The Democratic Party Platform of 1856 includes, but is not limited to the following:
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 departments 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 persons 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.
As you can see, a conservative platform which is against an all powerful, centralized government (MZ - this means supportive of states rights!)
The link below is for the complete text of the document.
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29576
The Democratic Party Platform for 1860, kept everthing from their 1856 platform and added only 7 resolutions to it, including:
2. Inasmuch as difference of opinion exists in the Democratic party as to the nature and extent of the powers of a Territorial Legislature, and as to the powers and duties of Congress, under the Constitution of the United States, over the institution of slavery within the Territories,
Resolved, That the Democratic party will abide by the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States upon these questions of Constitutional Law.
(MZ - I posted this one so you can note that the party resolved to abide by the USSC on these questions of Constitutional Law)
The link for the 7 additional resolutions of 1860 is below.
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/dem1860.asp
Contrast the above with this from the Republican Party Platform of 1856:
“Resolved: That, with our Republican fathers, we hold it to be a self-evident truth, that all men are endowed with the inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and that the primary object and ulterior design of our Federal Government were to secure these rights to all persons under its exclusive jurisdiction; that, as our Republican fathers, when they had abolished Slavery in all our National Territory, ordained that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law, it becomes our duty to maintain this provision of the Constitution against all attempts to violate it for the purpose of establishing Slavery in the Territories of the United States by positive legislation, prohibiting its existence or extension therein. That we deny the authority of Congress, of a Territorial Legislation, of any individual, or association of individuals, to give legal existence to Slavery in any Territory of the United States, while the present Constitution shall be maintained.”
Their republican fathers had not abolished Slavery in all National Territory. This passage also states they deny Congress rights which the Constitution actually grants it!
Link for this one below.
http://www.ushistory.org/gop/convention_1856republicanplatform.htm
Now for a look at the Republican Party Platform of 1860 which includes this:
12. That, while providing revenue for the support of the General Government by duties upon imports, sound policy requires such an adjustment of these imposts as to encourage the development of the industrial interest of the whole country; and we commend that policy of national exchanges which secures to the working men liberal wages, to agriculture renumerative prices, to mechanics and manufactures an adequate reward for their skill, labor, and enterprise, and to the nation commercial prosperity and independence.
Link below.
http://eweb.furman.edu/~benson/docs/repplat6.htm
I believe it is obvious that The Democratic Platform was indeed the conservative one.
(MZ)Yes, the Platforms differ on the issue of slavery. That is not what my original statement was referencing. My post stated that the democrats were actually the conservatives.
To the issue of slavery; As I previously noted, The Democratic Platform resolved to abide by the USSC decisions in that realm and, basically, The Republican Party Platform does not.
This passage also states they deny Congress rights which the Constitution actually grants it!
This passage should read:
....they deny Congress, of a Territorial Legislation,.... That we deny the authority of Congress, of a Territorial Legislation, of any individual, or association of individuals, to give legal existence to Slavery in any Territory of the United States, while the present Constitution shall be maintained.” Their republican fathers had not abolished Slavery in all National Territory. This passage also states they deny Congress rights which the Constitution actually grants it! Link for this one below.
You said: “MZ - I posted this one so you can note that the party resolved to abide by the USSC on these questions of Constitutional Law”
Yet they didn’t abide by such decisions and continued a path of trying to deny equal representation under the law for all. This has been their history.
The KKK of the eprogressive era used to use all types of Constitutional type language as well to reach an agenda that was actually counter the Constitution. If you listen to FDR you might think you were listening to an orginalist the way he would speak but we all know he was not.
And of course the further you go back towards our founding the more you will always find wordings and positions couched in conservative terms. Even today you have conservative democrats, you have libertarians who claim to be more conservative then conservatives sand so on. Many claimed that Robert KKK Byrd was a conservative as well. Hogwash.
You want us to beleive that the same exact party of people who upheld denying people an equal right to representation suddenly switched parties and were fighting for this right. That is hogwash. The democrats you speak of fought to deny rights and then the progressive movement and the democrats that followed them did the same.
You also want us to believe that all of the people who fought to ensure an eqaul right to representation for all under the Constitution suddenly switched to joining up with the KKK and started to deny equal rights to representation for all.
Your logic is completely flawed.
Their republican fathers had not abolished Slavery in all National Territory. This passage also states they deny Congress rights which the Constitution actually grants it!
The Northwest Ordinance did prohibit slavery in the territories. However, when North Carolina and Georgia ceded their western lands to the federal government, they stipulated that slavery be permitted in any territories made out of those lands. The Territorial or the Property Clause of the constitution gives Congress the final power over every territory but, Congress omitted any mention of slavery when it set up territorial governments in the Southwest.
My bad. This is what happens when I'm visiting and typing @ the same time! So, please ignore my posts @ 40 & 41.
1) the Democrats were REACTIONARIES not conservatives and clung to a semi-feudal economic system.
2) having southern democrats of 1860s interpret the constitution is laughable on its face. Al Queda probably would do a better job of explaining it.