St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-10-06
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
ADOPTED By THE REPUBLICAN STATE cCNvEN-
TON, ASSEMBLED AT ST. PAUL, AlNN.;
JULY 21sT, 1859.


JULY 21sT, 1859.
Relying upon the intelligence, patriotism,
and discriminating justice Of the American
people, We the Delegates Of the Republican
party, in State Convention assembled, submit
to the enlightened judgement Of the people of
Minnesota, the following emphatic declaration
of principles and resolutions:
l. We maintain the Union Of the States, the
rights Of the States, and tho liberties Of the
people.
2. Regarding slavery as great moral and
political evil, we oppose its extension beyond
the States in which it already exists-the re-
opening of the African Slave Trade-a Slave
Code for the Territories, and while we disclaim
all interference with slavery where it already
exists in the States, we demand the entire and
unconditional divorce of the National Govern
men. from any participation in this "relic of
barbarism.''
3. We prescribe no man on account of his
religion or place Of nativity; we oppose any
abridgement whatever of the right of natural
ization now secured by law to emigrants and
all discrimi nation between native and natural
lied citizens, whether by amendment cfa
StateCons!itution. as in Massachusetts, or by
Legislative or Congressional action and we
resist with indignation, our fathers did in
1917, the monstrous doctrine the impressneM
of American ciiz by. foreign desro'is,ni-
eh!toes rny proc laimc tdybe present Adu4inb
astration.
4. We are in favor Of granting the public
aonlain IN limited Quantities to be the free
comes Of free1ncn; "lands for the landless
ne7sus niggers for the niggerless ;" AMI we hold
the present Administration to a strict account
ability for the defeat Of the Homestead Bill in
the last Congress.
s. We condemn the doctrine Of the bred
Scott decision as anti-Constitutional, anti
Republican, incompatible with State Rights,
and as destructive Of personal security.
6. We are in favor of immediate and efficient
National aid to q Pacific Railroad by the most
practicable route.
7. We hold that Congress ought to protect
the lives and property Of our citizens by judi
cious appropriations for Rivers and Harbors
S. We are resolved to maintain the purity
of the ballot-box, as the palladium of our
liberties. To this end we will resist by every
legitimate means in our power the frauds
which, it is tn tucrdateerpepose of the corrup
dynasty now entrenched in the stolen places
Of power in this State, 10 pths: woevd cad for
their past iniquities as well as their proposed
frauds, we hold them up to the reprobation of
all patriotism as conspiratoe against Liberty
by the violation Of its sacred ark-the
ballot-box.
Resolved first, That wo ondemn in unmeas-
ured terms the recklcs: xtravagance Of the
present corrupt and proHigatc National
Administration-its an Democratic issue Of
shin-plasters-its ven ty in the awardment
mountain Of public debt-its punic faith in
the affairs Of Kansas-its Reputation of
"homes for the homeless '--;ts duplicity on
lie Pacific Railroad-its gross violations of
the purity Of the ballot-box-its cowardly
abandonment Of the doctrine of protection to
adopted citizens-its alliance with disunionists
its universal subversion of Liberty-its
opposition to the Declaration of Independence
and its gross perversions Of the Constitution,
constituting in all a bill OF grievances which
renders this Administration q cancer upon
the Republic, and which we pledge the vote of
Minnesota to aid in removing in 1860.
Resolved secend, That the present State
organization is one based upon frauds, and is
therefore bogus; that the Governor, and Aud
itor OF State, in receiving stocks as a basis of
Bank Circulation without marketable value
have violated the plain letter of the law, for
largely to our pecuniary embarassments-that
the Democratic party has created contingent
fund for the benefit Of State officers, thereby
stealing the peoples money, and that by their
general 'nisnlanagement Of our State affairs
they have shown themselves not only unworthy
OF confidence, but have manifested their inca
paclty to administer the State Government.
Resolved third, That the present Administra-
ton IN ordering the sale of Public Lands in
this State, (as it is understood such is their
avowed purpose,) in this dark hour of fnan-
cial distress and general embarrassment. is |
int1icting fearful wrong upon the settlers Of
minnesota, turning over to remorseless specu-
lators the fruits Of their honest industry.
Resolcsd fourth, That the gross abuses prac-
tlsed by the Democratic party Of this State. |
under that clause of our Constitution which !
extends the elective franchise to indians who
have adopted the habits and customs of c;y;li
zed life, demand the severest reproba,ion of
all friends Of the purify Of the ballot-box, and
nus Convention pledges the Republican party
or dlnncsota to reform and correct such
abuses by such needfll legislation as shall
eontne the benefits intended to be conferred
ny that provision to such Indians as have or
may become civilized IN fact -.
RcsoI0edEfU, That however men NAV have
originally differed upon the adoption of the
Five Allillon Loan policy, we all unite in o
oeteEmlnatlon to preserve the plighted faith
OF tie State from the stain of Reputation by
meeting all our obligations to. the entire extent
OF our honest indebtedness; that in regard to
the Question Of the taxation Of the people to
pay the interest on the State Railroad Bonds,
we hold that the Constitutional Amendment
lesen poants out the mode by which; that inter-
est shall be met, that We will. faithfully carry
out and abide by that amendment, and shall
noid the Railroad Companies to a strict COM
plance Herewith; :; and that we shall oppose
al further Legislation upon: the subject until
default h " and forfeiture shall have been made ON
the part of the Companies: 1ae:alz 3::.tt e,ad
q Reso1oed .iath, That we shaWos * pecto BE The
Republican Legislature Of the coming winter
to boldly carry their Investigations wherever
there are known or imputed frauds in the