its deter
mined opposition to all secret political So
cieties, by whatever name they may be call
cd.
RESOLVED, That the foundation Of this VI
ion of States having been laid in, and its
prosperity, expansion, and pre-eminent ex.
ample in free government, built upon entre
freedom in matters OF religious concernment
and no respect of person in regard 10 rank OIL
place OF birth; no party can justly be deemed
national, constitutional, or in accordance
with American principles, which bases lis
exclusive organization upon religious opin'
ions and accidental birthplace. And hence
% political crusade in the nineteenth centu-
ry, and in the United States OF America,
against Catholic and foreign-born. is neither
justified bv tine mast hiaorv or the luture