The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-08-25
FREE SOIL NATIONAL CONVENTION.


The Free Soil National Convention met
at Pittsburgh, last week. The Post says
Il was one Of the largest and most impor.
tant deliberative bodies that ever convened
in the City.
The Convention nominated JOHN P.
HALE, of N. II. for President Of the United
States, and GEO. w. JULIAN, Of la, for
Vice President.
PLATFORM ADAPTED BY THE FREE Soil
CONVENTION.
Having assembled in NATIONAL Con-
vENTIoN as the delegates Of the Free De.
mocracy of the United States, united by a
common resolve to maintain rights against
wrongs and Freedom against Slavery; con-
fiding in the intelligence, the patriotism
and the discriminating justice ofthe Ameri.
can people; putting our trust in God for the
triumph of our cause, and invoking his
guidance in our endeavors 10 advance it
we now submit to the candid judgment OF
all men the following declaration Of prin-
ciples and measures:
1. That Governments deriving their
just powers from the consent of the gov
erned, are instituted among men TO secure
to all those inalienable rights OF life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness, with which
they are endowed by their Creator, and Of
which none can be deprived by valid legis.
lation, except for crime.
2. That the true mission of American
Democracy is to maintain the Liberties of
the People, the Sovereignty of the States
and the perpetuity OF the Union. by the
impartial application to public affairs, with.
out sectona al discrimin atoms Of the funda-
mental principles of equal rights, strict JUS
tice. and economical administration.
8. That the Federal Governments one
Of limited powers, derived solely from the
Constitution, and the grants ofpower there
in ought to be strictly constructed, bv all
the departments and agents of the Gov.
ernment, and it is inexpedent and dan
gerous, to exercise doubtful constitutional
powers.
a. That as American slavery is sin
against God, and crime against man, it
is in the highest sense invalid, illegal, NOT
LAW, either divine or human; and is there
fore utterly void and of NO FORCE, before
God and man.
, s. That the Constitution Of the United
States ordained to form a more perfect
union, to establish 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 therefore,
the Government having no more power to
make slave than to make king. and no
more power to establish slavery than to es-
tablish monarchy, should t.once proceed
to relieve itself Gom all responsibility for
the existance of slavery, wherever it pos.
sesses constitutional power to legislate for
its extinction.
6. That 10 the preserving and importu.
nate demands Of the Slave power for more
Slaue States, new SLAVE Territories and
the naturalization of Slavery, our distinct
and final answer is-No MORE SLAVE
STATES, NO SLAVE TERRITORY, NO NATION.
Allied SLAVERY, and NO NATIONAL LEGls-
LATIoN FOR THE ExTRADITloN OF SLAVES.
7. That the acts Of Congress known as
the Compromise measures Of 1850, by ma.
king the admission Of sovereign State
contingent upon the adoption OF other
measures demanded by the special interest
OF slavery; by their omission to guarantee
freedom 10 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
the assumption Of five millions Of the State
debt to Texas, and for the payment Of five
millions more and the cession Of large
territory TO the same State, under menace.
as an inducement to the REIMBURSEMENT of
a groundless claim; and by their invasion
Of the sovereignty of the States and the
liberties Of the people through the enact.
ments Of an unjust. oppressive and uncon.
sttutional Fugitive Slave Law--are proved
TO be inconsistent with all the principles
and maxims Of Democracy, and wholly
inadequate to the settlement of the ques-
tions of which those are claimed to be an
adjustment.
8. That no permanent settlement OF
the Slavery question can be looked for,
except in the practical recognition Of the
truth, that Slavery is sectional and Free
dom national; by the total separation OF the
General Government from Slavery. and
the exercise of its Legitimate and consttu-
tional influence on the side Of Freedom,
and by leaving to the States the whole sub
iect Of Slavery and the extradition of fugi-
fiyes from service
g.. That due regard for the Federal
Constitution and sound administrative poll
cy. demands that the funds Of the general
Government be kept separate from banking
institutions; that inland and ocean postage
should be reduced to the lowest possible
point; that no more revenue should be
raised than is required to defray the strict
ly necessary expenses ofthe public service
and to pay off the public debt, and that the
power and patronage of the Government
should be diminished by the abolition oI
all necessary offices, salaries and privi.