The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-08-03
The RepubIican Platform.

LUG lOuONluk HihsiVibit AePViNou " Wv
Committee on Resolutions, was unanimously
adopted by tho National Republican conven.
ton in session at Chicago on the 2lst inst;
The National Republican party Of the Uni.
/ ted States, assembled in National Convention
in the city of Chicago on the goth day Of May
1865, make the following declaration Of princi'
| pies:
First-wo congratulate the country on the
assured success OF tho reconstructon policy
Of Congress, as eyneed by the adoption, In
majority Of the States lately in rebellion, Of
Constitutions securing equal civil and political
| rights TO ALL and regard II rs the duty OF the
Government 10 sustain these Institutions, and
to prevent tho people Of such States from b.
ing RENTED to state Of anarchy.
Second-Tho guarantee Of Congress ofequai
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 the
people Of those States.
Third-We denouncc all forms Of ropudia-
ton as n national crime and the national honor
requires the payment Of the public indebted
ness in tho utmost good faith to all creditors,
at homo and abroad, not only according to
| the letter but the spirit OF the laws under
which It was contracted
Fourtb-It is due to the labor OF the nation
that taxation should be equaliEed, and reduced
as rapidly rs the national fifth will permit.
Fifth-The national debt, contracted as it
has been for the preservation Of the Union for
all time 10 como, should be extended over fair
period for redemption, and II Is the duty Of
Congress to reduce the rate OF interest there.
on whenever It can possibly be done.
Sixtb-That the bost policy to diminish our
burden Of debt is TO go improve our credit
that capitalists will seek TO loan us money at
lower rates Of interest than We now pay, and
must continue to pny so long as reputation,
partial or total, open or covert, is threatened
or suspected,
Seventh-The Government Of tho United
States should be administered with the strict
est economy, and the oorruptions which havo
been so shamefully nursed and fostered by
Andrew johnson call loudly for radical reform.
Eigbth-We profoundly depore the untimeiy
and tragic death Of Abraham lincoln, and re-
greet the accession Of Andrew johnson to the
Presidency, who has acted treacherousiy to the
people who elected him and the cause he
was pledged to supports has usurped lcgsla-
tive and Judicial functions; has refused to ex.
ecute the laws has used his high office to in.
duce other officers to ignore and violate the
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 the National
Legislature as unconstitutional has persis.
tently and corruptly resisted by every means
in his power, every proper attempt at the re.
construction Of the States lately in rebellion;
has perverted the public patronage into an
engine Of wholesale corruption, and has been
justly impoached for high crimes and misdc.
meanors, and properly pronounced guilty by
the votes Of thirty five Senators
Ninth-The doctrine Of Great Britain and
other European powers, that because a man is
once q subject he is always so, must be resist
ed at every hazard by the United States as a
relic Of the feuial timos, not authorized by
the law Of nations and at war with our ma.
tional honor and independence. Naturalized
citizens are entitled TO be protected in all their
rights OF citiEenship as though thoy wero ma
born, and no citizen Of the United States,
native or naturalized, must be liable to ar
rest and imprisonment by any foreign power
for acts done or words spoken in this country
And If so arrested and Imprisoned, 1t Is the
duty Of the Government to interfere in his be
half
Tenth-Of all who were faithful in the trials
Of the late war there were none entitled to
| more especial honor than the brave soldiers
aud seamen who endured the hardships of
campaign and cruise, and imperiled their
lives in the service ofthe country. The boun-
ties and pensious provided by law for these
| brave defenders OF the nation are Obligations
never TO be lorgottca. The widows and or
phans Of the gallant dead are the wards ofthe
people a sacred legacy bequoathed to the no.
lions protecting care.
Elevonth-Foreign emigration, which in
tho past has added so much to the wealth and
development Of the resources and the increase
Of power Of this nation, "the asylum OF the
| oppressed OF all nations should be (ostercd
aud encouraged by liberal aDd just policy.
Tweltth--This convention declares its SYM
patty with all tho oppressed people who arc
struggling for their rights
On motion Of General Carl SohuTE, the fol.
lowing additional resolutions were unanimous;
| ly adopted as part Of the platform.
| ReSOiUed, That We highly commend the
Spirit Of msgnamimity and fcTbearance with
| which the men who bsye served in the rebel.
lion, but now frankly and honestly cooperate
with US in restoring tho peace Of tho country
and recoustructiug the Southern State Gov.
ernments upon the basis OF impartial justice
and equal rights ore received back into the
communion Of the loyal people, and we favor
the removal Of the disqualifcations and re-
strictions imposed upon the late rebels In tho
same measure as their spirit Of loyalty will
direct, and as may be consistent with tho
safety Of the loyal people.
Rc'Oited, That we recognize the great prn.
cipies laid down In the immortal Declarat lion
Of Independence as the true foundation Of
democratic government, and We hail with
gladness every effort toward making these
principles living reality on every inch Of the
American soil,