The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-06-04
National Republican Platform
rAs AMENDED AND ADOPTED ]


bled, in discharge OF The duty we owe TO
our constituents and our country, unite in
the following declarations
l. That the history Of The nation during
the last four years. has fully established
the propriety and necessity OF the organl-
zation and perpetnation of the Republican
party, and that the causes which called it
into existence are permanent in their ma
lure, and now, more than ever before, de-
mand its peaceful and constitutional tri-
umph
&. That the maintenance Of the princi-
Plies promulgated in the Declaration of In
dependence end embodied in the Federal
Constitution, THAT all men are created
equal that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain inalienablc rights !;
that among these are Lille, 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 lis essential to
the preservation of our Republican inslitu-
tons; and that the Federal Constitution,
the Rights of the States, and The Union Of
the States must and shall be preserved.
). 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 It's
honor abroad and We hold in adherence
all schemes for Disurion. come from what
ever source they may: And we congratu
late the country that no Republican mem
nanced the threats Of Disunion 50 often
made by Democratic members, without re-
buke and with applause from their political
associates and we denounce those threats
Of disunion, in case of a popular overthrow
OF their ascendancy as denying the vital
principles of free govefament, and as an
avowal ~of contemplated treason, which it
is the imperative duty Of an indignant Peo-
pie sternly 20 febuke and forever silence
4. That the maintenance inviolate of the
rights OF the States, and especially the
right OF each State to order and control It's
own domestic institutions according to its
own Judgment exclusively, is essential to
that balance of powers on which the per-
fection and endurance of our political fab
RIGS depends; and we denounce the law
less invasion by armed force of the soil of
any State or Territory, no matter under
what pretext. as among the grayest of
crimes.
s. That the present Democratic Admin
istration has far exceeded our worst ap-
prehenslons, in its measureless subseryi-
ency TO The exactions of sectional inter-
est, as especially esinccd in its desperate
exertions to force the Infamous Lecompton
Constitution upon the protesting people Of
Kansas in construlng the personal rela-
tion between master and servant to in
yolve 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 purely local
interest; and in its general and unvarying
abuse OF the power entrusted to il by con-
fding people.
6. That the people Justly view with
alarm the reckless extravaganza which
pervsdes every department of the Federal
Government that return to rigid econ
omy and accountability is indispensable to
arrest the systematic plunder OF the pub
lie treasury by favored partisans while
the recent startling developments offrauds
and corruptions al the Federal metropolis,
show that an entire change Of administra-
ton is Imperatively demanded.
2. That the new dogma that the Con-
stftutIon, of its own force, carries Slavery
into any or all OF the Territories Of the
United States, is dangerous political her
esy, at variance with the explicit proyi-
sions of that instrument itself, with CO.
iemporaneous exposition, and with legis-
lative and judicial precedent is revou.
tionary in its tendency, and subyerslve of
the peace and harmony OF the country.
8. That the normal condition OF all 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" it
becomes our duty, by legislation, whenev-
er such legislation is necessary. to main
tain this provision of the Constitution
against all attempts to violate it and we
deny the authority Of Congress, of ter
ritorial legislature, or of any individuals,
TO give iegsi existence to slavery in any
Territory ofthe United States.
8. That we brand the recent re- o, ,ening
of the African slave trade, under th Gov
er Of our national flag. aided by ptarvsr.
sons Of judicial power, as crime az ains'
humanity and burning shame TO. oul
country and age ; and We call upon tom.
gress to take prompt and efficient meas.
ures for the totsl and final suppression o.
that cxecrable traffic
10. That in the recent vetoes, by their
Federal Governors, of the acts of the Leg
islatures of Kansas and Nebraska, prohib-
iting Slavery in those Territories, we find