Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-05-27
The Platform,

The National Republican party Of the United
States assembled in national Convention in the
city of Chicago the Goth day of May, 1865,
makes the following declaration of principles.
1. We congratulate the country on the assured
success of the reconstruction policy of Congress
evinced by the adop ton, in ajority of the
States lately in rebellion, Of constitutions secur
ing equal civil and political rights to all. and re-
gard it as the duty of the Government to sustain
those institutions, and to prevent the people of
such States from being remitted to state of an
archy.
2. The guarantee by Congress of equal suffrage
to all loyal men at the south was demanded by
every consideration of public safety, of gratitude
and of justice, and must be maintained while the
question of suffrage in all the loyal States prop
erly belongs to tho people Of those States
3. We denounce all forms of repudiation a
National crime, and the National honor requires
the payment of the public Indebtedness in the ut
most good faith to all creditors at home and a
broad, not only according to the letter, but the
spirit of the law under which it contracted.
T. 1t is due to the labor of the nation that tax
alton should be equalized and reduced as rapid
ly as the national faith will permit
5. The national debt, contracted as it has been
for the preservation Of the Union for all time to
come, should be extended over a fair period for
red ption and it is the duty of Congress to re-
duce the rate of interest thereon whenever it can
honestly be done.
8. That the best policy to diminish our burden
of debt is to SO improve our credit so that capi-
talists will seek to loan US money at lower rates
of interest than we now pay, and must continue
to pay so long reputation, partial or total
open covertis threatened or suspected.
I. The Government Of the United States should
be administered with the strictest economy, and
tho conceptions, which have been SO sham efully
nursed and tostered by Andrew johnson, call
loudly for radical reform.
8. We profoundly deplore the untimely and
tragic death of Abraham Lincoln and regret the
accession of Andrew johnson to the Presidency.
who has acted treacherousfy 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 high office to induce other officers to g-
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 pardonlng power, has denounced the national
IL legislature as unconstitutional has persistently
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 impeaehed
for high crimes and misdetneanors, and properly
pronounced guilty thereof by the vote of thirty
i've Senators.
g. The doctrine of Great Britain snd other Eu-
ropean powers, that, because man is once sub
ject, he is always SO, must be resisted at every
hazard by tie Uuited States relic of the fsu-
daI times, not authorized by the law of nations,
and at war with our national honor and indepen-
dence- Naturalized citizens entitled to be
protected in all their rights of citizenship, al
though they were native-born, and no citizen Of
the Un1teu Otatos, natlVe OF naturaIlzeu m ust Do
liable to arrest and Imprisonment by any foreign
power for acts done or words spoken in tn is coun
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 mono entitled to more espe-
cial honor than the brave soldiers and seamen
who endured the hardships of the campaign 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 a
ton are obig ations never to be forgotten. The
widows and orphans of the gallan dead are the
wards of the people-a sacred legacy bequeathed
to the nation protecting care.
IL. Foreign emigration, which in the past Il as
added much to the wealth, development of re-
sources and increase of power to the nation,
should be fostered and encoura aged by liberial
and just policy.
IL. This Convention declares its sympathy Win
all oppressed peoples struggling for their rlshts
I3. We highly recommend the spirit OF mag
nanimity and forgiveness with which men VINO
have served the rebellion, but now frankly and
honestly cooperate with in restoring the peace
of the country and reconstructing the Southern
State Governments upon the basis of impartial
justice and equal rights are received back into
the comm union of the loyal people. and we favor
the remova of the disqualifcations and restric-
tions imposed upon the late ebels in the same