The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1860-05-26
Republican Platform.

Resolued, That we, the delegated repre-
sentatives of the Republican electors of thu
United States, in Convention assembled, II
discharge of the duty we owe to our con
stituents and our country, unite in the fol
lowing declarations:
l. That the history Of the nation during
the last four years, has fully established
the uropriety and necessity of the organi
zation and perpetuation OF the Republican
| party, and that the causes which called il
into existence are permanent IN their ma
ture, and now, more than ever before, de-
mand its peaceful and constitutional tri
umph.
. That the maintenance of the princi.
pies promulgated in the Declaration OF In
dependence and embodied in the Federal
equal; that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain inalienable rights;
that among these are life liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness; that to secure these
rights, governments are instituted among
men, deriving their just powers from the
consent Of the governed, is essential to the
preservation of our Republican institutions;
and that the Federal Constitution, the
Rights of the States, and the Union of the
States, must and shall be preserved.
8 That to the Union of the States this
nation owes its unprecedented increase in
population, its surprising development OF
material resources its rapid augmentation
of wealth, its happiness at home and Its
honor abroad; and we hold III adherence
all schemes for Disunion, come from what
ever source they may: And we congratu-
late the country that no Republican mem
Der of Congress has uttered or counte-
nanced the threats of Disunion SO often
made by Democratic members, without
rebuke and with applause from their po-
lltical associates and we denounce those
threats OF disunion, III case OF u popular
overthrow of their ascendency as denying
the vital principles Of free government
and as an avowal of contemplated treason,
which it is the imperative duty of an in
dignant People sternly 10 rebuke and for
ever silence.
I That the maintenance invio!ate Of the
rights of the States, and especially the
right OF each State to order and control its
own domestic institutions according 10 its
own Judgment exclusively, is essential 10
that balance of powers on which the per
fection and endurance of our political Ia
brio depends: and we denouuce the law
less invasion by armed force Of the soil of
any State or Territory, no matter under
what pIeteXt IS among the graycst OF
crimes.
). That the present Democratic Admi-
nistration has far exceeded our worst ap-
preheusIons. in It's measurelcss subservIen-
cy TO the cXactIOus of i sectional interest,
as especially evnced in its desperate ex-
ertIouS To force the Infamous Lecempton
Constitution upon the pr otestinc people of
Kansas; Ia construln. the personal rcla-
ton between master and servant TO in
volve an unqualified property in persons;
in its attempted enforcement, everywhere.
on land and sea, through the intervention
of Congress and of the Federal Courts of
the extreme pretensiOns of a purely local
interest; aud in its general and unvarying
abuse of the power entrusted TO II by 4
confidin. people,
6. That the people justly view WIN
alarm the reckless extravasance which
pervades every part of the Federal Go
vernment; that a return TO igld economy
and accountability l. Indispensable TO ar
rest the systematic plumber Of the public
treasury by favored partiSans; while the
recent startling developments Of frauds
and corrup,ious at the Federal metropolis
show that an entire change of adininistra-
ton is Impcrativcly demanded.
: That the new dogma that the Consti
tuition of its own force. carries slavery into
anv or al of the Territories of the United
States, is ! dangerous political hereSy, at
variance with the explicit provisions OF
that instrument itself, with cotemporane
Gus exposition, aud with legislative and Ju-
dicial precedent: is revolutionary III It's
tendency. and subyersive OF the peace and
harmony of the country.
;. That the normal condition of al the
territory of the United States Is that Of
freedom: That as our Republican fathers,
when they had abolished slavery in all our
national territory, ordained that no per
son should be deprived of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of law, il
becomes our duty, by legislation, whene-
yer such legislation is necessary, TO main
tain this provision of the Constitution
against all attempts 10 violate It; and we
deny the authority OF Congress. OF a tern
torial legislature, or of any individuals. to
give legal existence TO slavery IN any Ter
ritorv of the United States.
Q That we brand the recent re-opening
of the African Slave Trade, under the CO
YER of the national flag, aided by perver-
sions of judicial power, AS crime against
humanity and a burning shame to our
country and age; and We call upon Con
gress TO take prompt and efficient mea-
sures for the total and final suppression Of
that execrable traffic.
10 That in the recent vetoes, by their
federal Governors, of the acts of the Legis-
latures of Kansas and Nebraska, prohibit
ing slavery in those Territories, we find n
practical illustration of the boasted Demo
cratic principle of Non-Intervention and
Popular Sovereignty embodied in the
Kansas Nebraska bill, and a demonstra-
ton of the deception and fraud involved
therein.
IL. That Kansas should of right, be i'm
mediately admitted as State under the
Constitution recently formed and adopted
by her people, and accepted by the House
of Representatives.
II. That, while providing revenue for
the support of the general government by
duties upon imports, sound policy requires
such an adjustment of these imposts as to
encourage the developments of the indus
trial interests of the whole country; and
we commend that policy of national ex-
changes, which secures to the working
men liberal wages, to agricultural remu-
nerating prices, 10 mechanics and manu-
facturers an adequate reward for their
skill, labor, and enterprise, and to the ma
ton commercial prosperity and independ-
ence.
l3 That we protest against any sale or
alienation to others of the Public Lands
held by actual settlers, and against any
view of the Free Homestead policy which
| regards the settlers as paupers or suppl
ants for public bounty; and we demand
the passage by Congress of the complete
and satisfactory Homestead measure which
has already passed the House.
a. That the Republican Party is op.
= 4 u
Laws or any State Legislation by which
! the rights of citizenship hitherto accorded
to immigrants from foreign lands shall be
abridged or impaired; and in favor of Civ
ing full and efficient protection to the
rights of all classes of citizens. whether ma