The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-06-02
CHE 2Se stern Democrat Charlotte, 21.G~
The Republican Platform.

| The National Republican party of the United
| States, assembled In National Convention in the
city of Chicago on the goth day of May, 1868,
make the following declaration of principles
First. We congratulate the country on the
assured success of the Reconstruction project of
Congress as evinced by the adoption, i'll ma
jority of the States lately in rebellion, of Con-
stitutions securing equal civil and political rights
to all, and regard it as the duty ofthe Govern
ment to sustain these institutions and to prevent
the people of such States from being RENTED to
state of anarchy
Second. The guarantee by Congress of equal
suffrage to all loyal men at the South was de-
handed by every consideration of public safety,
of gratitude, and of justice, and must be main
tanned, while the question of suffrage in all the
loyal States properly belongs to the people these
States.
Third We denounce all forms of reputation
as national crime, and the national honor re-
quires the payment of the public indebtedness in
the utmost good faith to all creditors at home
and abroad; not only according to the letter, but
the spirit of the law under which it was con-
tracted.
Fourth 1t is due to the labor of the nation
| that taxation should be equalized and reduced
as rapidly national facility will permit.
Fifth. The national debt, contracted as it has
been for the preservation of the Union for all
| time to come, should be extended over fair Pc
riod for redemption and it is the duty Of Congress
to reduce the rate of interest thereon whenever
it can honestly be done.
Sixth. That 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 so long as reputation, partial
or total 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 shamefully nursed and fostered by Andrew
johnson call loudly for a radical reform.
Eighth. We profoundly deplore the untimey
and tragic death of Abraham Lincoln and regret
the accession of Andrew johnson to the Presi-
dency, who has acted treacherously to the people
who elected him and the cause he was pledged
to support; has usurped high Legislative and jul
diclal 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 power to render insecure the property
peace, liberty and life of the citizens; has de-
nounced the National Legislature as unconsti-
tutional; has persistently and corruptly resisted
by every measure in his power every proper at
tempt at the reconstruction of the States lately
in rebellion; has perverted the public patronage
been justly impeached for high crimes and mis-
demeanors and properly pronounced guilty
thereof by the vote of thirty five Senator's
Ninth. The doctrine of Great Britain and
other European powers, that because man is
once subject he is always so, must be resisted
at every hazard by the United States as a relic
OF feudal times, not authorized by the law of
nations and at war with our national honor and
Independence Naturalized citizens are entitled
to be protected in all the rights Of citizenship as
thong h they were native born, and no citizen Of
the United States, whether native Or naturalized
must be liable to arrest and Imprisonment by any
| foreign power for acts done words spoken in
this country, and if so arrested and imprisoned,
it is the duty of the Government to interfere in
| his behalf
| Tenth. Of all who are faithful in the trials of
the late war there were none entitled to more
special honor than the brave soldiers and seamen
who endured the hardships and cruise, and i'm
perllled their lives in the service of the country
the bounties and pensions provided by laws for
the brave defenders of the nation are obligations
never to be forgotten; the widows and orphans Of
the gallant dead are the wards of the people-a
sacred legacy bequeathed to the nations protect
ing care.
Eleventh. Foreign emigration, which IN the
past has added so much to the health, develop
ment of resources and increase of power of the
nation, the asylum fthe oppressed of all nations
should be fostered and encouraged by liberal
and just policy.
Twelfth This Convention declares it's SYM
pathy with all the oppressed people which are
struggling for their rights.
After the Regular platform had been adopted
the following resolutions were passed:
"Reso1rcd, That we highly commend the spirit
of magnimity and forgiveness with which the
men who have served in the rebellion-but who
frankly and honestly cooperate with us in re-
storing the peace of the country and reconstruct
ing the Southern State governments upon the
basis of impartial justice andequal rights-are re-
ceived back into the communion of loyal people,
and we favor the removal Of the disqualification
and restrictions imposed upon the late rebels in
the same measure as their spirit of loyalty will
direct, and may be consistent with the safety
of the loyal people.
| "Resolred, That we recognize the great prn-
ciples laid down in the Immortal Declaration of
Independence as the true foundation of Demo-
cratic government and we hail with gladness
every effort toward making these principles q
Hying reality on every inch of American soil"