The national Republican., 1861-02-19
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

{aa REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
akSs,ssd, That We, the delegated repressnts-
tivss Of the Republican Electors Of the United
StAtss, in Convention assembled, in discharge
of the duty We owe 10 our constituents and our
country, unite in the following declarations:
Fret. That the history of the nation during
tbslsst four years has fully established the pro-
priety and necessity Of the organization and per-
pstuAtion Of the Republican party, and that the
causse which called 1t into existence are perma-
nsnt In their nature, and now, more than ever
bsfpes, demand its peaceful and constitutional
tziunph. N0. ...
Ssso~d That the maintenance of the principles
promulgated in the Declaration of Independence,
and embodied In the Federal Constitution, "that
all msn are created equal that they are endowed
BY their Creator with certain unalienable rights;
that smong these are life, liberty, and the pur-
SUIT Of happiness that to secure these rights,
Governments are instituted among men. deriving
their just powers from the consent ofthe governed"
Il essential to the preservation Of our republican
institutions; and 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 It's unprecedented increase in popu-
lasion; its surprising development Of material
resources its rapid augmentation Of wealth
its happiness at home and its honor abroad; and
va hold in Adherence all schemes for disunion,
come from whatever source they may; and We
congratulate the country that no Republican
member Of Congress has uttered or countsnanced
. threat Of disunion, so often made by Demo-
cratic members without rebuke and with ap-
plsuse from their political associates and we
denounce those threats Of disunion, in case Of
popular overthrow Of their ascendency, as de-
nying the vital principles Of free Government,
andas an avowsl Of contemplated treason, which
II ID the imperative duty of an indignant people
stsrnly to rebuke 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 do
msstic institutions, according to its own judg-
ment exclusively, is essential to that balance Of
power on which the perfection and endurance Of
our political fabric depends; and We denounce
the lawiess invasion by armed force Of the soil
Of any State or Territory, no matter under what
PtosoAsJ os eAhouB VIZ q taNoSs vi
Fvfk. That the present Democratic Admins.
tration has far exceeded our worst apprehension
in Ito measureless subserviency to the exactioni
Of . sectional interest, as especially evidenced
In it, desperate e1ertions to force the Infamous
Lecompton Constitution upon the protesting peo
pie of Kansas-in constituting the personal rela
ton between master and servant to involve al
unqualified property in persons-in its attempted
enforcement everywhere, on land and sea, through
fhA intervention Of G0nUreoa and 0f the Eadera
courts, of the extreme pretensions Of purely 10
calinterest and In its general and unvarying abus,
Of the power intrusted to 1t by . con6ding people
Sirth. That the people justly view with alarm
the reckless extravaganza which pervades every
department Of the Federal Government; that q
return to rigid economy and accountability is in
dispensabs TO arrest the systematic plunder Of the
public Treasury by favored partisans; while the
recent startling developments of frauds and cor
ruptions At the Federal metropolis show that an
entire change of Administration 10 imperatively
demanded.
Seventh. That the new dogma that the Consti.
tuition of its own force carries slavery into any
or all Of the Territories Of the United States, Is
dangerous political heresy, at variance with the
explicit provisions of that instrument itself with
cotemporaneous exposition, and with Legislative
and judicial precedent; is revolutionary in iti
tendency, and subversive of the peace and har.
mony of the country.
Eighth That the normal condition Of all th'
territory Of the United States is that Of Freedom
that a. our republican fathers when they ha'
abolished slavery in all our national territory
ordained that "no person should be deprived Q
life, liberty, or property, without due process Q
law" it becomes our duty, by legislation when
ever such legislation is necessary, to maintain
this provision of the Constitution against all at
tsmpts to violate it.; and we deny the authorit
Of Congress, of Territorial Legislature, or Q
any individuals, to give legal existence to sla
very in any Territory Of the United States.
Ninlh That we brand the recent reopening q
the African slave trade, under the cover of ou
national flag, aided by perversions of judieia
power, a. . crime against humanity, and burnin
shame to our country and age and we call upo
Congress to take prompt and efficient measure
for the total and final suppression of that exc
cradle traffic.
TsnM. That 10 the recent vetoes by their Fed
eral Governors Of the acts of the Legislature
Of Kansas and Nebraska, prohibiting slavery
those Territories, we find practical illustratio
Of the boasted Democratic principle of non-in
tervention and popular sovereignty embodied
tho Kansas Nebraska bill, and demonstrate
Of the deception and fraud involved therein.
Eleventh. That Kansas should Of right be i'm
mediately admitted as State under the Const
tuition recently formed and adopted by her peopl,
and accepted by the House of Representatives.
1Sslfh. That while providing revenue for tn
support of the General Government by dutie
upon imports, sound policy requires snch an I'D
justment of these imposts as to encourage the d.
velopment of the industrial interests of the whol
country and we commend that policy of natior
al exchanges, which secures to the working me
liberal wages, TO agriculture remunerating price
TO mechanics and manufacturers an adequa,
reward for their skill, labor, and enterprise, an
to the nation commercial prosperity and indt
psndence.
TA1teenth. That we protest against any sal
or alienation to others of the public lands bel
by actual settlers, and against any view Of th
ffse homestead policy which regards the settler