The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-08-26
REPUBLICAN PLATF0RM.

~ AS'y i"S cohhtentty upOh ZIG inIeiii-
gence, the patriotism, and the ,6iscrimina-
ting justice of the people, we, the dele
gates OF the Republican party i1f State
Convention assembled, submit to the can
did and enlightened Judgment of the free
men of Ohio, the following declaration
OF Republican principles and measures:
The first half of this is stolen bodily
from an old Democratic platform, and
the other half is plagiarism.
l. We adhere to the platform adopted
by the Republican Convention held at
Philadelphia in July 1915, and reaflirmed
in June 1856, and solemnly consecrate
our political and moral powers to sup.
port its doctrines.
The "enlightened Judgment of the
people" will pronounce this to be piece
of transparent demagogueism.
2. We maintain the Union of the
States, the Rights of the States and the
Liberties of the people.
The "enlightened Judgment of the
people" will hardly be willing to agree
that that is true.
8. We submit cheerfully to the legit.
innate and constitutional exercise of the
powers of the Federal Government; but
we protest against the arrest and vexation
prosecution, under wri:s of Federal Com
missioners, of our Judges, Sheriffs, JUS
tices of the Peace and private citizens,
for acts required by State Law, as oppres-
siye, tyrannical and unwarrantable.
That is direct falsehood. Your Leg
lslature passed an act intended to de-.
feat the exercise of the powers of the
Federal Government; and this very Sec
ton of your platform when deprived of
its Sleeps clothing" is an endorsement
of mob which fell upon the U. S. Mar
shalls while they were lawfully discharging
their sworn duties.
4. We insist that the lawful process
by the State Courts for the maintenance
of right, and the prosecution and punish
ment of crime committed within the limits
OF Ohio, and against her sovereignty, shall
be executed without let or hindrance by
federal officials.
Make it crime to execute certain
o. s. laws and then insist that the
Federal Government shall permit the State
officials without let or hindrance'' to
punish o. S. officers for doing their duty!
This is submitting cheerfuly" with a
vengeance.
5. We deny the right of the federal
authorities, under the color of Fugitive
Slave act or any other act, to suspend the
writ Of habeas corpus, or defeat its due
execution and operation in this State.
Yes of course. Four years ago
four-fifths of you were advocating this
same Fugitive Slave law, and one year
ago you came near nominating Judge
Mclean for President, who pronounces
the law constitutional. Isn't it beautiful?
6. We condemn the doctrines of the
majority of the Federal Supreme Court
in the Dred Scott case, as anti-constitu-
tional, anti-republican, anti-democratic,
incompatible with State rights and destruc-
tive of personal security.
Why? Is it because the court de-
ciaes that negro cannot be a citizen?
Does it interfere with your negro-equality
doctrines?
I. We regard Slavery as great evil
and wrong, ever aggressive, constantly
mlschevoas. and prospectively fatal both
to Union and Liberty; and we therefore
earnestly oppose its extension or encour-
agement by the Federal Government.
Oppose the extension of slavery
by the Federal Government! So does
everybody else from Maine to Texas.
No man from any State has ever asked
the Federal Government to extend sa-
very.
8. We concur with vast majority of
the people of the free States, AID with
respectable portion of the slave States,
in reprobation of the action of the Fed
eral Government, under the control of the
Slave Power, in breaking down the bar
riers against slavery extension provided
by the wisdom of our fathers, ard in fore
ing Slavery into free Territory under the
fraudulent pretences of the Nebraska Kan
sas Bill, in disregard of settled national
policy and plain Constitutional proyi-
sions.
Why didn't you attempt to re-
store the Missouri compromise line when
you were in majority in the lower house
of Congress? You say the Senate would
not have concurred; but didn't yon spend
half the session in debating other absurd
measures which you knew the Senate would
defeat?
9. We adhere cordially to the doc
trine of Popular Sovereignty as taught in
the Declaration of Independence; but con-
demn as gross perversion of that doc
| rine tho modern OrptenSion that ono nor