Plymouth weekly banner. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1856, 1856-08-28
Platform Of the National Republican Party.


This Convention of Delegates, assembled in
pursuance ofa call addressed to the people o.
the U. s. without regard to past political differ
ences or divisions. who are opposed to the re-
peal OF the Missouri compromise; to the policy
ut the present administration; to the extension
Of Slavery into free Territory. in favor Of the
admission of Kansas as Free State; restoring
the action OF the Federal Government to the
principles of Washington and Jefferson, and
for the purpose of presenting candidates for the
offices Of President and Vice President, do,
"1. Resolrd, That the maintenance of the
principles promulgated in the Declaration Of In
dependence and embodied in the Federal Con-
stitufion essential to the preservation OF
our Republican institutions, and that the FEEDER
al Constitution, the rights of the States, and the
union Of the States, shall be preserved
%. RESOLVED, That with our Republican ia
theirs We hold it to be sclfeyident truth that
all men are endowed with unalienable rights to
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, aud
that the primary object and Interior design of
our Federal Government were to secure those
rights to all persons within its exclusive juris-
diction; that as our Republican fathers when
they had abolished Slavery in all our National
Territory ordained that no person should be
deprived Of lite, liberty, or property, without
due process oflaw, il becomes our duty TO main
tain this provision of the Constitution gainst all
attempts to violate 1t for the purpose of estab-
fishing Slavery in the United Staies by positive
legislation, prohibiting its existence or exten-
sion therein. That We deny the authority of
Congress, of Territorial Legislature, or any
individual or association of Individuals, to give
legal assistance to Slavery in any Territory Of
the United States, while the present Consti;u-
ton shall be maintained
'3. Resolred, That the Constitution confrrs
upon Congress sovereign power over the Terri
tories of the q. s. for their government, and
that in the exercise of this power il Is both the
right and the duty Of Congress TO prohibit in the
Territories those twin relics oil barbarism-Po-
lygamy and Slavery.
ga RESOLVED, That while the Constitution
Of the United States was ordained and estab-
lished by the people in order to form a more
perfect union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the common
defense, and secure The blessings of liberty
and contains ample provisions for the protec-
ton of life liberty and property o: every
citizen, The dearest constitutional rights OF
the people OF Kansas have been fraudulently
and violently taken from them;
Their Territory has been invaded by an arm
ed force;
Spurious and pretended Legislative, Judic-
ial, and Executive officers have been set over
them, by whose usurped authority, sustained
by the military powe rof the Government. ty
fannical and unconstitutional laws have been
enacted and saforced;
The rights of the people to keep and bear
AIMS have been infnnged;
Test oaths of an extraordinary and entang-
ling nature have been imposed as a condition
of exercising the right of suffrage and holding
Office; The right OF an accused person to a
speedy and public trial by an impartial jury
has been denied.
Tie right of the people to be secure in their
persons, house, papers and effects against un-
reasonable searches & seizures has been vio
lated;
They have been deprived of life, liberty and
property without due process OF law;
That the freedom OF speech and the press
has been abridged;
Murders, robberies, and arsons haze been
instgated and encouraged, and the offenders
have been allowed to 60 UNPUBLISHED;
That all these things have been done with
the knowledge sanction, and procurement of
the present Admin istration. and that for this
high crime against the Constitution, the Union.
and humanity, we arraign that Administration,
the President, his advisers.agents, supporters,
apologists and accessories either before or
after the facts-before the country and before
the world; and that it's our fixed purpose to
bring the actual perpetrators OF these atrocious
outrages, and their accompIces, to sure and
condign punishment hereafter.
diately admitted as State Of the Union, with
her present Free Constitution. as at once the
most efectual way of securing to her citizens
the enjoyment of the rights and privileges to
which they are entitled and OF ending the
civil strife now raging in her Territory.
6. "ResolDed, That the highwayman's plea
that "might makes right" embodied in the
Ostend Circular, was in every respect uu Wor-
thy Of American diplomacy, and would bring
shame and dishonor rpon any Government Of
people that gave il their sanction.
Z. "Resel0sd, That Railroad to the Pacific
Ocean by the most central and practical route
il imreratively demanded by the interests Of
the whole country, aad that the Federal Gov
eminent ought to render immediate and eff
ficient aid in its construction, and as an auxil
larry thereto, the immediate construction Of al
emigrsnt route on the line of the railroad.
b. s'ResslDed, That appropriations BY Con
eyess for the Improvement Of rivers and barbors
Of national character, required for the ac
commodation and security Of our exlstln
commerce, are authorized by the Constitution
end justified By the obligation OF Govercmen
10 protect the lives and property OF Its citi
sens.
3. "Reselved That we invite the affilatio
and co-operzfion Of the men Of all parties, how
ever differing from US in other respects in sur
port Of the pr;nciples herein declared, and be
fievinx that the spirit Of our institutions as we
q de Constituti0n Of our country guarantee
liberty Of conscience and equality of right
anoss citizens. we oppose ell Legislation in
pairing heir security