Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-09-27
THE PLATFORM.

Resolved, That we, the delegated repre-
sentsiives Of the Republican electors Of the
United States, in onvention assembled. !
the discharge OF the duty we owe TO our
onstituents and our country, unite in the
following declarations.
D. That the history Of our nation during
the last four years. bss fully established the
propriety and necessity Of the organization
and perpetuation OF tie Republican pnrty;
and that the causes which ca lied il into ex
istence are permanent in taeir nature, and
now, more than ever before, demand its
peaceful and constitutional triumph.
:. 2. That the maintenance Of the princi-
pies 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 Crea-
tor with certain inalienable rights that
among these are life, liberty and the pur-
suit Of happiness; that to secure these rights,
governments nre instituted among men,
deriving their just powers from the consen,
of the governed"--are essential to the
preservation Of our republican institutions;
and thst the federal constitution, the rights
OF the States, and the Union Of the States,
! must and shall be preserved.
s4i 8. That TO the Union Of the States this
nation owes i:s unprecedented increase in
population, its surprting development Of
f, naterial resources, it's rapid augmentation
of wealth, its happiness at home and its
honor abroad, and we hold in adherence all
4. schemes for disunion, come iom whatever
source they may; and we congratulate the
country that no Republican member OF Con
gress has uttered or countenanced the
threats Of dsunion so often made by Demo.
cratic members, without rcbnke and with
applause from their political assoc ciates; and
we dsnounce those threats of disunion, In
case of popular overthrow of their ascen-
dency, as denying the vital principles of d
free government, and as an avowa of con.
templated treason, which it is the mpera
tie duty OF an indignant people stcrnIy tc
rebuke and forever silence.
y 4. The the maintenance invio'ote of The
rights OF the States, and especially The
right Of each State to order and control III
" own domestic institutions according to IT,
own judgment exclusively, Is essential I,
that balance o! power on which the perfec
tion and endurance OF our political fnbri
depend, and we onounce the lawless inva
sion by armed force Of the soil of any Stat
b or Territory, no matter under what pretext
~ among the gravest Of crimes.
8. That the present Democratic admins
tration has far exceeded our worst appre
tensions In its fnea asureless subserviency 4
the exactions Of a sectional interest, as es
pecially evinced In ito desperate exertion
to force the infamous Lecompton Constilu
, tion upon the protesting people of Kansas
In constituting the personal relation between
master and servant TO involve an unqualified
3 property in persons; in its attempted en-
forcement evcrywhtr,, on lard on1 sea
through the intervention of Congress and q
the federal courts, of the extreme prelen
sions Of purely loca! interest, and in III
general and unysrying abuse OF the powe
entrusted to 1t by confding people
6. That the people justly view with
slsrm the reckless ex,rsvagance which
pervades every department OF the fedora
government, that a return TO rigid economy
and accountability is indispensable to ares
ths,systsmatic plunder o! the public trea
sury by favored partisans, while the recen
startling developments Of frauds and cor
,uptions at the federal metropolis show tina
an entire change OF administration 10 i'm
peratively demanded. a.
=. That the new dogma that the Consti
tuition, Of its own force, carries slavery int
any or all Of the Territories OF the Unite
Ststes, 10 q dangerous political he resy, a
variance With the explicit provisions o
that instrument itself, with contemporan
eous exposition, and with Legislative en'
Judicial precedent; is revolutionary in IL
tendency. and subversive Of the peace an
harmony Of the country.
s,Thst the normal condition Of all tn
Territory Of the United States Ia that o
freedom; thnt as our republican fathers
when they had abolish slavery in all on
national territory, ordained that "no persol
shcnld be deprived of life, liberty or prop
-rty without due process of lows" I
becomes our duty by legislation. wheneve
soch Legislation 10 necessary, TO maintain
this provision OF the Constitution agains
ell at,empa to violate 1t; and we deny III,
49, authority of Congress, of q Territorial Leg
islsrre, or Of any ipdiy iduals, to give lega
existence 10 slavery in any Territory of th
United States.
o. That we brand the recent re-openinI
Of the African slave trade, under the cove
Of our national flag, aided by perversion
.. Judicial power, as crime against human
Ivy and 4 burning shame 10 our country an
age; and We call upon Congress to TAX
prompt and efficient measures tor the tota
ind 6nai suppression OF that execrabl
-. f6r.
10. That in the recent vetoes, By the
feisrai Governors, Of the acts Of the Legii
latures OF Kansas and Nebraska, probibitin
slavery 10 those Territories, we find proc
iical illustration OF the boas,ed Democrat
Prinriple Of non.intervention and popula
sovereignty, embodied in the Ktnsus.Ns
brasks bill, and = demonstration Of tn
deception and fraud involved therein.
~. Thst Kansas should, OF right. be In
msdisteiy admitted as State under III
Constitution recently formed and adopte
by her people, and accepted by the Hous
Of Representatives.