Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-04-01

James Cooper IS 3S &c
j. Pringlc Jones l. g"
Jas. 4. Hale IL f"
Joshua W. Comfy {" &"
Whole number of votes east, l5li necessary
TO a choice, 76.
Joseph J. Lewis having received majority
of all the votes cast, was declared duly nomin-
ated.
The nomination was then declared unani-
NOUS.
Judge Kelley's resolution, that q committee
Of nine be appointed by the Chair, to draft res
olutions expressive of the sense of the Conven-
ton. came up for consideration,
Mr. Coulter moved TO amend that 4 commit
tee from the several Senatorial districts, equal
the several delegations, to report resolutions.
After some discussion Mr.. Coulter Withdrew
his amendment; and the original resolution
was adopted.
The chairman appointed the following gen
temen the committee, viz:
Wm. D. Kelley, Jacob Hoffman, Thomas
F.. Cochran, John r. Edie, s. P. M-Calmont,
W. A. Cook, Titan J. Cofiey, Morrow B. Low
rey, Geo. T. Thorn.
The Convention took recess of half an
hour.
The Convention having again assembled,
Judge Kelley from the Committee on Rcso-
lutions, made the following report, viz:
This Convention of Delegates. representing
the Frecmen of Pennsylvania, opposed to the
Of . -, A 1t
stration, and the continuance Of the same des-
tructive policy clearly foreshadowed by the
acts and declarations of the administration
just inaugurated, do
Resoire, That the maintenance Of the princi-
pies promulgated in the Declaration of Indc-
pendencc, and embodied in the Federal Con-
stitution, is essential to the preservation OF
out Republican institutions; that the Federal
Constitution, the liberties of the people, the
sovereign rights of the States, and the Union
of the States, must and shall be preserved
Resolred, That with cur Republican fathers.
we hold it to be sclf-eyident truth, that all
men are created equal; that they are cndow-
cd by their Creator with certain inalienablc
rights; that among these are life, liberty and
rights, governments are instituted among mem:
and that the primary duty and object of our
Federal Government is to secure these rights
to all persons under its exclusive jurisdiction
That, as our Republican fathers abolished Sla-
very in all the national territory, and urdain-
ed in the Constitution s.that no person shall be
deprived of life, liberty or property. without
due process of law, it becomes our duty to
maintain this provision of the Constitution a
gainst all attempts to violate it, for the pur-
pose of establishing Slavery in the territories
of the United States. That we deny the au-
thority Of Congress, Of the Supreme Court. Of
a Territorial Legislature, of any individual or
association of individu Is, TO give legal exis-
tcnce to Slavery in any territory of the United
States, while the Constitution shall be main
tanned.
ResOircd, That the Constitution confers upon
Congress sovereign power over the Territories
of the United States, for their government; a
power not controverted for the first sixty
years of our national existence, but exercised
10y the general concurrence of all departments
of the Government, through every Admins
tration from Washington to Polk and that in
the exercise of this unquestonable power, it
is the duty OF Congress to prohibit in the
Territories, those twin relics of barbarism, po-
lygamy aud Slavery.
Resolred, That we are yet frecmen, and that
while we retain the ineStimable rights of Free
men, secured to us by the sacrifices, sufferinCs
and blood of our Revolutionary fathers, we will
not submit to have a new Constitution impo-
sed upon us by the ra-judcal opinions of
Judges OF the Supreme Court-opinions sub
versive of the rights of human nature-in con-
fict with the truth of history, with the unbro-
ken action of the government and the law of
the land, as heretofore pronounced by the
Federal Judiciary, and the Courts of nearly cv-
cry State in the American Union.
Resolred, i hat the recent opinions of the
majority of the Judges of the Supreme Court,
in case over which they decided the Court
had no jurisdiction, and, therefore, no authori-
ty to pronounce the law arising therein, is but
an other step in consummation OF that conspi-
racy against our free institutions which had
its inception in the repeal of the Missouri Com.
promise; that it is the direct result of the
late triumph of the Slave Power in the cleo.
tion of its candidate, James Buchanan, to the
Presidency, and unless promptly rebuked by
the people at the ballot-box, may be followed
by other nsurpations fatal to the independence
OF the Free States aud the liberties of our peo-
pie.
ReSofred, That the constitutional rights o;
the people of Kansas have been fraudulently
and violently taken from them. Their terrific
ry has been invaded by an armed force Spu-