The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-07-11
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TUE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.


the United States, iG Convention assem-
bIed. in the discharge of the duty we
owe to our constituents and our country,
unto in the following declarations:
first: That the history of the nation
during the last four years has fully estab-
Ii.hed the propriety and necessity OF the
organization and .perpetuation OF the he
publican party, aud that the causes winch
called Il into existence are permanent III
their nature, and now more than ever be-
fore demand its peaceful and constitution
al triumph. -,
Second: That the maintenance OF the
Drinciples promulgated in the Declaration
Of independence, and embodied in the
Federal Constitution, is essential to the
preservation of our republican institutions,
md 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 of the States
this nation owes its unprecedented IN
erase in population; its surprising devel-
opment of material resources; its rapid
augmentation of wealth; its happiness at
In1ne and It's honor abroad; and We hold
in abborance all schemes for dlsunlon,
come from whatever source they may
and we congratulate the country that no
Republican member of Congress has ut
tered or countenanced a threat of disun-
ion, so often made by Democratic mem
Lers OF Congress without rcbuke, and
,r;.h o,>,,tonsa &C.,. tl-ei -al't'4nl nsSr-~i
atcs; asd we deuounce those threats of
disuaion, in case of a popular overthrow
Of their ascendency, rs denying the vita.
principles Of a free Government, and as
an ayowal Of contemplated treason, which
il is the imperative duty OF an Indignant
people strongly to rebuke and forever
silence.
Fourth; That the maintenance inyio-
late of tho right of the States, aud espec-
itlv the right Of each State to order and
control its own domestic institutions &C
coriing 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-
ilounce the lawless invasion by armed
forces Of any State or Territory, no mat
Ter under what pretext, as among the
grayest of crimes.
FTah: That the present Democratic
Administration has far exceeded our
worst apprehensions in its measureless
sussoryiency to the exactions Of a section
nj interest, as is especially evident in its
desperate exertions to force the infamous
Lecompton Constitution upon the pro-
testing people of kansas-in constituting
the personal relation between master and
servant to involve al unqualified property
In porsons--in lis attempted enforcement
everywhere, on land and sea, through
the Intervention of Congress and the Fed
eral Courts Of the extreme prctenslons Of
& purely local interest, and in its general
ana uSVarying abuse OF the power in-
trusted to it by confling people.
.Sictd That the people justly view
with alarm the reckless extravaganza
which poryades every department oflthe
Federal Government; that a return to
rigid economy and accountability is indis-
pensable to arrest the system of plumber
Of the public treasury by f~rVred part
sans; while the recent startling develop
ments Of fraud and corruption at the
Fedora! metropolis, shows that an entire
change of administration III inperatiYcly
demanded.
SerentA: 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
heresv, at variance with the explicit pro-
visions Of that instrument itself, with con-
temporaneous exposition, and with legi<-
Iatiye and judicial precedent, is revou-
tionary in its tendency aud subversiye of
the peace and harmony Of the country.
EiqtM: That the normal condition of
the territories of the United States is that
ofFreodom; that as our republican faith
crs. when they had abolished Slavery in
all our national territory, ordained that
no person should he deprived of life, lib
erty, or property, without the process of
Jaw, it becomes our duty, By Legislation,
Whenever such legislation IS necessary, to
maintain this provision of the Constitu-
ton against all & tempts to violate it; and
we deny the authority of Congress, Of
Territorial Legislature, or of any ind;v;!-
uals. to give legal existence to Slavery in
any Territory Of the United States.
Ninth: ThQt we br; nd the recent re-
opening of the African slave-trade, under
tue cover Of ovr national flag, aided BY
perversions Of judicial power, as a crime
against humanity, burning shame to
our country and age, and we call upon
Congress to take prompt and efficient
measures for the total and final suppress
ion Of that execrable 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 a practical illustration of the
boastod 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.
ElcpenM: That Kansas should of
right be Immediately admitted as State
under the Constitution recently formed
and adopted By her people, and accepted
nv the House Of Ronrpsenfativos