1840

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

Resolved, That the Federal Government is one of limited "ers, derived solely from the Constitution, and the grants of wer shown therein ought to be strictly construed by all the epartments and agents of the Government, and that it is inxpedient and dangerous to exercise doubtful constitutional

Owers.

2. Resolved, That the Constitution does not confer upon the eral Government the power to commence and carry on a al system of internal improvements.

3. Resolved, That the Constitution does not confer authorty upon the Federal Government, directly or indirectly, to assume the debts of the several States, contracted for local internal improvements or other State purposes; nor would such a sumption be just or expedient.

4. Resolved, That justice and sound policy forbid the Federal Government to foster one branch of industry to the detriment of another, 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 persons and property from domestic violence or foreign aggression.

ECONOMY.

5. Resolved, 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.

6. Resolved, That Congress has no power to charter a United States Bank; that we believe such an institution one

of deadly hostility to the best interests of the country, dan
ous to our republican institutions and the liberties of the peo,
and calculated to place the business of the country within 1-
control of a concentrated money power and above the laws auc
the will of the people.

the se

1 place th

7. Resolved, That Congress has no power under the Con- the cho

stitution to interfere with or control the domestic institutionof the several States; and that such States are the sole and proper judges of everything pertaining to their own affairs, not prohibited by the Constitution; that all efforts by Abolitionists. or others, made to induce Congress to interfere with question of slavery, or to take incipient steps in relation thereto, ar calculated to lead to the most alarming and dangerous consequences, and that all such efforts have an inevitable tendenc to diminish the happiness of the people and endanger t stability and permanence of the Union, and ought not to b countenanced by any friend to our political institutions.

8. Resolved, That the separation of the moneys of the Gov ernment from banking institutions is indispensable for the safety of the funds of the Government and the rights of the people.

CITIZENSHIP.

9. Z. lved, That the liberal principles embodied by Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, and sanctioned ir the Constitution, which makes ours the land of liberty and th asylum of the oppressed of every nation, have ever been ca dinal principles in the Democratic faith; and every attempt abridge the present privilege of becoming citizens and th owners of soil among us ought to be resisted with the sam spirit which swept the Alien and Sedition laws from our statut book.

WHEREAS, Several of the States which have nominate Martin Van Buren as a candidate for the Presidency have pɩ in nomination different individuals as candidates for Vice

sident, thus indicating a diversity of opinion as to the perbest entitled to the nomination; and, whereas, some of the d States are not represented in this convention; therefore,

Resolved, That the convention deem it expedient at the resent time not to choose between the individuals in nominaion, but to leave the decision to their Republican fellow-citizens

the several States, trusting that before the election shall take place their opinions will become so concentrated as to secure Cathe choice of a Vice-President by the Electoral College.

1844

WHIG PLATFORM.

1. Resolved, That these principles may be summed as comprising a well regulated national currency; a tariff for revenue to defray the necessary expenses of the Government, and discriminating with special reference to the protection of the domestic labor of the country; the distribution of the proceeds from the sales of the public lands; a single term for the Presidency; a reform of Executive usurpations; and generally such an administration of the affairs of the country as shall impart to every branch of the public service the greatest practical efficiency, controlled by a well-regulated and wise economy.

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

Resolutions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, of the platform of 1840, were reaffirmed, to which were added the following:

10. Resolved, 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 the laws lately adopted, and to any law for the distribution of such proceeds among the States, as alike inexpedient in policy and repugnant to the Constitution.

11. Resolved, That we are decidedly opposed to taking from the President the qualified veto power by which he is enabled, under restrictions and responsibilities amply sufficient to guard the public interest, to suspend the passage of a bill whose merits cannot secure the approval of two-thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, until the judgment of the people can be obtained thereon, and which has thrice saved the American people from the corrupt and tyrannical domination of the Bank of the United States.

12. Resolved, That our title to the whole of the Territory of Oregon is clear and unquestionable; that no portion of the same ought to be ceded to England or any other power, and that the reoccupation of Oregon and the reannexation of Texas at the earliest practicable period, are great American measures, which this convention recommends to the cordial support of the Democracy of the Union.

י.