Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-08-26
FREE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL PLAT
FORM.


FREE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL PLAT
FORM.
Having assembled in National Convention
as delegates of the Free Democracy Of the
United States, united by common resolve to
maintain Rights against Wrongs, and Freedom
against Slavery, coniding 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 His
guidance in our endeavors toadyance it. we now
submit TO the candid judgement of all men the
following.
DECLARATION or PRINCIPLES AND MEASURES.
Ist. That Governments, deriving their just
powers from the consent of the governed, are
instituted among men to secure to all those in
alienable rights" Of lite, 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.
= ID. That the true mission for the American
Democracy is to maintain the Liberties OF the
People, the sovereignty of the States, and the
perpetuty .of the Union by the impartial appl-
cation, to public affairs, without sectional dis
crimination,) of the fundamental principles Of
Equal Rights, Strict Justice and Economical
Administration.
Sd. That the Federal Government is one Of
limited powers, derived solely from the Consti-
tuition; and the grants of power therein ought
to be strictly construed by all the departments
and agents OF the Government and it is mex
pedent and dangerous to exercise doubtful
Constitutions powers.
Alb. That the Constitution Of the United
States, ordained to form more petect union, to
establish justice, and secure the blessings of
LIBERTY, expressly d5nps to the General Gov
elnmant all power 10 deprive any person of hie,
liberty, or property, without due process of law
aud therefore the Government having no more
power to make a slave than to nuke a kiag, and
no more power TO establish Slavery than to cs-
tab!Ish monarchy, should at once proceed to re.
ilcye Itself from all responsibility for the exist
cree oil slavery wherever it possesses c0nslItu-
uonal power 10 leglsale for It's extinction.
9th. That to the persevcring aud importuaatc
demands of the Slave Power for more Slave
States, new Slave Territories, and the nationul.
znjon Of Slavery, our distinct and final answer
ls,--No more Slave States, 10 Slave Territories,
10 NatlonlIlzod Slavery, and no National Leg
station iu' the EXu1diuon of Slavery.
Oh That the acts OF Congress known as the
Compromise Measures of O,by making the ad-
mission Of the sovereign State. contingent upon
the adoption OF other measures, demanded by
the special interest Of Slavery by their admls-
sion to guarantee Freedom in Free Territories,
by their attempt to impose unconstitutional
limitations on the power Of Congress and the
people to admit new States, by their provisions
for tue assumption Of s. 900 900 Of the S.gta
debt Of Texas, ana for the payment Of SIS co.,
600 more, and the ces.i0n IF large territory
to the same State, under menace as an induce.
meAt 10 the REIMBURSEMENT OF g;oundless
claim, and 10y their INVASION oi the sovereignty
OF the States and the lbetie5 Of the people,
through tie enactment Of an uniust oppres live
and unconstitutional Fugitive Slave law, are
proved 10 be nccn isen with all the principles
uud maXlms oI Democracy, and wholly nude
quaG TO the settlement Of the questions Of
which those ARE claimed to be m adjustment
7,h. That no permanent settlement Of the
slavery question can be l1okec for except in The
practical recognition Of the Truth TINT slavery Is
sectional and freedom national, by the total
separation Of the general government from slave
~, and the exercise OF Its Legitimate aud con-
stltutonal influence on the side of freedom, ard
| by leaving o the States the whole subject of
slavery and the eXtTadilion d tugjtiYes from
service
8lh. That due regard for the federal con.
stiluiion AMI sound administrative policy de-
nand5 that the friends Of the general govern.
ment 0e kept sePerHtc ron baHaing Institutions;
that inland ana ocean postage shall be reduced
/ 10 the lowest possible point; that no more reye.
nue. should be raised than is required 10 derdy
the Stflcily necessary expenses OF 'ho PuoHc
service ana 10 pay Oh Ilo Pnol1 d9O' 'haI tae
power anu palohuS" % Ue government Should
Ne uitp'hlsLeu W 'iio aoo't'on oi al nnHeceSaa'
~ oiices' sala''eS ana pIW'tgcS, ana W lhe
election by tHe people OF all cI"ii o.hcer5 III the
service OF t'e On''eo 0'aIls' SO Iat ti may De
consistent VIVA 'lG prnhp' ana 'lic1ent lahsac-
actions o. tue pubic BUSINESS
9th' IAat river ana haFoor improvements,
"h0A necessary 10 Inc eAiey ana convenience
oi commerce. WIN 'oIc'9H h'"9HS' or among t1e
sever ~ oI''e9' "c "oleGt OF AA'I1hai c''1eth !,
i'ho 1t ~ th9 uu'y OF N'HSf's9 III tR9 exercise OF
I's co S'aH''o"a' p1"ef' 70 provide Tor me sane,
w. "It tl"SFan'S ana 'A!ies from the GA
W ORC S"1"'u 'nu cuiu'1' "e!cor9 70 homes
81 c0n'olt anu Ae'ds Of enterprise IN the New;
aNu every aueint 10 aoiIdgc theif privilege q
becoming cItiz9hs ana owners OF the solI among
Us, ought 10 DC resisted WIN laHeXIOIo d4teluh-
nation mn
liH' h"' all men nave a fa'nfal right 10 a
portion Of the sol and int as The use d the
soil Is indispensable 10 Iue' the right OF all men
to me soil IS aa sacred as the lght to lie Itself
18th. That the public lands OF the United
States belong to the people, uni should not be
sold 10 individuals, nor granted to corpolauons,
hut 'hond De held as sacred trust for the BEN
cit OF the people, and should be granted in lin
Ned quantity, tree OF cost, TO Iandiess settlers
l3h That every nation mas n clear right to
alter and arrange Its own government, and to i'd
minister It's own concerns IN such manner as may
best secure Tie rights and promote the hapfiness
OF the peoples; and foreign interference wrh
that right is dangerous violation Of the law Of
nations, against winch they should protest and