Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-03-05
SPIRIT OF EEEE PRESS,
From the Fairfield Ledger.
Republican State Convention.


| Republican State Convention.
This convention assembled on the ODD, a
Iowa City. and was pronounced by persons who
have been present at every political convention
held at that place, to have been the largest con
vention ever convened in that city. The con
venton was held in the Representatives Hall
which was crowded to oyerfowng Warm
| hearted enthusiastic men were there from all
parts of the State, and from all trades and pro.
| tessions They were honest looking, intelligent
men, whose every action told that they had the
| good of their country at heart, and that they
were guided in their movements by conscien-
| tous conviction of right They were from all
| political parties in the State, but common SYM
pathy with the great principle of freedom-that
great corner stone of our government-brought
them together and bound them in one organi-
cation, pledged to support Right against Wrong,
and to vndcate the character of our govern
msnt by wiping out the foul, black blotches
which the cringing. administration of Franklin
Pierce has placed upon its escutheon.
We have not yet received the published pro
ceedings of the convention, and therefore, can
not give them to our readers this week We
can state, however, that the action of the con-
vention resulted i'll the thorough organization
of the Republican party in Iowa, by the adoption
OF platform, the nomination of full ticket
which appears at the head of our columns to-
day; the appointment of delegates to the Re-
publican National Convention, and the appoint
sent of the necessary committees to carry out
the plan of organization.
This was the substantial result of the action of
the convention, and was brought about by free
and unreserved expression and interchange of
opinion, and an unreserved discussion of all
views, principles and measures represented in the
convention. There was no application of gag
law to any man, was the case in the late Ad
miIistration Convention, where no man was
allowed to speak after the Introduction of the
report of the Committee on Platform. Free dis
cussion was the rule enforced by the convention,
and it led 10 the most satisfactory results
When the convention closed its session, the
most perfect harmony and unanimity of feeling
pervaded the whole assembly, and the conven-
ton dJourned with nine cheers for the Republi-
ticket and plattorn-such cheers were
never heard in the capitol of Iowa before
The contest isnow fairly opened, and the peo- |
pie must begin to select the ground on which to
stand while the struggle between slavery and
freedom is going on. The question comes home |
to every man: will you do battle with the admin
istration party Tor slavery or with the Republ- |
cans for freedom: Whtewash as to Won NAV |
that's the issue There is no way of getting |
round it. The question must be met and answer
ed. If the people want slavery extended until |
1t snail have become the sole controlling power in
our government, let them vote with the admins
tration party; If they want salutary checks pfac.
ed upon the domineering spirit Of slavery, and
want il confined to its present limits, without any
upon the rights of the slavehold.
ing States, let them vote with the Republicans.
Thus we have the whole thing in small compass
and in plain, Practical shape. What will the
people do. VIII they decide in favor of the ex-
tension Of slavery: We believe not We be-
ieve the people of Iowa love freedom, and that
hey viii vote for it. Let freernen prepare for
he battle