The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-11-06
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

: THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
1t seems that some slight verbal inaccura-
cies have crept into the Platform adopted at
Philadelphia, as it appears in some of the
newspapers. We therefore republish the gen.
saine document, as it appeared in the Era on
She Sd instant. The discrepancies are so slight
as to escape observation, except when carefully
compared with the true reading. In fact,
shere is not shade of difference in principle
between the true and the erroneous reading.
Still, it is highly proper that the genuine doc
ument should be adhered to.
"This Convention of Delegates, assembled in
pursuance of call addressed to the people of
the United States, without regard to past polit-
ical differences or divisions, who are opposed
to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise; to
the policy of the present Administration; to the
extension of Slavery into free Territory; in ia
vor of the admission of Kansas as a free State;
of restoring the action of the Federal Govern
;ment to the principles of Washington and JEFF.
ferson and for the purpose of presenting can
,didstes for the Offices of President and Vice
President do
I 81. Resolre, That the maintenance of the
principles promulgated in the Declaration of
Il
Constitution, are essential to the preservation
of our Republican institutions; and that the
Federal Constitution, the rights of the States,
and the union of the States, shall be preserved.
az. RESOLVED, That, with our Republican
fathers, we hold it to be selfevident truth
that all men are endowed with the unalienable
right to life liberty, and the pursuit of hsppi-
moss and that the primary object and Interior
design of our Federal Government were to Sc
cure those rights to all persons within its ex.
elusive jurisdiction that as our Republican
fathers, when they had abolished Slavery in all
our National Territory, ordained that no person
should be deprived of life liberty, or property,
without due process of law, it becomes our duty
to maintain this provision of the Constitution
against all attempts to violate it, to prevent the
establishment of Slavery in the Territories of
the United States by positive legislation pro-
.hibiting its existence therein. And we deny the
authority of Congress, of Territorial Legisla-
.ture, of any individual association of individ
uas, to give legal existence to Slavery in any
Territory of the United States, while the pres
ent Constitution shall be maintained"
: 80. Resolced, That the Constitution confers
upon Congress sovereign power over the Terri
tories of the United States for their govern
ment, and that in the exercise of this power it
is both the right and the duty of Congress to
prohibit in its Territories those twin relics of
:barbarism, Polygamy and Slavery.
"a. ResolUed, 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 defence,
and secure the blessings of liberty and con-
tains ample provisions for the protection of the
life, liberty, and property, of every citizen, the
dearest constitutional rights of the people of
Kansas hive been fraudulently and violently
taken from them;
"Ther Territory has been invaded by an
armed force;
"Spurious and pretended Legislative, Judi.
cial, and Executive officers have been st over
them, by whose usurped authority, sustained
By the military power of the Govern ment, tyran-
nical and unconstitutional laws have been en-
acted and enforced;
" The rights of the people to keep and bear
arms have been infringed;
"Test oaths of an extraordinary and sntan-
Cling 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
r "The right of the people to be secure in their
persons, houses, papers, and effects, against
unreasonable searches and seizures, has been
violated;
They have been deprived of life, liberty,
,and property, without due process of law;
. "That the freedom of speech and of the press
has been abridged;
"Ths right to choose their Representatives
has been made of no effect;
4 Murders, robberies, and arsons, have been
,instigated and encouraged, and the offenders
have been allowed to 90 UNPUBLISHED
"That all these things have been done with
the knowledge, sanction, and procurement of the
present Administration, and that for this high
crime against the Constitution, the Union, and
Humanity we arraign that Administration, the
President, his advisers, agents. supporters, apol.
ogists, and accessories either before after
the facts, before the country and before the
world and that it is our fixed purpose to bring
she actual perpetrators of these strocious out
RACES and their accomplices, to a sure and
,condign punishment hereafter.
: IS. Resolued, That Kansas should be imme-
diately admitted as State of the Union, with |
her present Free Constitution, as at once the |
most effectual 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.
sc. Resolred, That the highwayman's plea |
that might makes right embodied in the Os- |
tend Circular, was in every respect unworthy |
of American diplomacy, and would bring shame
and dishonor upon any Government or people |
that gave it their sanction.
81. Resolred, That railroad to the Pacific
Ocean, by the most central and practical route,
is imperatively demanded by the interests of |
che whole country, and that the Federal Gov
eminent ought to render immediate and eff
Gent aid in its construction, and as an auxilia-
~ thereto, the immediate construction of an
emigrant route on the line of the railroad.
"8. ResolUed, That appropriations by Con-
gress for the improvement of rivers and harbors,
of a national character, required for the accom-
mediation and security of our existing com.
nerce, are authorized by the Constitution, and
Justified by the obligation of Government to
protect the lives and property of its citizens.
"9. Resotced, That we invite the utilization
and cooperation of the men of all parties, how
ster differing from us in other respects in sup.
port of the principles herein declared; and, be-
ieving that the spirit of our institutions as we'll
% the Constitution of our country guarantees
liberty of conscience and equality of rights
among citizens, we oppose all Legislation i'm
pairing their security"