Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-08-31
Republican Platform of 1860.

tions
First, 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 it into existence are
permanent in their nature. and now more than
ever before demand its peaceful and constitu-
tional triumph.
Second, That the maintenance Of the princi-
pies promulgated in the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, and embodied in the Federal Con-
stitution, is essential to the preservation of our
republican institutions that the Federal Con-
stitution, the rights of the States and the Union
Of the States must and shall be preserved :;
and that we reassert - these truths to be self
evident, that all men are created equal. that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rig hts 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"
Third, That to the Union of the States this
nation owes its unprecedented increase in pop
ulation its surprising development of material
resources ; its rapid augmentation of wealth !;
its happiness at home and its honor abroad ;
and we hold in abhorrence all schemes for dis
union, come from whatever source they may
and we congratulate the country that no Re-
countenanced threat of disunion, so often
made by Democratic Members of Congress
without rebuke and with applause from
their political associates and we denounce
those threats of disunion in case of 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 indignant people
strongly to rebuke and forever silence.
Fourth. That the maintenance inviolate Of
the rights of the States, and especially the
right Of each State to order and control its
own domestic institutions, according to its own
judgment exclusively, is essential to that bal
anee Of power on which the perfection and en-
durance Of our political faith depends,
and we denounce the lawless invasion By arm
ed force of any State or Territory, no matter
under what pretext, as among the gravest of
crimes.
Fifth, That the present Democratic Admin
istration has far exceeded our worst apprehen-
sions in its measureless subseryiency to the ex-
actions of a sectional interest. as is especially
evident In its desperate eXertions to force the
infamous Lecompton constitution on the protest
ing people of Kansas, in constituting the personal
relation between master and servant to involve
an unqualified property in persons-in its at
tempted enforcement everywhere, on land and
sea, through the Intervention of Congress
sions of a purely local interest, and in its gem
eral and unvarying abuse of the power intrust-
ed to it by confiding people.
.SLcth That the people justly view with alarm
the reckless extravaganza which pervades every
department of the Federal Government that
a return to rigid economy and accountability is
indispensable to arrest the system of plunder of
the public treasury By favored partisans; while
the recent startling developments of fraud and
corruption at the Federal metropolis show that
an entire change of administration is impera-
lively demanded.
lSeUentH, That the new dogma that the Con-
stitution, of its own force, carries Slavery into
any or all of the Territories of the United
States is dangerous political heresy at vari-
ance with the explicit provisions of that instru-
ment itself, with contemporaneous exposition,
and with legislative and judicial precedent; is
revolutionary in its tendency. and subversiye
of the peace and harmony of the country.
Eighth. That the normal condition of all the
territory of the United States is that Of Free
dom; that as our republican fathers, when
they had abolished slavery in all our national
territory, ordained that no person should be
deprived of life, liberty, or property, without
the process of law, it becomes our duty, by leg
islation, whenever such legislation is necessary,
to maintain this provision of the Constitution
against all attempts to violate it and we deny
the authority of Congress, of a Territorial leg
islature, or of any individuals. to give legal ex-
istenee to Slavery in any territory of the Uni
ted States.
Ninth, That we brand the recent re-opening
of the African slave-trade. under the cover of
our national flag, aided by perervsions of Judi
cia1 power, as a crime against humanity, a
burning shame to our country and age, and
we call upon Congress to take prompt and eff
eient measures for the total and final suppress
sion of that execrable traffic.
Tenth That in the recent vetoes by their Fed
eral Governors of the acts of the Legislatures
OF Kansas and Nebraska prohibiting Slavery
in those territories, we find practical illustra-
ton of the boasted Democratic principle of
non-intervention and Popular Sovereignty, en-
bodied in the Kansas and Nebraska bill. and a
denunciaton of the deception and fraud invol-
we'd therein.
Elepeath That Kansas should of right be i'm
mediately admitted as State under the Con-
stitution recently formed and adopted by her
people, and accepted by the House of Repre-
sentatives.
Ilcelfth. That while providing revenues for
the support of the general Government by du-
ties upon imports, sound policy requires such
an adjustment of those imposts as to encourage
the development of the industrial interest of
the whole country and we commend that
policy of national exchanges which secures to
the working men liberal wages, to agriculture
remunerating prices, to mechanics and manu-
facturers an adequate reward for their skill,
labor and enterprise, and to the nation COM
mercial prosperity, and independence.
Thirteenth That we protest against any sale
or alienation to others of the public hapds held
by actual settlers, and against any view Of the
free homestead policy which regards the settlers
as paupers or supplicants fol public bounty,
and we demand the passage by Congress of the
complete and satisfactory Homestead measure
which has already passed the House.
Fourteenth That the Republican party is op-
posed to any change in our Naturalization laws,
or any State legislation by which the rights of
citizenship hitherto accorded to immigrants
from foreign lands shall be abridged or impair
ed; and in favor of giving full and efficient pro-
lection to the rights of all classes of citizens,
whether native or naturalized, both at home
or abroad.
Fifteenth The appropriations by Congress for
River and Harbor Improvements of a national
character, required for the accommodation and
security of an existing Commerce, are author
lied by the Constitution and justified by the
obligation of the Government to protect the lives
and property of its citizens.
Sirtee1ath That railroad to the Pacific Ocean
is imperatiyely demanded by the interests of
the whole country; that the Federal Govern
ment ought to render immediate and efficient
aid in its construction. and that as preliminary
thereto daily overland mail should be estab-
lished
Serenteenth, Finally, having thus set forth
our distinctive principles and views, we invite
the cooperation of all citizens, however differ
ing on other questions, who substantially agree
with us in their afirmanee and support.