The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-06-16
Is the Republican Party Aggressive

Etr A couple of weeks since we pro-
pounded this question, and gave some
reasons for answering it in the negative.
In his last paper our neighbor Of the
Ctrilidn demurs at some length to our
statements and conclusions. We had in
tended to reply to him rather fully this
week, but as our notice of the resolutions
of the " Buchanan County Democracy"
has, we perceive, strung out much long
Ell than we expected or intended, and as
we do not want to nau5eate our readers
with political reading-especially of our
own composilion-wc must refrain, at
present, from carrying out our intention.
And, in truth, we hardly deem it neces
sary to make an extended reply, for we
think that our friend has in no sense
shown that the Republican party stands
in an aggressive attitude. Il is the pro-
fessed design of that party to bring the
government back to the principles and
policy Of its founders, and unless it is
false TO that profession, it cannot justly
be called aggressive, but rather conserv-
alive. Now we think it would be easy
to show that the Republican party stands
just where JEFFERSON stood, and just
where the old Democratic party stood.
If so, it simply occupies conservative
position. But as we are now restricted
in time and space, and cannot, there
fore, elaborate, we only propose to show
our neighbor where the Democratic par
ty Of Iowa, and we think of the whole
north, stood ten years ago /; and we want
him to tell us wherein the position of the
present Republican party varies from that
of the then Democratic party. If the
Republican party simply maintains old
and accepted doctrines, how is it agrees
sive ?
In the session of 1880, the Demo
cratic Legislature of the State of Iowa
passed the following Preamble and Joint
Resolution. and they exhibit fully the
devotion of modern Democracy to old
and time honored" principles
Preamble and Joint Resolution relative to
tie Territories belonging to tie United
| States.
Whereas, the General Assembly of the
State of Iowa recognize in Congress the
EXCLUSIVE RIGHT Of LEGISLA-
TlON oyer ALL Territories non belong
ing 10, or hereafter to be acquired By tile
General Government
And Dhereas, the said General Assem-
bly, fully accord to each State respective
ly complete sovereignty in the regula-
ton of its own institutions, as recogniz-
ed by the Constitution of the United
States
And achereas, it is also the sense of this
General Assembly that the Institution of
Sfarery cannot legitimotely erist ,cithin any
Territory belonging TO the United States
(unless recognized by the law regulating
such territory at the time of its cession
to the United States) EXCEPT BY THE
SANCTION OF POSITIVE LAW
And aoAereas, the subject herein re-
ierred to is likely to become one upon
which Congress may feel required TO
act Therefore,
Resoired, That WHENEVER Congress
shall be required to act upon the question
of SLAVERY in any Of the territories NOW
FREE and belonging to the United States,
our Senators be instructed. and our Rep
resentatives requested. to exert their in
| fluence in favor of law PROHIBITING tie
introduction Of Slapery into any such ter
ritory
The Omaha Nebaskan says that the
Mormon emigration to Utah this Season
across the plains exceeds that of any
previous year. A train Of one hundred
wagons started from Florence week be-
fore last. with some 600 persons, and ev-