The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-08-19
VOL. vi.

groundless claim, and by their invason of the
sovereignty of the States and the liberties or
the people through the enactment of AN nm
Just oppressive, and unconstitutional Fuo;t;ya
Slave Law, are proved TO be inconsistent WITH
all the principles and maxims of Democrso,,
and wholly inadequate to the settlement Of ~
questions of which those are claimed 70 bo a,'
adjustment "''
7. That no permanent settlement of tho sIo
very question can be looked for. excent in ,ba
practical recognition of the truth that slavor,,
is sectional and freedom national: bv the totoI
separation of the General Government fro,a
slavery, and the exercise of its legitimate .,,J
constitutional influence on the side of freedom
and by leaving to the States the whole subiect
of slavery and the extradition of fugitiyes from
service.
8. That n due regard for the Federal Consf
tuition, and sound administrative policy do.
mand that the funds Of the General Cover,
ment be kept separate from banking institn.
tons that inland and ocean postage sbould bo
reduced to the lowest possible point that no
more revenue should be raised than is reouir.
ed to defray the strictly necessary expenses Of
the public service and to pay off the public
debt; and that the power and patronage of the
Government should be diminished by the abo.
lition of all unnecessary offices, salaries. and
privileges and by the election by the people of
all civil officers in the service of the United
States, so far as may be consistent with the
prompt and efficient transaction of the public
business
9. That river and harbor improvements
when necessary to the safety and convenience
OF commerce with foreign nations or among
the several States are objects of national con-
Germ, and it is the duty of Congress in the ex
ercise OF its constitutional powers to provide
for the same
10 That eIhgrants and exiles from the Old
World should find cordial welcome to homes
OF comfort and fields of enterprise id the New
and every attempt to abridge their privilege of
, becoming citizens and owners of the soil among
us ought to be resisted with inhexibe deter
mination
IL. That the public lands of the United
States belong to the people, and should not be
sold to individuals nor granted to corporations
but should be held as a sacred trust for the
benefit of the people, and should be granted in
limited quantities, free of cost. to landless set.
tiers
II. That every nation has n clear right to
alter or change its own Government and to
administer It's own concerns in such manner
as may best secure the rights and promote the
happiness of the people; and foreign inter
ference with that right is dangerous viola
ton of the law of nations, against which they
should protest, and endeavor by all proper
means to prevent; and especially is 1T the duty
OF the American Government, representing the
chief republic of the world, to protest against
and by all proper means to prevent the inter
vention of Kings and Emperors against nations
10 g., Al III
or constitutional Governments.
10. That slavery is a sin against God and
crime against man, which no law or usage can
make right and that Christianity. HUMANITY,
and patriotism, alike demand its abolition
IA. That the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 is
repugnant to the Constitution, to. the principles
OF the common law, to the spirit of Christianity
and to the sentiments Of the civilized world.
We therefore deny its binding force upon the
American People, and demand its Immediate
and total repeal ..
15 That the doctrine that any human law
is iinality and not subject to modification or
repeal, is not in accordance with the creed of.
the founders of our Government and is dan.
gerous to the liberties of our people. -
.l6. That the Independence OF Hayti ought
TO be recognised by our Government, and our
commercial relations with it placed on the
footing of the most favored nations.
H. That as, blythe Constitution, "ihe citi-'
zens of each State shall be entitled to all priv
ileges and immunities of citizens Of the several
States" the practice of imprisoning colcred sea-
men Of other States, while the vessels to which
they belong lie in port and refusing the exer-
clse' OF the right to bring such cases before the
Supreme Court of the United States. to test the
legality of such proceedings is a fragrant Vie
latlOn OF the Constitution, and an invasion Of
the rights of the citizens of other States, utter.
ly inconsistent with the professions made by
the shareholders, that they wish the provisions
of the Constitution faithfully observed by every
State in the Union
IS. That we recommend the introduction
into all treaties, hereafter to be negotiated be
tween the United States and foreign nations
OF some provision for the amicable settlement
of difficulties by a resort to decisive arbitra-
ton.
49, That the Free Democratic party is not
organized to aid either the Wing or Democratic
wing OF the great Slave Compromise party Of
the nation, but to defeat them both; and that
repudlatlng and renouncing both as hope
lessly corrupt, and unworthy of confidence
the purpose of the Free Democracy is to take
possession of the Federal Government and
administer 1T for the better protection of the
rights ond interests of the whole people
20. That we inscribe on our banner FREE
Son, FREE SPEECH, FREE LABOR. and FREE
MEN, and under it will fight ON and fight ever
until triumphant victory shall reward our ex-
ertiOns.
The minority report of the committee is a.
follows:
Resolved, |. That inasmuch as the ong-con,
tnued servility to the Slave Power has at last
become 50 boundless and shameless as utterly
to forbid all hope of the reformation of the
great political parties, we are compelled to or
game new independent and permanent pO-
litical party
2. Whereas, inasmuch as it will doubtless
prove itself to be emphatically and pre-eml-
nently Democratic, it is desirable that this new
party should indicate its characteristic priD-
clples by its name; therefore resolved, that for
this purpose, and also to distinguish it from
that sham Democracy called the Democratic
party, we give to our new party the name Of
the Democratic League
3, That our new party, inasmuch as its aim
will be the impartial and full realization of the
idea OF a just civil government, will faithfully
endeavor to the extent Of its jurisdiction and
power, to protect all persons, irrespective Of
sects or color, in the enjoyment of their politl-
cal rights.
4. That not only do we contemn and tram
Pile upon the enactment called the Fugitiye
Slave Law, and upon every other enactment
for slavery, but we hold all forms of piracy
and especially the most atrocious and abcml-
nable one of slavery, to be entirely incapable
of legalizaton.
5. That inasmuch as all the nation and races
OF men constitute but one brotherhood, We
offer our traternal sympathies to the oppress-
ed not only Of our own land, but of every other
land to those for whom kossuth so eloquently