Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-24

tianity, humanity, and patriotism, alike demand
its abolition.
THAT to the persevering and importunate de-
mands Of the slave power, for more slave States,
new slave Territories. and the naturalization of
slavery, our distinct and final answer is, no more
slave States, no slave Territory, no nationalized
slavery, and no national legislation for the. extra
dition of slaves" "a
In 1885, the first Republican Conventions so
called, met at Philadelphia on the l7th of June
and nominated John Q. Fremont, for President.
and VIM H. Dayton for Vice President Among
the men who were voted for for Vice President
We find the following: David Wilmot. Abraham
Lincoln, Thomas Ford, Charles Sumner, Cassus
NJ. Clay, Jacob Collamer, j. r. Giddings, w. f.
Johnston. N. P. Banks. Henry Wilson. This
convention adopted the following resolutions on
the subject of slavery, &C.: eef
"This convention of delegates, assembled in
pursuance Of call addressed to the people of the
United States without regard to past political
differences OF divisions. who are opposed to the
repeal of the Missouri compromise, to the policy
of the present Administration. TO the extension of
slavery into free territory; in favor of admitting
Kansas as free State, of restoring the action of
the Federal Government to the principles Of
Washington and jefferson, do resolve as follows:
"ResolDed, That, with our republican fathers,
we hold il to be a self evident truth that all men
are endowed with the inalienable rights TO life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and that the
primary Object and Interior designs of our Fede-
raj Government were to secure these rights TO all
persons within its exclusive jurisdiction; that as
our republican fathers, when they had abolished
slavery in all national territory, ordained that
no person should be deprived or life, liberty or
property without due process OF law, it becomes
our duty to maintain this provision of the Con
stitution against all attempts to violate it for the
purpose of establishing slavery in any territory
of the United States, by positive legislation pro-
hibitIng its existence or extension therein. That
we deny the authority Of Congress, of Terrific
rial Legislature, of any individual association
of individuals to give legal existence to slavery to
an Territory OF the United States while the pres
ent Constitution shall be maintained
"Resolped That the Constitution confers upon
Congress sovereign power over the Territories of
the United States for the government, and that
in the exercise of this power it is both the right
aud the duty of Congress to prohibit in the Ter
rtories those twin relics of neutrality-suspicious.
and slavery"
Ii will be seen that the effect Of these resou-
| tions to deny the power of the States to es-
tablish slavery. for they conceded Congress had
the full, sovereign power over the Territories, and
if Congress had such power then, of course. that
body could do ANYTHING which State govern
ment might after it was organized. This was a
blow at the constitutionality of slavery in all the
States where il had been adopted
On the 18th Of February 1856, there was a
meeting of what was called the American nation
al convention at Philadelphia, at which Millard
Fillmore was nominated for President, and A. j
Donelson, of Tennessee, FOR Vice President
The platform adopted related mainly to the pecu-
liar doctrine of the native Americans" that no
foreign-born citizen should hold and Office. In
addition to this there was the remnant of the old
Wing party proper. A national convention was
held by them at Baltimore on the 18th of Sep
tenber, 1856, over which Edward Bates, now
Mr. Lincoln's Attorney General, presided This
convention adopted the candidates Of the "native
American party heretofore nominated at Phila-
d,lphia. The resolutions were highly conserva-
tive in their character.
This brings US down to the Republican Con-
vention held at Chicago on the 10th of MAY,
1860, at which time Abraham Lincoln was nomi-
mated for President. and Hannibal Hamlin, of
Maine, for Vice President This convention
adopted the following resolutions upon the sub
ject of the slave agitation which now convulsed
the country:
"That we, the delegated representatives of the
Republican electors of the United States, in con-
vention assembled, in discharge of the duty we
owe to our constituents and our country, unite in
the following declarations:
''That the history of the nation during the last
few years has fully established the proprety and
necessity OF the organization and perpetuation Of
called i into er;etence are nermanent in their ma
= - I~el-' l.-"-s', -.
peaceful and constitutional triumph
"That the maintenance inviolate of the rights
of the States, and especially the right of each
State to order and control its own domestic insti-
tutions according 10 its own iudement exclu-
sivelv- il essential 10 that balance of mowers ON
which the Perfection and endurance of onr nol;t;-
cal fabric depends: and we denoupce the lawless
invasion bv armed force of tho soil of anv State
or Territorv No matter under What nretaxt 30
among the gravest crimes.
"T6at tbe now dooma that the Constitution of
;,s o,, e.. into orr or oil ,ho
Territories of the limited states Is a dangerous
politcaI beresv AT variance with the explicif nro
ys;ops of that ;ns,r,msnr ;ts.If with cotem,ora.
neops exnos;ton md with leo;slat;ra and ;ud;c;al
precedent. Is revolutionary in its Tendency and
snhver.;ve of tho nsace and barmonv nj tho
country
.sThat the normal condition of all territory of
tho I,ted Ststas Il that Of fraalop,. that "a onr
republican fathers. when they abolished slavery
in all our national territory ordained that mo
person sbouId he denriyed of life liberty or pron.
erty without due urocess of law IL becomes our
duty. by legislation. whenever such legislation is
necessary IN maintain the provisiop OF the Con
stitutiou against ali attempts 10 violate IL and we
denv the authority of Congress. of Territorial
Ieeislatnre or of anv ndiviluals In Give LEGAL ex
istence 10 slavery in any Territory Of the United
States"
Bv referring To the names of those who COM
posed tn Chicago convention. il viii be seen that
the leading spirits of the various anti slavery con-
ventions, held at different times, in opposition to
the Democratic party, were present and partici
pated in the proceedings of that convention, and
are pow the Office holders under President Lin
coin. the nominee The only partial exceptions
to this are the men who nominated Mr.. Van Blu
ren, at Buffalo. in opposition to General Cass and
some OF those who nominated Mr.. Fillmore at
Baltimore But the uItras Of every shade-the
Aboitionists, the free Democracy. and the Re