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]