The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-05-31
KIRkyILIE. May 18th. 1850.

EDITOR COURIER, Dear Sir Pursuant
| to n published call made through the columns
of your paper, the Republicans of Richland
Township, came together at the school house
in Kirkville, and organized themselves into a
| Township Republican Club by electlng Z. \.
| Wareham, President; I. X Kirkpatrick
| Vice President, and w. B. Marshal, Secre-
tarv After the organization was completed
| there was a committee of three appointed hv
the club, consisting of f. X. Kirkpatrick,
J. w Woods and Joshua Marshall to frame
a set of Resolutions expressive of the prin-
ciples of the Club, and present them for its
consideration and action. The following
were presented and unanimously adopted:
Whereas. There is party in our country
claiming to be national, AMI who profess to
be disseminating the doctrines as presented
| by the illustrious founders of this Republic,
but whose national assumptions bcgcts, and
cherishes sectional strife and party animosi-
ties, and whose doctrines of Legislative right,
| Constitutional guarantees and extra Judi
cial powers without precedent in the his
tory of our country. And who are, as we be
licve, trying to make the posrer of mite tie
ruling principle Of the achole country-to
place the weak at the mercy of the strong
the poor and the poverty stricken at the feet
of the rich and opulent to set up in stead
of our present system Of government a big
oted and selfwilled aristocricy. Therefore,
in view of the approaching Presidential con-
test and the facts as above stated we deem
it necessary and expedient as free electors
of this Repub.ic-our common country to
publish to the world our principles and ideas
of right in order that we may be the better
prepared to act our parts officially in the
great struggle now going on between two of
the most powerful systems ever brought to
bear in orr government since it's formation
to wit FREEDOM and SLAVERY. There.
fore, be it
Resoloed, 1st That all men are created
equal--endowed by their Creator with GER
tain inalienable rights, among which are,
Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness, and a
free discussion of their Principles, In and
under all circumstances
Resoloed, 2nd. That the object of the Re-
publican party is t, arrest the Government
from the hands of sectional agitators and
disunion fanatics, and to restore it to the
original principles as set Portland maintain
ed by Washington, Jefferson, Madison,
Henry, Wythe, and their numerous COM
peers.
ResoIoed, Sd. That we are in favor Of
keeping inviolate the union of those thirty
three States, so long as it can be done with
out sacrificing our vested rights as sovereign
States into the hands of the Pro Slavery Oil
garchy, or to the Mooch of Slavery.
ResolDed, 4th. That we believe in State
equality-that every sovereign State has a
delegated right by the Constitution to frame
and protect her own peculiar institutions in
her own way. And that an invasion Of said
rights by a sister State or States, is deroga-
tory to the genius Of the vested rights of the
beSiegcd State, or States.
Rosoioed, 9TH. That we are opposed to
the introduction and perpetuation of human
Slavery into our Territories now free. And
that it is peryersion of truth, honesty and
the policy of our fathers to hold the doctrine
that Slavery exists wherever our Constitu-
ton goes, and that it is a libel upon the
men who sat in the convention Of 1877 to
assert that the Constitution recognizes the
the practices of American Slavery as lawful,
honest, or humane
Resoloed, 9th That the re-opening of the
African Slave trade is barbarous, inhuman,
and anti Christian; and that any individual
or set of individuals, that approves it, or en-
cages in the traffic of human beings along
the coasts of Africa for the purpose of i'm
portation to this country, should be he'd
amenable to the laws of the land, and be
treated as capital offenders.
Resoloed, 7th. That the donation of the
public lands 10 actuate settlers for improve
ment will be advantageous to the well-being
of the whole country, and will prove a bear
rier to finan cial commissions hereafter.
Resoloea, SIN. That the speedy construc-
ton of the Racifc Railroad will be Of vast
importance to the Government, in the way
Of making speedy defence on the western
coast against outside aggression, and IN
bringing to light the wealth of our Western
Territories and the speedy settlement of the
same.
Resolred, 9th. That we are in favor of
protecting American Citizens in the United
States, on the high seas, or anywhere else,
when engaged in lawful pursuits.
Resoloed, 10th. That we are opposed to
the Buchanan Administration, in every
shade, and under all consideration, except
his published efforts to suppress the African
Slave trade.
Resoloed, 18th. That Congress has SOW
ereign power to legislate for the Territories,
and that Douglass "Squatter Sovereignty"
bill is burlesque on the inalienable rights
of men. F. X. KIRKPATRICK.
J. w. WOODS,
JOSHUA MARSHALL.
Congressional Convention.
The RanubIicap electors nf the First Com