Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-08-24
REPUBLIC An PLATFORM.

REPUBLIC An PLATFORM.
ADOPTED AT CHICAGO, MAY Is, 1860.
Resolved, That ~, che delegated representatives
pf the Pepublican eleetors OF the United States
in Convention assembled, In the disehaSge Of the
duties we owe to oar constituents and our country
unite in the following declarations:
l. That the history OF the nation during the last
four years, has fully established the propriety and
necessity Of the organisation and peRpstuation Of
the Republican party; and that the causes which
called It into existence arc permanent In their ma
tuve, and now, more than ever before, demand il
peaceful aud constitutlenAl triumph.
2. That tho maintenance Of the principles pro-
mulgatsd in the Declaration Of Independence and
embodied In the federal constitution ali
mon are created equal; that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain inale nabls rights that
among these srs life, liberty and the pursuit Of
happiness that to secure these rights governments
are instituted among mon, deriving their just pow
era from the consent Of the goveIned-is sssent al
and that the FEDERAL Constitution, the Rights of
the States, and tho Union Of tho States, must and
shall be preserves.
5. That to the Union Of the States this nation
owes its unprecedented Increase in population, Its
surprising development Of material resources. it,
home and its honor abrosd-snd ~ hold In abhsr-
renee all schemes for disunion, come from whatever
source they may-and we congratulate the country
that no Republican melnber Of Congress has uttered
or countenanosd tho threats of disunion 50 often
made by Democratic members, without Rehuke and
with applause from their political assooiates-aud
we dsnouncs those threats Of disunion, In cass OF
. popular overthrow Of their ascendancy, d deny
ing the vital principles Of free government, and a.
an avowal Of contemplated treason, which It 10 the
imperative duty Of IN indignant people stsrniy to
rebuks and forever silence. s,ag4
4. That tho maintenance inviolate Of the rights
Of tho Htates, and especially tho right Of each State
to order and control Its own domestic Institutions
according to its own judgment exclusively, 10 o.
sential to that balance Of powei on which the
perfection and endurance Of our politicsl fabric
depend, and ws denounoe the lawless invasion by
armed force Of the soil Of any State or Territory,
no matter under what pretext, - among tho grav-
est Of crimes.
S. That the present Democratic Adpiuistration
has far exceeded our worst approximations in its
measureless subserviency to the exacttons of q
sectional interest. - especially evncsd in its des-
perate exertiens to force the infamous Leoompton
Constitution upon the protesting people Of Kassas
in constituting the pefsonal relation between mas
tor and servant to involve an unqualified property
In Persons-ln Its attem pied enforcement every
where. land and sea, through the Of
Congress AM Of the Federal Courts, of the extreme
p'etensions of purely local interest, and It's gen.
etal and uava'yng abuse Of the power entrusted to
it BY confding people.
s. That tho people justly view with alarm tho
reckl extravaganoe which pervades every depart
mont Of the Federal Government-that return to
rigid economy and accountability is indispensable
to arrest the systematic plumber of the public
treasury, by favored Part,ssns, while the recent
startling development Of frauds and corruptions
ct the Fede, 81 metropolis show that an entire
change of administration 10 imperstively demanded.
z. Tha. the new dogma that tue Constitution, ct
Sk>> - IL -
Territories of the United States. 10 . dangerous
political heresy, at variance with the exc lict pro-
visions Of that instrument itself, with cotempora-
neous expositon, and with Legislative and judicial
precedent; 10 revolutionary in its tendency, and
subversive Of the peace and harmony Of the coun-
try.
s. That tho nor1al condition Of all the territory
Of the United 81 ates IL ttat Of freedom that as
our Republican fathers, when they had abolished
slavery in eli the national territory, ordained that
g no person should DO deprived Of life, liberty or
property without due process Of law" it becomes
our duty by legislation, whenever such legislation
is necessary to maintain this provision Of the G.
stitution against all attempts ito violate it; and
We deny the authority Of Congress, of Territorial
Leeislature, or any individuals, to give legal exist
ence to slavery in any Territory Of the United
States.
9. That We brand the recent re-opening of tho
Africa slave trade. under the of cur national
flag, aided by perver'ions Of judicial power as a
crime against humanity and a burning shame to
our country and age; and We call upon Congress
to take prompt and sf lent measures for the total
and final suppression of that execrabls traffic.
10. That 10 the recent vetses, BY their federal
Governors Of the acts Of the Legislatures Of Kan.
sassand Nebraska, prohibiting slavery in those Ter
boasted Democratic principle Of Non. Intervention
and Popular Sovereignty. embodied in the Kans as
Nebraska Bill, and demonstrstion-of the deoep-
ton and fraud involved therein.
IL. That Kansas should, Of right, be immedi-
diately admitted % q State under the Constitution
recei tly formed an1 adopted by her people, and
accepted by the House of Representatives.
Ia, That, while providing revenue for the sup
port of the General Government by duties upon
imports, SQUAD policy requires such adjustment of
those imports as to encourage the development Of
the whole tcountry; and w commend that policy
of national exchanges which secures to the working
men liberal wages, to agriculture recommending
IIices, to mechanics and manufacturers ade-
quats reward for their skill. labor and ENTERPRISE
AID TO the nation commercial prosperity and inde-
pendence.
Is. That We protest against any sale or aliens-
ton t" others OF the Public Lands held BY actual
settlers, and against any view of the Free Home.
stead policy which regards the settlers as psup.rs
or suprliants Of public bounty and we demand
the passage by Congress of the complete and satis
factory Homestead measure which has already
pass Sod the House.
IA. That the R publican party is opposed to any
change in cur Naturalization Laws, CT any State
legislation by which the rights of citizenship hth
srt, accorded to immigrants from foreign lands
shall be abridged or impaired and in favor of CIV
ing full and efficient protection to the rights Of
all classes of citizens, whether native OF natural
lied. both At home and abroad.
Is. The appropriations by Congress for River
sad Harbor Improvements Of . nationsl character,
required fer the accommodation and security of An
existisg commerce, sre authorized BY the Constitu
ton, and justified by tho obi gaton OF Cover nment
to protect the lives and property of its citizens.
is. That RaiIrosd to the Pacific is imperatively
demanded by the interest Of the whole country !;
that the Federal Government ought to render
immediate AMI efficient did in its construction !;
and tsst. as g preliminary thereto, . daily Over
land Mail should be pr,mptly established.
II. Finally. having thus set forth our distinct
i've principles and vi ews, invite the operation
of oil citizsns however differing other questions,
who substantially agree WITH in their afirnaace
and support.
wThe eensus-takers, who are now busi-
" at work, occasionally meet with such
difficulties as we'll nigh to deprive them of
their own sense. The following colloquy is
said to have taken place between a marshal
and on Trish ,vo,pa IN In IN; oouot,,