The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-10-21

kindred sentiments Yours truly, B.F.R.
INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM ADOPT
ED AT PITTSBURGH, AUGUST II, 1852
Having assembled in National Convention as
the delegates OF the Free Democracy OF the Uni
ted States, united by "a common resolve to main
tain light against wrongs and freedom against sls-
very coHfding in the intelligence PATRIOTISM and
the discriminating justice or the American peo-
pie, putting our trust in God for the triumph
o! our cluse, and invoking his guidance in our
enieavors to advance II, We now submit to the
candid jadg uent of all men the following decara-
tim Of principles and measures
| l. That Governments, deriving their just pow
ers from the consent OF the governed, are institu
ted among 10 secure TO all, those inalienable
rights Of fe liberty, aud the pursuit of happiness
with which they endowed by their Creator,
and Of which none can be d,p,ived by valid egis-
ielOn, except for crime.
IL rhat the true mission of American Democ-
ccy is to maintain the liberties of the people the
sovereignty Of the States, aud the perpetuity Of
the Union, by the impartial application to public
affairs, without sectional determinations of the
fundamental principles of equal rights, strict jus
tce, and economical administration
I'LL That the Federal Government is one Of lin
tied powers derived solely from the Constitution
and the grants Of power therein ought TO be strict
ly construed by all the Departments and agents OF
the Government, and it is expedient and dan
gerous to exercise DOUBTFUL constitutional powers.
Nv. That the Constitution of the U intel States,
ordained to form a more perfect union, to estab
lish justice and secure the blessings Of liberty,
expressly denies to the General Government all
power to deprive any person of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of law and there
fore the Government, having no more power to
make a slave than to make king, and no more
power to establish slavery than to establish mon
srchy should at proceed to relieve itself from
all responsibility for the existence of slavery wher-
ever it possesses constitutional power to legslate
for its extinction.
v That, to the persevering and imp0rtunate
demsu ds of the slave power for more slave ates,
new slave Territories, and the naturalization Of
slavery, our distinct and final answer is-no more
slave States no slave Territory, no nationalized
slavery and no national legislation for the extra
| dition Of slaves.
vi. That slavery is sin against God and q
crime against man, which no human enactment
nor usage can make right and that Christianity,
humanity, and patriotism, alike demand its aboli-
! ton.
VII. That the Fugitive Slave Act of $50 is re.
puguant to the Constitution, to the principles of
the common law, to the spirit of Christianity, and
fore deny its binding force upon the American
People, and demand its immediate and to.al re-
peal.
VIII That the doctrine that any human law is
a fnality, and not subject to modification or re-
peal, il not in accordance with the creed Of the
founders Of our Government, and is dangerous to
the liberties of the people
TX That the acts of Congress known as the
| Compromise measures Of 1850, by making the sd
| nf fho
adoption of other measures demanded by the spe-
cisl interest of slavery by their omission TO guar
antee freedom in free Territories by their attempt
to impose unconstitutional limitations on the pow
Of Congress and the people to admit new States
by their provisions for the assumption Of i've mil
lions Of the State debt Of Tex az and for the pay
ment Of five millions more and the cession Of q
large territory to the same State under men,c" os
an inducement to the rtlinquishment Of ground
less claim, and by their Invasion of the sovereign
~ of the States and the liberties of the people
through the enactment of unjust oppressive,
and unconstitutional Fugitive Slave Law, are
| proved TO be iDconssttnt wi b ell The principles
and mixims Of Democracy, and wholly INADEQUATE
to the settlement of the questions Of which they
| are clained to be an adjustment.
| x That no permanent settlement of the sla-
very question can be looked for, except in the
practical recognition of the truth that slavery is
ration Of the General Government from slavery,
and the exercise Of it's legitimate and institution
al influence on the side Of freedom; and by leav
ing TO the States the whole sub ect IF slavery and
the extradition of fugitives from service.
| XI That all men have natural right to por-
ton Of the soil and that, the Of the soil is
indispensable to life, the right of AL men to the
soil is AZ sacred as their right to life itself
| XII That the public lands of the United States
| al 10 IL h h.. on1l IN
individuals nor granted 10 corporations, but should
be held as sacred trust for the benefit of the
people, aud should be granted in limited qusni-
| ties, free of cost, to landless settlers -
XIII. That due regard for the Federal CoDsti-
| tuition, and sound administrative policy, deniaDf
| that The funds Of the General Government be
| kept separate from banking Institutions that in-
land and ocean postage should be reduced to the
lowest possible point; that no more revenue should
be raised than is required TO defray the strictly
| necessary expenses of the public service and 10
| pay off he public debt and that the power and
patronage Of the Government should be diminish
ed by the abolition of all unnecessary Offices, sala
ries, and privileges, and by the election by the
people Of all civil officers in the service Of the
United States 30 far nay be consistent with
the prompt aud efficient transaction of the public
| bus ness.
XIV. That river and han Dor improvements,
when necessary to the safety and convenience Of
| commerce with foreign nations among the sever
al States hjects Of national concern, and 1t Is
the duty of ongress in the exercise OF its consti-
tuional powers 10 provide for the same.
XIV That emigrsbts and exiles from the Old
| World should find cordial welcome IL homes Of
comfort and fields Of enterprise in the New and
every attempt 10 sbridge their privilege Of becom-
| ing citizens and owners o he soil among us ought
to be res sted with inf .xib'e Differentiation.
| XVI That every nation has clear right to
alter or change it's own Government, and TO adj
| minister it, own concerns 10 such manner as may
best secure the rights and promote the happiness
| Of the people aud foreign interference with that
right is dangerous violation Of the law Of nations,
against which all independent Governments
should protest, and endeavor by all proper means
to prevent; and especially lRs 1t the duty Of the
| American Government, representing the chief re.
public Of the world, to protest against and by oil
proper means TO prevent the interven ion Of Kings
and Emperors against nations seeking TO establish
| for then.eve republican or institutional Gov
| ernU,ents
XVII That the independence Of EIayii ought
| 20 be recognised by cur Government, add our
commercial relations with 1t placed on the foot
| ing Of the most favored nations.
XVIII. That AZ, by the Constitution, "tbe cii-
! zeps of each st tie shall he entitled n al priv
| leges and immunitics Of citizens of the several
States" the practice Of imprisoning colored sea-
men OF other States, while the vessels to which
| they belong lie in port, aud refusing to exercise
the right 10 bring such Cases before the Supreme
Court OF the United States to test the legality Of
such proc edings, il a figr,nt violation Of the
Constitution, and an invasion Of the rights Of the
citizens of other States, utterly inconsistent with
the professions made by the shareholders, that
they with the provisi OF the Constitution faith
fully observed by every State in the Union.
XIX. Thst We recommend the introduction
into attire ,tes hereafter TO be negotiated between
IL U.;,.i S,ot.a and for. ion nafiOna Of aOma