3. That when the settlers in a Territory, having an adequate population, form a State constitution, the right of sovereignty commences, and, being consummated by admission into the Union, they stand on an equal footing with the people of other States; and the State thus organized ought to be admitted into the Federal Union, whether its constitution prohibits or recognizes the institution of slavery. 4. 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, at the earliest practicable moment. 5. 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. 6. That the Democracy of the United States recognize it as the imperative duty of this Government to protect the naturalized citizen in all his rights, whether at home or in foreign lands, to the same extent as its native-born citizens. _Whereas_, One of the greatest necessities of the age, in a political, commercial, postal, and military point of view, is a speedy communication between the Pacific and Atlantic coasts— _Therefore be it Resolved_, That the Democratic party do hereby pledge themselves to use every means in their power to secure the passage of some bill, to the extent of the constitutional authority of Congress, for the construction of a Pacific railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, at the earliest practicable moment. A convention of delegates, representing the Constitutional Union party, met at Baltimore on the 9th of May and nominated John Bell, of Tennessee, for President, and Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, for Vice-President. Two ballots were had, as follows: ═══════════════════╤═════════════╤════════════ │ 1st Ballot. │ 2d Ballot. ───────────────────┼─────────────┼──────────── John Bell │ 68-1/2 │ 138 Samuel Houston │ 57 │ 69 John M. Botts │ 9-1/2 │ 7 John McLean │ 21 │ 1 J. J. Crittendon │ 28 │ 1 Edward Everett │ 25 │ 9-1/2 William Goggin │ 3 │ ―― William A. Graham │ 22 │ 18 William L. Sharkey │ 7 │ 8-1/2 William C. Rieves │ 13 │ ―― ═══════════════════╧═════════════╧════════════ Mr. Bell was declared the unanimous choice of the convention, and Mr. Everett was unanimously nominated without the formality of a ballot. The following platform was adopted by this convention: _Whereas_, Experience has demonstrated that platforms adopted by the partisan conventions of the country have had the effect to mislead and deceive the people, and at the same time to widen the political divisions of the country by the creation and encouragement of geographical and sectional parties, therefore—