The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-07-31
Tho Republican Platform.

/ Committee on Resolutions, was unanimously
adopted by the National Republican Conven.
tlon in session at Chicago on the 2lst inst:
The National Republican party Of the Uni.
tod States, assembled In National Convention
in the city Of Chicago on the 2Oth day Of May,
1868, make the following declaration Of prinoi.
pies: ..
First-Wo congratulate tho country on the
assured success OF the recoustruction policy
Of Congress, n eviuced by the adoption, In .
majority Of the States lately In rebellion, Of
Constitutions securing equal civil and political
rights to all, Rnd regard 1t As the duty Of the
Government 10 sustain these institutions, and
TO prevent tho people Of such States from be.
ing RENTED TO state Of anarchy.
Second-The guarantee Of Congress Of equal
suffrage 10 all loyal men ct the South vas
demanded BY every confederation 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-ws denounee all forms Of repudia.
tion as national crime, and the nationsi honor
requires the payment of the public indebted
at home and abroad, not only according to
the lettor but the spirit Of the laws under
which 1t was contracted.
Fourth--It Ia due 10 tho labor Of the nation
that taxation should be equalized, and reduced
MS rapidly rs the national faith will permit.
Fifth-The national debt, contracted as II
has been for the preservation Of tho Union for
all time to come, should be extended over fair
period for redemption, and II Is tho duty Of
Congress to reduce the rate Of interest there.
| on whenever II can possibly be done.
SiIth-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 rs reputation,
partial or total, open or covert, 10 threatened
or suspected,
ssventh-The Government Of the United
States should DO administered with the strict.
est economy, aud the corruptions which have
been so shamsfully nursed and fostered by
Andrew johnson call loudly for radical reform.
Eighth-we profoundly deplore the untimely
and tragic death Of Abraham Lincoln, and re-
greet the accession OF Andrew johnson to tho
Presidency, who has acted oecherously TO the
people who elected him and tho cause be
was rledgod to support; has usurped legisla.
tive and Judicial functions; has refused to ex.
eoute 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 "a 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 impeaehed for high crimes and INSIDE
mcanors, and properly pronounced guilty by
the votes Of tbirty-fve Senators.
Ninth-The doctrine Of Great Britain and
other European powers, that because 4 man is
| once subject he lie always 90, must be resist
ed at every hazard BY the United States as a
relic of the feudal times, not authorized by
| the law Of nations and at war with our ma.
| tional honor aud independence. Naturalized
citizens are entitled to be protected In all their
rights Of citirenship as though they wore ma
tive 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.
| Aud If go arrested and imprisoned, IL 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 10
more especial honor than tho brave soldiers
and seamen who endured the hardships Of
campaign and cruise, and imperiled their
lives 10 the service fthe country. The boun-
ties and pensions provided by law for these
never to be forgotten. The widows and or.
phans Of the gallant dead are the wards Of the
people, q sacred legacy bequoathed to the ma.
tons protecting care.
Eleventh-FOreign emigration, which in
the past has added so much to the wealth and
development Of the resources and the increase
Of power Of this nation, 'tbe asylum OF the
oppressed Of all nations, " should be fostered
and encouraged by liberal and Just policy
| TuaIUh Tbis
patty with nil the oppressed people who arc
struggling for their rights
On motion Of General Carl Schurz, the fol.
lowing additional resolutions were unsnimous ;
| ly adopted as part Of the platform.
ReSOived, That we highly commend the
spirit Of msgnaDimity and forbearance with
which tie men who have served in the rebel.
lion, but now frankly and honestly co. operate
with us In restoring the peace Of tho country
and reconstructiug the Southern State Gov.
erpments upon the basis Of impartial justice
and equal rights are received back into tho
communion Of the loyal people; and we favor
the removal Of the disqualifoations 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 the
safety Of the loyal people.
| Resolved, That We recognize the great prn.
ciples laid down in the immortal Declaration
democratic government, and we hail with
sladness every effort toward making these
principles living reality on evory inch of the
| American soil.
| GRANT AND CoLFAN-TEIR LETTERS oP AC-
cEPrAscE-THE PLATFORM ENDORSED.
The following are the letters Of General Grant
and Hon Schuyler Colfax, accepting the nomi.
nation for the Presidency and Vice Presidency
Of the United States by the Republican Ma
tioIal Convention:
WAsurSoroN, D. c., May 30, 1868.
GsR. Joseph X Har!ey, President National
UHIOn R,pubHeaH Commiitec-In formally
accepting tho nomination of the National
Union Republican Convention, of the 2lst Of
May instant, 1t seems proper that some state.
ment Of views beyond the mere acceptance oil
the nomination should be expressed.
The proceedings Of the Convention were
marked with wisdom, moderation and pRtri-
otism, and l believe express tho feelings the
great mass Of those who sustained the country
through its recent trials. l endorse their re-
solutions. If elected to the otlice of PTesi
dent 0! he United States, 1t will be my en-.
deavor to administer all the laws in good faith
with economy, and with the view Of giving
peace, quiet and protection everywhere. In
times like the present it ia impossible, or, al
least, eminently improper, to lay down poll
cy to be adhered to, right or wrong, through
an naturalization of four years. New politi.
cal Issues, not foTeseen, ore constantly ariEing
the views Of the public on old ones are con
stantly changing, and purely administrative
o1hcer should always be left free to execute