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The Political World.--the Platform

The Political World.--the Platform image
Parent Issue
Day
21
Month
April
Year
1848
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

" Be it Furlhcr Resolved, Tliat, as one of the means of protecting the instkutions of the Soutli, we pledge ourselves not to support, at ihe ensuing Presidential election, nny man for the Presidency or Vice Presidency, who 3 not avowedly opposed to the principies of the Wilmot Proviso, and vvho will not previously pledge himself to veto any lavv repealing the act of Congress of 1793, providing for the restoration of fugitive slaves to their owners." [AUbama Legislature.] We should be glad to know among what class of people tlie Southern politicians expect to obtain votes in the Northern States for the candidate who comes before them fettered with such a pledge. If the candidate be a Southern man, it is true he might give such an assurance without the suspicion of making a hishonest profession ; but the invitation to rote for him would be regirded by the Northern Democrats as a direct insult - as an assertion of Southern authority, in the imposition of political lests, which they would indignanlly repcl. Party attaehmentwill carry men to great lengths ; but there are limiis to what the most zealous partisans in a free country will endure. The Democrats ofthe North would say to those who required this ignominious acknowledginent of subserviency- "Go teil your slavea how choleric yon ure, And make your bondmen tiemble" - but they would remind them iliat beyond the precincts of their own plantations their prerogative of aulhoriiy was at an end If, on the other hand, a Northern man were to take this oath of allegiance to slavery, in order to qualify hirnself to become the candidato of the Souih, he would be regarded as one who liad made a public sale of himself. He would come before the People witli an advertisement of venality written in staring characters on his forehead. Such a candidate, deprived as he would be of all public respect, and shrinking from the public contempt, would meet with an infinitely worse reception from the People tiian if he were a citizen of the South. [N. Y. Evening Post.] The Democrats of Virginia held a State Convention at Itielnnond on the 29ih uit. - The following are among the resolutions adopted : " 7th. That, as republicana and citizens of one of the free and equal States of thia Union, we do most earnestly protest against the Winthrop and Wilmot provisos, as wanton violations of the Constitution, and wilful assaults on the rights and interest of one portion of our Confederacy ; and do most solemnly declare that there is no power, either in Congress or a Territorial Legislature, which is its creature, or anywhere else, save only in the people of a Terriiory, in the adoption of a State Constitution, preparatory to adniission into the Union, to prevent the migration of any citizen ofany Staie, with his property, whether it be slaves or anythiug else, to any donmin which may be acquii'ed by the common blood and treasure of the People of all the States. " 8th. That this Convention heartily responds to the noble resolutions of the Alabama State Democratie Convention, and vvill " under no)olitical neeessity whatever" support, either for the Presideney or Vice Presidency, any person wlio shall not be the firrn and avowed opponent ofany plan or doctrine which in any way inferieres with the right of citizens of any one State to possess and enjoy all their property in any territory which may be ncqulred by the Unio 1, as fully, completoly, and securely, as citizens of any other State shall enjoy their - except so faras that, being unwilling to disturb the Missouri compromise, we are content with adherence to itsprineiples. " 9ih. That, subject to the indispensable condition already stated, we will support any Democrat who may receive the nomination of the National Convention which will assemble in Baltimore on the fourth Monday in May next ; and that it be, and is hereby, recommended to the Democracy of Virginia, to hold, at their earliest convenience conventions in the different electoral districts of the State, for the purpose of appointing fout' delectes from each of said districts to attend said National Convention, and also an equal number of gentlemen to act as altérnales." FHOM THE JEFFER'iON (.V. T.) DEMOCRAT The issue is thus clearly presented. While one section renounces argument and reason, decries all party test, utterly refuses to consider any man a candidate for the Presidency who will not pledge himself in advance to their views, and threatens to repudíate the decisión of the majority if it is contrary to their wishes, the other is expected tarnely to suhmit to demandsand indignities, that, ifoflered to an individual would seud hisblood through his veins like boiling lava. Are the Democrats of New York content to bovv themselves in this abject man Der, to yield to these arrogant demanda of the few rice and cotton and silgar planters of the South with their slave-drivers and slave breeders ? No ! No ! No ! We have also taken our stand, and with the blessing of Heaven we will maintain it. We will enter the Convention at Baltimore, demanding the rights and privileges of free electors ; and if these are refused us, it will he at the peril of the refusers. We will ask for a candidato who shall have only pledged liimself toohey the People, when their voice is heard ia Concress ; and ifsticl) an one is granted, tritimphanily will we elect him, and then by those whoin we will send lo faithfully represent us in the national council, we will demónstrate that our .State has not retroi;raded in Justtce and Truth and Civilization. But if such an one is denied, if all the concessions are asked from us and g'iven to our opponents, f one of the creeping things that crawl and wind their way to power is offercd for our support, then will New York place itself in his path, as a mountain that may neiiher be scaled nor passed around, but, lifting its front to tlie skies, remain impassable forever, save to him who bears the true words written on his forekead, "NO EXTENSIÓN OF SLAVERY?" 13T B honest, sober and industriou.