The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-07-31
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.
uine document, as it appeared in the Era on
the Sd instant. The discrepancies are so slight
as to escape observation, except when carefully
compared with the true reading. In fact,
there 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 a call addressed to the people of
the United States, withoat 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
didates for TIE offices of President and Vice
President, do
81. Resolve, That the maintenance of the
principles promulgated in the Declaration of
Independence, and embodied In the Federal
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.
~. Resolced, That, with our Republican
fathers, we hold 1t to be self.evident truth
that all men are endowed with the unalienable
right to life, liberty, and the pursuit Of happi-
ness 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 a Territorial Legisla-
ture, of any individual or association of indivd-
uals, to give legal existence to Slavery in any
Territory of the United States, while the pres
emit Constitution shall be maintained"
"3. Resolred, 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. Resolced That while the Constitution
of the United States was ordained and estab-
lisbed by the people in order to form 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 have been fraudulently and violently
taken from them;
"fheis Territory has been invaded by an
armed force;
cial, and Executive officers have been set over
them, by whose usurped authority, sustained
by the military power of the Govern ment, tyran-
meal 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 entan-
Cling nature have been imposed, as a condition
of exercising the right of suffrage and holding
office;
"The right of an accused person to speedy
and public trial by an impartial jury has been
denied,
"The right of the people to be seeare 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;
"The right to choose their Representatives
has been made of no effect;
"Murders, robberies, and arsons, have been
instigated aud encouraged, and the offenders
have been allowed to go unpunished
"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 Consultation, the Union, and
Humanity, we arraign that Administration, ths
President his advisers, agents, supporters, spoi
oeists, and accessories either before or after
| the facts, before the country and before the