Demoine courier., 1856-02-21

!" ~NoPuoncdus Oi Vapell0 C0unty
10 response to the call Of many citizens,
assembled al the Cour, House on Fri.
day the 18Th. 10 choose Delegates 10 The
Iowa City Convention, and 10 perfec, al
organization Of a Republican Party il
said County. The attendance was email
but several Townships were well repre-
sensed, and the bes. feeling prevailed or
The past Of those sympa,hising with the
object. DR.. J. e. H:nssy, OF Dahlone
"a Tp., was called 70 the Chair, and ],
w. Norris, of Centre, chosen Secretary.
}. W.. Norris, 6. IL. Iegge,. and C.
c. Warden having been duly appointed
10 prepare and report Resolutions, sub.
snitted the following, which was unani-
mously adopted. to. wit:
The Republicans Of Wapello County, Iowa,
in Mass Convention assembled, hereby adopt
and declare the following as their
PLATFORM OF PRINCIPLES.
United by a common purpose to maintain
Right against Wrong, and believing in the dis
position and ability of a v~irtuous and intelli-
gent people to sustain justice, we DECLARE
That governments are instituted am ong men
to secure the inalienable rights of Life, Ii berty
ana the pursuit OF Happiness, in the equality Of
civil privileges, and the free exercise Of relig-
ious belief and worship.
2 That the mission of the Republican Party
is to maintain the Liberties Of tha. People, the
sovereignty of the States, and the Perpetuity
of the Union.
3 That the Federal Government being one of
limited powers, derived wholly from the Con-
s%titution, its agents should c~onstrue those pow
ers strictly and never exercise . doubtfal au-
t~hority,-always ~inexpedient and dangerous.
4 That If THIS plain Jeffersonian policy were
carried out, the Federal Government would re-
lleve itself OF all responsibility for the existence
% slavery, which Republicanism insists it
. That Freedom is National, and Slavery is
Local; and while that party is Sectional which
makes the integrity and extension of the local
institution OF Slavery the chief issue and con.
trolling question in its policy, on the other hand
tnat party Is National which seeks to establish
the Free Institutions which are the foundation
OF our Government over every part of the Ma
Aosao iild
9 That we regard the question OF. Slavery in
the States as a Local Institution, beyond our
reach and above our authority. {
q That the repeal of the Missouri Compro-
mise, the refusal Of the Slave Power 10 abide
by the principle on which that repeal was pro-
fusedly based, make the national domain the
battle ground between Freedom and Slavery,
and while Republicans stand on a national basis,
and will ever cultivate. a national spirit, they
will shrink from no conflict, and shirk no re-
sponsibility on this issue.
8 That the Republican Party is entirely Ma
tonal In its scope and spirit, since it aims to
seperate the General Government from all re-
sponsibility for Local institutions and Local
questions, and in respect of the question OF
Slavery, to restore its policy TO the original, true
and constitutional grounds of the early fathers
Of the Republic.
y That the charge OF Disunion which is pr e.
ferred against those who stand by the Free
spirit OF our institutions and defend the great
principal of Human Rights and the Natural
Equality of Mankind before the Laws is untrue
and un Just, for while We hold the Union TO be
the palladium of our liberties, and the secret of
our wonderful success as a natieu, and prosper
ity and happiness as a people, il seems to us
necessary that we should recur to the princi-
pies and policy Of its founders, as we do, in or
der to guaratee the sure continuance of its bless
lngs and protection; and while we never indulg-
ed a doubt OF its value, and never regarded 1t
except as a sacred thing, they are the true and
only dangerous Disurionists in the country who
have threatened for a generation to secede from
it and ope My plotted its overthrow in case they
were not perm tilted by its authority to extend
the local institution Of Slavery over the national
territory.
10 That we believe in the doctrine of "Popu-
lar Sovereignty" as the theory on which our
Cove rnment is based, but it is the sovereignty
OF the whole American people over all terri
tory under their unqualified jurisdiction; and
that in respect of those local questions, the de-
termination Of which may be left to the peo-
pie of newly organized territories, the true idea
OF popular sovereignty demands as furdamen-
tai condition the recognition Of inalienable per-
sonal rights.
IL That the Constitution has wisely sepcrat-
ed the Legislative, Judicial and Executive pow
CTS and we deplore the tendency of the latter
to encroach on the former; and We attribute to
Executive interference the fatal result Of the
Kansas Nebraska Bill in Congress, which has
so unfortunately revived and embitteled the sec
tional Slavery discussions which threaten our
peace and the $ liability of our sacred institu-
tons.
IL That we are in favor of a firm, steady and
timely exercise of executive power to: restrain
acts Of aggression on neighboring States, and to
promptly strife any attempt to intrude in the
affairs Of States and Territories.
13 That any interference with previous po-
litical issues would be foreign to the great pur-
pose of the Republican organization, and, there
fore thai all persons, without regard to their
previous or present political ties, who coincide
in the principles above declared, can consist
emily, and are invited to. unite in a cordial CO.
operation with the Republican party.
IA That regarding free speech and free
thought; or whatever makes civil and religious
liberty as the only means OF maintaining per-
sonal rights and freedom Of conscience, and
free labor as the only basis Of growth and pro-
sress, the Republican Party asks for the sym
pathy and cooperation Of the frsemen of every
party and in every section of our common
country, as ii shall contend for these great prin-
ciples and press them forward to- . triumphant
result.
On motion, a Delegation, consisting OF
five fos The County at large, and one for
each Township, was appointed 10 repre-
sent Wspsllo County at the Republican
Mass Meeting At Iowa City, Feb. 22d
next, to-wh:
FoR THE Co. AT LARGE, C. y. War
den, J. adams. Edward Dudley, q.
F. Blake, and VIM. A. IIamelton.
FoR THE TOWNSHIPS, of Adam., J. d.