Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-06-02
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
THE PLATFORM.

States, in convention assembled 10 dischargng
the duty we owe to our constituents and our
country unite in the following declarations
lst That the history of the nation, during
the last four years, has fully established tie pro-
prieiy and necessity, of the organization and
perpetuation Of the Republican Party and
that the causes which called it into existence
are permanent in their nature, aud now more
than ever before, demand its peaceful and scon-
stitutional triumph
3D. That the maintenance OF the principles
promulgated in the Declaration of lndepend-
euce, and embodied iu the Federal Cousttu-
ton, "That all men are born equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain in
alienabe rights that are among these are life,
liberty and the pursuit Of happiness that to
insure 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 be
preserved,
3D.. That to the union of the States this ma.
ton owes its unprecedented increase in popua-
ton, its surprising development of material re-
sources its rapid augmentation of wealth, its
happiness at home aud its honor abroad and
we hold in adherence all schemes for dsunion
come from whatever source they may aud we
congratulate the country that no Republican
member of Congress has uttered or countenanc-
ed the threats of disunion so often made by
Democratic members of Congress without re-
buke, and with applause from their political as
sociates and we denounce the threats of dis
union 10 case Of popular overthrow of their
ascendancy, as denying the vital principles of a
free government, and as an avOwal of contem-
plated treason, which it is the imperative duty
of all intelligent people sternly to rebuke aud to
forever silence.
4th. That the maintenance inviolate Of the
rights Ct the States, and especially the rights Of
each State 10 order and control its own domes-
tic institutions according to its own judgment
exclusively is essential to that balance of pow
er on which the perfection and endurance of
our political fabric depends aud we denounce
the lawless invasion by armed force of the soil
of any State or Territory, no matter under what
pretext, as among the gravest of crimes
5th That the present Democratic admins
tration has far exceeded our worst apprehen-
sons in measureless suhserviency to the exten-
sion of a sectional interest, as especially evident
in its desperate exertions to enforce the iaia-
nous Locompton Constitution upon the protes-
ting people Of Kansas, in constructing the per-
sonal relation between master and servant TO
involve an unqualified property in persons, in
its enforcement everywhere, on land and sea-
through the Intervention of Congress Of the
federal Court Of the extreme pretensions of a
purely local interest, and 10 its general and un-
varying abuse Of the power entrusted to it by
a con6ding people.
9th. That the people justly view with alarm
the reckless extravaganza which pervades every
department of the federal government, that q
| return to rigid economy and accountability is
indispensable 10 arrest the system of plunder o
the public treasury by favored partisans, while
the recent startling development Of frauds and
corruption at the federal metropolis shows that
an entire change Of administration is imperative
ly demanded.
7th. That the new dogma that the Constitu
ton of its own force carries slavery into any OF
all the territories of the United States is dan
gerous political heresy, at variance with the ex
plcit provisions Of that instrument ITSELF with
that contemporaneous expositions and witt
legislative and judicial precedent is revolution
ary in its tendency aud subversive of the peace
and harmony of the country
9Th. That the normal condition Of all the
territory Of the United States is that Of free
dom that as our Republican Fathers, wher
they had abolished slavery in all our nationa
territory, ordained that no person should be de
prived of life, liberty or property without due
process of law, it becomes our duty by legisla
ton, whenever legislation is necessary to main
tain this provision of the Constitution against
all attempts TO violate it and we deny the au
thority Of Congress of Territorial Legisla
lures, or of individuals to give legal existence
10 slavery in any Territory of the United States
9th. That we brand the recent re-opening o
the slave trade under the cover of our natona
flag, aidedby perversons of judicial power, as
crime against humanity, burning shame to ou
country and age, and we call upon Congress Il
take prompt and efficient measures for the tota
suppression of that execrabe traffic.
10TH That in the recent vetoes by the feder
al governors of the acts of the Legislatures O
Karsas and Nebraska, prohibiting slavery i
the territories, we iud particular illustration
of the Democratic principle of noninlerventio
and popular sovereignty embodied in the Kan
sas-Nebraska bill, and demonstrative Of the de
ception and fraud involved therein.
llth. That Kansas should of right be immt
diately admitted as State, under the Const
tuition recently formed and adopted by her pee
pie, and accepted by the House Of Representa-
tives.
18th. That while providing revenues for th
support of the general government, by dutie
upon imports, sound policy requires such an &C
JuSItncub VI luSoC llllJOIlS US W 6uCOuTdHS VI
development of the industrial interests of tn
whole country ; and we commenced the polio
of national exchanges which secures to th
working men liberal wages, to agriculture IT
munerallng prices to mechanics and manufaC
turerS an adequate reward for skill, labor an
enterprise, and to the nation commercial pro!
perity aud independence.
18th. That we protest against any sale, o
alienation to others. of the public lands held b.
actual settlers, aud against any view of th
Free Homestead policy, which regards settler
as paupers, or as suppliants for public bounty
and we demand the passage by Congress of tn
complete and satisfactory Homestead measur
which has already passed the House.
l4th. That the National Republican party
opposed to any change 10 the naturalizatiO
laws, or any State Legislation by which th
rights Of citizenship hitherto afforded to EN-
grants from foreign lands shall be abridged q
impaired. aud 10 favor of giving full and ellic
ent protection to the rights of all classes {
citizens whether native or naturalized, both q
home and abroad.
18th. That appropriations by Congress fC
river aud harbOr improvements Of a nations
character, required for the accommodation an
security CT an existing commerce are authorize
by the Constitution, and justified by the obligi