Demoine courier., 1856-07-31
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM
rs .adopted at PHILADELPHIA, June IL,
| F. yHf@ 1855.

WHEREAS; This Convention oil Dele
gates, assembled in pursuance OF a call
addressed 10 the people oi 'he United
States, without regard to pas, political
differences or divisions, who are opposed
10 The repeal of The Missouri Compro-
mise, TO the policy OF the present Ad.
minis,ra,ion, 10 the extension OF slave
ry in Kansas, and in favor of the admis
sion of Kansas as free State, tor the
restoring the action OF the Federal Gov
ernmen, to the principles OF Washington
and Jefferson, and tor the purpose OF
presenting candidates for the Offices OF
President and Vice Presidents:
I ReSoiued, That the maintenance Of
the principles promulgated IN the Declar-
I alton Of Independence, and embodied IN
the Federal Constitution. are essential
TO the preservation OF our republican IN
4 sli.uglons, SO thai the Fedora! Cons.l,u-
,lon. The rights Of the States, and the
unloh of the States shall be preserved.
! Resoiped, That with our Repubncan
\ fathers, we hold il 10 be sel-evide mt
4 truth Thai all mer are endowed with ine
unaIIenaple right OF liberty and pursuit
OF happiness. That the primary object
aud Interior design Of our Federai Gov
\ ernmeni was TO secure such rights to sll
! petsnns wihIn It's exclusive jurisdiction;
1 that, as our republican fathers, when
they had abolished slavery IN our ma
ticnal territory, ordained that no person
should be deprived of life liberty. or
i properly, without due process OF law, IL
becomes our duty to maintain this pro-
vision agains! any attempt TO subvert the
Constitution by establishing slavery In
the Unite States, by. positive Legislation
OF Congress, or of Territorial J.rgIs
Iasure, of any individual or association
Eof individuals. 4.......E a#s 81. .r-
| Rtsoiued, That the Constitution con
fers on Congress sovereign power over
the Territories of the United States for
their government, ard in the exercise OF
this power il is both the, right and The
duly OF Congress to prohioi, in the Ter-
r.tories polygam. and slavery. ID.
/ Resoited, That while the Constitution
! OF the United States was ordained aud
established to establish more perfect
uEion, to insure domestic tranquility,
fproyide for common defence and secure
the blessings of ibery, aud contains
ample provisions for the protection OF
life. liberty, aud properly Of every cili.
Ecu, the dearest constitutional rights OF
! the people of Kansas have been iraudu-
I ien,iy and violently taken from them;
their lerritory has been invaded by an
armed force. spurious and pretended ju-
/ diciai and executive officers have oeen
setover them, by v hose usu-ped author .
! ny. sustained BY The mlirary power II
governments, tyrannical and uncnnsliru-
i lonai laws have been eascied and en-
forcet; the rights OF the people 10 keep
i.and bear arus has been niringed; ts,t
toalhs oi an extraordinary and entangling
nature have been imposed as condi,ion
OF exercising The. rigns Of suffrage and
holding oiiices; the r,gh. Of an accused
person to a speedy and public trial bs
an i'm partial jury has been denied the
right OF the people to be secure in ,heir
houses, papers and effects, against un.
reasonable searches and seizures has
been violated; they have been deprived
OF life, liberty and property, withou, due
= process, OF law. That .hs freedom al
speech and The press has been. abridged;
the right to choose their representatives
has been made of no effect; murders,
roboeries. and arson have been ihsligaied
and encouraged. apd The offenders have
i been allowed to 90 unpunished; yet all
s these things have been done with. the
kno Wedge, sanction aud procuremen, oi
the present administration; aud that for
this high crime agains, the Constitution.
The Unlon. aad humanity, we arraIgn the
Admln,s'ratioD. the President, bs ad.
i vlsefs, agents, supporters, apoioeis,s and
4 accessories. either before or after the
iacs. before the country and beinre The
world; snd that itis our fixed purpose to
, bring the actual perpetrators Of the cut
|. rages and their accomplices 10 a sure
aud condign punishment hereafter.
Resoiced, fhat Kansss shall be ad-
mn,ed as State of the Union with heI
present free Guns s,i,usion. as at once the
most eifeclual way Of securing to hs'
cilizens the enjoy meni OF the rlgh.s ant
! privileges TO which they are entitled, anc
Of ending the civil strife now raging in
!. her Territory. a'# tfsA fA3&7@ Z
-Resolued.q That the highway mans
plea, iha. might makes right. enabodiee
in tho Os.end circular, was in every res
pee. unworthy Of American diplomacy
and would bring shame and dishonor up
!. on any government or people that CAV,
y it iheir sanction. gsgsI ss8 fa .Rslla
Resolvei. That . railroad sosthe Pa
Il cific ocean. by the most central and prac
;ical route, is impera.ively demanded b!
: The Interests of the whole country, AM
: that the Federal Government ought Il
4 render immediate and efsc.ual aid in IL
!, construction; and a. an auxiliaey thereto
the immediate construction Of an emi
grant route on the line OF railroad.
:. Resoiued, That appropriations B.
Congress Tor the improvement OF river
and harbors OF a national character. re
= quired for acc0mmodanon and aecuri'
!. Of our existing comnerce. are autbos
!, ICED by the Constitution and justified b
The obligations Of government TO protet