The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-10-23


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 or association of individ-
uals, to give legal existence to Slavery in any
Territory of the United States, while the pres
ent Constitution shall be maintained"
"3. 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. ResOlred, 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 have been fraudulently and violently
taken from them;
"Their Territory has been invaded by an
armed force;
"Spurious and pretended Legislative, Judi.
cial, and Executive officers have been set 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 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 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
"The right to choose their Representatives
has been made of no effect;
Murders, robberies, and arsons, have been
instigated and encouraged, and the offenders
have been allowed to go UNPUBLISHED;
"That all these things have been done with
the knowledge, sanction, and procurement of the
present Administration, aud 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 or after
the facts, before the country and before the
world and that it is our fixed purpose to bring
the actual perpetrators of these atrocious out
RACES, and their accomplices, to sure and
condign punishment hereafter.
"5. ResoIoed, That Kansas should be imme
diately admitted as State of the Union, with
her present Free Constitution, as at once the
most effectusl 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.
&c. ResolUed, 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. Resolued, That railroad to the Pacific
Ocean, by the most central and practical route,
is imperativey demanded by the interests of
the whole country, and that the Federal Gov
eminent ought to render immediate and eff
cent aid In its construction, and, as an auxilia-
ry thereto, the immediate construction of an
emigrant route on the line of the railroad
"8. Resolced, That appropriations by Con.
gress for the improvement of rivers and harbors,
of national character, required for the accom-
mediation and security of our existing COM
merce, are authorized by the Constitution, and
justified by the obligation of Government to
protect the lives and property of its citizens.
80. Resolved, That we invite the utilization
and cooperation of the men of all parties, how
ever differing from us in other respects, in sup.
port of the principles herein declared; and, be-
lieving that the spirit of our institutions as well
as the Constitution of our country guarantees
liberty of conscience and equality of rights
among citizens, we oppose all legislation i'm
pairing their security"