Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-11-21
TorHE wrpUBLYoANs OF OHIO.


law repeating the Missouri Prohibition by
which slavery was forever excluded from all
our Territory north Of SO so min. By
the Kansas and Nebraska Bill, the most OBJ
noxious Of the pro-slavery views Of John c.
Calhoun were virtually recognized and in
corporated into law OF the land. The oft
repeated opinions of Jefferson, embodied in
the Ordnance of 1887, and acted upon by
him at various periods Of his administration
on the power of Congress over the subject
of slavery in the territories we're ignored, and
the doctrine was boldly announced that tho
Constitution denied to Congress the power
10 prohibit this institution in the territories.
The declared opinions Of all our eminent
public men; the uniform action Of Congress
in the exercise of this :ight and the repeat
cd decisions of the Supreme Court of the
United States were repudiated, and the en-
tire line of policy for slavery extension, as
advocated by the Calhoun school was adopt
cd, and proclaimed as tho future policy OF
the country.
This change, on 50 vitality important a
question, astonished and alarmed tho free
men ofthe non-slaveholding States. With
out regard to old party associations, the Peo-
pie assembled to consult upon the course OF
action to be pursued 70 check and rebuke
this arrogant and startling policy. Hither-
to slavery had been regarded as sectional
as an institution dependent upon State leg
isIation for existence and continuance with
in State limits, and clearly subject to exclu-
sion BY Congress from national territories
Freedom had heretofore been regarded as
national, TO secure and -perpetuate which
the Constitution had been formed and adopt
cd BY the American people. These funda-
mental principles, upon which our Govern,
mont had been formed and administered,
could not be relinquished without protest
and q struggle.
A long series of slaveholdipg aggrcssion'
upon the rights and interests of Freemen
and Free States had we'll nigh exhausted
pop5izr forbearanee, when this crowning
wrong called the Republican party into ex
istence. Patriotic, Liberty-lOving men, from
all the existing political organizations, NOV
cd by a common impulse, united for the de-
fense of liberty, and the overthrow of the
Slave Power, Their delegates met in Ma
tional Convention at Philadelphia, on the
18th of june, 1856; and adopted the fol
lowing great national principles as the plat.
form of their political faith:
Resolued, That the maintnance Of the
principles promulgated in the Declaration
of independence and embodied in the Fed
eral Constitution, is essential to the preser
walton Of our Republican Institutions; anc
that the Federal Constitution, the Rights o.
the States, and the Union Of the States
shall be preserved.
Resolued, That with our Republican
fathers VIC hold It to be aself-evident trutt
that all men are endowed with unalienablc
rights TO life, liberty, and the pursuit of hap
piness, and that the primary object and ul
terror design Of our Federal Government
wero to secure those rights to all persons
within its exclusive jurisdiction; that as on
Republican fathers, when they had abolish
ed Slavery in all our National Ter1tery, or
dained that no person should be deprived
Of life liberty, or property, without the pro
cess oflaw, it becomes our duty to main
taiuthis provision ofthe Constitution agalns
all attempts to violate it, for the purpose o
establishing Slavery in any Territory of tn
United States, BY positive legislation pro
hibiting its existence or extension therein
and we deny the authority of Congress, o
Territorial legislature of any individual o
any association of individuals, to give lega
existence to Slavery in any Territory of tn
United States, while the present Coustitu
ton shall be maintained.
RssoIved, That the Constitution confer
upon Congress sovereign power over tn
Territories of the United States for thei
government, and that in the exercise o
this power it is both the right and duty o
Congress to prohibit in the Territories thos
twin relics of barbarism-Polygamy an
Slavery.
Resolved, That We invite the afhliation
and cooperation of men of all parties, how
ever differently from US in other respects, i
support of the principles herein declared
and believing that the spirit of our instItu
tions as we'll as the constitution of our cour
try, guarantees liberty of conscience, an
equality Of rights among citizens, VIC oppos
all legislation impairing their security.
With the above sentiments inscribed W
on our banners, we enter upon the Pres
dental campaign in support of Nations
Candidates pledged to maintain them.-
Discarding all entangling alliances, and r
living upon the Justice Of our cause, we ha'
appealed to the people of Ohio for the
support. We have fought the political ba
tleeof 1856, and victory has crowned o.
efforts. Ohio has again, and for the four'
time, proclaimed to the people of the Unic
her stern devotion TO the great principles
freedom which Jefferson stamped upon Il
ordinance Of 1857, and which has ma
our State what it is today, the pride ar
boast Of frcemcn throughout the world.