Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1857-06-26
Union STATE PLATFORM.

I +"tA"NipG- A1A buC continuance Dt the same de-
structiye policy clearly foresbadowed by the
acts aud declarations OF the Administrations VI
inaugurated. do
hesoirs, That the maintenance Of the p,.. ..i
pies promulgated in the Declaration OF Inds
pendenee, and embodied il the Federal Cor.
sllutiyb, Is essential TO the presel gation OF
/ our hepuOlican institutions; that the Federal
Constitution, the liberties Of the people, tn 9
| sovereign rights Of the States, and the Union
| Of the States, must and shall be preserved.
Rssotged, That With our Republican fathers,
we bold ii 10 be self evident truth. that ali
men are created equal; that they are endowed
by tAeif Creator w.th certain insiienable rights;
tlaf amoug these ale life, liberty and the puT-
SUIT OF happinessi that 10 secure these rights,
| governments are instituted among men; and
that the primary duty aid object of our FEEDER
l al Government is % secure these rights ts all
| persons under its exclusive jurisdiction. That.
as our Republican fathers abolished Slavery in
! all tue national territory, and ordained in the
! Constitution that no person shall be deprived
OF lie, liberty or property, without due process
1 flaw. il becomes our duty TO maintain this
1 provision Of the Constitution against all AZ
! tempts to violate it, for the purpose Of estab-
iishing Slavery in the territories of the United
States. That We deny the authority of Con-
! gress. of the Supreme Court OF Territorial
| Legislature, OF any individual or association OF
individuals, to give legal existence to Slavery
IN any territory of the United States, while the
Constitution shall be maintained.
ResOired, That the Constitution confers unon
Congress sovereign power over the Territories
Of the United States for their government a
power not controyerted for the FIRST sixty wears
Of our national existence, tut exercised by the
general concurrence Of all departments Of the
Government, through every administration
from WASHINGTON TO Polk; and that in the ex-
ercise OF this unquestionable power, it is the
duty of Congress 10 prohibit in the Territories.
those twin relies Of b4rbarism, polrgamy and
Slavery.
Eesofref, THAT We ARE FET FREEMEy and that
while We retain the inestimabIe rights of Free
men, secured to US by the sacrifices, suiferines
ana blood OF our Revolutionary fathers we will
not submit TO haFea new Constitution imposed
upon US by the cxtrd-judiciaI opinions of Jud-
ges Of the Supreme eCoprt-opiniops subyersive
Of the rights of human nature-in conflict with
the truth OF history, with the unbroken aetie n
of the government aud the law of the land. as
heretofore pronounced by the Federal Judicia-
ry, and the Courts of nearly every State in the
American Union.
Resofred, That the recent opinions of the ma
lorl'y of the Judges Of the Supreme Court. In
a case over which they decided the Court had
no jurisdiction. and. therefore. no authority TO
pronounce the law arising therein is but apo-
ther step IN consummation of that cor sniracy
against our free institutions, which had its in
c"ption IN the repeal of the Missouri Compro-
mise: that il is iii. direct result of the late tri
uinph Of the Slave Power in the election of its
candidate, JAMES BuCHAxAS, to the Presidency,
and unless promptly rebgked BY the peop!e az
the oallot-hox, lnay be followed by other usur-
pations fatal to the independence of the Free
States and the liberties of our people
hesoiref, That the constitutions rights of the
people OF Kansas have been frsudentlv and vio-
lentiy taken from them. Their territory has
been invaded by an armed force; spurious and
pretended legislative, judicial aud executive
oinceis nave been set over then, by whose usur-
PED authority, sustained by the military power
OF tle T e''efal government, tyrannIcal ard un-
ee-A@tststtiltel laws Uvt ts.sarJpd ana on
forced; the right Of the people to ke,n and
bear arms has been infringed; test oaths Of an
tAtraofdlnary and entangling nature have been
imposed as a condition of exercising the right
"i shHTage ana holding Office; the right of an
accused person to aspeedy and publ, trial by
an Ithpariai Jury has been denied: or uel and
unusual punlshments have been infected unon
the innocent, while murders, robberies and ar
SOUS nave been ifstigated and encouraged. and
tne "nenderS have been allowed to go unpun-
ish?d; the right of the people TO he secnre in
''si' PERSONS houses, papers and effects against
u.il etSohanie searches and seizures has been
'IV'"eei' lhey nave been deprived of life lib
ana property, without due process of law;
the freedom Of speech and of the nress has
been abridged; the right 10 choose tf,fy
seniatives has been made of no eff.,t. Tbot ali
these things have been done with tho know.
iedse, sanction and procurement Of fhe Fed.
eFdt tSoFernment, IN violation OF the plainest
mandates OF The Constitution; That the usur-
patton by Whcha spurious Legislature was i'm,
posed upon Kansas, and its people su,,ieeted
70 a code OF laws u0par4llel d for cruelty in the
history oi civilized nations is still in full force
ehu the people are denied the right peacefully
10 dsssln ME ana petito= fora redress Of griay-
dhcesi The National Executive has permitted
t"o 'oVrrhnrS Of his appointment to be driv-
en- from lhe Territory under lear OF assassina-
non ahl mas not dared ro exert its power for
iher protection against the lawless ntinions Of
Slavery, while Judicial monsters and men whose
nahds are red with innocent blood, are retained
IN oiiIce.; 10 carry ou the work of subiectipg
Tree territory to the cause of Slsvery. Kansas
mas osen denied admission under free consti
tAtton' anu fraudulent means are now in pro-
eFess 10 secure IFS admission as Slave State
AZ tue next session of Congress. Against this
s.upehaoas wrong. We protest, in Tie name of
uoh AND HuMANITr--by all test is glorious in
our history, and by tho memory of the great
aud good men who established our liberties.
hesotrea, i hat II is fraud upon our laws,
ana iraught with danger to our Institutions: to
adht 10 fdil participation in tFeir be neiits,
any mdn VINO acknowledges foreign supre-
mac. which he cannot eonseientiously and
without mental reservation, abjare and forev-
er rcnouDce; whether that supremacy be civil
or spiritual.
Rssolsed. That the stupendaEs fraasfs bv
wtlch onr popular elections are swaved against
majority of the legally quaiif ed voters,
Strikes at the foundation and life of our system
Oh government; and unless speedily corrected,
VIII lrad to violence and anarc nv; and W urge
lpon all good citizens TO unite for the suppress
'ion OF tais evil; and We call upon our own
Legislature to guard by effective and stringent
avs the purity of the ballot box
Resofued. That the sale of the Main Line of
'ur Improvements, is demanded hv every con-
Aderatien that shond weigh with intelligent
md honest men. AS a source OF revenue. il
wholly worthless TO the State while ii is
'otoriously used as mean of REGULATION aud
'lnndeT, thereby inflcting supon the State pc
'unlary loss, and also irreparabl. ininry, in the
-lmost universal demoralization and political
'rohigacy engendered throughout its g tire
,xtent.
Resolved, That we invite the affiliatjon and
cooperation Of M en Of all parties, however
lnerng with rs in other respects, in support
u tue principles therein declared; AMI heliey-
ne that the spirit OF our Institutions, as wen
> tae Constitution Of cur country, guarantees
heny OF conscience and equality of rights
mong ciazns, We oppose all legislation i'm