Saturday, June 4, 2011

Republican Platform - Past and Future

Republican party origins: 

Trying times spawn new forces. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 divided the country at the36° 30' parallel between the pro-slavery, agrarian South and anti-slavery, industrial North, creating an uneasy peace which lasted for three decades. This peace was shattered in 1854 by the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Settlers would decide if their state would be free or slave. Northern leaders such as Horace Greeley, Salmon Chase and Charles Sumner could not sit back and watch the flood of pro-slavery settlers cross the parallel. A new party was needed.


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Republican Platform of 1856

This Convention of Delegates, assembled in pursuance of a call addressed to the people of the United States, without regard to past political differences or divisions, who are opposed to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise; to the policy of the present Administration; to the extension Slavery into Free Territory; in favor of the admission of Kansas as a Free State; of restoring the action of the Federal Government to the principles of Washington and Jefferson; and for the purpose of presenting candidates for the offices of President and Vice-President, do


Resolved: That the maintenance of the principles promulgated in the Declaration of Independence, and embodied in the Federal Constitution are 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.


Resolved: That, with our Republican fathers, we hold it to be a self-evident truth, that all men are endowed with the inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and that the primary object and ulterior design of our Federal Government were to secure these rights to all persons under its exclusive jurisdiction; that, as our Republican fathers, when they had abolished Slavery in all our National Territory, ordained that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law, it becomes our duty to maintain this provision of the Constitution against all attempts to violate it for the purpose of establishing Slavery in the Territories of the United States by positive legislation, prohibiting its existence or extension therein. That we deny the authority of Congress, of a Territorial Legislation, of any individual, or association of individuals, to give legal existence to Slavery in any Territory of the United States, while the present Constitution shall be maintained.


Resolved: That the Constitution confers upon Congress sovereign powers over the Territories of the United States for their government; and that in the exercise of this power, it is both the right and the imperative duty of Congress to prohibit in the Territories those twin relics of barbarism — Polygamy, and Slavery.


Resolved: That while the Constitution of the United States was ordained and established by the people, in order to "form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty," and contain ample provision for the protection of the life, liberty, and property of every citizen, the dearest Constitutional rights of the people of Kansas have been fraudulently and violently taken from them.


Their Territory has been invaded by an armed force;


Spurious and pretended legislative, judicial, and executive officers have been set over them, by whose usurped authority, sustained by the military power of the government, tyrannical and unconstitutional laws have been enacted and enforced;


The right of the people to keep and bear aims has been infringed.


Test oaths of an extraordinary and entangling nature have been imposed as a condition of exercising the right of suffrage and holding office.


The right of an accused person to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury has been denied;


The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, has been violated;


They have been deprived of life, liberty, and property without due process of law;


That the freedom of speech and of the press has been abridged;


The right to choose their representatives has been made of no effect;


Murders, robberies, and arsons have been instigated and encouraged, and the offenders have been allowed to go unpunished;


That all these things have been done with the knowledge, sanction, and procurement of the present National Administration; and that for this high crime against the Constitution, the Union, and humanity, we arraign that Administration, the President, his advisers, agents, supporters, apologists, and accessories, either before or after the fact, before the country and before the world; and that it is our fixed purpose to bring the actual perpetrators of these atrocious outrages and their accomplices to a sure and condign punishment thereafter.


Resolved, That Kansas should be immediately admitted as a state of this Union, with her present Free Constitution, as at once the most effectual way of securing to her citizens the enjoyment of the rights and privileges to which they are entitled, and of ending the civil strife now raging in her territory.


Resolved, That the highwayman's plea, that might makes right," embodied in the Ostend Circular, was in every respect unworthy of American diplomacy, and would bring shame and dishonor upon any Government or people that gave it their sanction.


Resolved, That a railroad to the Pacific Ocean by the most central and practicable route is imperatively demanded by the interests of the whole country, and that the Federal Government ought to render immediate and efficient aid in its construction, and as an auxiliary thereto, to the immediate construction of an emigrant road on the line of the railroad.


Resolved, That appropriations by Congress for the improvement of rivers and harbors, of a national character, required for the accommodation and security of our existing commerce, are authorized by the Constitution, and justified by the obligation of the Government to protect the lives and property of its citizens.


Resolved, That we invite the affiliation and cooperation of the men of all parties, however differing from us in other respects, in support of the principles herein declared; and believing that the spirit of our institutions as well as the Constitution of our country, guarantees liberty of conscience and equality of rights among citizens, we oppose all legislation impairing their security.


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Proposed 2011-2012 Platform

2011-2012 NEW HAMPSHIRE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM SUMMARY

New Hampshire Republicans are united by our belief in God, individual liberty, personal responsibility and limited government, and our confidence in the families, communities and citizens of New Hampshire.
We will work to apply the principles embodied in this Platform and the National Republican Party Platform by:
  • Protecting the fundamental rights of the people and enhancing their freedom
  • Enhancing the New Hampshire Advantage and preserving New Hampshire's unique quality of life
  • Bringing free market solutions to bear on problems, especially in education and health care
  • Creating a government that is effective, ethical, responsive, transparent and fully accountable to citizens without interfering in their personal, daily lives
  • Opposing new broad based taxes, fees and regulations that reduce incentives for business and job creation
  • Ensuring integrity in our voting and voter registration processes
THE FIRST IN THE NATION PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY must be defended and preserved.
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE: Our state government exists to preserve and protect the inalienable rights of its citizens. The actions of government must always be constrained by the people's rights and by the United States and New Hampshire Constitutions. We believe in the citizens' right to know what their government is doing. We support local control, and oppose unfunded mandates and federal programs that violate the U.S. Constitution's Tenth Amendment.
ENTERPRISE, JOBS AND THE ECONOMY: A strong economy secures the opportunities and livelihoods of our citizens. We will work to make New Hampshire the best place in the nation to live, visit and do business by maintaining a supportive business climate. We favor the creation of private sector jobs, preventing over-regulation of business and keeping state government lean to minimize its burden on taxpayers and businesses.
TAXES AND SPENDING: Low taxes result from low spending.  Higher taxes contribute to the growth of government and provide disincentives for economic growth. Local control of spending and taxes to support local services is preferable to state control.
THE FAMILY: Families and marriage between a man and a woman are fundamental to the preservation of society. The unborn child has a fundamental right to life which must not be infringed. Government must not inhibit or supplant parents in the care of their children. We oppose casino and expanded video-lottery gambling.
LAW AND ORDER: Safety and security is essential to society. Law-abiding citizens have the right to own firearms to defend themselves, their families and their property. We support the swift and sure punishment of criminals consistent with due process of law. We oppose the acceptance of illegal immigration or amnesty for persons who have come here illegally.
THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND THE JUDICIARY: The New Hampshire legal system should uphold the safety, values and freedoms of law-abiding citizens. Judges should recognize their proper and limited role in our constitutional system. Frivolous lawsuits burden our legal system and are a drain on New Hampshire economy.
EDUCATION: New Hampshire children should receive an education based on excellence. Parents must be entrusted to control the education of their children and choose schools that best suit their needs. Local control of education policy and funding creates the best-managed school systems.  We believe in school choice and the use of market forces to provide and improve education.
THE ENVIRONMENT: New Hampshire’s beauty and desirability as a place in which to live and work depends upon a healthy environment. Our parks, lands, waterways, wildlife, ground water, air quality and other natural resources are valuable assets. We will work to conserve open space, scenic vistas, historic and cultural landscapes and sites. We believe markets and private enterprise can provide the best solutions to energy needs.
HEALTH CARE: The health of all citizens is an important factor in the well being and success encompassed in the New Hampshire Advantage. We favor increased use of market forces to provide and improve health care, reduce costs and draw insurance companies back to New Hampshire. We oppose centralized or nationalized health care.

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