The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-03-04


ton, no such united movement against the pre-
tensions of Slavery in IS4S, as was represented
by that meeting, whstthen The Liberty Party,
with its one idea, might have cast its own prop
err vote-6fty, sixty, it may be, eighty, thou
sand-and, instead of the press of the North
generally agitating and protesting on the sub
ject of Slavery, the agitation would have been
confined chiefly to hejournals of that Party, and
have soon abated among the People at large;
and instead of the cooperative policy among
the friends of freedom of all parties which has
been SO successful in the election of prominent
anti-slavery men, and overthrow Of politicians
conspicuous for their loyalty to Slavery, the
old policy of isolation would have been adhered
to- until every man of practical views and In
terested in questions affecting the public well
fare. had been alienated.
Let us try again. We are determined that
California shall remain free-that Slavery shall
not find foothold in New Mexico and Utah
that while not interfering through the Fede-
raj Government with Slavery where it exists
under the protection of State laws it shall not
beyond their jurisdiction, claim title and pro-
lection under the Constitution Of the United
States-that the element of Freedom, the funda-
mental idea of Democracy, shall have its le-
Ultimate weight in the Federal Councils, and
that Slavery shall not prescribe tests of fellow
ship in national parties, and of position in ma
tional affairs We are determined to with
draw our support from il, all Fictitious sup
port from it, the support of the Federal Gov
eminent from it understanding that whenever
the limit is fixed beyond which it cannot pass
and it must live only under the protection of
State laws and upon State resources, it will
soon come to be regarded 10y its support
ers not a. an Institution to be perpetuated, but
an evil to be got rid off.
With this determination in regard to Sla-
very, II will be easy TO agree upon our course
a relation to other important questions We
have done il once-we can DO it again. The
old Buffalo platform is still in good condition
a plank or two less, a plank or two more, and
we shall have sound, broad basis. Constltu-
tional, Democratic, American.
We need not be precipitate Premature
action is not necessary to bind us who have no
doubt respecting the action Of the old Party
Conventions in the spring and must tend to
repel those who still cherish lingering hope
Of the defeat of Hunkerism We cannot blame
the anti-slavery adherents of the old parties,
who have determined to do all they can to give
right direction to their Conventions pro-
posing independent action only in the event of
failure If they fail, as they will, Independent
action will become their duty. Allegiance to
Party is due only while Party maintains ALE
glance to its principles. The Wing who has
claimed that his Party is for Freedom and
Progress and has protested against the Com
promise and Fugitive law, cannot go with it
commit itself to these measures, and against
Freedom and Progress. The Democrat who
holds that his Party is for Human Rights, be-
leves that majority ought to rule, rejects the
fctons of vested rights and fnality in legislation
cannot go with il when through its National
Convention it shall trampe upon every Primer
pie he cherishes.
What then will they dol Disfranchise
themselves Do nothing, because their Par
ties have done wrong? Hide their light under
a bushell Permit the Ballot Box to speak but
one language, that of submission to the Slave
Power Never With that select band of
voters who have never yet "bent the knee to
the dark spirit of Slavery" they will rally on
the basis of the Principles, and for the accom-
plishment Of the Objects, proclaimed by the
Convention of Freemen that met at Buffalo in
lS48
What are these Principles and Objects {?
They are stated in the following resolutions /:
SLAVERY.
Resolved, That we, the people here assem-
bled, remembering the example of our fathers
in the days of the first Declaration of indie.
pendence, putting our trust in God for the
triumph OF our cause, and invoking his gui-
dance in our endeavors TO advance il, do now
plant ourselves upon the National Platform of
Freedom, inoppostion to the Sectional Platform
of Slavery.
Resolved, That slavery in the several States
of this Union which recognise it's existence. de-
ponds upon State laws alone, which cannot be
repealed or modified by the Federal Govern
ment, and for which laws that Government is
not responsible We therefore propose no in.
reference by Congress with slavery within the
limits of any State.
Resolved, That the proviso of Jefferson to
prohibit the existence OF slavery after 1900 in
all the Territories Of the United States South !
ern and Northern the votes of six States and (
sixteen delegates, in the Congress of 1884 for |
the proviso to three States and seven delegates |
against it the actual exclusion 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 it was the settled policy of
the nation not to extend, nationalize, or en-
but to limit localize, and discourage
slavery; and to this policy, which should never
have been departed from, the Government
ought to return.
Resolved, That our Fathers ordained the
Constitution of the United States in order.
among other great national objects, to estab.
lish justice, promote the general welfare, and
secure the blessings of liberty, but expressly
denied to the Federal Government which they
created, all constitutional power to deprive any
person of life, liberty, or property, without due
legal process.
Resolved That, in the judgment of this Con-
yention, Congress has no more power to make
a slave than to make king; no more power
to institute or establish slavery than to institute
or establish q monarchy--no such power can
be found among those specifically conferred by
the Constitution or derived by just implication
from them. f
ID a = A
Government to relieve itself from all RESPONSE
bility for the existence or continuance of
slavery, wherever that Government possesses
constitutional authority TO legslate on thatsub-
ject and is thus responsible for it's existence 4
Resolved That the true and In the indignant