The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-08-26

lation for the cNtraditlon OF slaves.
6. That slavery is a sin against God and n
crime against man. which no human enactment
nor usage can make right and that Christian
ity. humanity and patriotism, alike demand its
abolition.
T. That the Fugitive Slave Act Of 1850 is
repuguant t. 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
s. That the doctrine that any human law
Is a fnality, and not subject to modification or
repeal, is not in accordance with the creed OF
the founders Of our Government aud is dan
gerous to the liberties of the people.
g. That the acts OF Congress known as the
Compromise measures of 1850. by making the
admission of a sovereign State contingent
upon the adoption Of Othermeasures demanded
by the special interest of slavery by their
omission to guarantee freedom in free Terrific
ries: By their attempt to impose uncOnsttu-
tional limitations on the power of Congress
and the people t. admit new States by their
provisions for the assumption Of FIVE millions OF
the State debt ot Texas and for the payment
of five millions more and the CesslOn of a large
territory to the same State under menace, as
an lnducement to the REIMBURSEMENT of IA
groundless claim, and by their invasion Of the
sOyere gnty OF the States and the liberties Of
the people through the enactment of an I'M
Just oppressive and unconstitutional Fugitive
Slave Law, are proved to be- inconsistent with
all the principles and maxms Of Democracy.
and wholly inadequate to the settlement Of the
questions OF which they are claimed to be an
adjustment
10. That no permanent settlement Of the sla-
very question can be looked for, except in the
practical recognition Of the truth that slavery
is sectional. and freedom national; by the total
separation of the General Government from
slavery, and the exercise Of its legitimate and
constitutional influence on the side of freedom
and by leaving to the States the whole subject
of slavery and the rxtradtjon of fugtiyes from
service
II. That all men have natural right to
portion of the soil and that, as the use of the
soil is indispensable to lite tine right of all men
TO the soil /, as sacred a> their right to life it
self
- 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 II sacred trust for the1
benefit of the people and should be granted in
limited quantities free Of cost, to landless set
tiers
10 That due regard Tor the Federal Consti-
tuition and sound administrative policy de-
mand that the funds of the General Govern
nent be kept separate from banking institu-
lions that inland and ocean postage should be
reduced to the lowest possible point that no
more revenue should be raised than is requir- |
Il to dcfray the strictly necessary expenses of
the public service and to pay off the public |
iebt and that the power and patronage of the |
Government should be diminished by the abo-
ition of all unnecessary offices, salaries, and |
privileges and by the election by the people of
Ill civil officers in the service Of the United |
States, so far a. may be consistent with the
prompt aud efficient transaction of the public |
business
Ia. That river and harbor Improvements, |
when necessary to the safety and convenience !
Of commerce with foreign nations or among |
the several Slatcs are objects of national con- |
Germ and it II the duty Of Congress in the ex-
ercse of it, constitutional powers to provide |
for the same
IS. That emgrants and exilrs from the Old |
World should find cordial welcome to homes
Of comfort and fields of enterprise in the New
and every attempt to abridge their privilege of
becoming citizens and owners of the soil among |
Us ought to be- resisted with inlIexlble deter
mination
l6. That every nation has clear right to
alter or change Its own Governments and to
It's own concerns in such manner |
rs may best secure the rights and promote the !
happiness of the people and foreign inter-
terence with that right Is u dangerous viola |
ion of the law OF nations, against which all
Governments should protest, and
nndeayor 10y all proper means to prevent; and
especially is IT the duty OF the American Gov
eminent representing the chief republic of the
world, To protest against and by all proper
means to prevent the aforementioned Kings and
Emperors against nations seeking to establish
for themscke republican or constitutional Gov
II. That the Independence of Iayti ought
to be recognised by our Government, and our
commercial relations with it placed on the
footing of the most favored nations
lS. That as, by the Constitution, " the citi-
zens of each State shall be entitled to all priv
ilegcs aud mmunitcs of citizens of the several
States, the practice Of imprisonng colored sea-
men of other States while the vessels to which
they belong lie in port and refusing to oxcr-
else the right To bring such eases before the
Supreme Court Of the United States to test the
legality Of such proceedings is fragrant vio-
latiOn 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
10. 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 IL resort TO decisive arbltra-
ton
20 That the Free Democratic party il 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
rcpudiating and rcnouncing both, rs hopeless
ly corrupt and utterly unworthy of confidence,
the purpose Of the Free Democracy is to take
possession of the Federal Government, and
administer it for the better protection Of the
rights and interests of the whole people
81. That we lnscribc on our banner FREE
Soil, FREr SPEECH, Fare LABOR, and FREE
MEN, and under it will fight ON and fight ever
until triump liant victory shall reward our cx-
ertOns
%. That upon this Platform the Convention
presents to Tia" American People, rs candi-
date for the Office of President of the United
States, JOHN +. HALE, of New Hampshire
and as n candidate for the office of Vice Pres-
dent of the United States, GEoRGE w. Julian,
of Indiana, aud earnestly conmcnds them to
the support of all lreemcn and parties.
Gerrlt Smith of New York, presented n
minority report as substitute, and supported
it in very able speech He was replied to in
a strong speech, by MIR. Gddings of Ohio.
MINORITY REPORT
Rtsoircd T. That inasmuch as the long-con-
tinued seryilIty to the slave power has at last
become 50 boundless and shameless rs utterly
10 forbid all hope of the reformation of the