The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-07-25
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM,

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 estab-
Iished the propriety and necessity of the
organization and perpetuation of the Re-
publican party, and that the causes which
| called it into existence are permanent in
| their nature, and now more than ever be-
fore demand its peaceful aud constitution
al triumph.
Second: That the maintenance of the
principles promulgated in the Declaration
of Independence, and embodied in the
Federal Constitution, is essential to the
preservation of our republican institutions,
| and that the Federal Constitution, the
rights of the States and the Union of
the States, must and shall be preserved.
Third. That to the Union ofthe States
this nation owes its unprecedented in
erase in population; its surprising derel-
opmcnt of material resources; its rapid
augmentation of wealth; its happiness at
home and its honor abroad; and we hold
in abhorancc all schemes for disunion,
come from whatever source they may !;
and we congratulate the country that no
Republican member of Congress has ut
tered or countenanced threat of dsun-
ion, so often made By Democratic mem
bers of Congress without rebuke, and
with applause from their political assoei-
ates; aud we deuounce those threats of
dsunion, in case of n popular overthrow
of their ascendency, as denying the vital
principles of free Government, and rs
ah avowal of contemplated treason, which
it is the imperative duty Of an indignant
people strongly to rebuke and forever
silence.
Fourth; That the maintenance invio,
late of the right of the States, and espec
ia'ly the right of each State to order and
control its own domestic institutions &C
cording to its own judgement exclusively,
is essential to that balance of power on
which the perfection and endurance of
our political faith depends, and we de-
nouuce the lawless invasion by armed
forces of any State or Territory, no mat
ter under what pretext, as among the
gravest of crimes.
Flfh: That the present Democratic
Administration has far exceeded our
worst apprehensions in its measurelesS
subseryiency to the exactions OF a section
al interest, rs is especially evident in its
desperate eXertions To fo.ce the infamous
Leconpton Constitution upon the pro-
testing people OF Kansas--in constituting
the personal relation between master apd
servant to involve al unqualified property
10 persons-in lis attempted enforcement
everywhere, on land and sea, through
the intervention of Congress and the Fed
eral Courts Of the extreme pretensons of
purely o; nj interest, and in its general
and unvarying abuse of the power iu-
trusted to it by a confding people.
Saith: That the people justly view
with alarm the reckless extravaganza
which pervades every department of the
| Federal Government; that return to
rigid economy and accountability is indis-
pensable to arrest the system, of plumber
of the public treasury by favored parti-
sans; while the recent startling develop
ments of fraud and corruption at the
| Federal metropolis, shows that an entire
change of administration in imperatiyely
! demanded.
Seventh That the new dogma that
| Constitution of its own force carries Sla-
very into any or all the Territories of the
United States, is dangerous political
heresy, at variance with the explicit pro
visions of that instrument itself, with con
temporaneous exposition, and with legi;.
lative and judicial precedent, is revoIu
tionary in its tendency and subversive Of
the peace and harmony of the country.
Eigtth: That the normal condition OF
the territories of the United States is that
of Freedom; that as our republican faith
crs. when they had abolished Slavery in
all our national territory, ordained that
no person should be deprived of life, Ito.
erty, or property, without the process OF
law, it becomes our duty, by legislation,
whenever such legislation is necessary, tc
maintain this provision of the Constitu-
ton against all a tempts to violate it; and
we deny tho authority of Congress, of a
Territorial Legislature, or of any indiyid.
uals. to give legal existence to Slavery in
any Territory Of tho United States.
Ninth: That we br; nd the recent re-
opening Of the African slaye-trade, under
the cover of our national Dag, aided by
perversions Of judicial power, as crime
against humanity, burning shame to
our country md age, and we call upon
Congress to take prompt and efficient
measures for the total and final suppress.
ion of that eyecrable traffic.
| Tenth. That in the recent vetoes by
their Federal Governors Of the acts of the
Legislatures of Kansas and Nebraska
prohibiting Slavery in those Territories,
we find practical illustration of tho
boosted Democratic principle of non-in
tervention and Popular Sovereignty, EN-.
bodied in the Kansas and Nebraska bill.
and denunciation of the deception and
fraud involved therein.
Eleventh. That Kansas should Of
right be Immediately admitted as a State
under the Constitution recently formed
and adopted by her people, and accepted
by the House of Representatives.
1welfth: That while providing rove.
1 Al u ~