The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-07-24
IOWA WAXING Up.

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The new State OF Iowa seemed for a long time
to be incorrigibly devoted to the interest Of the
Slavery Democracy. We rejoice to record that
q large State meeting of the Independent De-
mOcracy was held at Washington, Iowa, on the
25th ultimo, which adopted platform upon
which all who are Democrats from principle can
stand.
The Convention met in the Court House. and,
after the appointment of preliminary Committees,
the following persons were chosen permanent
officers
Presidem-J w. Cattell, Esq, of Cedar.
Vioe PlesideRs-C. Alexander, of Washington
II Savage of Henry R. Nichols, of Des Moines
and w. Marshall, of Lee.
Secretaries-T Mcconnell, Brighton, and ~
Littler, Washington.
During the sessions Of the Convention id
dresses were delivered by Rev, w. Westervelt,
P L. Preston, and others.
The following preamble and resolutions were
reported by the Committee. They were dis
Cussed seriatin, and were adopted with great
unanimity:
Whereas our ancestors designed the American
Union to stand, the strong bulwark of Liberty
and Progress and whereas the conservative
sections of the two old parties, acknowledging
fealty to the organized despotism Of the Slave
Power, have joined hands in pertiuacious resolve
to cherish, as National, that Sectional element of
tyranny aud stagnation, Southern Slavery-and
hoving secured the control Oh every aepar tcnt OF
the Government at Washington, have insulted
the American people, outraged the Constitution,
and put the Union itself in jeopardy, in their har-
dy attempt to accomplish that object and where
as we are heartily sick of the perpetual thrustng
of that ulcerous question upon us through the
medium of Federal action, and as we are con-
WINGED by the history of the growth of the slave
power in this country, where c0wardly skulking
behind the bulwarks of State Rights il has con-
trived to WELD the entire forces Of the Federal
Government for its own particular aggrandize-
ment that there is no hope of peace till we return
TO the original policy the Government by which
Slavery was left under local, and Liberty taken
under national jurisdiction. and whereas the
party issues which have engrossed the attention
Of American statesmen for half century have
either died with age, or been lost sight Of in the
turmoil and confusion Of the fierce contest now
raging between the principle Of popular rights
and the power of organized caste and as there are
questions of high Importance pressing earnestly
on the attention Of the people, with which, from
the discordant admixture Of moral and political
antagonisms, in their respective organizations,
neither Of the old parties is at all capable Of deal
ing therefore
/. Resolued, That it behooves the American peo-
pie to proclaim another Declaration of Independ-
ence- independence of the domination of par
ty--lndependence of most heartless sectional
oligarchy and to enter manfully upon the labors
of another Rev0lution-a revolution that shall
secure an administration of the Government ia
accordance with the Declaration Of 10 and the
Constitution as Ii was in 49,
2. RESOLVED, That, by the American Constitution,
no power was delegated to Congress authorizing
that body TO legislate In favor of Slavery, or TO
adopt and foster that State bantling as a Nation
al ward All powers, not thus granted, nor
prohibited TO the States reserved 10 the States
respectively or to the people! Hence that lnsti-
tuition, IL II had legal existence at ALL must have
depended alone upon State authority for that ex-
istenoe, and should have remained perpetually
walled in" by the original State limits
ResolUed, That the action of the Congress Of
1854 upon the Proviso of Jefferson, for the pro-
hibiton Of slavery after 500 in oil the territories
belonging TO and to be acquired by the United
States North and South, which WAS defeated only
by the action Of a small minority, through the
defective system established under the old articles
Of Confederation the actual exclusion of slavery
from the Northwest Territory, by the Ordinance
OF 1887, unanimously adopted by the States in
Congress- and the entire history Of that period,
show that In the above resolve We have not mis-
taken the original intention OF our fathers.
A. Resolued, That the stipulation in the Consti-
tuition for the surrender Of f1gtives from service
is an agreement among the States and depends
on good faith in the States alone for Its execution
The Federal Government has nothing to do in
that business, except through the supervisory
jurisdiction Of the Supreme Court over State
laws.
8 ResOlped, That by creating court unknown
TO the law consisting Of one irresponsible man, APP
pointing that man In an unwarrantable manner,
and clothing him with full power TO doom TO per-
petual Punishment and slavery in distant State
any person who may be brought before him. chsrg-
ed with owing service labor in such distant State,
and Offering TO bride this " Commissioner with
a fee depending upon the contingency OF Ending
against the intended victim by arraigning men
for alleged offences committed before the enact
ment Of the bil-hence being clearly &c post
Gaeto by suspendine the writ Of hdLeds corpus,
and failing TO secure the trial by jury by infct-
ing fines and imprisonments on free American
citizens for acts unknown 10 the Constitution as
crimes-and, In one word, by depriving its victims
Of liberty, without due process OF law, the fugi-
tivessve act Of 1850 Is rendered grossly offensive
paipably unconstitutional, anti-democratic and
inhuman. ID must be repealed
o RSsolDed. That considering the peculiar char
acter Of the Supreme Judiciary, and the ignorant
weak, and friendless condition Of the victims OF
slavery In this country, we deem 1t incumbent on |
Congress 10 guard our organized Territories
against the possible introduction Of that system,
and to provide for Its speedy abolition In the Dis
trict Of Columbia, and wherever else It now exists
under National jurisdiction
7. R>sslped, That while We cheerfully abide the
settled action OF ths past and object not TO the
presence in the sisterhood Of N new slave States,
not contemplated by the compromises OF the
we do hope we shall be pardoned
by our slsvehOlding and Hunker friends for our
fixed determination 10 meet their ever cismorous
demand, more ground for slavery with the calm
nfexibe resolve--no more concessions 10 the
slave power No more Slave States No Ma
IiOnal Slavery, slave trading, nor slave catching