The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-06-16
PENNSYLVANIA.

The State Convention, which met at Harris
burg, June /, adopted the following resolu-
tons
The Free Democracy of Pennsylvania having
assembled in State Convention for the purpose
of perfecting their organization and making
nominations for State officers, feel it incumbent
upon them to make public declaration of the
principles they propose to advocate, and the
work they propose to accomplish Therefore,
Resolved, That all men are born free and
equal, and are endowed by their Creator with
an inalienable and indefeasible right to life
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness hence
Slavery is sin against God and u crime against
man.
Resolved That it is the mission of the Free
Democracy to secure to all the enjoyment of
their inalicnable rights by the impartial appli-
cation, to public affairs, Of tho principles con.
tanned in the Declaration of independence
which require equality in rights and strict jus
tice to all
RssOiUed, That as Slavery 10 aggressive, and
can only live by continued entertainments upon
free territory it becomes the duty and impera-
tive necessity of the laboring classes in this
country to work earnestly with the Free De-
mocracy to arrest its further spread for the
same dc.potism that places its foot upon the
neck of the black man, will, when its interest
dictates, attempt to reduce tho white laborer tC
| a condition like that of tho slave; and it be-
comes an act of selfdefence to himself and d
duty to his posterity to relieve them of so dan
| gerous and evil a burden.
| RESOLVED, That the Constitution of the United
States ordained to form more perfect union
to establish Justice and secure tho blessings OF
liberty, expressly denies to the General Gov.
eminent 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
establish Monarchy, should at once proceed to
relieve itself from all responsibility for the ex-
istencc of Slavery, wherever it possesses consti-
tutional power to legislate for its extinction.
RESOLVED, That We consider Slavery and the
slayeholding system as existing in our country,
to be unjust, wrong, and impolitic and that
we will by ali legal and proper means, seek to
separate the National Government from sup.
porting favoring or extending it and to effect
its amelioration and removal, not only on the
ground Of its intrinsic wrong and injury to the
GLASS of our fellow creatures who are its imme-
date victims, but as evil in our general policy
and in its bearings operating periodically upon
the labor, trade commerce, and business of the
country, creating a special and sectional power
with interests diverse from those Of the general
country; exerting an unequal influence upon
the Government, productive Of difficulties in
our foreign relations, and essentially an ele-
ment Of mischief and danger.
Resolved, That we abide by the National
Constitution, and hold that Slavery does not
consttutionally exist in, and ought to be pro-
hibited by law in the Territories, the District
Of Columbia, and other place. where the Uni
ted States possesses exclusive jurisdiction and
that hereafter, no new State ought to be ad-
mitted into the Union, without an irrepealable
prohibition Of Slavery in its Constitution.
Resolved That the ocalled Public Works"
of the State have been thus far an enormous
burden on the patience and pockets of the
people; that the burden has been for some time
past increasing with littIo or no prospect of
removal or diminution that the proceeds from
these works, and the expenditures upon them,
have been scandalousy msapplied and wasted,
as rewards to partisan tools and favorites, cor
rupting them and outraging public decency
therefore,
RESOLVED, That we are in favor of selling the
various public works, on tho best terms and at
the earliest practicable period.
Resolved, That the traffic in intoxicating
drinks is the great source of pauperism, misery,
and crime We demand its entire prohibition,
and pledge ourselves to use all the legitimate
means which God has given us, for the accom-
plishment Of that object
RESOLVED, That as every man has natural
right to life, 10 he has natural right TO the
means Of obtaining q living, and hence TO a
free home on Gods earth therefore the public
lands Of the United States should not be sold
TO individuals nor granted to corporations, but
should be held "a u sacred trust fer the benefit
of the people, and should be granted in limited
quantities, free Of cost, to landess settlers
RESOLVED, That single districts and direct
voting arc the great safeguards OF true repub.
licansm, and therefore the Constitution of our |
State ought to be W amended as to require
single senatorial and legislative districts, and
all officers, State and National, ought to be |
elected by direct vote Of the people.
Resolved, That the killing OF the colored man
at Columbia, by Rdgeley, of Maryland; the
Of the Parkergirls and the murder
OF Miller, Of Chester cousty, in connection |
the neglect Of tho proper authori-
ties Of PenDsylvania and Maryland 70 bring
tho guilty actors 10 trial and punishment
emitting timely, earnest, and due requisition,
on the one hand and prompt surrender on the
0ther--are uDmistakable evidences Of condi- |
ton Of pro-slavery courtesy subsisting between
these States more degrading to Pennsylvania
and dshonorable to Maryland, than the giving