Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-08-06
National Republiean Platform.

The National Union Republican party of the
United States, assembled in National Conven-
ton in the city of Chicago on the 10Th day ofMay,
| 1858, make the following declaration of prin-
ciples:
sured success of the reconstruction policy ofCon-
gress as evinced by the adoption in q majority
of the states lately in rebellion, OF constitutions
securing equal civil and political rights to al,
and regard il as the duty OF the Government TO
sustain these constitutions and to prevent the
people Of such States from being remltted TO
| state of anarchy or military rule.
lSecond-The guarantee by Congress OF equal
nnd 70 aa y public safety
| ofgratitude, and of justice, and must be main-
tanned while. the question ofsunrage IN all the
loyal States properly belongs TO the people OF
those States.
ThrCi-We denounce all forms of repudiation
as national crime, and national honor requir-
es the payment of the Indebtedness in the ut
most good faith to all creditors at home and
abroad, not only according to the letter but the
spirit OF the laws under which 1t was eontrae-
ted.
Fo,utt-It is due to the labor of the nation that
taxation should be eaualized and reduced as
rapidly as the national faith will permit.
Fizh-The national debt, contracted as II has
been, for the preservation OF the Union iof an
time to come, should be extended over lair
period for redemption, and 1t is the duty OF Gem
gress reduce the rate ofinterest thereon, when-
iS1zhNThat the best policy TO diminish our
burden of debt is TO so improve our credit that
capitalists will seek to lend us money at lower
rates of interest than we now pay. and must
continue to pay so long as repudiatien- partial
or total, open or covert, is threatened or sus-
lSerel.n-The Government of the United States
should be administered with the strictest econo-
my. The corruptions which have been SO
shamefully nursed and fostered by Andrew
Johnson, call loudly for radical REFORM
EfghLt-We profoundly deplore the untimely
greet the accession OF Andrew Johnson 10 the
Presidency, who has acted treacherously TO the
people who elected him, and :he cauSe ne was
pledged to support; has usurped high legislative
and Judicial functions; has refused 10 execute
the laws; has used his high office TO induce
other officers to violate the laws; has EN-
ployed his Executive power to render tlse-
cure the property, peace, liberty ana lie OF the
citizen has abused The pard9ning pow9T enc0 nas
stitutional; has persistently and ha6ltual-
ly resisted by every means in his power,
tion OF the States lately in rebellion; has per-
Verted the public patronage into an engine
OF wholesale corruption, and mas 6een Justly I'm, nm
properly pronounced guilty thereof by the vote OF
Ninth-The doctrine ofGreat Britain and other I
European powers, that because nan is once |
subject he is always So must be resisted at every
hazard by the United States as relic of the feu-
dal times not authorized by the law of nations |
and at war with our natioual honor and indie
pendence Naturalized citizens are entitled TO be
protected in all their rights of citizenship as
though they were native born. No citizen of
the United States, native or naturaliZed, must
eign power for acts done or words spoken in this
country, and II SO arrested and imprisoned, 1t is
the duty of the government to interfere in his
behalf.
Ienth-Of all who were faithful in the trials of
the late war, there were none entitled to more
especial honor than the brave soldiers and sea-
men who endured the hardships of the camp
and the cruise, snd imperilled their lives in the
service of the country. The bounties and pen-
gions provided by law for these brave defenders
Of the u,Ihn, are obligations never to be forgot
ton. The widows and orphans of the gallant
lead are theiwards of the peOple-a sacred legacy
to the nations protecting care.
A1epelint-Foreign emigration which in the
past has added SO much to the wealth, and in
,reased the resources of this nation-the asy-
uIn of all nations-should be fostered and en-
,ouraged by liberal and Just policy.
1uetrHt-This Convention declares its sym-
oathy with all oppressed people which are
for their rights.
Resolved, That we recognize the great princi-
pies laid down in the Declaration of Indepen-
ience as the true platform of democratic gov
and we hail with gladness every effort
oward making these principles q living reality
On every inch of American soil. ,
Resolved, That we highly commend the spirit |
,f magnanimity and forbearance with which j:
men who have served in the Rebellion but who |
low frankly and honesty cooperate with us in |
estoring the peace of the country and recon- |
tructing the Southern State governments upon
he basis of Impartial Justice and Equal Rights |
re received back into the communion of the ,
oyal people; and we favor the removal of the
isqualifications and restrictions imposed upon
he late Rebels in the same measure as their
pir1t OF loyalty will direct, and as may be con-
istent with the safety of the loyal people.