The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-07-26
THE CHICAGO LATFORM,

of the Republican electors of the United States In
Convention a~sembled, in the discharge of the duty
We owe to constituents and our country, unite
in the following declarations:
LIST. That the history of the nation during the
last four years. has fully established the propriety
and necessity of the organization and perpetuatou
of the Republican party and that the which
called it into existence are permanent in their ma
ture, and now, more than ever before, demand its
peaceful and constitutional triumph.
2. That the maintenance of the principles pro-
mulgated in the Declaration of Independ ence and
embodied in the Federal Constitution That all
men created equal; that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain inalienable rights that
among these life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness that to secure these rights, governments
are instituted among men, deriving their just pow
ers from the consent of the governed lis essential
10 the preservation OF our Kepublcan institutions
and that the Federal Constitution, the Rights of
the States, ard tho Union of the States must and
shall be preserved.
: g. 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 hold in alb
horrence all foF 0isunion, come from what
ever source they may And we congratulate the
! country that no Republican member of Congress
! has uttered cUEntepapced the threats of Dis
union so often made by Democratic members, with
out rehuke and with applause from their political
associates; and denounce those threats of dis
union, IN of popular overthrow OF their
tendency denying the vital principles Of free
government, and ayowal of contemplated
treason, which it is the imperative duty of an in
digDant People sternly to rebuke and forever 81
lence
4. That the maintenance invioate of the Rights
Of the States, and especially the right of each State
10 OF der and control its domestic institutions
according to its own Judgment exclusively, is es-
sential to that balance of powers on which the per
fiction and endurance OF our political fabric de-
ponds and we denounce the lawless invasion by
armed force of the soil of any State Territory,
matter under what pTetext, as among the gravest
crimes.
a 5. That the present Democratic Administration
uasf far exceeded worst sppre tensions in its
measureless suLserviency to the exactions of sec
inf as n El-r-
ate eXertoHs to force the infamous LecHmpton Con-
stitutiOn upon the protesting people Of Kansas in
constituting the personal relation between master
and servant to involve an unqualified property in
persons in its attempted enforcement, everywhere
ON land and sea, through the Intervention of Con
gress and OF the Federal courts, OF the extreme
pretensions of purely local interest and in its
general and unvaryng abuse of the power intrusted
to ii by cOnfiding people.
6. That the People justly view with alarm the
reckless extravaganza which pervades every depart
ment of the Federal Government; that a return to
rigid economy and accountability IL indispensable
to arrest the systematic plumber of the public treas
ury hv favored partfsans while the recent startling
dey eopmt of frauds and cOrruptions at the FED
eTal Metropolis, show that an entire change OF
admi nistratiOn is imperatively demanded
Z That he new dogma that the Constitution, Of
IT'S force carries Slavery any all OF the
Territories of the United States, is dangerous
political heresy, at variance with the explicit pro
visions of that instrument itself, with contempora
neous exposition and with Legislative and Judicial
precedent; is revolutionary in its tendency, and
ubVersive of the peace and harmony of the couh
T. 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 national territory, ordained that
person should be deprived of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of law, it becomes
duty, by legislation, whenever such legislation
is necessary to maintain this provision of the Con
sttution against all attempts to violate it and We
deny the authority of Congress, OF territorial leg
isature, of any individuals to give legal exist
ence to Slavery in any Territory Of the United I
States.
O. That we brand the recent re-opening of the |
African Slave Trade. under the of Ma
tiona Flag aided by perversions of judicial power
as a crime against Humanity and a burning shame |
to Country and Age and we call upon Congress
take prompt and efficient measures for the total
and nal suppression of that execrable traffic
10. That in the recent vetoes, by their Federal |
Governors of the acts of the Legislatures Of Kan
and Nebraska, prohibiting Slavery in those |
Territories, we find practical illustration OF the /
boasted Democratic principle OF Nom Intervention
and Popular Sovereignty embodied in the Kansas |
Nebraska BILL and demonsti alton of the deception
and fraud involved therein.
H. 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.
/ ~ That, while providing revenue for the sup /
port of the general government by duties upon i'm
ports, sound policy requires such an adjustment of
these imPoets as TO encourage the development ~
the industrial interests of the Whole country and
we commend that policy of national exchanges, /
which secures TO the working men liberal wages, to
agriculture remHueratiug prices, to mechanics and
an adequate reward for their skill,
labor, and enterprise and to tins nation commercial
and Independence.
b. That We protest against any sale or ahena,
ton to Others OF the Public Lands held by actual |
settlers, and against any view of the Free Home
stead policy which regards the settlers as paupers
or suppliants for public bounty; and We demand !
the passage by Congress of the complete and salts
factory Homestead measure which has already pass
ed the House.
IL That the Republican party is opposed to any !
change in Naturalization Laws, or any State
legislation by which the rights of citizenship hith
erto accorded to immigrants from foreign lands
shall DO abridged impaired; and in favor of Civ
ing full and efficient protection to the rights of
all classes of citizens, whether native or natural
lied, both at home and abroad.
Is That appropriations by Congress for River
and Harbor improvements of National character,
required for the accommodation and security of an
existing commerce, are authorized by the Consu
tuition, and justified by the obligation of Govern
TO protect the lives and property ofits citizens
l6 That Railroad to the Pacific Ocean is i'm
peratively demanded by the interests of the whole
country 4; that the Federal Government ought to
render immediate and efficient aid in its construc
ton ; and that, preliminary thereto, n daily
Overland Mail should be promptly established.
II. Finally, having thus set forth our distinctive
principles and views, invite the cooperation of
all citizens, however differing other questions,
who substantially agree with us in their ottrmanre
and support.