The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-09-21
National Republican Platform.



Resolved, That we. sthe delegated rep
ressntatiyes of nM Raoublican elecsDrs OF
the United States, in Convention Assem-
bled. in discharge Of the duty we owe to
our constituents and our country, unite in
the following declarations
/ That the history of the nation during
the last four years, has fully established
the propriety and necessity Of The organi-
zation and perpetuation 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 tri-
umph. es~
e. That the msintenapce of theprinci-
Piles 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 lite, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness that to secure these
rights, governments are instituted among
men, deriving their Just powers from the
consent of the governed'--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 bs preserved.
5. That to the union OF the States this
nation owes its unprecedented increase in
population, its surprising development of
material resources, its rapid augmentation
of wealth. its happiness at home and its
honor abroad and we bold In adherence
all schemes for Disunion, come from " hat
ever source they may: And we congratu-
late the country that no Republican mem
Der of Congress has uttered or counte-
nanced the threats Of Disunion so often
made by Democratic members, without re-
buke and with applause from their political
associates and we denounce those threats
Of disunlon, in case Of popular overthrow
of their ascendancy, 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 sternly to rebuke 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 its
own judgment exclusively, is essential to
that balance of powers on which the per-
feetion and endurance of our political fab
ric depends; and we denounce the law
less invasion by armed force of the soil Of
any State or Territory, no matter under
what pretext, as among the gravest OF
crimes.
s. That the present Democratic Admin
istration has far exceeded our worst ap-
prehensions, in its measureless subservi-
ency TO the exactions of sectional inter-
est, as especially evinced in its desperate
exertions TO force the infamous Lecompton
Constitution upon the protesting people of
Kansas; in construing the personal .rela-
tion between master and servant to in
volve an unqualified property in persons ;
in its attempted enforcement, everywhere,
on land and sea, through the Intervention
of Congress and of the Federal Courts, oil
the extreme pretensions of a purely local
interest; and in its general and unvarying
abuse Of the power entrusted to it by con-
fiding people.
6. That the people justly view with
alarm the reckless extravaganza which
pervades every department of the Federal
Government ; that return to 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 at the Federal metropolis,
show that an entire change of administra-
ton is imperatively demanded.
Z. That the new dogma that the Con.
s6nhon, ofits own force, carries Slavery
into any or oil of the Territories Of the
United States, is dangerous political her
esy, at variance with the explicit provi.
sions of that instrument itself, with CO.
temporaneous exposition, and with legis
lative and judicial precedent; is revolu,
tionary in its tendency, and subversive ol
the peace and harmony Of the country.
s. That the normal condition of all the
territory of the United States, is that o.
freedom That as our Republican fathers
when they had abolished slavery in oil oul
national territory. ordained that mo per
son should be deprived of life, liberty, ol
property, without due process of law i
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 W,
deny the authority of Congress. of a ter
ritorial legislature, or of any individuals
to give legal existence 10 slavery in any
Territory ofthe United States.
8. That we brand the recent e-openin,
of the African slave trade, under the GOV
er of our national 6ag, aided by perver
sions Of judicial power, as a crime agains
humanity and . burning shame 10 on
country and age /; and we call upon Con
4 0rnsa tn taka nrOmrt anH affcio-f r,naos