Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-09-30
The RepubIicnu PLATFORM.

The Republican Platform.
The platform on which the opponents of the
national administration, and friends of the pres.
ent State administration. are called upon to rail-
ly in the approaching canvass, is the same on
which the friends Of freedom have entered into
contest with the upholders of slavery in times
past-shat of uncompromising hostility to des.
potism in every shape. The following resolu.
tions. passed at the recent State Convention
which nominated Gov. Banks and the rest of the
present State officers for reelection, express our
principles and designate our platform more ex
plicitly and perfectly than can be done in any
other mode We quote them, at this time, in
order that it may be clearly understood what are
the precise issues on which our candidates are
togo before the people at the approaching cleo
ton: m
Res0tUed, In the words of the resolutions pass.
ed BY the Democratic State Convention of Mas.
sschusetts in lS47, and which was reported by
Charles Gordon Greene, THAT our party and
creed are the party and creed of truth and free
dom, whose fundamental tenets are the inborn
heaven granted, freedom and equality Of all men
TO deny which is TO deny Republicansm-the
limited powers Of the government, and their deri
walton from the people as the fountain of all DO.
litcsl authority. especially the narrow limits of
the power OF the national government the rigid
construction and intt rpfetation of the grants
contained IN the federal constitution the
ere gnty of each State in all matters not express
ly delegated to the central power whereby we
claim Tor every State absolute freedom from inter.
ference. control, dictation, on the part of sis.
ter States That we are the party and creed OF
moderate taxation, of economical expenditure,
small salaries, free consciences, free suffrage
freedom and secrecy Of the ballot, and of general
and EQUAL laws and revering the image of
God on the face and soul Of man, rather than the
image and s9perseription stamped upon his gold.
hesotped In the words of respluton passed
in the Wing State Convention of 1916 reported
and read by ]. Thomas Stevenson, aad which is
well known to have been written by the Hon
Daniel Webster, that we shall continue to use
all constitutional and proper means to restrain
the already preponderating influence of the slave
holding Interests in the national Legislature, to
defeat all measures calculated to uphold slavery
has copyright label, simiiapal measures for its
and promote all consututle~1ted 'ules WIZ. WIN. un'
overthroW. and will oppose at air uultioh 20
compromising zeal and 6rmness, any 2ther =
the union Of slaveholding territory, as such, and
will oppose all further exc sion of the slavery
OF the African race upon this continent. If un
der the government OF Providence it should hap.
pen that portions Of this continent nor belonging
to the United States shall be settled by the Sax
on race, let those settlers carry with them wher
ever they go, together with their own free free
blood, the blessings of free government and free
institutions to all and chains for none. Wherev-
er our language is hereafter to be spoken, our
history remembered, our example quoted, or our
kindred acknowledged, there let universal free
dom and equal laws be proclaimed to all men,"
RESOLVED, That We stand today upon the great
principles enunciated by the two great parties of
the past, SO far as State rights and the rights of
man are concerned Aut we have no changes to
make, no steps to take in backward direction ;
but, holding that fundamental truths weaken not
by lapse Of time, but grow in strength and beauty
we relterate them, re-enact them, abide by them,
and shall conquer by them.
ResoEUed, That slavery can exist nowhere, with
in the Jurisdiction of the United States, except
where established by State laws.
ResotUed, That the handspring OF our action
in all national affairs is unalterable opposition
70 the extension of slavery that care little in
what particular phrase of language this principle
be couched, or BY what form Of legislation it be
carried into effect but, believing that eternal
vigilance is indeed the price of liberty, de
termined, at all times and in every iustifable
manner, to throw our whole influence ngainst the
spread of that '.peculiar institution. which the
common judgment of civilized man pronounces a
political curse as we'll moral and social evil.
Thus it willibe seen that the great Republican
principles on which our party is organized, aim
at nothing more than what has been often avow-
ed by both the old Wing and Democratic parties
at the North, in times past, lying at the basis
Of the national principles of their respective or.
CARNATIONS, the slavery issue. And it is
the very fact Of the departure of those OIL
CARNATIONS under Southern dictation. from their
former principles on this mstter. which has led to
the rise and progress Of the Republican party, in
power, in the free States. The celebrated Demo.
cratic resolutions Of 1919, drawn up by BENZ F
Hsllet, and unanimously adopted by the Demo.
Gratis of Massachusetts, in State Council, which
affirmed unalterabe Opposition to slavery in
every form and color, and support Of freedom and
free soil wherever man lives throughout Gods
feritage," went the whole length for the great
principle for which we now contend. The un.
constutionality Of the existence of slavery in all
the national territories which was proclaimed as
cardinal principle Of faith by the Massachusetts,
Democracy nine years ago, is but an explicit
enuneaton Of the Republican creed Of today on
that point.
II the Republicans Of today are :" fanatical,"
or extremists" in adhering to these doctrines
which we this year re.afirm as the basis of our
political creed and action, then have the Wing
and DemocIatic organizations themselves, in
times gone BY been " fanatcal" and extreme"
in their "an'islavery zeal" judging BY their re.
solves above quoted. While the Democrats have
"Fetreatcd" and taken backward steps," and re.
Pudiated their former pTofessed principles, even
to the avowal Of the most abject subserviency to
the slave power, BY acknowledging the right Of
Shareholders to hold their chattell' property in
the territories, In spite Of congressional or terri
torial law, we have!merely re.afirned the same
principles on which we have gone into the strue.
gle in years past, and strengthened our position
By quoting the oft-repeated admission Of the cor
rectncss OF those principles given in the annually
adopted platforms Of our opponents, which plat
forms they have now so unoeremoniously repudi
ated.
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