Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-02-20
The Republican. of Lee Co., moving

e A Convention OF the frfenos Oh ireeGoil eoi
l. yened a, Charleston on the 9th inst Soiomo
a Beckley was appointed Chairman, and Geo. Shed
i and r. Briggs, ir, Secretaries The editor Of tn
i Gate City attended and says it was the larges
= political County Convention that ever assembled
i in Lee county He says: A more substantial
: intelligent, and influential body of men, we nev
er saw together on similar occasion, nor a bod!
/ of men actuated by better and firner spirit
( They comprised men ofall parties, who felt rea
Q | dy and anxious to leave all previous and mno'
issues in the background and unite in one com
: mon effort. The platform, which was adopted
| by acclamation and with enthusiasm, We believe
t expressed their deliberate collective sense. The
business was promptly and harmoniously trans.
acted, and after brief but pertinent and ear
nest speech from the chairman, the convention
adjourned, feeling that good days work had
been done.
A committee appointed, of which d. F.
Miller was Chairman, who reported the following
platform, which was unanimously and enthusias-
ticaly adopted
The committee reported the following Reso-
lutions:
United by common resolve to maintain Right
against Wrong, and believing in the determine
ton of vrtuous and intelligent people to sus-
tain justice, we declare,
l That governments are instituted among men
to secure the inalienabe rights of Life, Liberty,
and the Pursuit of Happiness, in the equality of
civil privileges and the free exercise of religious
4 belief and worship.
| That the mission of the Republican Party
| is to maintain the Liberties of the People, the
Sovereignty of the States, and the Perpetuity Of
| the Union.
| 8 That the Federal Government being one of
! limited powers derived wholly from the Consti-
tuition, its agents should construe those powers
| strictly and never exercise doubtful authority,
| alway inexpcdient and dangerous.
| THAT if this plain Jefersonian policy were
carried out, the Federal Government would re-
ieve itself of all responsibility for the existence
! of Slavery, which Republieansm insistsit should
| do.
| That the Pro-Slavery party having violated
this policy and the principles on which it is bas-
cd, has forced upon the country the issue, wheth-
| cr Slavery shall be limited to the Slave States
or, in other words, whether local institution,
repugnant to the genius of our Government, de-
pendent upon local laws for its existence and au-
thority, shall be nationazed, and extended ov-
cr all the national territory, and has rendered
that issue absorbing and paramount.
6 That in reference to the question of Slavery
in the States regard it as local institution
beyond our reach and above our authority; a
question which we emphatically declare to be
beyond our right to interfere with, and with
which we desire to have nothing to do; leaving
to the people of those States the responsibility of
its existence, and the enjoyment of its blessings
or the endurance of its evils
I That the repeal the Missouri Compromise,
and the refusal of the Slave Power to abide by
the principle on which that repeal was protessed-
" based, make the national domain the battle
ground between Freedom and Slavery, and while
Republicans stand on national basis, and will
ever manifest and maintain Il national spirit, they
will shrink from no conflict, and shirk no res
possibility on this lssue.
s. That the Republican party is entirely Ma
tiona in its scope and spirit and is the only true
National organization in the country since it
aims to separate the General Government from
all responsibility for Local institutions and LO-
cal questions, and in respect OF the question OF
Slavery, to restore its policy to the original true
and constitutional grounds of the early fathers
of the Republic, who clearly apprehendcd the
spirit of our National Compact, and the true pol
icy of our Government, and whose policy 1t Is
wisdom in us to observe and perpetuate.
O. That Freedom is National, and Slavery is
Local; and while that party is Sectional which
make the integrity and extension of the local in
stitution of Slavery the chief issue and control
ling question in its policy, on the other hand that
party is National which seeks to establish the
Free Institutions which are the foundation of our
Government over every part OF the National
Domain
TO- That the charge of Disunon which is
preferred against those who stand by the Free
spirit of our institutions and defend the great
principles of Human Rights and the Natural
Equality of Mankind before the Laws, is untrue |
and unjust, for while we hold the Union to be the
very palladium of our liberties and the secret OF
our wonderful success as nation and prosperity
and happiness as people, it. seems to us neccs-
sary that we should recur to the principles and
policy of its founders, as we do i'll order to guar
antcc the sure continuance OF its blessings and
protection and while never indugeda doubt |
of its value and never regarded it except sa
cred thing they are the true and only danger |
Gus Dsunionsts in the country who have threat |
ened for generation to secedc from 1t ana
openly plotted its overthrow in case they were
not permitted by its authority to extend the To-
cal institution of Slavery over the national ter
ritory.
IL. That we believe in the doctrine of "Popu-
lar Sovereignty" as the theory on which our Gov
ernment is based but it is the sovereignty OF the
whole American people over all territory under
their unqualified Jurisdiction; and that in respect
of those local questions, the determination OF
which may be left to the people of newly organ
lied territories the true idea of popular sover-
eighty demands primary essential cond-
ton the recognition of inalienable personal
rights.
H. That the Constitution has wisely separa-
ted the Legislative, Judicial and Executive pow
ers and we deplorc the tendency of the latter to
encroach upon the former; and We attribute to
Executive interference the fatal result of the Ne
braska bill in Congress, which has so unfortu-
nately revived and embittered the sectional
Slavery discussions which threaten the peace and
perpetuity of our sacred institutions.
13. That the form of our Government, our
general prosperity, and the desire of our people,
dictate policy which is most likely to maintain
peace with other nations, and a friendly inter
course between the citizens of our several States
and Territories, and with this design we are in
favor of a firm, steady and timely exercise OF
executive power to restrain acts of aggression
on neighboring States and to promptly stitic any
ATTEMPT to intrude in the affairs of States and
Territories.
IA. That any interference with previous polit-
ical issues would be foreign to the great purpose
of the Republican organization, and, therefore,
that all persons without regard to their previous
| or present political ties, who coincide IN the
principles above declared, can consistently, and
are invited to- unite in cordial cooperation with
the Republican party
Is. That regarding free speech and free
thought, or whatever makes unqualified and alb
solute, civil and religious Liberty, as the only
| means whereby personal ight and freedom OF
conscience can be established and maintained,
and Free Labor as the only basis of substan-
tial growth and sure progress in Free Repub-
| lie, the Republican party asks for the sympathy
and cooperation of the freemen of every party
and in every section of our common country
as it shall contend for these great princl-
pies and press them forward to q triumphant
| result.
| MATcHEs.-Mr. Burhans sent US cord, cord
and half, or two cords of his excellent matches
the other day. B. 4 Co., are rapidly extending
their business and increasing the amount OF
their manufactures. They have lately thrown
out their old engine for larger one, employing
more hands and getting ready for greatly IN
creased business in the Spring. The match bus
mess although apparently small matter, is real