RepublicanPartyPlatformof1856

June18,1856
ThisConventionofDelegates,assembledinpursuanceofacalladdressedtothepeople
oftheUnitedStates,withoutregardtopastpoliticaldifferencesordivisions,whoareopposedto
therepealoftheMissouriCompromisetothepolicyofthepresentAdministrationtothe
extensionofSlaveryintoFreeTerritoryinfavoroftheadmissionofKansasasaFreeStateof
restoringtheactionoftheFederalGovernmenttotheprinciplesofWashingtonandJefferson
andforthepurposeofpresentingcandidatesfortheofficesofPresidentandVicePresident,do
Resolved:ThatthemaintenanceoftheprinciplespromulgatedintheDeclarationof
Independence,andembodiedintheFederalConstitutionareessentialtothepreservationofour
Republicaninstitutions,andthattheFederalConstitution,therightsoftheStates,andtheunion
oftheStates,mustandshallbepreserved.
Resolved:That,withourRepublicanfathers,weholdittobeaselfevidenttruth,thatall
menareendowedwiththeinalienablerighttolife,liberty,andthepursuitofhappiness,andthat
theprimaryobjectandulteriordesignofourFederalGovernmentweretosecuretheserightsto
allpersonsunderitsexclusivejurisdictionthat,asourRepublicanfathers,whentheyhad
abolishedSlaveryinallourNationalTerritory,ordainedthatnopersonshallbedeprivedoflife,
liberty,orproperty,withoutdueprocessoflaw,itbecomesourdutytomaintainthisprovisionof
theConstitutionagainstallattemptstoviolateitforthepurposeofestablishingSlaveryinthe
TerritoriesoftheUnitedStatesbypositivelegislation,prohibitingitsexistenceorextension
therein.ThatwedenytheauthorityofCongress,ofaTerritorialLegislation,ofanyindividual,or
associationofindividuals,togivelegalexistencetoSlaveryinanyTerritoryoftheUnitedStates,
whilethepresentConstitutionshallbemaintained.
Resolved:ThattheConstitutionconfersuponCongresssovereignpowersoverthe
TerritoriesoftheUnitedStatesfortheirgovernmentandthatintheexerciseofthispower,itis
boththerightandtheimperativedutyofCongresstoprohibitintheTerritoriesthosetwinrelics
ofbarbarismPolygamy,andSlavery.
Resolved:ThatwhiletheConstitutionoftheUnitedStateswasordainedandestablished
bythepeople,inorderto"formamoreperfectunion,establishjustice,insuredomestic
tranquility,provideforthecommondefense,promotethegeneralwelfare,andsecurethe
blessingsofliberty,"andcontainampleprovisionfortheprotectionofthelife,liberty,and
propertyofeverycitizen,thedearestConstitutionalrightsofthepeopleofKansashavebeen
fraudulentlyandviolentlytakenfromthem.
TheirTerritoryhasbeeninvadedbyanarmedforce
Spuriousandpretendedlegislative,judicial,andexecutiveofficershavebeensetover
them,bywhoseusurpedauthority,sustainedbythemilitarypowerofthegovernment,tyrannical
andunconstitutionallawshavebeenenactedandenforced
Therightofthepeopletokeepandbeararmshasbeeninfringed.
Testoathsofanextraordinaryandentanglingnaturehavebeenimposedasaconditionof
exercisingtherightofsuffrageandholdingoffice.
Therightofanaccusedpersontoaspeedyandpublictrialbyanimpartialjuryhasbeen
denied
Therightofthepeopletobesecureintheirpersons,houses,papers,andeffects,against
unreasonablesearchesandseizures,hasbeenviolated
Theyhavebeendeprivedoflife,liberty,andpropertywithoutdueprocessoflaw

Thatthefreedomofspeechandofthepresshasbeenabridged
Therighttochoosetheirrepresentativeshasbeenmadeofnoeffect
Murders,robberies,andarsonshavebeeninstigatedandencouraged,andtheoffenders
havebeenallowedtogounpunished
Thatallthesethingshavebeendonewiththeknowledge,sanction,andprocurementof
thepresentNationalAdministrationandthatforthishighcrimeagainsttheConstitution,the
Union,andhumanity,wearraignthatAdministration,thePresident,hisadvisers,agents,
supporters,apologists,andaccessories,eitherbeforeorafterthefact,beforethecountryand
beforetheworldandthatitisourfixedpurposetobringtheactualperpetratorsofthese
atrociousoutragesandtheiraccomplicestoasureandcondignpunishmentthereafter.
Resolved,ThatKansasshouldbeimmediatelyadmittedasastateofthisUnion,withher
presentFreeConstitution,asatoncethemosteffectualwayofsecuringtohercitizensthe
enjoymentoftherightsandprivilegestowhichtheyareentitled,andofendingthecivilstrife
nowraginginherterritory.
Resolved,Thatthehighwayman'splea,that"mightmakesright,"embodiedintheOstend
Circular,wasineveryrespectunworthyofAmericandiplomacy,andwouldbringshameand
dishonoruponanyGovernmentorpeoplethatgaveittheirsanction.
Resolved,ThatarailroadtothePacificOceanbythemostcentralandpracticablerouteis
imperativelydemandedbytheinterestsofthewholecountry,andthattheFederalGovernment
oughttorenderimmediateandefficientaidinitsconstruction,andasanauxiliarythereto,tothe
immediateconstructionofanemigrantroadonthelineoftherailroad.
Resolved,ThatappropriationsbyCongressfortheimprovementofriversandharbors,of
anationalcharacter,requiredfortheaccommodationandsecurityofourexistingcommerce,are
authorizedbytheConstitution,andjustifiedbytheobligationoftheGovernmenttoprotectthe
livesandpropertyofitscitizens.
Resolved,Thatweinvitetheaffiliationandcooperationofthemenofallparties,
howeverdifferingfromusinotherrespects,insupportoftheprincipleshereindeclaredand
believingthatthespiritofourinstitutionsaswellastheConstitutionofourcountry,guarantees
libertyofconscienceandequalityofrightsamongcitizens,weopposealllegislationimpairing
theirsecurity.