Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1852-09-15
THE
FREE SOIL PLATFORM,

Having assembled IN lNallOndi OOHNehtoh 40
the delegates ofthe Free Democracy ofthe United
States. united by a common resolve TO MAIN
tam RIGHTS AGAINST WRONGS, ANDf Rec
NOM AGAINST SLAVERY, conhdlng IN the IN
telligence, the patriotism, and the discriminating
Justice of the American people; pulling our trust
in God for the triumph of our cause, ana invoking
His guidance in our endeavors TO advance 1--we
now submit to the candid judgement OF all men
the following declaration of principles and meas
ures-
Ist. That Governments, deriving their just
mowers fiom the consent Of the governed, are in
s,ituted among men TO secure TO all, those sine
alienable rights Of life, liberty, and the pursuit
orhappiness, with which they are endowed by
their Creator, and OF which none can be deprived
bv valid legislation, except for crime
I'd That the true mission of the American De-
mocracy is TO maintain the Liberties Of the Peo-
ule. the sovereignty of the States, and the perpe-
tuity of the Union by the impartial application, to
public affairs, without sectional discrimination, 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 Constr
tuition; and the grants ofpower therein ought to
be strictly construed by all the departments and
agents ofthe Government, and 1t is nexpedient
and dangerous to exercise doubtful Constitutional
powers.
4th. That the Constitution of the United
States ordained to form more perfect union, 20
establish Justice, and to secure the blessings of
Liberty, expressly denies to the General Govern
ment power to deprive any person of life, lib
erty, OF property, without due process of law; and
therefore the Government, having more pow
er to make a slave than to make king, and no
more power to establish slavery than to establish
monarchy, shond at once proceed to relieve itself
from all responsibility for the existence of slavery,
wherever it possesses constitutional power 10 leg
isate for its extinction.
9TH. That to the persevering and importunate
demands of the Slave Power for more Slave
States, new Slave Territories, and the nationali-
cation of Slavery, our distinct and final answer is
No more Slave States, no Slave Territory, no
Mathematical Slavery, and no National Legisla-
ton for the Extradition of Slaves.
9th. That Slavery is sin against God and
crime against man, the enormity of which no law
nor usage can sanction or mitigate, and that
Christianity and Humanity alike demand its abo-
lton.
7th That the Fugitive Act Of 1850 is repug-
nant TO the Constitution TO the principles of the
common law, to the spirit of Christianity, and to
the sentiments of the civilized world; we there
fore deny its binding force upon the American
people, and demand its immediate and total re-
peal.
CLl HAT tHc OOCuHO THAI any Jaw IL
a fnGIitu, and not subject 10 modification re-
peal, is not in accordance with the creed of the
founders of our government, and is dangerous to
the liberties of our people,
9th That the acts of Congress- known as the
Compromise Measures OF 1850, by making the adj
mission of a sovereign State contingent upon
the adoption of other measures, demanded by the
special interest of Slavery, by their omission tC
guarantee Freedom in Free Territories, by their
attempt to impose unconstitutional limitations or
the power Of Congress and the people to admit
new States, by their provisions for the assump-
ton of IS, 000, 00O of the State debt of Texas
and for the payment Of So 600 900 more, and the
cession of large territory TO the same State
under menace, as inducement to the reIin.
quishment Of groundless claim, and by their in
vaslon of the sovereignty of the States and the
liberties of the people, through the enactment O
an unjust, oppressive, and unconstitutional Fugi
tive Slave Law, are proved to be inconsistent
with all the principles and maxims of Democracy
and wholly Inadequate to the settlement of the
questions Of which those are claimed TO be an ad
justment.
10TH That no perma nent settlement ofthe slav
ery question can be looked for, except in tht
practical recognition Of the truth that slavery il
sectional and freedom national, by the total sepa
ration of the general government fiom slavery
and the exercise of its legitimate and constitu
tioral influence on the side of freedom, and BY
leaving to the States the whole subject of slavery
and the extradition Of fngitives from service
Ilth. That all men have natural right to q
portion of the soil, and that as the use of the sol
is indispensable to life the right of all men to the
soil is as sacred as the right TO life ITSELF
18th. That the public lands of the United States
belong to the people, and should not be sold to in
dividuas, nor granted to corporations, but should
be held as sacred trust for the benefit of the
people and should be granted in limited quantities
free of cost, to landless settlers.
18th. That a due regard for the federal consti.
tuition, and sound administrative policy demand:
that the funds of the general government be
kept separate from banking institutions; thai
ocean and inland postage should be reduced TO the
lowest possible points that no more revenue
should be raised than is required TO defray tho
strictly necessary expenses of the public service
and 10 pay off the public debt; that the power
and patronage of the government should be di.
minished by the abolition Of all unnecessary o.
ces, salaries, and privileges, and by the eccitor
by the people of all civil officers in the service o
the United States, so far as may be conssten
with The prompt and efficient transaction of the
public business.
l4th. That the river and harbor improvements
when necessary to the safety and convenience o
commerce with foreign nations, or among tn,
and 1t is the duty of Congress, in the exercis,
of its constitutional powers to provide for tn,
same.
18th. That emigrants and exiles from the Ok
World should find cordial welcome to homes O
comfort and fields Of enterprise in the New; ant
every attempt 10 abridge their privilege of be
coming citizens and owners Of the soil among us
ought to be resisted with inaexIble determination
10th. That every nation has clear right to al
ter or arrange IFS own government, and to admin
lister its own concerns in such manner may bes
secure the rights and promote the happiness o
the people; and foreign interference with tina
right is a dangerous violation Of the law of ma
tons, against which they should protest and en-
deavor by all proper means to prevent; and espec
tally is it the duty Of the American Government
representing the chief Republic of the world
to protest against, and by all proper means, t.
prevent the Intervention Of Kings and Emperor
against nations seeking to establish for themselve
republican or constitutional governments.
18th. That the independence of Hayti ough
TO be recognized by our Government, and oui
commercial relations with it placed on the foot