, 1860-05-03
39rfas& Uriht&11c.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1850.
REpuHELrcAN PLATFORM.

REPUHkLlCAN FAAAFOkA-A.
rhe Quarrel ut Charleston between the two
o. three factions Of tho united Democracy, ar''
sins out Of 1he disagreement as 10 tho iorm q
vvords which shall be used in the Platform, is
the .esult only Of the primary departure Of the
Democratic party from the principles which
the fathers cf that Organization originally held
-;I,e expected punishment Of tho heretics who
hsvs corrupted the ancient faith. Since tho
par,y becaue subject IL tho oligarcly u the
South, aud ceased TO look to tho frce.labor ill.,
tcres. and to free men for its victories, it has
sberaelcssly talsifcd, rot only the written rec
ord Of all its former tenets but all the
traditions which mae it glorious. 1t
was formerly IN anti-Slavery party in
its fundamental principles ana in its prac-
sicat Legislation. 1ts oldest leaders were
the strongest anti-slavery men, and its
rank and file, North aud South, were always
into1crant Of any extension Of that internal in
stitu.ion, which not ouis violated their cou-
@c,eucies, but remotely endangered their per
souai freedom. No LONGER ago thau l84s, it
abandoned the proud position which it Ind
held since the day Of Jefferson, as defender Of
abstract human right, and by then standing
By and permitting Mr.. Jcferson's example 10
be deridcd and his policy oresruled in the re-
lection OF tho N'ilmot Proviso, it opened the
door to every ooe Of tho coEEuptions Of
doctrine which hare since crcpt in and which
row threaten 10 split tue party in twain It's
Platform or that yenr was the first national
surrender to the pro.Slavcry influences by
which the party had been besiegcd. It took
another step downward in 1852, when that
thi.d-rate, coanty-court New Hampshire pet
tifoggcr w:.e the nominee. 1t pitched hcadlcng
iuto the pro~Slavery mire iu 1856. Is it any
cause for wonder that it ties to Calhounism in
1850: TIC progress has been Fapid; indeed
it is uilcxumrled. No great and powerful
party, secure in tue possession Of power and
in tho affections Of the people, ever fell &C
fast and so far in SO sho.t space Of time.
Tho history il not without its value to the
Republicans. They will shortly hold thei'
Co.yen:lo, III Ch:cago; and There will not bf
wanting thusc who desire to depart from The
single iesuc upou which the party was organ
i2aa. What that is, all men know: opposl'
tiou to tue extension Of Human Slavery
That's elr..lS;,. Cpon that, ,nen Of the 1nosl
disssrnilar vi.ws on questions Of Finance. "
Political Etcuomr ol IuterDal Improvement
eau rully, Every plank laid oa that is a caus'
Of disseus:on aud weakuess; because, OIL moth
inr else nre the members Of the party uuite<,
That uiuc-,cnths, perhaps niuoty-nlnc-one
hundred.lls, OF t1em are for IN alteration u
the commercial policy of tue country, aud th"
thcrr il .,;li greater unauimity Oh all matter;
iu relation tp tie currency and tho improve
men. Of rivers ard larbors, are facts wl.ich d.
not disprovc the general truth which We Ia.
down. Start anv QUO Of the questions whc]
may be 14iscl BY thu incorporation Of higl
crlow tariff, system Of riu:crual improvements
or metallic currency, iu our creed, and mi
nority, large or small. how willing 10 co-opcrat
with tie body Of the party in the further col
=ecsatiou cs the Territories to F freedom, wou1
Gad their arduf cooled and their action e1nba,
:aesea ir tie iu1i=creiiou. THIS is 80 eviden
that were The PRESS AsD TRIBUNE to be cleo
ed Platf.ru-nakcr to the Convention, VI
should content ourselves with the 1ilnitation
R:publicaasm ~ resolution like this:
R.soirsd, That nc pledge ourselves 10 suppoI
the Constitution and Laws Of tile United Statt
md to use ut constitutional and legut meauh
pres eut the exten>.cn Of Human Slavery in,
Icrrl.ories pow Tree.
With that simple, comprehensive, fai
natieual aud uucx:cptioaablo Platform, a Vi
tory over the cunmon enemy may be achieve
if yiclorc by apy human agopcy is possjbI