The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-06-09
The OssawattO,nie Convention.

iuSI uc OuCcTS VI Tie COuVeNllOn are
omitted.
During recess on the first day the Con-
ventlon was addressed by Horace Greeley in
m hour and half's speech
On the second day Mr. Ewing, Chairman
of the Committee on Platform, reported the
following p. Gamble and resolutions:
| WHEREAS, Since the organization of the
Territory of Kansas, the Democratic party
has been in control of the Legislative and
Executive departments of the Government !;
and,
WHEREAS, 1t has used those powers which
should have been exerted to foster and sus-
tain, only to oppress our people; violated
every principle it claimed to advocate; pro-
tecte,l and supported invasions by foreign
mobs, burned our towns, plundeTed OUR
houses, wasted our sustcnance, destroyed our
presses and murdered our people; evinced a
total disregard for popular rights and settled
determination to force the institution of ne
gro slavery upon US; attempted to put in ex-
echtion laws which, for injustice, cruelty and
fraud, have scarcely been paralleled in the
history of the most barbarous age; support
! ed that creature Of infamous tisurpatlon-the
Lecompton COnstitution-by Federal bavo-
nets in Kansas, and by official patronage
and Executive corruption at the National
Capitol; made an invidious and disgracefIl
distinction between free and slave constitu-
tions by offering us bribe to enter the I'm
ion under the former without representa-
tive population, and refusing us admission
under the latter until we had population of
10000; appointed corrupt and obnoxious
judicial and executive officers over US, whose
partizan sympathies and partial decisions
have prevented the administration of Justice;
and by long train of abuses. crimes and
usurpations proved itself the bitter foe of the
people Of Kansas and the enemy of popular
rights everywhere; and,
WHEREAS, The Republican party has, on
all occasions, evinced devotion to popular
rights and an attachment to the best interests
of the nation, that deserve our approval; and
has, by its adherence to the principles of the
Fathers of the Revolution, and its earnest
support of the cause of Freedom in Kansas,
won our appreciation and gratitude; and,
WHEREAS, We believe the time has come
for the people of Kansas to take position
land affiliate with a party National in its Or
ganization and objects.
Resotced, That We, the people Of Kansas,
in Delegate Convention assembled, do pro-
ceed to organize the Republican party and
declare our principles as follows:
Res0leed, That we affirm that the only true
basis of Free Government, and of popular
rights for all countries and times, is to be
found in the great selfevident truths enun-
ciated by Thomas Jefferson and the Fathers
of the Republic in the Declaration of indie
penoence. ...
4 ResOlued. That while we declare onr sub
mission to the Constitution and laws of the
United States, and discaim all control over
slavery in the States in which it exists, we
hold that the Constitution does MT carry
slavery into the Territories, but that it is the
creature of special enactment, and has exist
ence only where supported by it, and We rep
rebate and condemn the perversion of the
Supreme Court of the United States to sec
tional demands and party purposes.
Resolred, That, with the founders of the
Republic, we believe that government derive
their just powers from the constitution of the
! governed, and that it is proper that the peo-
pie of an organized Territory should be per-
mitted to elect their own officers and enact
their own laws, free from Congressional ard
Executive control.
Resoloed, That Freedom is National and
Slavery Sectional, and that we are inf1exibly
opposed to the extension of Slavery to soil
now free.
Resotcea, That we condemn the Admins
tration for its feebleness and impotency in
the enforcement of the law prohibiting the
importation of African slaves into the United
States and demand such legislation by Con-
gress as viii forever suppress the inhuman
traffic.
Resolred, That the Wyandotte Constitu-
tional Convention berequired to incorporate
in the Bill of Rights in the Constitution a
provision that neither slavery nor invol,nta,
ry servitude shall ever exist in Kansas, ex-
eept in punishment of crime.
/ Res0lred, That the passage of liberal
Homestead Bill, giving 100 acres OF land to
every citizen who viii settle upon and i'm
prove it, would be measure just in principle,
sound in policy, and productive of the great
est good to the people of the nation; and
that we regard the defeat of Mr.. Grows Bill
N the Senate, by the Democratic party, as
direct blow at the laboring classes of the
country, and as unworthy of the liberality
of n great government
ReSolcea, That the President in ordering
the public lands in this and other Territories
to be sold during a season of universal de-
preston, thus impoverishiag thousands OF
our fellow citizens, has been guilty of All act
of injustice without parallel IN the history of
II