Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-08-19
THE BARNBURNERs' PLATFORM.

THE BARNBURNERs' PLATFORM
The following Preamble and Resolutions were
adopted I y the Convention recently assembled at
Buffalo to nominate candidates for the Presidency
and Vice Presidency of the United States:
Whereas we have assembled in Convention as a union of
feemen for the sake of freedom, forgetting all past political
differences in resolve to maintain the rights Of free
labor against the aggressions of the slave power and
cure free soil for free people
And whereas political Conventions recently assembled
Baltimore and Phadephs the sitting the voice Of great
constituency entitled be heard in its deliberations and the
other abandoning its distinctive principles for availability
have dissolved the national party organizations heretofore
istng, by nominating for the Chief Magsacy of the United
States under slavehong dictaon candidates neither of
whom can be supported by the opponents of slavery
sion without sacrifice Of consistency duty, and serespect
And whereas these nominations made furnish the
sion and demonstrate the necessity of the union Of the people
under the banner OF free democracy, in solemn and final de-
caraton Of their Independence of the slave power and Of
their liked determination To rescue the Federal Government
from its control; Therefore
Resped, That the people here assembled, remember
ing the example OF our fathers in the days Of hest decaa
ton of Independence putting God for the triumph
Of our cause and invoking his guidance in endeavors
advance it, plant ourselves upon the national platform
OF heedom 10 opposition TO the sectional platform Of slavery
Resolved That slavery in the several States of this Union
which recognise its existence depends upon laws Alone
which cannot be repealed modified by the Federal
ment and for which laws that Government Responsible
We therefore propose interference by Congress with sve
ry within the limits of any State.
Resolved That the provso Of jefferson to prohibit The ex
ence of slavery after 1900 in all the Territories Of e Uni
ted States Southern and Norhern the votes Of six States and
sixteen delegates IN the Congress of 1854 for tho povso to
three States and seven delegates against the actual excu
sion OF slavery from the northwestern territory by the ordinance
of 1887 unanimously adopted by the States in Congress- and
the entire history Of that PERIOD clearly show that the
settled policy OF the nation not extend naonalze
courage but to limit ocaze, and discourage slavery and
this policy which should have been departed FROM the
Government ought to return.
Resoiced That fathers ordained the constitution Of the
United States in ORDER among other great national Objects to
establish justice promote the general welfare, and the
blessings of liberty but expressly denied to the Federal Gov
ernment which they created all constitutional power de-
pve any person Of life liberty or property without due legal
process
Resored That in the judgment Of this Convention, Con-
gress has power omake slave than make king
more power to institute establish slavery than to ns
ute establish monarchy No such power be found
among those specifically conferred by the constitution de-
rived by any just implication from them.
Resolved That il the duty of the Federal Government to
relieve itself from all responsibility for the existence continu
of slavery, wherever the Government possesses consu
ona authority egsate that subject and thus respon-
sble for its existence.
Resoed That the :rue and the judgment OF this Con-
venton the only safe OF preventing the extension Of
slavery into territory Free is to prohibit its existence in
all such territory by an act Of Congress.
Resoped, That accept the issue which the slave power
has forced upon and their demand for slave States
and slave Territories, calm but final
slave States, and slave territory Let the soil Of
extensive domain be kept free for the hardy pioneers Of
land and the oppressed and banhed OF other lands
seeking homes of comfort and fields of enterprise the
world.
Resolved That the bill lately reported by the committee Of
eight the Senate of the United States compromise,
but absolute surrender Of the rights the shareholders
Of all the States and while rejoice TO know that
which, while opening the door for the introduction Of sa
into territories free would also have opened the door
TO litigation and strife among the future inhabitants thereof to
the ruin of their peace and prosperity, defeated in the
House OF Representatives its passage in hot haste by
ony Of the Senate embracing several Senators who voted in
open violation Of the known will Of their constituents should
the people 10 that their representatives be
suffered betray them. There be compro-
misses with slavery il made they must he repealed.
l. Resoiped, That we demand freedom and established in
sutons for brethren in Oregon exposed TO hard
ship peril and massacre by the reckless hostility Of the slave
power TO the establishment Of free government Tor free Terri
tories and only for them, but for brethren IN New
Mexico and California.
And whereas 1t due only this OCCASION but to the
whole people Of the United States, that should declare
ourselves certain other questions OF national policy There
fore
Resoired That demand cheap postage for the peo
pie reenchment Of the expenses and patronage Of the Fe
dea Government the abolition Of all unnecessary Offices
and salaries, and the election by the people Of all civil off,
in the service Of the Government far the
be practicable.
3. Resolved, That the river and harbor improvements,
whenever demanded by the safety convenience Of com
with foreign nations among the several States,
objects Of national and that il is the duty Of Con-
gress in the exercise Of its constitutional powers to provide
therefor.
Reoired That the free grant actual settlers, in
sdeaon Of the expenses they incur in making settlements in
the wilderness which usually fully equal 10 their actual
cost and Of the public benefits resulting thererom Of
able portions Of the public lands under suitable limitations, is
wise and just Of public policy. which will promote,
in various ways the interests Of al the States Of this Union
and therefore recommend il the favorable consideration
Of the American people.
ReOied, That the obligations Of honor and patriotism
require the earliest practicable payment Of the national debt
and therefore in favor Of such tariff OF duties will
raise adequate defay the necessary expenses Of the
Federal Government and to pay annual instruments Of our
debt and the interest thereon.
6. Reoiped, That inscribe banner free soil,
free speech, free labor, and free men,, and under will fight
and fight ever, until triumphant victory shall reward our
exertions.
THE BUFFALO CONVENTION.
A correspondent Of the Rochester Daily Demo-