The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-11-03
TIE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
NATIONAL CONVENTION HELD AT PHILADELPHIA,
JUNE l7rH, 1866.
This Convention of Delegates assembled in
pursuance of call addressed to the people of
the United States, without regard TO past po-
litical differences or divisions, who are opposed
10 the repeal Of the Missouri COMPROMISE, to
the poIicy of tho present Administration, to the
extension of Slavery into Free Territory IN
favor of az hitting Kansas as a Freee state, OF
restoring the action of the-F eieraf Goyernnelit
10 Inc principles of Washington and jefferson,
and who propose to unite IN presenting candi-
dates for the offices of President and Vice Presi-
dent, do resolve as follows =
ResoIye{ That the maintenance OF the prln-
cjpIes promulgated in the Declaration OF indie
nen Ience and embodied in the FEDERAL Constl-
tuition is essential to the preservation OF our
republican Institutions, and that the Federal
Constitution, the rights of the States, and the
Union of the States shall be preserved.
Ipesolyed That with Our republican fathers
We hold it to be seif-evident truth that all
men are endowed with the inalieaable rights to
life. liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and
that the primary object and Interior designs OF
our federal government were to secure these
rights to all persons within its exclusive iuris-
diction that, as our republican fathers, when
they had abolished Slavery in all our national
territory, ordained that no person should, be
deprived Of lite, liberty or property, without
due process of law, it becomes our duty to
maintain this provision of the Constitution
against all attempts to violate il for the purpose
of establishing Slavery in airy Territory OF the
United States, while. the present Constitution
shall be maintained. Es..
ResoIvcd, That the Constitution confers upon
Congress sovereign power over the Territories
of the United States for their government, and
that in the exercise of this power it is both the
right and the duty of Congress to prohibit in
: the Territories those twin relics of barbarism-
POlygamy and Slavery.
RGsoiycd That while the Constitution of the
United States was ordained and established by
the people in order TO form more perfect
Union, es+"hi'eh Justice insGl' Domestic tran
city proyIue ivr lne common defence, and
secure the blessings of liberty, and contains
ample provision for the protection of the life
liberty and property of every citizen, the dear
est constitutional rights of the people of Kansas
have been fraudently and violently taken from
them-their territory has been invaded by an
armed force-spurious and pretended legisla-
tive. judicial and executive officers have been
set over them. by whose -usurped authority,
sustained by the military power of the gov-
eminent, tylannical and unconstitutional laws
have been enacted and enfOrced-the rights of
the people to keep and bear arms have been
infringed-test oaths of an extraordinary and
entangling nature have been imposed. as a
condition of exercising the right of suffrage and
holding office--the right of an accused person
to a speedy and public trial by an impartial
jury has beenue lied-the right of the people
to be secure in their persons, houses, papers
and effects against unreasonable searches and
seizures has been yiolated-they have been de-
prived of lite, liberty and property without
due process of law-that the freedom ofspeech
and of the press has been abridged-the right
10 choose their representatives has been made
of no effect-murders, robberies and arsons
have been instigated and encouraged, and the
offenders have been allowed to go unpublished
that all these things have been done with the
knowledge, sanction and procurement of the
present administration, and that for this high
crime against the Constitution, the Union and
Humanity, we arraign the Administration, the
President his advisers, agents, supporters,
apologsts accessories, either before or after the
facts, before the country and before the world,
and that it is our fixed purpose to bring the
actnal perpetrators of these atrocious outrages,
and their aocomplices, to a sure and condign
punishment hereafter. sf+e,. p, s,-l--e. D..
RESOLVED, That Kansas should be immedi-
ately admitted as a State of the Union, with
her present free Constitution, as at once the
most effectual way IF securing TO her citizens
,he enjoyment of the rights and privileges to
which they are entitled, and of ending the
civil strife now raging in her Territory.
Essolyed That the hghwayman's plea, that
might makes right embodied in the Ostend
Circular, was in every respect unworthy of
American diplomacy, and weuld bring shame
and dishonor upon any government or people
that gave it their sanction. 4*. &C 4 OH
Resolved. That railroad to the Pacific
Ocean, by the most central aad practical route.
is imperatively demanded by the interests of
the whole country, and that the Federal Gov
eminent ought to render immediate and effici-
ent aid in its construction and as an auxili-
airy thereto, the immediate construction of an
emigrant route on the line of the railroad.
ReSoLUed, That appropriations by Congress
for the improvement of rivers and harbors, of
a national character, required for the accom-
modation1 and security of our existing COM
uerce, are authorized by the Constitution and
justified by the obligation of Government to
protect the lives and property of its citizens. Z
ReSolVcd, That we invite the atfilation and
cooperation of freemen of all parties. however
differing from us IN other respects, in support
of the principles herein declared AND BELLE
WING THAT TUE SPIRIT OF OUR. INSTITUTIONS AS
WELL AS THE CONSTITUTION OF OUR COUNTRY,
GUARANTEE LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE AND EoUA-
LrTY OF RIGHTS AMONG CITIZENS, WE OPPOSE ALL
LEGISLATOR IMPAIRING THEIR SECURITY. ...f f