Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-10-07
The Platform.

The National Republican party of the United
states, assembled In national Convention in the
city of Chicago on the 10th day of May, 1858,
makes the following declaration of principles.
l. We congratulate the country on the assured
success of The reconstruction policy of Congress
as evIneed by the adop ton, in a majority of the
States lately in rebellion, II corst tutions secur
ing equal civil and political rights all. and re-
gard 1t as the duty of the Government TO sustain
those institutions. and to prevent the people of
such States from being remitted to n state of an
archy,
2. The guarantee by Congress of equal suffrage
TO all loyal men at the south demanded Oy
every consideration of public safety, of gratitude
and of justice, and must be maintai ned while the
question of suffrage in all the loyal States prop
erly belongs TO the people of those States
3. We denounce all forms of repudiation as a
National crime and the National honor requires
the payment of the public Indebtedness In the ut
most good faith to all creditors home and a
broad, not only according to the letter, but the
spirit of the law under hich il was contracted,
1t is due to the labor of the nation that tax
alton should be equalized and reduced rapid
ly as the national faith will permit
D. The national debt. contracted as 1t has been
for the preservation of the Union for all time to
come, should be extended over ii fair period for
redemption, and it is the duty of Congress to re-
duce the rate OF interest thereon whenever 1t can
honestly be done.
s That the best policy to diminish our burden
of debt. is 10 improve our ct' dit 50 that capi
talsis will seek 10 loan u money at lower rates
of interest than now pay. aHd must continue
to pay so long as reputation. partial or total
open coyert.is threatened or suspected
2. The Government of the United States should
be administered with the strictesr economy. and
the corruptious, which have been 50 shamefully
nursed and fosteIed by Andrew johnson, call
loudly for radical reform
s. We profoundly deplOre the untimely and
| tragic death of Abraham LincOin and regret the
! accession of Andrew johnson to the Presidency
| who has acted treacherousiy to the people who
| elected him and the cause he was pledged to sup
| port has usurped high Legislative and Judicial
| functions. has refused to execute the laws. has
used his hi ,h office induce other officers 20 i
| more and violate the laws. has employed his exc
| cutive powers to render insecure the property,
| peace liberty and lite of the citizen. has abused
| the pardoning power, has denoupced the national
legislature as uncOnstllutiona al, has persistenty
| and cOrruptly resisted, by every measure in his
| power. every proper attempt at the reconstruc
ton of the States lately in rebellion, has perver-
| TED the public patronage into an engine of whole
sale corruption, and has been justly impeached
/ for high crimes AMI misdeuieanOrs, and properly
pronounced guilty thereof by the vote OF thirty
| FIVE Senators
| 9 The doctrine of Great Britain and other Eu-
| Topean powers. that because man is once a sub
! ject he is always so, must be resisted at every
hazard by the Uuited States as arelc of the feu-
| da times NOT authorized by the law OF natIonS,
1 and at with national honor and indepen-
dence NaturaIzed citizens entitled to be
| protected III all their lights of citizenship As
| though they were nativc-burn, and no citizen of
the United States native naturaIzed must be
liable to arrest and imprisonment by any forei gu
| power for acts done words spoken in tn cuun
try and If so arrested and imprisoned, it is the
| duty of the government to interfere in his be
| half
| 10 of all who were faithful in the trials of the
late war, there were none entitled TO more espe-
cial honor than the brave soldiers snd seamen
| who endured the hardship ips of the cam paign and
| cruise and imperilled their lives in the service
| of the country. The bOunties and pensions pro
| vided by law for these brave defenders of the ma
| ton ooli igations never to he forgotten. The
! widows AMI orphans of the gall ant dead are the
| wards of the peOple-a sacred legacy bequeathed
10 the nation protecting care
! IL. Foreign emf grafton. which in the past has
| added much TO the wealth. development of re
sources and increase of power 10 the nation
| should be iostered and encouraged by hberiaI
| and just policy
| all oppressed peoples struggling TOR their rights
t3. We highly recommend the spirit of mag
| uaniInity and forgiveness with which men VIII
| have served the repelion. but now frankly anC
honestly CO operate with US in restoring the peac
| of the country and reconstruct. 2 the Southe=I
State Governments upon the basis of impartia
| Justice and equal rights are received back int
| the communion of the loyal people, and we favo
the removal of the disqualifcations and resirIc
tions imposed upon the late ebe S in the sam
measure as the spirit of dIsloyalty will direct an
as may be consistent with the safety of the ioya
people
IA We recognize the great principles laid dow
in the immortal Declaration of Independence a
the true foundation of D. N ocraric government
and we hail with gladness every effort towar
making these prncip pies IA living reality on ever
inch of American soil