Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1857-05-08
Union STATE PLiTFORH.

the freefnen Of Pennsy Iyani3, o pposed to the
leading measures OF the late National Admin
istfatiJn, and The continuance OF The same de-
structlye policy clcariy ioresbadowed BIZ the
acts and declarations OF the administration IL st
inAngprated. do
Ecselre, That the maintenance Of the D, Il
pies promulgated in the Declaration O !ods-
pendeace, and embodied In the Federal Con-
stifution, is essential 10 the preservation of
| our Republican institutions; that the Federal
Constitution. the liberties VI the people. tae
sovereign iights OF tae States, and the Union
! VI the States, mast and shall be pFeserTcd.
Resolrea, That with Cur Republican fathers.
We hold il 70 be selfeyidcnt truth. that ali
nen are created equal; tiE.t they are endowed
by heir Creator with certain inaena5le rights;
that among these a.e life, liberty and The puF-
suit OF happiness; that 10 secure these rights.
governments are insulated among meu; ami
that the primary duty aud object Of our Feder-
al Government Is to secure these rights IL all
persons underits exclusive jurisdiction. That,
as our Republican fathers abolished Slavery in
all the national territory. aud ordained III the
Constitution that 10 person. shall be- deprived
of hfe, liberty orpFoPerty, without due process
or law. Il becomes our duty 10 maintain this
provision OF the Constitution against al at
teinpts to yislate it, for the purpose Of estab-
fishing Slavery in tie territories OF the United
States. That we deny the authority of Con-
1 gress. Of the Supreme Court, of a Territorial
Legislature, OF any individual or association of
indiy idaals. to give legal existence to Slavery
IN any territory af the United States while the
| Constitution shall be maintain d.
Resoired, That the Constitution confsrs upon
! Congress sovereign power over the Territories
OF the United States fnc .heir government: a
| power not controverted for the first sixty ycars
Of cur national existence, hut exercised Is the
| general concurrence Of all departments Of the
| Government. through every Administration
! from NAsEISGToS to PolK; and that In the ex-
| ercise OF this unquestiouailc power. il is tie
duty Of Congress 70 prohibit in the Territories,
those twin relics vi b4rlhrism, polygalny and
/ Sl&ery.
heSoired, THAT WE ARE YET FREEMyx and that
while We Retain the inesriiuAbIc rights of Free
nen, secured to us by the s.:criiiceS suiisrihEs
and blood Of our Revolutionary fathers. we viii
! not submit to bavea = new Constitution imposed
/ upon US iiy the cxrFa-jRdiciaI opinions Of JUDI
| ges oi ttie Supreme Court opinions subyersivs
9f the rights IL huBIsn Daturr--ia conflict with
! the truth Of history, With tie unbroken action
! of the government AID the law OF the land. as
! heretofore pronounced b7 the Federal Judicia-
| r., aud tbs Courts Of nearly every Statc III tho
/ American Union.
! Reaolred, ! bat the recent opinions of the ma
/ joriry of Inc Judges OF the Supreme Court. in
4 NIX Nltitil ttfSf utNftttAA tlac tDuiI
no Jurisdiction, and. therefore. no authority TO
pronounce t.ie law arising therein, Is but ano-
ther step IN cousismnsatIoH of tigat ccT Spigacy
/ against cur free Institutions, which had its io-
erpIlon in Lie repeal Of the Missouri Compro-
mise that il is the direct result of the late rri-
unph of the Slave Pow in the election of its
calgdidate, iAAES BUCaASAS, to the Presidency
/ aud unless promptly rebIked hY tho people at
the baliot-hox. may be followed toy other usur-
] vA-srfs At ,rt- !. -
! States ami The liberties ot nar people.
Resotrei, That the constitutionalr lrights Of tho
/ people oi Kansas have been traudently aud Vio-
! ientiy taken from them. Their territory has
! been inyailed by an armed force; spurious anil
! pretended Legislative. jndicitl and execulive
Oiticei have been set over tIeir hv whose I;Sr-
| ped suthoriiy, sustained hy the military power
OF the Feler j Government, tyrannical AZ d un-
constitutional laws have heen enarted and en-
forced; the right of the people 10 keep and
| bear arms has been inf.ingcd; test oaths OF an
extraordinary aud eutaHgling uatarc have hec,l
! imposed as l condition Of exercising the right
/ "i suiisAse and holding Office; tie right of an
accused person 10 speedy and iE6l, trial hy
F.! an imIrriIai jury has s-sn denied; Cruel and
unusual puuIshments have been infected upon
/ the Innocent, wliile murders, robberics and ar
! Sons nave BEEN iEStigated and encouraged, and
| the offenders have been illciTed To 60 uupua-
/ ish9d; tue right of the people 10 be secure in
tHelr pecSoisS houses papers and effects gains.
unreasonable searches and seizures. has been
/ violated; they have been deprived of life, lih-
erty and property, without due process OF law;
! the freedom 0f speech and of the press has
! beeh abridged: the right To choose their repre-
SeaatiYes has been In'tic o no effect: That ali
| these things have !'.eu done. with the know
/ ledse, sanction ana Procurement of the Fed
eral Iovernnient. in violation ol the piainess
mahdatrs of the Constitution; That the usnr-
patton hS whiaha spurious Legislature was ilu !
I posed upon Kansas, and lis people subjected
TO code of laws unptrIIleltd ID iar crrcltr ib tho.
history Of civilized nations is still in fall force
end the people are denied the rigkt peacefully
70 assemble and petitio: for redress Of griey-
ances; the National Executive has permitted
/ two Governors Of isis appointment 10 be driy-
en- from the Territory undcr fear of assasSina-
tion, and has not dared ro exert lis p,iv4er for
their protection against The lawless mini,ns of
Slave while Judicial m9nsters and men whose
hands are red with innoeent blood, are retained
ia oilce 10 Carry ,i she work 0f supjrctipg
free territory 10 the csGss, Of Slavery. Kansas
has baen deued ADMISSION under free copsti-
tution, aud fraudulent means are now in pro-
gress 70 secure its admission as Slave State
at the next session of Congress. Against this
stapendouS wrong. protest. in The rsTie OF
Gop AND EUMAKFTT-by aH teal is glorious in
our history, and by tho r.enory OF the great
aud good men nii'a esiab iSiietl our liberties.
Resolrsi, That i is fraud upon our lava.
and frinsht with danserte ea- Institutions; to
adult to a full participation in tfeis helefits,
any man who acknowledges a foreign supre-
macy, which he Cannot eoascisatioGsly and
without nIertal reservation. ahiare aud forev-
or renonree; whether that supremacy be civil
or spiritual.
Rssoiref, That the stupcndess frauds by
which our popular elections are sHayed against
majority OF the legally qualified voters,
strikes at the foundation and fhe of our sgsteEe
of governments; and unless speedily corrected,
will lead TO siohcnce and anarehyT and ", uFgs
upon AL good citizens 10 unite for ahe slppEes-
sion of this evil; and We cali upon or own
Legislature TO guard by effective and stringent
laws the purity OF the ballot box.
Resolret. That The SAFE of the Msin Line OF
our Improvements, is demanded bv every con-
sideration that should weigh wiah intelligent
and koreSt IneR. As source OF revenue. il
is wholly Worthless to the State. while il is
notorioasly aSed as u means OF peculation and
plun,@.r, thereby ihiiieiiDg upon the State pc
eRniavY loss. and also irrclarabie injury, in the
/ almost universal decentralization and political
profasacy engsnderei throughout its eLtiro
] extent.
Resolved, Z bat we invite the affiliation ana
co-operation of men Of all parties, however
diiferiRs with as ir other respects. in support
of the principles herein declared; and sslier-
ing thar the spirit OF eur Institutions. as well
! as the Constitution Of our country. guarantees