The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-07-17
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Rep1blican Congressional CenventIsa.
This body met at Oskaloosa, on the 7th
instant. Hon. s. B. SHELLxDY, of Jasper,
was chosen Chairman, and A. N. Cov1So,
of Powssheik, and J. X. BaIccs, Of Lee,
Secretaries. After organizing, the Conren-
ton proceeded to IN informal ballo. for
Representative in Congress with the follow
ing result: ..
Whole number of votes 123.
Samuel II. Curtis o2.
John Edwards, Of Lucas, Il. j..
H. Sewers, of Mahaska, 10.
Whereupon, on motion, Hon s. R. Curtis,
was declared nominated BY reclamation.
The following gentlemen, were appointed
to act as a Central Committee for the first
Compression District. r. Needham, Of
Mahaska; j. W. Norris, of Wapello; G. W.
McCreary, of Lee; Samuel f. lynn, Of
Guthrie; and Caleb Baldwin, of Pottawat-
tamie.
The Convention adopted the following
Resolutions, of contemporary Convention
asa specific and satisfactory declaration Of
its sentiments.
l. We reaffrm our devotion to the Consti-
tuition Of the country, and to the Union Of
the States, and will steadily resist all at
tsmpts for the perversion of the one, or the
disruption of the other. We recognize the
equal rights of all the States, and avow
our readiness and willingness to maintain
them, and disclaim all intention of attempt
ing, either directly or indirectly, to assail
or abridge the rights of any of the members
of the Confederacy guaranteed by the Con-
stitution,or in any manner to interfere with
the institution of Slavery in the States where
it exists. Nevertheless, we hold that the
Government was instituted for freemen, and
that it can be perpetuated, and made to full
fl the purposes Of its organization only by
devoting itself to the promotion # virtue
and intelligence among its citizens, and tho
advancement of their prosperity snd happi-
ness; and to these ends, we hold i to be the
duty of the Government SO to reform the
the system of disposing of the public lands
as to secure the soil to actual settlers, wrest
it from the grasp of men wto speculate in
the homes Of the people, and from corpora
tons that lock it up in dead hands for en-
HANGED profits.
2. Free Labor being the only true support
of republican institutions, our Government
should maintain its rights; and we therefore
demand the improvement of our harbors and
rivers which freight the commerce Of the
| West to q market, and the construction of
a central highway to connect our trade with
the Pacific States, as rightful encourage
ment to home industry; and, inssmuch as
We now compete in the markets of the whole
country against the products of unpaid Ia
Dor at depreciating prices, it is therefore
eminently unj just that the National Admin
istration should attempt by coercion to ex-
tend a servile system in the Territories,
or, by patronage, to perpetuate Slavery in
| the States.
3. The present Administration has proved
recreant to the trusts committed to its hands,
and by its extraordinary corrupt, unjust,
and undignifed exertions to give effect to
the original intention and purpose of the
Kansas Nebraska bill, by forcing upon the
people of Kansas, against their will and in
defiance of their known and earnest express
ed wishes, Constitution recognizing Slare-
ry as one Of their domestic institutions, it
has forfeited NIL claim to the support of the
friends of free men, free labor, and equal
rights.
4. 1t is the duty of the Government faith
fully and diligently to execute all our treaty
stipuiations, and enforce all our laws for the
suppression Of the slave trade.
5. That while We depreciate all interfu-
ence on the part of political organizations
with the actions of the Judiciary, if such
action is limited to its appropriate sphere
yet We cannot refrain from expressing our
condemnation of the principles and tender.
cies Of the extra judicial opinions of a ma
jority of the Judges of the Supreme Court
Of the United States in the matter of bred
Scott, wherein the political heresy is put
forth, that the Federal Constitution extends
Slavery into all the Territories of the Re-
public, and so maintaius that ueilher Con.
gress nor the People, through their Territori-
| al Legislature, can by law abolish it. We
hold that Congress possesses sovereign power
over the Territories, whilst they remain in
a Territorial condition; and that it is the
duty of the General Government to protect
the Territories from the curse of Slavery,
and to preserve the public domain for the
occupation of free men and free labor
And we declare that no power on earth can
carry and maintain Slavery in the States
against the will of the people and the pro-
visions of their Constitutions and laws.
6. The policy of this Government should
be to live on terms of peace and amity with
ali the nations of the earth, so far as it can
be done consistently with our national honor
and interest, and to enter into entangling
alliances with none. Our intercourse with
9th ho
principles of exact and exalted Justice: and
whilst firmly maintaining our own rights, we
should CAREFUL avoid any invasion of the
rights of others, and especially those ofweak-
or nations. Our commerce ought to be protec-
ted from wanton interruption, and our COM
mercial marine from invasion and search: and
while wewould deplore the necessity of war
with any of the nations Of the earth, we will
still firmly, zealous!y, and periodically,
sustain the Government in any Just measures
which it may so adopt to obtain redress for
indignties which may heretofore have been
inflicted upon our citizens navigating the
seas, or which may be necessary to secure
them against repetition of the like injuries
in the future.
7. We view with regret and alarm the
rapidly increasing expenditures of the Gen
eral Government, which now, in a state of
profound peace, threaten the country with
natisnal bankruptcy; and we pledge our
selves, SO far as we speak for the Republic
cans of Iowa, to thorough and radical
reform in the Administration of the Govern
ment finances in the event of the Republi-
cans being entrusted with the direction of
national affairs.
Resolved, That we demand from the Gen.
eral Government five per cent. of the pro-
ceeds of those lands hitherto entered with
land warrants within the State, and further
liberal grants of public lands for the con-
struction of railroads through the unoccu-
pied portions of Iowa, to which her position,
natural resources and future prospects emit.
tie her.
Resolved, That Messrs. Harlan, Curtis,
and Davis, are entitled to the hearty thanks
of the people of Iowa, for their able and
Jealous advocacy of Republican principles,
and though We would not be inviduous in