Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-23
THE RADICAL PLATFORM.

Equal Suffrage in the sOufh--North to
be Left free I'm the HTaftcr-RePudi-
atiOn observation-disclosures De
EOuneed-ImPeaehns Endorsed.
The following is complete copy Of the
platform adopted by the Radical Conyen-
ton at Chicago:
The national Republican party Of the
United States, assembled in national con-
venliOn in the city of Chicago on the Goth
day of May, 1865, make the following de-
elsratiOn Of principles:
First--We congratulate the country on
the assured success Of the reconstruction Of
Congress, as eyincea by the adoption in a
majority Of the States lately in rebellion
Of their own Constitutions, and securing
equal, civil and political rights to all /;
and we regard it as the duty of govern
menl 20 sustain those institutions and to
prevent the people of such States from
being RENTED 60 a state of anarchy.
LCheers.
Second-fhe guarantee by Congress Of
equal sufrageto all loyal men in the South,
was demanded by every consideration Of
public safety, Of gratitude and justice, and
must be maintained, while the question Of
suffrage in the loyal States properly belongs
to the people Of those States. lCheers.]
Third-We denounce all forms of repu-
diaiion as a national crime, prolonged
cheering, and national honor requires the
payment of public Indebtedness in the ut
most good faith to all conditions at home
and abroad, not only according to the let
ter, but the spirit of the laws under which
it was contracted [Aprlause.
Fourth-It is due to the labor Of the ma
ton that taxation should be equalized and
reduced as rapidly az the national faith
will permit.
Fifth-The national debt, contracted as
it has been, for the preservation of the
Union, for all time TO come, should be ex-
tended over fair period for redemption,
and it is the duty of Congress to reduce the
rate Of interest thereon whenever il can
honestly be done.
Sixth--Fhat the best policy to diminish
our burden of debt is to so improve our
credit that capitalists will seek TO loan us
money at lower rates of interest than we
now pay, and must continue to pay az long
as reputation, partial or local, open or
covert is threatened or suspected
Seventh-The government of the United
States should be administered with the
strictest economy, and the corruptions
which have been SO shamefnlly nursed and
fostered by Andrew johnson call loudly for
radical reform.
Eighth-We profoundly deplore the I'M
timely and tragic death of Abraham Lin
coin, and regret the accession Of Andrew
johnson to the Presidency, who has acted
treacherously to the people who elected
him and the cause he was pledged 10 sup
port; usurped high legislative and judicial
functions; has refused to execute the laws;
has used his high office to induce other
officers to ignore and violate the laws has
employed his executive powers TO render
insecure The property, peace, liberty and
life of the citizens; has abused the pardon
ing power; has denounced the National
Legislature as unconstitutional; has per
sistently resisted, by every measure in his
power, every proper attempt at the recon
struction of the States lately in rebellion
has perverted the public patronage into an
engine of wholesale corruption, and has
been justly impeached for high crimes and
misdemeanors, and properly guilty thereof
by the votes Of thirty-fve Senators.
Ninth-The doctrine of Great Britain
and other European powers is that because
a man is once a subject he is always so
must be resisted at every hazard by the
United States, as a relic of feudal time
not authorized by the law of nations, and
at war with our national honor and indie
pendence. Naturalized citizens ought to be
protected in all their rights Of citizenship,
as though they were natural born, and no
citizen of the United States, natural or nat
uralized, must be liable to arrest and inn
prisonment by any foreign power for acts
done or words spoken in this country, and
if 30 arrested and imprisoned, it is the duty
of the government to interfere in his behalf |
Tenth-Of all who were faithful in the
trials Of the late civil war there were none
entitled to more especial honor than the
brave soldiers and seamen who endured
the hardships of campaign and cruise, and
imperilled their lives in the services Ofthe
country. The bounties and pensions pro-
vided by law for those brave defenders of
the nation are obligations never to be for
gotten. The widows and orphans of the
gallant dead are the wards of the people
a sacred legacy bequeathed to the nations |
protecting care. /
Eleyenth-Foreign emigration, which,
in the past, has added so much to the
wealth, development of resources and in
crease of power to this nation. The asy-
lum of the oppressed of all nations should
be fostered and encouraged by liberal and |
just policy.
Twelfth-This convention declares its |
sympath with all the oppressed people
who are struggling for their rights.