The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-10-18
National Republican Platform.
rAs AMENDED AND ADOPTED j

bled, in discharge of the duty we owe to
cur 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 organ-
cation and perpetuatlon 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 tr-
umph.
2. That the maintenance of the princi-
pies 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 inalienable rights !;
that among these are lie, liberty aud the
pursuit OF happiness that to secure these
nights, governments are instituted among
men, deriving their Just powers from the
consent OF the goyerned" 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.
3. That to the union Of the States this
nation owes It's unprecedented increase In
population, its surprising development Of
material resources, It's rapid augmentation
OF wealth, It's happiness at home and its
honor abroad and we hold in adherence
all schemes for DIsuuion, come from W hat
ever source they may And We congratu-
late the country that no Republican mem
Der Of Congress has uttered or counte-
nanccd the threats Of Dlsunion SO often
made by Democratic mt tmbers, without re-
buke and with applause from their political
associates and we denounce those threats
OF dlsunlon, in case OF popular overthrow
OF their asceuuancy, As denying the vital
principles OF free government, and as an
avowal OF contemplated treason, which it
is the imperative DUTY Of an indignant Peo-
| pie sterniy TO rebuke and forever silence
4. That the maintenance inyiolate of the
rights oil the States, and especially the
right Of each State to order aud control its
own domestic institutions according to It's
own Judgment exclusively, is essential to
that balance Of powers on which the per-
fectlon and endurance Of our political tab
ric depends; and we dcnounce the law
less invasion by armed force Of the soil Of
any State or Territory, no matter under
what pretext, as among the gravcst Of
crimes
s. That the present Democratic Admin
IslTation has far exceeded our worst ap-
prehensions, in its measureless subservi-
ency 10 The exactIons of sectional inter
est, as especially eyinced in It's desperate
exertlons 10 force the infamous Lecompton
Constitution upon the protesting people of
Kansas; IN construing the personal rela-
tion between master and servant to in
yolve 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 a purely local
interest; and in its general and unvarying
abuse OF the powere entrusted toit by con
fding people.
6. That the people Justly view with
alarm the reckless extravaganza which
pervades every department Of the Federal
Government that a return 10 rigid econ
omy and accountability is Indispensable TO
arrest The systematic plunder OF the pub
lie treasury by favored partisans; while
the recent startling developments offrauds
and corrupuons al the Federal metropolis,
show that an entire change Of adminls,ra-
ton is imperauyely demanded.
Z. That the new dogma that the Con-
shtution, 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.
tenporaneous exposition. and with legis
laiIye and judicial precedent: is reyolu
tlonary in lis tendency, and suhversiye of
the peace and harmony OF the country.
8. That the normal condition OF ell the
territory Of the United States, is that Of
freedom That as our Republican fathers,
when they bad abolished slavery in all our
national territory, ordained that mo 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
against all attempts to violate it., and we
deny the authority of Congress, e .er
ritorial Legislature, or OF any individuals,
to give legal existence 10 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 haN aided by perver-
slons Of judicial power, as a crime ae ainst
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 execrabe traffic.
10. That in the recent vetoes, by their
Federal Governors, of the acts of the Leg
islatures of Kansas and Nebraska, prohib-