Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-08-31
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
ADOPTED AT CHICAGO, MAY IS, 1860.

ADOPTED AT CHICAGO, MAY IS, 1860.
Resolred, That We, the delegated representatives
of the Republican electors Of the United States
in Convention assembled, in the discharge Of the
duties we owe to our 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 Organization and perpetuation Of
tho Republican party and that the causes which
called it into existence permanent in their ma
ture, and now, moro than ever before, demand 1t.
peaceful and constitutional triumph.
2. That the maintenance of the principles PRO
mulgatsd in tho Declaration Of Independence and
embodied in the federal constitution That all
mon are created equal; that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain nAl nable rights; that
among these ar, life, liberty and the pursuit Of
happiness that to secure these rights government
are instituted among men, deriving their just pow.
ers from the consent of the governed lis essential
to the preservation of eur Republican Institutions
land that tho Federal Constitution, the Rights Of
the States, and the Union of the States, must and
shall bs preserved. iaI 1F
8. That 70 the Union Of the States this nation
owes its unprecedented increase in population its
surprising development Of material resources, it,
rapid augmentation OF wealth, its happiness at
homo and its honor abroad-and We hold in abhsr-
renee all schemes for disunion, come from whatever
source they may-and We congratulate the country
that no Republican me,nb of Congress has uttered
or countenanoed the threats of disunion SO often
made by Democratic members, without rebuke and
with appla use from their political assocates-and
We dshouncs those threats of disunon, in case Of
popular overthrow of their ascen dancy, as deny
ing the vital principles Of free government, and al
IN avowal of contemplated treason, which 1t is the
imperative duty Of an indignant people sterniy ia
rekuke and forever silence.
4. That the maintenance inviolate Of the rights
Of the States, and especially the right Of each State
to order and control its own domestic institutions
according to it's own judgment exclusively, is o.
sentia to that balance OF power on which the
perfection and endurance Of our political fabric
depend, and we denounce the lawless invasion by
armed force Of the soil of any State or Territory
no matter under what pretext, as among tho graT-
est Of crimes.
5. That the present Democratic Administration
as far exceeded our worst apprehensions in it,
mcasureless subservieaoy to the exacti,ns Of g
sectional interest, as especially evnced in its des
perate exertons to force he infamous Leoemptor
Constitution upon the protesting people of Kansas
ia constr uing the personal relation between mas
ter and etrvant to involve 40 I'm qualified property
in Psrsoas-in its attempted enforcement every
where on land and sea, through the Intervention Of
Congress ans Of the Fedora Courts, of tbs extreme
pIetensons of purely local interest, and It's gen
eral and unvarying abuse of the power entrusted to
it by eonfding people. ...
g. That the people justly view with alarm the
TecKIeSS eXlIBVBRSuCe WulCu p6KVbueS every VcphLG
ment Of the Federal Government-that q return tt
rigid economy and accountability Is indispensable
to arrest the systematic plumber of the public
treasury, by favored partizans, while the recent
startling development Of frauds and corruptions
at tho Fede' al metropolis show that an entire
change of administration is imperatvely demanded
I. Tha. the new dogma that the Constitution ,s
its own force, carries slavery into any or oil OF the
Territories Of the United States. is 9 dsngerou.
political hc,esy, at variance with the cx ict pro
visions Of that instrument itself, with cotempora
neous exposition, aud with Legislative and judicial
precedent; is revolutionary in its tendency, and
subversive Of the peace and harmony Of tho coun
try.
8. That the norzal condition of all the territory
of the United 81 ses is tt at of freedom that n:
our Republican fathers, when they had abolished
slavery in all the national territory, ordained that
% no person should be deprived Of life, liberty q
property without due process Of law" it becomes
our duy by legislation, whenever such legisla.io
IS necessary, to maintain this provision of the Cen
stitution against all attempts ito violate it; and
We deny the authority of Congress, of Territorial
LIE slaturs, or any Individuals, to give legal exist
ence to slavery in any Territory of the United
States.
g. That We brand the recent ro.opening Of the
African slave trade, under the Of eur national
flag, mid by perver.ions Of judicial power. as
crime against humanity and burning shame to
our country and age; aud We call upon Congress
to take prompt and eff lent measures for the total
and final suppression Of that cxacrsbls traffic.
10. Thet 10 the recent vet.cs, by their federal
Governors, Of the acts Of tho Legislatures OF Kaa
.as and Nsbra ka, prob biting slavery in those Ter.
ritosies, We find practical iilustratioa of the
boasted Democratic principle of Eon-lntervention
and Popular Sovereignty. embodied in the Kans as.
Nebraska Bill, and demonstration CT tho decep-
ton end fraud involved therein.
IL. That Kansas should, of right, be immeii-
dia tey admitted as Stats under tho Consttut ion
reco, tly formed AMI adopted by her people, and
act epted by the House Of Representatives,.
s r. That, while providing revenue for the sup
pert of tie General Government by duties upon
imports, squad policy requires such adjustment of
those Imports as to encourage the development o.
the whole, counry; and We commend that policy
OF national exchanges which secures to the working
men liberal wages, to agriculture remunerating
prices, to mech anirs and manufacturers an ade-
quas reward for their skill. labor and enterprise,
AID to the nation Comm rca prosperity and iGde-
pendance
Is. That we protest against any sale or aliena-
ton t., others OF the Public Lands held by actual
settler, and against any view Of the Free Home
stead policy which regards tho settlers as psupsrs
or suPrlants Of public bounty and we demand
the passage by Congress of the complete and satis
factory Homestead measure which has already
passed the House.
Il. That tho publican party is opposed to any
change in cur Naturalization Laws, or any State
legislation by which the rights of citizenship hith
?rt9 accorded TO lmEl grants from foreign lands
sha be abridged or impaired AID in favor of CIV.
ing full and efdeient protection to the rights Of
all lasaes Of cti4Hns. whctEef native OF natural
u d. 10th at home AMI abioai.
: Is. fhe appropriations by Congress for River
and llarbor Improvements of a national character,
reqaittd fer the accommodation and security of en-
existing commerce, are author I'D By the CoIstitu
tioa, and justified by the CD igation Of Govrnmsnt
to prot ct she lives and proa .ty Ct is Cit ans.
ID. That karosd to tbs Pacific is impe rativ.iy
demanlad by the interest Of tho whole country
that tie Federal Government ought to renicr
INN cIiats AMI efficient sid in its construction !;
and ihat. az preliminary hereto, a daily Over
lard Mail should be pr mptly established.
II. Finally, having thus set forth our distinct
i've principles and yiees We INVITE the % operation
ofal oft ms, however DIFF ring Oh other questions,
who Substantially agree With ia their afir ace
and support.