The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-12-06
PLATFORM OF PRINCIPLES
Adopted by the Wisconsin, Democracy at
Madison, October 2, 1861.

Madison, October 2, 1861.
Res0lved. That in the present National
crisis the railying cry of all true men and
patriots should be "The Union-it must
and shall be preserved
Resolved, That we deny the right of any
State or number of States to withdraw
from the Union, and to relinquish their
obligations and allegiance to the constitu-
ton and laws of the United States, and
that the attempt so to do on the part of the
seeded States is in direct conflict with
the spirit and letter of the constitution,
and blow aimed directly at the existence
of the government, which should be re-
sisted with all the power at its command.
That it has ever been, and ever should be
the policy Of theOemocracy to resist the
claim whenever and wherever asserted.
and 70 blast it with prompt and vigorous
action
ResolOed, That the Democracy ever have
and still do, deprecate the agitation, both
North and South, Of those sectional issues
which have distracted the country, and
that political policy which has asserted
the light of constituting the constitution
and laws Of the Federal Government to
conform to the views of particular States,
ignoring the fact that the constitution is
the supreme law of the land, equally bind
ing on the people of all the States, and
that it is susceptible of out one construc-
ton in all localities. And we assert, that
although these sectional agitations and
constitutional interpretations, North and
South, have melted the impending war,
they afford no justification for the action
of the seeded States, and that the Union
and constitution must be preserved and
enforced in every State and Territory of
the United States.
Resolved, That we deprecate the spirit
manifested oy all those people at the North
who seek to force the National Admins
iration to abandon the policy which hes
been sanctioned bv the Government of
The United States in the conduc: of the
war, and to substitute therefor the aboli-
non of slavery as its primary object. as at
var aace with the very purpose for which
the war is prosecuted, and as incompati
be with complete restoration of the
Union of these States.
Resolvei, That we owe it to those noble
men in the Border States who are strug
Cling to maintain the Government in
their respective States, as well as to our
selves, to erase from our statute book all
laws and resolutions that have been pas
sed which are at variance with the consti-
tuition and laws of the United States, and
are calculated to embarrass the Govern,
ment in suppressing the rebellion We
therefore recommend to the loyal people
of this State, tnat the next Legislature
be instructed to repeal so much of the Re
plevin and I1abeas Corpus act as is in
conflict With the constitution and laws of
the United States; and also to rescind
and amend ''Joint Resolution relative to
the decision of the United States Supreme
Court reversing decision of Supreme Court
of Wisconsin, approved March 9th, 1859.
and especially we recommend the repeal
of the last three clauses of said joint res
which read as follows:
.Reso1ped, That this assumption of iurisd!c-
ton oy the federal judiciary, in the said case
[ the Booth easel, and without process, is an
act of undelegated power, and therefore with
out authority, void, and of no force,
'Resolued" That Government formed by the
of the United States was not made
the exclusive or final judge of the extent of the
powers delegated to itself but that, as in all
other cases of compact among parties having
no common Judge, each party has a right to
Judge for itself, as well of int actions as of the
mode and measure of redress
ResoI0ed, That the principle and construction
contended for, &C., that the General Govern
ment is the exclusive judge of the extent of the
powers delegated to 1t. stop nothing short of
despotism, since the discretion of those who
administer the Government, and not the consti~
tuition, would be the measure of their powers
that the several States which formed the instru.
ment being sovereign and independ ent have the
right to Judge of its infracion
and that a positire defance of those sovereign
ties, of all unauthorized acts done or attempted
to be done under color of that instrument, is
the rightful remedy"
These resolutions, we believe, are cal
culated TO place the State of Wisconsin in
a false and inconsistent position before the
world; we believe that they are uncon-
revolutionary and wrong, aud
that they do not reflect the sentiments of
the loyal people of the State.
Resolved, That We are now, as we ever
have been, devoted to the maintenance Of
the constitution and laws of the UDlted
Sta'es, under whatever administration Of
the Government, and amid all dangers
tha; may threaten it. That in the LAM
GU rge of the lament Douglas, "We should
never forget that man cannot be trne
Democrat, unless he is loyal Patriot"
and that the words of our dying states
man, to mis- children, "Obey the laws and
support the constitution" are binding
upon all the children of America.
Resolved, That we are in favor Of an
honest and faithful discharge of the duties
devov;ng on the State officers, and of an
economical disbursement OF the public
funds; aud we hereby declare lhat any
man who directly or indirectly uses his
Office for self aggrandizement or gain, is
unworthy the confidence and support of
the people.