Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-27
The Platform.
may 27-2t

The National Republican party of the
United States, assembled in National Con
ventiOn in the city of Chicago, on the goth
day Of May, 1868, make the following dec
laration Of principles
First-We congratulate the country on
the assured success of the reconstruction
policy of Congress as evinced by the adop-
ton, in the majority of the States lately in
rebellion, of constitutions securing equal
civil and political rights to all, and regard
it as the duty of the government TO sus-
tain those Institutions, and to prevent the
people Of such States from being RENTED
TO u state OF anarchy.
Second The guarantee OF Congress OF
equal suffrage to 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 all the loyal States properly be
longs to the people of those States.
Third-That we denounce all forms of
reputation as anational crime, and national
honor requires the payment OF public in
debtedness in the utmost good faith to all
creditors at homo and abroad, not only &C
oording to the letter but the spirit Of the
laws under which it was contracted.
Fourth-It is due to the labor of the ma
ton that taxation should be equalized and
reduced as rapidly as 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 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 as long
IS 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-the corruptions which
have been so shamefully nursed and foster
oil by Andrew Johnson call loudly for radi-
cal reform.
Eighth-We profoundly deplore the un-
timely and tragic death of Abraham Lin
coin, and regret the accession of Andrew
Johnson to the Presidency. who has acted
treacherOusly 10 the people who elected
him, ana the cause he was pledged 10 sup
port, usurpcd high legislative and judicial /
functions, has refused TO execute the laws. |
has used high Office 10 induce other officers /.
to ignore and violate the laws has employ
cd his executive powers TO render insecure /
the property. peace liberty, and life Of the |
has abused the pardoning power,
has denounced the national legislature rs
unconstitutional has persistently resisted
by every measure in bis power every proper
attempt AT the reconstruction OF the States
lately in rebellion has prevented the pub
lie patronage into an engine of wholesale
corruption and has been justly impoachcd
for high crimes and misdemeanors and
pronounced guilty thereof by tho
votes Of Lhirty-fivo Senators.
Nlnlh-lhe doctrine of Great Britain and
ether European powers. that because man
IS once a subject he is always so. must be
resisted at every hazard as a relic of the
eudal times, not authorized bv the law Of
Iatlons, and at war with our national honor
and Independence Naturalized citizens
ought TO be protected in ali their right. of
as though they were native.
born. and no citizen of the United States
native or naturalzed, must be liable 10 ar ,
rest and Imprisonment by any foreign power !
or acts done OF words spoken IN this coun !
ny and il SO arrested and imprisoned, it is /,
he duty of the government to interfere in
ais behalf
Tonth-Of all who were faithful in the I
rials OF the late war. there were none en-
tiled TO more especial honor than the brave
olders and seamen who endured the hard Z
hips Of the campaign and cruise, and i'm y
crriIed their lives in the service of the q
ountry The bounties and pensions pro- Z Z
ided by law for those brave defenders of =
he nation are obligations never TO be for il
often. The widows and orphans of the jf