Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-05-23
Aggressions and Usurpations
THE SLAVE POWER.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND PURPOSES
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
ADDRESS OF THE REPUBLICAN CON
VENTION, AT PITTsBURG, FEB. %, 1856.

VENTION, AT PITTsBURG, FEB -, 1896
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES
Having met in Convention at the City OF Plttsourg'
in the State of Pennsylvania, this I'd day OF eo
ruary 1885, as the representatives OF the people IN
various sections of the Union, to consult upon the
political evils by which the country menaced and the
politica action by which those evils may be aVerted
we address to you this Declaration OF our Principles
and of the purposes which we seek to promote.
We declare in the first place, our liked and uh-
sltefable devotion to the Constitution OF The onited
States-to the ends for which 1t was established, and
to the means which II provided for their attainment
We accept the solemn protestation OF the People ol
the United States that they ordained IT "n order to
form more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure
domestic tranquility provide for the common Defense
promote the general welfare and secure the blessings
of liberty to themselves and their posterity' We be-
leve that the powers which it coniers upon the HoV
eminent of the United States are ample Tor the ac-
compshment of these objects, and that these pow
ers are exercised in the spirit OF the Constitution
itself they cannot lead any other result We re-
spect those great rights which the Constitution de-
cares TO be involabe-Freedom OF Speech and OF the
Press the free exercise of Religious Belief, and the
right of the People peaceaby TO assemble and TO pc
tton the Government for a Redress OF urIeVances.
We wonld preserve those great safeguards OF civil
freedom the CORPUS the right oil trlal by Jury,
thereof for crime by due process OF law. We declare
our purpose TO obey all things, the requirements OF
the Constitution and of all laws enacted IN pursuance
thereof We cherish 4 profound reverence Tor the
wise and patriotic men by whom II was framed, and
lively sense of the blessings it has conferred upon our
country and upon mankind throughout the world. In
every crisis Of difficulty and Of danger we shall invoke
ts sprit and proclaim the supremacy OF its authority
In the next place. we declare our ardent and un-
b.kan attachment to this Union OF American States,
which the Constitution created and has thus lar pre-
served We revere it the purchase OF the blood OF
our foreathe-a the condition OF our national re-
pown. and as the guardian and guaranty OF that
liberty which the Constitution was designed TO secure
We will defend and protect it against all Its enemies
We will recognize no geographical divisions, no local
no narrow or sectional preudces, In our en-
de.vors TO preserve the union of these States against
foreign aggression and domestic STRIFE what we
claim for ourselves, we claim for ALL Ihe rights,
privileges and liberties which we demand as our IN
heri,ance we concede their inheritance to all the
citizens of this Republic
Holding these opinions and animated by these sen
,;ron,s we declare our conviction that the Govern
merit of the United States is not administered IN ac
cordsnce with the Constitution or for the preservation
and prosperity of the American Unlon but that it'
movers are systematically welded FOR THE PROMO
r,os AND EXTENSION OF THE INTEREST OF SLAVERY
IN direct hostility 10 the letter and spirit OF the Con-
81 the country and in open contempt oi the public
sntment of the American people and OF the Christian
yorId We procaim our belief that the policy which
has for wears past been adopted IN the Administration
Of the General Government, tends to the utter subver
;on of each Of the great ends for which the ConstI
tution was established, and that uhiess IL snail DC
.rrested by the prompt interposltion OF the People
Tho hold of the Union upon their loyalty and affection
Ill bo relsxed the domestic tranquility will be dis
,hed and all Constitutional securities for the bless
80 of liberty 10 ourselves and our posterlty will b.
Isst,oved. The Slaveholding interest cannot bs
permanently paramount IN the General Government
vi,hout involving consequences fatal to Free insti
,r,ons We acknowledge that 1t is large and
powerful; that in the States where 1t exists 1t Il
,;,led under the Constitution, like all other loca
;n,erests to immunity from the lnterferences OF th'
General Government and that 1t must necessaril,
exercise through its representatives considerable
share of political power. But there rs nothing IN 1T
,ion as there is certainly nothing IN its character
r. .ns,ain the supremacy which It seeks to establish
So = not State in the Union in which the slave
hoders number one tenth part OF the free white popu
i.,;on-.nor in the aggregate do they number on
6tt;eth part OF the white population Oh the unite
states The annual productions OF the other classe
IN the Union far exceed the total Vaine OF all In
.lsyes To cay nothing therefore, OF the questions
natural Justice, and OF political economy which "aVer
;nvoves. neither its magnitude nor the numbers Q
- by wbom IT is represented entite II to one-tent
oe The political powers conferred upon the Fedora
Eor.rnment by the Constitution. Yet we see 1t seek
mo- and at this moment yielding, all the functions
The Government-executive, legislative, and Judica
-.nd nsing them for the augmentation OF its power
.nd the establishment of its ascendancy.
F,om this ascendancy the principles OF the Constl
- ,be rights of the several States the safety O
,h. Unon. and the welfare of the people OF the Unite'
C,.,es demand that it should be dlsodged.
,1sropIcAL OUTLINE OF THE PROGRESS OF SLAYER
TOWARD AsCENDANCY IN THE FEDERAL GOV
ERNMENT.
I, 10 not necessary for to rehearse IN detail tn
,ccessiye steps by which the esaveholdng interest ha
occurred the influence It now exerts IN the Genera
Cnva,nment Close students OF political events vii
d,lv trace the path OF It's ambition through the pas
twenty. five years OF our national history.
II was under the Administration OF President Tyler
,d d,r,nu the negotiation which preceded the annex
.,'on of Texas, that the Federal Administration 70
tho frs, time declared, in diplomatic correspond
ence with foreign na,ions that Slavery in the Unite
States was "PoLTICAL INSTITUTION, ESSENTIAL II
THE PEACE, SAFETY AND PROSPERITY OF THos
SrArEs OF THE UNION WHICH 1T EXISTS; an
that the paramount motive Of the American Govern
ment. in annexing Texas was twofold-Ftrsf' l.
nreven the abolition of Slavery within its limits, and
Necond: To render Slavery more secure and NOR
powerful within the saveholdng States OF the Union
Slavery was thus taken under the special care an
protectlon of the Federal Government. 1t was n
longer to be left as State institution, to be controle
exclusively by the States themselves; 1t was to b.
defended by the General Government, not only agalns
;nv.son or insurrecon Of armed enemies but agains