R. Granam for Vice President, and adopted the following as their views. This was the last national convention ever held by that party :

Resolved, That the series of resolutions known as the compromise, including the fugitive slave law, are received and acquiesced in by the Whig party of the United States as a settlement in principle and substance-a final settlement of the dangerous and exciting subjects which they embrace; and so far as the fugitive slave law is concerned, we will maintain the same, and insist on its strict enforcement until time and experience shall demonstrate the necessity of further legislation against evasion or abuses, but not impairing its efficacy; and we deprecate all future agitation of the slavery question as dangerous to the peace, and we will discountenance all efforts at the renewal or continuance of such agitation in Congress, or out of it, whenever, wherever, or howsoever the attempt may be made, and will maintain this system of measures as policy essential to the nationality of the Whig party and the integrity of the Union."

In 1856, the Democratic convention at Cincinnati nominated James Buchanan for President, and John C. Breckenridge for Vice-President, and adopted the following resolution on the slavery question:

"Resolved, That the American Democracy recognize and adopt the principles contained in the organic laws establishing the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska as embodying the only sound and safe solution of the 'slavery question,' upon which the great national idea of the people of this whole country can repose in its determined conservatism of the Union,-non-interference by Congress with slavery in State and Territory, or in the District of Columbia ;"

"That this was the basis of the Compromises of 1850, confirmed by both the Democratic and Whig parties in national conventions,―ratified by the people in the election of 1852, and rightly applied to the organization of the

Territories in 1854; That by the uniform application of this democratic principle to the organization of Territories and to the admission of new States, with or without domestic slavery as they may elect, the equal rights of all will be preserved. intact, the original compacts of the Constitution maintained inviolate, and the perpetuity and expansion of this Union insured to its utmost capacity of embracing in peace and harmony any future American State that may be constituted or annexed with a republican form of government."

The same year the Republican convention at Philadelphia nominated John C. Fremont for President, and William L. Dayton for Vice-President, and adopted the following as its platform on slavery.

Resolved, That, with our republican fathers, who, when they had abolished slavery in all our national territory, ordained that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, withont 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 United States, by positive legislation prohibiting its existence or extension therein.

"Resolved, That we deny the authority of Congress, of a territorial legislature, or 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.

Resolved, That the Constitution confers upon Congress sovereign power over the territories of the United States, for their government; and that, in the exercise of this power, it is both the duty and right of Congress to prohibit in the territories those twin relics of barbarism-polygamy and slavery."

The American convention nominated Millard Fillmore for President, and Andrew J. Donelson for Vice-President,

and adopted, in substance, the principles of the compromise measures of 1850, as their platform on slavery.

In 1860, the Constitutional Union party, at Baltimore, nominated John Bell for President, and Edward Everett for Vice-President, adopting "the Constitution and enforcement of the laws" as a platform.

The Republican convention, at Chicago, nominated Abraham Lincoln for President, and Hannibal Hamlin for Vice-President, and adopted the following resolutions on slavery:

"Resolved, That the new dogma that the Constitution, of its own force, carries slavery into any or all the territories of the United States, is a dangerous political heresy, at variance with the explicit provisions of that instrument itself, with contemporaneous exposition, and with legislative and judicial precedent, is revolutionary in its tendency, and subversive of the peace and harmony of the country.

"Resolved, That the normal condition of all the territory of the United States is that of freedom; that as our republican fathers, when they had abolished slavery in all our national territory, ordained that no person should be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law, it becomes our duty, by legislation, whenever such legislation is necessary, to maintain this provision of the Constitution against all attempts to violate it; and we deny the authority of Congress, of a territorial legislature, or of any individuals, to give legal existence to slavery in any territory of the United States.

"Resolved, That we brand the recent re-opening of the African slave trade, under the cover of our national flag, aided by perversions of judicial power, as a crime against humanity, a burning shame to our country and age, and we call upon Congress to take prompt and efficient measures for the total and final suppression of that execrable traffic."

The Democratic convention met at Charleston on the 18th of April. After a session of nearly two weeks, toward the close of which most of the delegates from eight southern States left the convention, an adjournment to meet at Baltimore, on the 18th of June, was agreed upon. The convention met, pursuant to adjournment, at Baltimore, and on the 23d of June, Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, was nominated for President, and Benjamin Fitzpatrick, of Alabama, for Vice-President. The following resolutions were adopted. Excepting the last one, these resolutions were passed at Charleston :

"Resolved, That we, the Democracy of the Union, in convention assembled, hereby declare our affirmation of the resolutions unanimously adopted and declared as a platform of principles by the Democratic convention at Cincinnati, in the year 1856, believing that Democratic principles are unchangeable in their nature when applied to the same subject matter, and we recommend as our only further resolutions, the following:

"Resolved, That it is in accordance with the interpretation of the Cincinnati platform, that during the existence of Territorial government, the measure of restriction, whatever it may be, imposed by the federal Constitution, or the power of the Territorial legislature, over the subject of the domestic relations, (as the same has been or shall hereafter be finally determined by the Supreme Court of the United States,) should be respected by all good citizens, and enforced with promptness and fidelity by every branch of the general government.

"Resolved, That it is the duty of the United States to afford ample and complete protection to all its citizens, at home or abroad, and whether native or foreign born.

"Resolved, That one of the necessities of the age, in a military, commercial and postal point of view, is speedy communication between the Atlantic and Pacific States,

and the Democratic party pledge such constitutional enactment as will insure the construction of a railroad to the Pacific coast at the earliest practicable period.

"Resolved, That the Democratic party are in favor of the acquisition of the island of Cuba, on such terms as shall be honorable to ourselves and just to Spain.

"Resolved, That the enactments of State legislatures to defeat the faithful execution of the fugitive slave law, are hostile in character, subversive of the Constitution, and revolutionary in their effect.

Previous to the nomination of Mr. Douglas, a secession of about one hundred, both of Northern and Southern delegates, took place, who immediately met in Convention, and nominated John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, for President, and Joseph Lane, of Oregon, for Vice-President. This convention adopted the following platform, which is the same as adopted by the seceding delegates at Charleston:

"Resolved, That the platform adopted by the Democratic party at Cincinnati be affirmed, with the following explanatory resolutions :

"First-That the government of a Territory organized by an act of Congress, is provisional and temporary, and during its existence all citizens of the United States have an equal right to settle with their property in the Territory, without their rights, either of person or property, being destroyed or injured by congressional or territorial legislation.

"Second-That it is the duty of the federal government, in all its departments, to protect the rights of persons and property in the Territories, and wherever else its constitutional authority extends.

"Third-That when the settlers in a Territory having an adequate population, form a State Constitution, the right of sovereignty commences, and, being consummated by