Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-05-24
The Republican Platform.

heSotUeu, tHdt Wet tne ueiegateu repre-.
sentatives the Republican Electors of the
United States, in Convention assembled, In
the discharge of the duty we owe to our
constituents and our country, unite in the
following declarations: 3
First: That the history Of the nation du-
ring the last four years has fully established
the propriety and necessity of the organiza-
tion and perpetustion ofthe Republican par.
ty, and that the causes which called It into
existence are permanent in their nature, and
now more than ever before demand, it's
peaceful and constitutional triumph.
| Second: That the maintenance of the
principles promulgated in the DEGRADATION
of Independence, aud embodied in the Fed
eral Consultation, is essential to to the pres
ervation of our republican institutions, and
that the Federal Constitution the rights of
the States, and the Union of the State 8,
must and shall be preserved.
Third: That to the Union of the States
this nation owes its unprecedented increase
in population; its surprising development
OF material resources; it's rapid augment a.
ton of wealth; it's happiness at home and
it's honor abroad; and we hold In abhorrence o
all schemes for dsunion, come from what
ever source they may; and we congrstul late
the county that no Republican member Of
Congress has uttered or countensnced a
threat of disnpioo, go often mude by Dem.
ocrntic members Of Congress without re.
buke and with applause from their political
associates; and we denounce those threats
OF disunion, in case Of popular overthrow Of
their ascendency, as denying The vital prin
ciples of a free Government, and as an
avowal of contemplated treason, which it
is the imperative duty OF an indignant peo.
pie strongly to ebuke and forever silence
Fourth: 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 judgement exclusively, is essential
TO 'hetsbalance of power on which the per.
fec,ion and endurance oi our political faith
depends, and we denounce the lawess in
vasion by armed force OF any State or Ter.
ritory, no matter Under what pfetext, ss
among the gravest of crimes.
Fifth: That the present Democratic Ad-
minstration has far exceeded our worst ap.
Prehensions in its measureess subserviency
to the exactions Of a sectional interest, as ID
especially evident in it's desperate exertions
to force the Infamous Lecompton Constitu.
tion upon the protesting people Of Kansas
in constituting the person al relation be.
tween master and servant to involve an uI-
qualified property in persons--in its attempt.
ed enforcement everywhere, on land and
sea. through the intervention of Congress
and the Federal Courts, of the extreme pre-
ten tions of purely local interest, and in
its general and unvarying abuse of the pow
er ntrosted to it by confding people.
Sirh: That the people justly view with
alarm the reckless extravaganza which per-
vades every DEPARTMENT. Of the Federal Gov.
ernment; that 4 return to rigid ecoHomy
and accountability Is indap. nsabe to arrest
the system of plunder of the public treasury
by favored psrlisans; while the recent start
ling development Of fraud and corruption at
the Federal metropo lis, show that an entire
change OF administration is imperativeIy de.
m anded.
! Seventh: That the new doctrine that the
Constitution off its own force carries Slavery
into any OF. all the Territories Of the u. s.
'sa dangerous political heresy, at variance
with the explicit provisions Of that ins,ru.
ment itself with contemporaneous exposi-
ion, and with legislative and judicial prece-
dent, is revolutionary in its tendency and
subversve of the peace and harmoney oil
the country.
Eighth: That the normal condition of all
the territory Of the United States is that
OF Freedom; that as our republican fathers,
when they had abolished Slavery In all our
national territory, ordained that no person
should be deprived OF life, liberty, or proper
ty, without due process Of law, il becomes
our duty, by legislation, whenever such leg.
islation is necessary, to maintain this pro.
visions OF the Constitution against all at
tempt to violat Il; and we deny the author<
ity Of Con sress, ofa Territorial Legislature
or Of AIRY individusis. to give legal exis.'
tence to Slavery in any Territory Of the
United States.
Ninth That we bra nd the recent reope H.
ing Of the African slave.trade, under the
cover Of our national flag, aided by perver-
sions of judicial power, as crime agains:
humanity, burning shame to our country
aud age, and we call upon Congress to take
prompt and efficient measures for the total
and final suppression OF that execrabls trait.
ic. fHt
Tenth: That insthe recent vetoes By their
Federal Governors Of the acts Of the Lepis-
latures of Kansas and Nebraska. prohibit.
ing Slavery In those Territories, we Hnd a
practical illustration Of the boasted Demo-
cratic principle OF non-intervention and
Popular Sovereignty : embodied In the Kan
sas and Nebraska bill. aad a. denunciation
Of the deception and freud involved therein
Eleventh: That Kansas should of right
be Immediately admitted as State under
the Consultation recently formed and sd.
opted by her people, and accepted BY The
House OF Representatives. ~''
TOeyh: That while proveiag revenue for
the support OF the General Governmen, by
duties upon imposts, sound policy requires