The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-08-05
Tho rcpubI,cep Platform,

Committee on Resolutions, was unanimously
adopted by tho National Republican Conven.
ton in session at Chicago on the 2ist inst
The National Republican party of the Uni.
ted States, assembled In National Convention
in the city Of Chicago on the 20Uh day Of May,
ls6s, make the following declaration Of prinoi.
plies.
First-wc congratulate tho country on the
assured success OF the reconstruction policy
Of Congress, as ovineed by the adoption, In q
majority Of the States lately in rebellion, OF
Constitutions securing equal civil and political
rights TO all, and regard IL rs the duty Of the
Government to sustain these Institutions, and
to prevent tho people Of such States from DO.
Ing remittsd to state Of anarchy.
Second-The guarantee Of 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 properly belongs to tho
people of those States.
Tbird-we denounco all forms Of ropudia.
tion as 4 national crime, and the nations al honor
requires the payment Of the public indebted
ness In the utmost good faith to all creditors,
at home and abroad, not only according to
tho letter but tho spirit Of the laws under
which 1t was contracted.
Fourth-It Is due to the labor Of the nation
that taxation should be equalized, and reduced
as rapidly rs the national faith will permit.
Fifth-The national debt, contracted as II
has been for the preservation Of the Union for
all time to come, should be extended over fair
period for redemption, and II Is the duty Of
Congress 10 reduce the ratio Of interest there.
on whenever IL can possibly DO done.
Sixth-That tho best policy to diminish our
burden Of debt Is to so improve our credit
Al a. M -. A 4.
lower rates Of interest than We now pay, and
must continue to pay so long as reputation,
partial or total, open or covert, Is threatened
or suspected,
Seyenth-The Government of tho United
States should DO administered with the strict
est economy, and the corruptions which have
been 90 shAmefully nursed and fostered by
Andrew johnson call loudly for radical reform
Eighth-We profoundly deploro the untimely
and tragic death of Abraham Lincoln, and re-
grot the accession Of Andrew johnson to the
Presidency, who has acted troacherously to the
people who elected him and the cause he
was pledged to support has usurped legisia-
tive and Judicial functions; has refused to ex.
ecuto the laws; has used his high office to In.
duce other officers to ignore and violate tho
laws; has employed his executive power to
render insecure the prosperity, peace, liberty
and life Of the citizens; has abused the par.
doning power; has denounced tho National
Legislature as unconstitutional has persis.
tently and corruptly resisted by every means
in his power, every proper attempt at the re.
construction Of tho States lately in rebellion
has perverted the public patronage into an
engine Of Wholesale corruption, and has been
justly impcnchcd for high crimes and misdo-
mcanors, and properly pronounced guilty by
the votes Of thirty.Gye Senators
Ninth-The doctrine Of Great britain and
other European powers, that because a man Is
once subject he is always so, must be resist.
ed at every hazard by the United States as q
relic Of the feudal times, not authorised by
the law Of nations and at war with our ma.
tional honor and Independence. NGturalized
citizens are entitled to be protected 10 all their
rights Of citizenship as though they wero ma.
tive.born, and no citizen Of the United States,
native or nAturslized, must be liable to ar,
rest and imprisonment by any foreign powell
for acts done or words spoken in this country
Aud II so arrested and imprisoned, 1t is tn,
duty Of the Government 10 interfere In his be
BALI
Tenth-Of all who were faithful in the trial
| Of the late war there were none entitled Il
more especial honor than the bravo soldier
and seamen who endured the hardships o
campaign and cruise, and imperiled thei
lives 10 the service ofthe country. The boun
ties and pensions provided by law for thes
brave defenders Of the nation are obligation
never to be forgotten. The widows and or
phans cf the gallant dead arc the wards Of th
people, sacred legacy bOqueatkci to the ma
lions protecting care.
Eioyonth--Foreign emigration, which Il
the past has added so much to the wealth an
development Of the resources and the inereas
Of power Of this nation, "the asylum Of tn
| EF
and encouraged by liberal and just policy
Twelfth-This convention declares Its sym
patty with all the oppressed people who or
struggling for their rights
Gu motion Of General Carl Schufz, the fol
lowing additional resolutions were unanimous
ly adopted rs part of the platform.
Resolved, That we highly commend tn
spirit Of magnamimity and forbearance wit
which the men who have served In the rebe
lion, but now frankly and honestly oo.operat
with US In restoring the peace Of the countr
and reoonstructiDg the Southern State DO,
srnments upon the basis Of impartial justic
and equal rights, are received back into th
communion Of the loyal people, and we fave
the removal Of the disqualification and r,
striotions imposed upon the late rebels 10 th
same measure rs their spirit Of loyalty wi
direct, and as may be consistent with II
safety Of the loyal people,
RtSoirc6, That we recognize the great prii
ciples laid down in the immortal DcclarSGC
Of Independence as tie true foundation I
democratic government, and we hail wit
gladness every effort toward making theI
principles living reality on every inch Of Ii
American soil.
!, GRANT AND COLPAx-THEIE LETTERS or A
CErrAscE-TRE PLATFORM ENDORSED.