During this period Congress was divided politically as follows: Thirty-third Congress. Senate 38 Democrats, 22 Whigs, 2 Free Soil Total, 62 64 234 Thirty-fourth Congress. Senate 42 Democrats, 15 Republicans, 5 Americans....Total, 62 House-83 Democrats, 108 Republicans, 43 Americans. 46 234 Election of 1856 Democratic National Committee: Chairman, DAVID A. SMALLEY, of Vermont. DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION. Cincinnati, O., June 2-6, 1856. Chairman, JOHN E. WARD, NOMINATED of Georgia. For President, James Buchanan, of Pennsylvania. For Vice-President, John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky. This convention organized without opposition to the two-thirds rule. Seventeen ballots were necessary to nominate a candidate for President, of which the following is a summary: For Vice-President, John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, was nominated on the second ballot by a unanimous vote. The following is the result of the first ballot: 1. Resolved, That the American Democracy place their trust in the intelligence, the patriotism, and the discriminating justice of the American people. 2. Resolved, That we regard this as a distinctive feature of our political creed, which we are proud to maintain before the world as the great moral element in a form of government springing from and upheld by the popular will; and we contrast it with the creed and practice of federalism, under whatever name or form, which seeks to palsy the will of the constituent, and which conceives no imposture too monstrous for the popular credulity. 3. Resolved, therefore, That, entertaining these views, the Democratic party of this Union, through their delegates assembled in a general convention of the states, coming together in a spirit of concord, of devotion to the doctrines and faith of a free and representative government, and appealing to their fellow citizens for the rectitude of their intentions, renew and reassert before the American people the declarations of principles avowed by them when, on former occasions, in general convention, they presented their candidates for the popular suffrage: 1. That the federal government is one of limited power, derived solely from the Constitution; and the grants of power made therein ought to be strictly construed by all the depart ments and agents of the government; and that it is inexpedient and dangerous to exercise doubtful constitutional powers. 2. That the Constitution does not confer upon the general government the power to commence and carry on a general system of internal improvements. 3. That the Constitution does not confer authority upon the federal government, directly or indirectly, to assume the debts of the several states, contracted for local and internal improvements, or other state purposes; nor would such assumption be just or expedient. 4. That justice and sound policy forbid the federal government to foster one branch of industry to the detriment of any other, or to 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 a right to demand and insist upon an equality of rights and privileges, and to complete and ample protection of person and property from domestic violence or foreign aggression. 5. That it is the duty of every branch of the government to enforce and practice the most rigid economy in conducting our public affairs, and that no more revenue ought to be raised than is required to defray the necessary expenses of the government and for the gradual but certain extinction of the public debt. 6. That the proceeds of the public lands ought to be sacredly applied to the national objects specified in the Constitution; and that we are opposed to any law for the distribution of such proceeds among the states, as alike inexpedient in policy and repugnant to the Constitution. 7. That Congress has no power to charter a national bank; that we believe such an institution one of deadly hostility to the best interests of the country, dangerous to our republican institutions and the liberties of the people, and calculated to place the business of the country within the control of a concentrated money power and above the laws and the will of the people; and that the results 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 people. |