The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-06-12
THE CHICAGO PLATFORM


of the Republican electors of the United States in
Convention assembled, i'll the discharge of the duty
we to constituents and our country, unite
in the following declarations:
LIST. That the history of the nation during the
last four years. has fully established the propriety
and necessity of the organization and perpetuation
of the Republican party and that the causes which
called il into existence are permanent in their
ture, and now, more than ever before, demand its
peaceful and constitutional triumph
2 That the maintenance of the principles pro-
mulgated in the Declaration of Independence and
embodied in the Federal Constitutions That all
men are created equal that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain inalenable rights that
among these life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness that to these rights governments
are instituted among men, deriving their just pow
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.
3. That to the Union of the States this nation
its unprecedented increase i'll population, its
surprising development of material resources, its
rapid augmentation of wealth, its happiness at
home and its honor abroad and we hold in alb
horrence all schemes for Disunion, come from what
source they may And congratulate the
country that no Republican member of Congress
has uttered or cOuntenanced the threats of Dis
union often made by Democratic members, with
out rebuke and with applause frem their political
associates and we denOunce those threats of dis
union, il of popular overthrow of their as
tendency denying the vital principles of free
government, and an avowal of contemplated
treason, which it is the imperative duty of an i'll
dignant People sternly to rebuke aud forever ST.
lence
T. That the maintenance inviolate of the Rights
of the States, and especially the right of each State
to order and control its domestic institutions
according TO its own Judgment exclusively, is
sential to that balance of powers on which the per
lection and endurance OF our political fabric de-
ponds and we deHounce the lawless invasion by
armed force of the soil of any State Territory,
no matter under what preteXt as among the Eravest
vi crimes.
5. That the present Democratic Administration
has far exceeded our worst apprchensions, i'll its
laaaa tAFlf hF
tinnal interest especially eVinced in its desper
ate exertions force the infamous Lecomp ton Con-
stitutOn upon the protesting people of Kansas in
constituting the personal relation between master
and servant to involve an unqualified property in
persons; in its attempted enforcement, everywhere,
ON land and sea, through the intervention of Con-
gress and of the Federal Courts, of the extreme
pretensions of a purely local interest and in its
general and unvaryuy ebuse of the Lower intrIstcd
to it by conhding people.
g. That the People justly view with alarm the
reckless extravaganza which pervades every depart
ment Of the Federal Government; that a return 10
rigid economy and accountability is indispensable
to arrest the systematic plumber of the public treas
ury by favored partisans; while the recent startling
developments OF frauds and cOrruptlons at the Fed
eral Metropolis, show that an entire change OF
administration is imperativey demanded.
Z. That -he new dogma that the Constitution, of
its force, carries Slavery into any or all of the
Territories of the United States, is dangerous
political heresy, at variance with the explicit pro
visions of that instrument itself, with cOntempora
neous exposition and with Legislative and Judicial
precedent; is revolutionary in its tendency, and
subyersiVe of the and harmony Of the country
s. That the normal condition of all the Territory
of the United States is that of freedom That
our Republican fathers, when they had abolished
slavery in all national territory, ordained that
. no person should be deprived of life, liberty, OF
property, without due process of law, it becomes
duty, by legislation, whenever such legislation
necessary, 10 maintain this provision of the Con-
stitution against all attempts to violate it, and We
deny the authority of Congress, of territorial leg
slature, of any individuals, to give legal eX St
ence to Slavery in any Territory of the United
States.
African Slave-Trade under the cover of Ma
tiOnal Flag, aided by peryersions Of judicial power
a crime against Humanity and IA burning shame
to Country and Age; and we call upon Congress
to take prompt ard efficient for the total
and final suppression of that execfable traffic.
10. That in the recent vetOes, by their Federal
Governors, of the acts of the Legislatures of Kan
and Nebraska, prohibiting Slavery in those
Territories, find practical illustration of the
boosted Democratic principle of Non Intervention
and Popular Sovereignty embodied in the Kansas
Nebraska bill, and demonstl alton Of the deception
and fraud involved therein.
IL. That Kansas should, of right, be Immediately
admitted State under the Constitution recently
formed and adopted by her people, and accepted by
the House of Representatives.
u. That, while providing revenue for the sup
port of the general government by duties upon i'm
ports, sound policy requires such an adjustment of
these imFosts to encourage the development of
the industrial interests of the whole country; and
We commend that policy of national eXchan ges,
which to the working men liberal wages,
agriculture remuheratlhg prices, TO mechanics and
manufacturers an adequate reward for their skill,
labor, and enterprise and to the nation commercial
prosperity and Independence.
l3. That protest against any sale aena-
ton to others of the Public Lands held by actual
settlers, and against any view of the Free Home
stead policy which regards the settlers pauprrs
or suppliants for public bounty and we demand
the passage by Congress of the complete and salts
factory Homestead measure which has already pass
| ed the House.
/ II. That the Republican party is opposed to any
change i'll our Naturalization Laws, any State
legislation by which the rights of citizenship hth-
erto accorded to immigrants from foreign lands
shall be abridged or impaired; and i'll favor of Civ
ing full and efficient protection to the rights OF
ali classes of citizens, whether native or natural
/ lied, both at home and abroad.
10. That appropriations 10y Congress for River
and HarbOr improvements of a National character,
required for the accommodation and security of an
! existing commerce, authorized 10y the Consti-
tuition, and justified 10y the obi legation of Govern
m.ut prot. the lives aud property ufif> citizens.
! Is. That : iiui;I,,td t. '.. Puci. Drrau i
ptraii,, D., demanded 10y III Interests ui the whole
| country, that the Federal Gu'"r',i.rni .ught to
render Itr and .ih'ii4ti a,,d IN is cunstruc-
J ton and tiiat- It.iS thereto. daily
/ Overland Nal stt,,i i'- '''u.lhiN c>is lshtd.
II. tiIliiy having thur -: forth distinctive
principles and Vr,,-. invite the cooperation OF
all citizens, however differing "u oth'r dat-Ufus
who substantially ust,o with teit sfttuIduce
! and support.