Document 9
Excerpt from Republican Party Platform, 1860
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 our national territory [Northwest
Territory], ordained that "no persons should be deprived of life, liberty or property without due
process of law," it becomes our duty, by legislation, whenever such legislation is necessary, to
maintain this provision of the Constitution against all attempts to violate it; and we deny the
authority of Congress, of a territorial legislature, or of any individuals, to give legal existence to
slavery in any territory of the United States.
Source: Republican Party Platform, May 17, 1860
According to this document, what was the position of the Republican Party in 1860 on the issue of expanding
slavery into the territories? [1]