The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-22
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

''AoJ Sensict INC uetehoaue, ne Will SCI thelr
verdict aside"
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
This Convention of Delegates, assembled in
pursuance of call addressed to the people of
the United States, without regard to past politi-
cal differences or divisions, who are opposed
to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise to
the policy of the present Administration to
the extension OF Slavery into free Territory in
favor of the admission of Kansas as a free
State; of restoring the action of the Federal
Government to the principles of Washington
and Jefferson and for the parpose of present
ing candidates for the Offices of President and
Vice President, do
l. ResOlre That the maintenance of the prin-
ciples promulgated in the Declaration Of In
dependence, and embodied in the Federal Con-
stitution, are essential TO the preservation of
our Republican institutions; and that the Fed
eral Constitution, the rights of the States, and
the union of the States, shall be preserved
2. Resolced, That, with our Republican
fathers, we hold it to be a selfeyident truth
that all men are endowed with the unalienabe
right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happi
ness; and that the primary object and Interior
design of our Federal Government were to Sc
cure those rights to all persons within its ex-
elusive jurisdiction; that as our Republican
fathers, when they had abolished Slavery in all
our National Territory, ordained that no person
should be deprived of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law, it becomes our duty
to maintain this provision of the Constitution
against all attempts to violate it, to prevent the
establishment of Slavery in the Territories of
the United States by positive legislation pro-
hibiting its existence therein. And we deny
the authority of Congress, of Territorial Legis
lature, of any individual or association of indi
viduals, to give legal existence to Slavery in
any Territory OF the United States, while the
present Constitution shall be maintained.
g. RESOLVED, That the Constitution confers
upon Congress sovereign power over the Terri
tories of the United States for their govern
ment, and that in the exercise of this power it
is both the right and the duty of Congress to
prohibit ia its Territories those twin relics of
barbarsm, Polygamy and Slavery.
H. Resotoed, That while the Constitution of
the United States was ordained and established
by the people in order to g form more perfect
union, establish justice, insure domestic tran
guilty, provide for the common defence and
secure the blessings Of liberty" and contains
ample provisions for the protection of the life,
liberty, and property, of every citizen the dear
est constitutional rights of the people of Kan
sas have been fraudalently and violently taken
from them
Their. Territory has been invaded by an
armed force
Spurious and pretended Legislative Judicial,
and Executive officers have been set over them.
by whose usurped authority, sustained by the
military power of the Government, tyrannical
and unconstitutional laws have been enacted
and enforced;
The rights of the people to keep and bear
arms have been infrnged
Test oaths of an extraordinary and entan.
CLING nature have been imposed, as a condition
of exercising the r ght of suffrage and holding
office;
The right of an accused person TO a speedy
and public trial by an impartial jury has been
denied;
The right of the people to be secure in their
persons houses, papers, ana effects, against
unreasonable searches and seizures, has been
violated;
They have been deprived of life, liberty, and
property, without due process of law;
That the freedom of speech and of the press
has been abridged
The right to choose their Representatives has
been made of no effect;
Murders, robberies, and arsons, have been in
stigated 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 that Administration,
the President, his advisers, agents, supporters
apologists, and accessories either before or after
the facts, before the country and before the
world !; and that it is our fixed purpose to bring
the actual perpetrators of these atrocious out
RACES, and their accomplices, to sure and con-
dign punishment hereafter.
5. Resoloed That Kansas should be imme-
diately admitted as a State Of the Union, with
her present Free Constitution, as at once the
most efectual way of securing to her citizens
the enjoyment of the rights and privileges to
which they are entitled, and of ending the civil
strife now raging in her Territory.
6. ResolDed, That the highwayman's plea,
that might makes right" embodied in the Os-
tend Circular, was in every respect unworthy
of American diplomacy, and would bring shame
and dishonor upon any Government or people
that gave it their sanction.
7. Resolred That railroad to the Pacific
Ocean, by the most central and practical route,
is imperatively demanded by the interests of
the whole country, and that the Federal Gov
ernment ought to render immediate and eff
cient aid in its construction, and as an auxilia-
~ thereto, the immediate construction of an
emigrant route on the line of the railroad.
s. Resolued, That appropriations by Con-
gress for the improvement of rivers and harbors,
Of q national character, required for the accom-.
mediation and security Of our existing COM
merce, are autharized by the Constitution, and
justified by the obligation of Government to
protect the lives and property of its citizens.
9. Rcsotced, That we invite the utilization
and cooperation of the men of all parties, how
ever differing from US in other respects, in
support of the principles herein declared and,
that the spirit of our institutions well
a. the Constitution of our country guarantees
liberty of conscience and equality of rights
among citizens, we oppose all legislation inn
pairing their security.
AErISLAvERY EXCITEMENT IN PHILADEL-
PHIA.-Phiiadelphia, Dec. l5.-There is some
excitement existing here at present, and there
are prospects of a riot tonight. An Anti-Sla-
very fair is being held at Concert Hall, and
they have also meeting announced to take
place tonight at the Assembly buildings. Du.
ring their meeting this morning, a request was
cert Hall. The Mayor ordered the flag to be
hauled in, because it was in violation of an or
iinance, and obstructed the passage of the street
from its great length. An order was also sent
BY the sheriff, directing that the fair should be
closed and the Hall deserted before 3 o'clock
his afternoon. These proceedings produced
much excitement and the Abolitionists in coun-
I'll resolved to proceed in body to Concert
Hall, and protect their goods. The offensive
Tag was removed. The order of the sheriff
vas demanded by the owner of the building,
Who objects to the action of the lessee in letting
{ for such purposes.
G. w. Curtis is to lecture tonight on the
Aspect of the Slavery Question" at National
Hall, and advertisements appear in the papers