Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-08-19

The vote was ordered 10 DC per CfPltdi CaCH
delegation on the floor having one VOTE This
was test question between the friends Of Hale
and Chase; ayes l73, nays l79. Eastern and
Middle States voting nay and the Western aye.
The report of the committee was then adopted
Joshua R. Giddings. Chairman of the Com
mittee on the Platform made the following re-
A port:- :;:..,s,
Having assembled in National Convention
IA delegates of the Free Democracy of the
United States, united by a common resolve to
,rmaintain Right against Wrong, and Freedom
against Slavery, confding in the intelligence,
the patriotism. and the discriminating justice OF
the American people, putting our trust in COP
for the triumph of our cause and invoking Ills
guidance in our endeavors to advance 1t. we now
submit to the candid judgement OF all men the
following.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND MEASURES.
lst. That Governments, deriving their just
mowers from the consent of the governed, are
Instituted among men to secure to all those " in
alienable right of lie, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness with which they are endowed by
their Creator, and of which none can be deprived
by valid legislation, except for crime.
3D. That the true mission for Democracy is
to maintain the Liberties OF the People, the
sovereignty of the States, and the perpntuity Of
the Union by the impartial application, to pub
lie AFFAIRS without sectional discrimination, of
the fundamental principles Of Equal Rights,
Strict Justice and Economical Administration.
Sd. That the Federal Government lS one of
limited powers, derived solely from the Consti
tuition; and the grants of power therein ough,
ttf~5e strictly construed by all the departments
and agents Of the Government and it is mex
pedient and dangerous to exercise doubtful
constitutional powers.
4th. That the early history Of the Govern
ment clearly shows the settled policy to have
been, not to extend, natonallse and encourage
but to limit, locaIlze and discourage SLAVERY,
and to this policy, which should never have been
departed from, the Government ought forthwith
to return.
5lh. That the Constitution Of the Unit ID
States, ordained to form more petect union, to
establish Justice and secure the blessings of
LIBERTY, expressly denies to the General Gov
ernaant power 10 deprive any person of his life,
liberty, or property, without due process OF law
and therefore the Government, having no more
power to make slave than to make king, and
no more power to establish Slavery than to es
tabsh monarchy, should at once proceed To re
lieve Itself from all responsibility tor the extern
sion OF slavery wherever it possesses constitu-
tlona power to legislate for It's extinction.
9th. That to the perserveing and nportunate
demands of the Slave Power Tor more Slave
States, new Slave Territories, aud the natUnall
cation of Slavery, our district and final answer
is,-No more Slave States, no Slave Territories,
no Nationazed Slavery, and no National Leg
isIaton for the Extrsdiion of Slavery.
7h That the acts of Congress known as the
Compromise Measures OF 1850, making the ad-
mission of the sovereign State cGntgent upon
the adoption OF other measures, demanded by
the special Interest of Slavery, by their adms
sion to guarantee Freedom in FREQ Territories
by their attempt to improve unconstitutional
limitation of the power of Congress and the
people TO admit new States, by their provisions
for tile assumption of SIS 900 700 of the Stnte
debt Of Texas, and for the payment Of $5,0O0,-
900 more, and the recession Of large territory
to the same State, under menace, as an induce
ment to the REIMBURSEMENT Of groundless
clam, and by their invasion of the sovereignty
OF the States and the liberties of the people,
through the enactment of an unjust, oppressive
and unconstitutional Fugitive Slave law, are
proved to be incompatible with the principles
and maxlms of Democracy, and wholly made
quate to the settlement of which those are
claimed to be an ad ustment.
9Th. That no permanent settlement Of the
slavery question can be had until slavery Is made
sectional and freedUm national, by the total
separation ol the general government from slavet
ry,.sSd the exercise of its legitimate and con-
stitulonal influence on the side of freedom, and
by leaving 10 the States the whole subject of
slavery and tho eXtraditon Of fugtives from
J service.
9th. That due regard for the federal con-
stituton ami sound administrative policy de.
mands that the friends Of the general govern
ment be kept seperue from bahking instituio S :;
that ocean and island postage shall be reduced
to the lowest possible point; that no more reve.
) nue. should be raised Than is required to dcfray
the strictly necessary expenses of the public
J service, and to pay off the public debt that the
power and patronage of the government should
be Diminished by the abolition Of all unnecessa
} ry offices, salaries and privileges, uni 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 transac
actions of the public business.
} 10th. That the river and harbor Improvements,
r when necessary to the safety and convenience
of commerce with foreign nations, or among the
several States, are beet of na'lOnal concern :;
and ii is the duty of Congress in the exercise of
its constitutional powers to provide for the same
llth. That emigranIs and exIes from the Old
: World should find cordial welcome to homes
Of comfort and fields Of enterprise in the New !;
and every attempt to abrldge their privilege OF
becoming citizens and owners of the soil among
: us, ought to be resisted with inhexbe determl-
nation.
18th. 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 ben
eft Of the people, and should he granted in lin
tied quantity free of cost, TO landIeSs settlers
18Th. That every nation has clear right to
alter and change its own government, and to ad-
minister its own concerns in such manner as may
best secure the rights and promote the happiness
of the speople and foreign interference with
that right is dangerous violation of the law OF
nations, against which they should proceed by
all proper means to prevent; and especially 1t Is
3 the duty of the American Government, repre-
sentng the chief republic OF the world, to pro-
test against, and by all proper means to prevent
the intervention OF Kings and EmperOrs against
nations seeking to establish for themselves repub-
lies or constitutions.
l4th Thut Slavery is Gin against God and
a crime against man, the cnormlty of which no
law nor usage can sanction or mitigate, and that
Christianity and Humanity alike demand it's ubo-
ition.
: 18th That the Fugitive Act Of 1850 is re
pugnant to the Constitution, to the principles Of
the common Jaw, to the spirit of Christianity
: and to the sentiments Of the civilized world; VIC
therefore deny its binding force upon the Amer
lean people, and demand its immediate repeal
10th. That the doctrine that any human law
is a. finally, and not subject to modification or re
peal, is not in accordance with the creed OF the
; founders of our government, and is dangerous to
1; the Liberties oil our people,
!. l1h. That the independence of Huyti ought
to be recognized by our Government, and our
relations with it be placed on the footing OF the
most favored nations.