Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-09-03
REPUBLICAN, PLATFORM.

tain Right against Wrong, and believing
in the determination of virtuous and in
telligent people to sustain justice, we de-
clare
l. That Governments are Instituted
among men to secure the inalienable
right of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit
of Happiness.
2. That the mission of the Republican
party is to maintain the Liberties of the
People, the Sovereignty of the States,
and the perpetuity of the Union.
by right, Freedom aTonGe 6 is, is S,i;aTii5IIal.
4. That the Federal Government being
one of limited powers, derived wholly
from the Constitution, its agents should
construe those powers strictly, and never
exercise doubtful authority-always in
expedient and dangerous.
S. That if this plain. Jefersonian and
early policy were carried out, the Federal
Government would relieve itself of all
responsibility for the existence of Slavery
which Republicanism insists it should
and means it shall do, and that regarding
Slavery in the States as local institution
beyond our reach and above our authori-
ty, but recognizing it as vital concern
to every citizen, in its relation TO the ma
ton, we still oppose its spread and de-
mand that all National Territory shall be
free,
6. That tie Repeal of the Missouri
Compromise, and the refusal of the Slave
Power to abide by the principle on which
that repeal was Professionally based,
make the National Domain the battle
ground between Freedom and Slavery,
and while Republicans stand on a nation
al basis, and will ever manifest and main
tain national spirit, they will shrink
from no conflict, and shirk no response
bility on that issue.
Z. That the Slave Power, the present
National Administration and its adher-
ents having violated this policy, and the
principles on which it is based, by dis
regard of law and its own professions,
by an invasion of the State and personal
rights, and by breaking solemn covenants
has forced upon the country the Issue,
whether Freedom shall be limited to the
Free States or Slavery to the Slave States,
and made that issue absorbing and per-
manent.
Resolced, That the recent opinion of
the Supreme Court of the United States.
In the Dred Scott case, is the last and
most alarming of those bold innovations
upon the rights of the Free States, which
have marked the Administration of the
Government for years past, as sectional
and disloyal to the spirit of our Free In
stitutions. We regard it as virtually rev.
olutionizing the judicial action of the
Government, if tolerated, by giving to
Slavery National instead Of Local
character, opening Free States and Free
Territory for its diffusion reducing to
the condition of chattels, those who are
recognized by the Constitution as men,
belying the sentiments of the Declare
tion of independence, and casting re-
proach upon the action of those who
amid toll and peril, laid deep the founda-
ton of the Union.
Resolred, That the National Admins
tration has brought reproach upon itself
and the country, by SO long tolerating
the demoraiizing and Heaven defying
practices of Brigham Young and his
followers in Utah. The embarrassment
experienced by the present Adminisira,
ton in reaching and correcting the evil
is mainly attributable to the doctrine
embodied in the Kansas Nebraska Bill
and the retention of the u. S. SoIdiery
IN Kansas to overawe unoffending men,
instead of sending them to Utah, where
the authority of the General Government
is brazenly defed, is an humiliating evil
dence of the perversion of the powers oil
the National Government.
Resoivea, That we invite the afiliation
and cooperation of freemen of all parties,
however differing from us in other res
poets, in support of the principles herein
declared; and believing that the spirit Of
our institutions, as well as the Constitu
ton of our country, guarantees liberty
of conscience and equality OF rights
among citizens, we oppose all Legislation
lmpairing their security.
Resolped, That we congratulate the
people of Iowa upon the adoption of the
new Constitution, for many reasons bu,
most of all in view of the fact that il
enables them to provide for themselves .
sound Currency; and places the annua