The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-07-14
National Republican Platform
IAs AMENDED AND ADopTED.l

TeSenbatlf&h III LIE sAepuDHCau tiecLOTh ol
the United States, in Convention assem-
bied. in discharge of the duty we owe to
our constituents and our country, unite in
the following declarations
/. That the history ofshe nation during
the last -four years. has fully established
the propriety and necessity'of the organi-
zation and perpetuation Of the Republican
party, and that the causes which called it
into existence are permanent in their ma
ture. and now, more than ever before, de-
mand Its peaceful and constitutional tri-
umph.
8. That the maintenance Of the princi-
Piles promulgated in the Declaration OF In
dependence and embodied in the Federal
Constitution, THAT all men are created
equal that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain inalenable rights
that among these are lite, 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 d"-is essential to
the preservation OF our Republican institu-
tions; and that the Federal Constitution,
the Rights Of the States, and the Union OF
the States must and shall be preserved.
5. That 70 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 happfness at home and its
honor abroad and We hold In abhorrencs
all schemes for Disunon, come from what
ever source they may And we congratu-
late the country that no Republican mem
ber of Congress has uttered or counte-
nanced the threats Of DisunioD so 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 q popular overthrow
of their ascendancy, As denying the vital
principles of q free government. and as an
avowai of contemplated treason, which it
is the imperative duty Of an indignant Peo-
pie sternly TO rebuke and forever silence
| 4. That the maintenance inyfolate 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-
lection and endurance Of orr political fab
ric 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.
o. That the present Democratic Admin
istration has far exceeded our worst ap-
prehensions, IN lis measureiess subseryi-
ency TO the exactions of sectional inter
est, as especially eyinced in its desperate
exertions 10 force the infamous Lecompton
Constitution upon the protesting people Of
Kansas in constituting the personal rela
ton between master and servant to in
volve 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 it by con-
fiding people.
6. That the people justly view with
alarm the reckless extravagance which
pervades every department of the Federal
Government that return TO rigid econ
omy and accountability is indispensable TO
arrest the systematic plumber 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.
Z. 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 her
esy, at variance with the explicit proyi-
sions Of that instrument itself, with CO.
temporaneous exposition, and with legis-
lative and judicial precedent; is revolu
tionary in its tendency, and subyersiye 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 al our
national territory, ordained that ono 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
| sssss..1... "a. an attempts 10 violate ii and we
deny the authority Of Congress, of ter
ritorial Legislature, or of any individuals,
to give legal existence to slavery in any
Territory of the United States.
8. That we brand the recent re-opening
of the African slave trade, under the COW
er of our national flag, aided by perver-
sions OF judicial power, as crime against
humanity and burning shame 10 our
country and age; and we call upon Con-
gress to take prompt and efficient meas
ures for the total and final suppression Of
that execrable traffic.
10. That in the recent vetoes. by their