St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-09-29
"A REPUBLICAN, PLxATFORM
ADOPTED 7ra 81 rHr nzpuB11cAx STAT, CONVEX.
.a1aTa gsss ~. ! ..-Es.
T1oN, ASSEMBLED AT ST. PAUL, MINI, ~
s,5ssssst~.I--a 59yub1 21s4, 1859. z%1 II

z. 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
ment from any participation in this "relic Of
barbarism.''
religion or place of nativity we oppose any
abridgement whatever of the right Of natural
ization now secured by law to emigrants, and
all discrimin nation between native and natural
lied citizens, whether by amendment Of a
StateConstitution. as in Massachusetts, or by
Legislative or Congressional action; and we
resist with indignation, as our fathers did in
1872 the monstrous doctrine ofthe impressmeA
of American citiz ems by foreign despotismi-
ehltoes rny proc laime tdybe present Adminb
astration. -'.- ;'S'.'
4. We are in favor Of granting the public
aomain in limited quantities to be the free
comes Of freemen; Islands for the landless
nersus niggers for the niggerless;" and we hold
the present Administration to 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 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 Pacific Railroad by the most
practicable route.
Z. We hold that Congress ought to protect
the lives and property Of our citizens by judi
cious appropriations for Rivers and Harbors
8. 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
by the violation Of its sacred ark-the
ballot-box.
Resolved first, That we ondemn in unmcas-
ured terms the reckless, xtravagance Of the
present corrupt and prohigate National
Administration-its an Democratic issue Of
shin-plasters-its ven ty in the awardment
of public contracts-it roclivity to create d
mountain of public debt-its punic faith in
the affairs Of Kansas-its reputation Of
"homes for the homeless ''-its duplicity on
the 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 perversjons of the Constitution,
|-constituting in all bill OF grievances which
renders this Administration cancer upon
the Republic, and which We pledge the vote of
Minnesota to aid in removing in 1860.
Rcsolved second, 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
| feited public confidence, and contributed
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
they have shown themselves not only unworthy
Of confidence, but have manifested their inca
pacity 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 inan-
clal distress and general embarrassment, is
nhlctlng fearful wrong upon the settlers of
Minnesota, turning over to remorseless specu-
lators the fruits of their honest industry.
>Resolued fourth, That the gross abuses prac-
tlsed by the Democratic party Of this State,
under that clause Of our Constitution which
extends tho elective franchise to Indians who
have adopted the habits and customs of ciyili-
zed life, demand the severest reprobation of
all friends Of the purity Of the ballot-box, and
this Convention pledges the Republican party
OF Minnesota to reform and correct such
abuses by such needful legislation as shall
confne the benefits intended to be conferred
by that provision to such Indians as have or
may become civilized in fact. ~ '1l% .'@}''.
Resolved ttth, That however, men may have
originally differed upon the adoption of the
Five Million Loan policy, we all unite in
determnatlon to preserve the plighted faith
OF the 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
itself points out. the mode by which that inter-
est shall be met, that we; will faithfully carry
out and abide by that amendment, and shall
hold the Railroad Companies to strict COM
pliance Herewith and that We shall oppose
ell further Legislation upon the subject until
default and forfeiture shall have been made on
the part Of the Companies.
Reso1ued .izth,. That We shall expect tho
Republican Legislature Of the coming winter
to boldly carry their investigations wherever
there are known or imputed frauds in the
management Of our State affairs, regardless O.
ose that may bemplicated. :~s E.s.s.<~z 10 -