The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-03-21
THE AaGREssIoNs AND URsuRPA
TI0NS OF THE SLAVE POWER.
Declarations or Principles nud Purposes
OF the Republicans Party.
Address Of the Republican Convention
at Pittsburg, Feb. 22d, 1855.

NJ flttSuuIB, ECU. SSu, Aooo'
To the People Of The United States:
Having met in Convention at the City o
Pittsburg, in the State Of Pennsylvania, thi
22d day of Of FEBRUARY, 1856, as the repres
entatives of the people in various sections O
the Union, to consult upon the political cyil'
by which the country is mcnaccd, and th,
political action by which those evils may b'
ayertcd, We address to you this Declaration
of our Principles, and ofthc Purposes which
we seek to promote. d.
We declare, in the iirst place, our fixed
and unalterable devotion TO the Constitution
of the United States, to the ends for which
it was established, and to the means which
il provided for their attainment. We ac-
cept the solemn protestation of the People
Of the United States, that they ordained 1t,
in order to form a moro perfect Union cs-
tablish justice, insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defence, promote
the general welfare, and secure the blessings
of liberty to themselves and their posterity."
We believe that the powers which It confers
upon the Government of the United States,
are ample for the accomplishment of these
objects; and that if these powers are exer-
ciscd in the spirit Of the Constitution itself,
they cannot lead 10 anv other result. We
respect those great rights which the Con.
stitution declares to be inyiolable, freedom
of speech and of the Press, the free exercise
of religious belief, and the right of the peo-
pie pcaceably to assemble and to petition
the Government for redress Of grievances.
We would preserve those great safeguards
of civil freedom. habeds corpus, the right OF
trial by Jury, and the right personal libcr-
ty unless deprived thereof for crime by due
process of law. We declare our purpose to
obey, in all things, the requirements of the
Constitution and of all laws enacted in per-
sliancc thereof. We cherish n profound
reverence for the wise and patriotic men by
whom it was framed, and n lively sense of
the blessings II has conferred upon our coun-
try and upon mankind throughout the world.
In every crisis of difficulty and of danger,
we shall invoke its spirit and proclaim the
supremacy of its authority.
In the next place, we declare our ardent
and unshakcn attachment to this Union OF
American States, which the Constitution
created AMI has thus far preserved. We re-
we're it rs the purchase of the blood of our
ioretathcrs, rs the condition Of our national
renown, and rs the guardian and guarantee
of that Liberty which the Constitution was
designed to secure. We will defend and
protect it against all its enemies. We Will
recognize no geographical divisions no local
interests, no narrow or sectional prcIndices'
in our cndcavors to preserve the Union oi
these States against foreign aggression and
domestic strife. What we claim Tor our
selves, we claim for all. The rights, privl-
legcs and liberties which we demand as our
Inheritance, we concede as their inheritance
to all tho citizens of this Republic.
Holding these opinions and animated by
these sentiments, we declare our conviction
that the Government of the United States
is not administered in accordance with the
Constitution, or Tor the preservation and
prosperity OF the American Union, but that
its powers are Systematically welded ron
TIE PROMOTION AND EXTENSION OF TIE INTER.
EST or SLAVERY, in direct hostility to the
letter and spirit of the Constitution, in fla.
grant disregard of other great interests oI
the country, and in open contempt of the
public sentiment of the American people
and or ,ho Chr;.,;,, worn Wa nr,,,,;u
""' " ~. o" "o,"' W. p
our belief that the poiicy which mas io'
years past been adopted in the administra'
ton oil the General government, tends u