Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-05-30
THE CHICAGO PLATFORM.

cago which nominated Mr. Lincoln for the Presi-
dency
Resolced, That we, the delegated representatives
of the Republican electors of the United States, in
Convention assembled, in the discharge OF the duty
we owe to our constituents and our country, unite
in the following declarations:
FIrst-That the history of the nation during the
last four years has fully established the propriety
and necessity Of the organization and perpetuatlon
Of the Republican party, and that the causes which
called II into existence are permanent in their ma
ture and now, more than ever before, demand Its
peaceful and constitutional triumph
SecOnd-That the maintenance of tue principle
promulgated in the Declaration Of Independence
and embodied in the federal Constitution, is essen
tial to the preservation Of our republican instu-
TONS and that the federal Constitution, the rights
Of the States, and the Union of the States, must
and shall be preserved.
THirl--That to the Union of the States this
ton owes its population; its
surprising development of material resources; its
rapid augmentation of wealth its happiness at
home and it's honor abroad, and We hold in abhor-
renee all schemes for disunion come from whatever
source they may and We congratulate the country
that no Republican member of Congress has uttered
or countenanced threat of disunion so often made
by Democratic members of Congress without re.
Duke and with applause from their political asso-
ciates and We denounce those threats Of disunion
in case of popular overthrow of their ascendency
and as an avowal Of contemplated treason, which it
is the imperative duty of indignant people strong
" 20 rebuke and forever silence.
F0urth-That the maintenance inviolate of the
rights of the States and especially the light of each
State to order and control its own domestic insttu
tons according to its own judgment exclusively, is
essential to that balance of power which the per-
fiction and endurance Of our political faith depends
and we denounce the lawless invasion by an armed
force Of any State or Territory, no matter under
what pretext, as among the gravest of crimes.
FTth-That the present Democratic Admnistra-
ton has far exceeded our worst apprehensons in its
meaSurcleSs subserviency to the exactions of
tional interest as is especially evident in its desper
ate exertions to force the infamous Lecompton Con-
sttution upon the protesting people Of Kansas-in
constituting the personal relation between master and
servant to involve an unqualified property in per-
sonS-in its attempted enforcement everywhere, on
land and sea, through the intervention of Congress
and the Federal Courts Of the extreme prctensions
Of purely local interest and in its general and I'M
varying abuse of the power intrusted to it by con-
filling people.
.Sirth-That the people justly view with alarm
the reckless extravaganza which pervades every de-
partment of the Federal Government that a return
TO rigid economy and accountability is indispensable
to arrest the system Of plumber of the public rea-
sury by favored partisans while the recent start
ling developments of fraud and corruption at the
Federal Metropolis show that entire change Of
Serenth-That the new dogma that the Constitu-
ton Of its force carries Slavery into any all
the territories of the United States is dangerous
political heresy at variance with the explicit pro-
visions Of that instrument ITSELF with contemporaries
exposition, and with legislative and judicial pre-
cedent is revolutionary in its tendency, and subver
sive Of the peace and harmony Of the country.
EIghth-That the normal condition of all the ter
rtory of the United States is that Of freedom that
our republican fathers, when they had abolished
Slavery in all national territory, ordained that
person should be deprived Of life liberty or prop
erty without due process of law, it becomes our
duty, by legislation whenever such legislation is
necessary to maintain this provision of the Consti
tuition against all attempt to violate it. and we deny
the authority Of Congress, of Territorial Legisa-
ture Of any individuals, to give legal exist
ence to Slavery in any Territory of the United
States.
Ninth-That we brand the reopening of the AZ
rican Slave trade, under the Of our national
flag aided by perversions of judicial power, as a
crimes against humanity, burning shame to our
country and age, and we call upon Congress to take
prompt and efficient measures for the total and final
suppression Of that eXecrable traffic.
1enh-That in the recent vetoes by their Federal
Governors of the acts of the Legislatures of Kansas
and Nebraska, prohibiting Slavery in those Terrific
ries VIC find practical illustration of the boosted
Democratic principle of nonntervention and Popu-
lar Sovereignty, embodied in the Kansas and Ne
oraSka, BILL and remuneration OF the deception ana
fraud involved therein.
HerenN-That Kansas should Of right be i'm
medately admitted as State under the Constitu-
ton recently formed and adopted by her people, and
accepted by the House Of Representatives.
ITe!th-That while providing revenue for the
support Of the General Government by duties upon
imports sound policy requires such an adjustment
of these imposts to encourage the development of
the industrial interest of the whole country and we
commend that policy OF national exchanges which
secures to the workingmen liberal wages, to agri-
culture remuneratng prices, to mechanics and
manufacturers adequate reward for their skill,
labor and enterprise, and to the nation commercial
prosperity and independence.
Ihirteenth-That we protest against any sale or
alienation to others Of the public lands held by actual
settlers and against any view Of the free Homestead
policy which regards the settlers paupers or sup
pcants for public bounty, and we demand the pas
sage by Congress of the complete and satisfactory
Homestead measure which has already passed the
House; that the national Republican party is op-
posed to any change in naturalization laws, or
any State legislation by which the rights of citizen
ship hitherto accorded to emgrants from foreign
lands shall be abridged impaired, and IN favor Of
giving full and efficient protection to the rights of
all classes Of citizens whether native naturaliZed
both at home and abroad; that appropriations by
Congress for River and Harbor improvements of
national character required for the accommodation
and security of our existing commerce, are author
lied by the Constitution and justified by obliga
ton of the Government to protect the lives and prop
erty Of its citizens.
F0urteenh-That railroad to the Pacific Ocean
is imperatively demanded by the interests of the
whole country that the Federal Government ought
to render immediate and efficient aid in its con-
structon, and that preliminary thereto, daily
overland mail should be promptly established
Extraordinarily, having thus set forth our
distinctive principles and views, we invite the CO.
operation of all citizens, however differing on other
questions who substantially agree with us in their
afirmance and support
81 The Concord, New Hampshire, Patriot, the
organ of President Pierce, and which has always