The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-09-08
5l0tjanal &epublitan.
The Republican Platform.


Committee on Resolutions, was unanimously
adopted by the National Republican Conven.
tiOn in session at Chicago on The 2is: inst;
Tao National Ropub.cGn party Of the Uni
t.! States assembled in National ConTonton
i the city Of Chicago on the 2O.5 day OF May,
1868, make the following declaration Of princi-
Ilrs:
First-wo congratulate tho country on the
assured success ii the reconstruction policy
OF Congress, as eyILcel by the adoption, in @
maj GRITTY of the States lately in rebellion, of
hs,itutious securing equal civil and political
tights TO all, and regard 1t as the duty Of the
G ,verrment to sustain these institutions, and
f:,,sat tho people Of such States from be.
iaf Icg.tttsd to a state Uf anarchy.
&scond-The guarantee Of Congress Of equal
f-Grage to all loyal men at tho South was
demanded by every consideration OF public
safety, of gratitude AID of justice, al must
be maintained, while the questiv. Il outrage
Ia all the loyal States properly belongs TO the
people Of those States
Third-We Gencunce all forms Of repuIia-
ton as nati0nal crime, and the National honor
requires the payment o! the public indebted
ness in the utmost good faith to all creditors,
a. home and abroad, not only according to
the letter out tie spirit VI the laws under
which It was contracted.
FJurth--lt Is due 10 the labor Of the nation
lLlt taxation should be equalized, and reduced
~ rapidly the ational faith will permit.
FIiJh-The national debt, contracted as it
Las been for the preservation Of the Union for
all time TO como, should be extended over fair
period for redemption, and it is the duty Of
Congress to reduce the rate Of interest there.
On whenever it can possibly be done.
sixth-That the best policy to diminish our
burden of debt lie 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
" suspected,
Seventh-The Go,crnmeGt Of tho United
States should 10 administered with the strict
est economy, and tho corruptiOus which nave
orcn so shamefully uursed and fOstered by
Andrew Johnson call loudly for radical reform.
Eighth-We profoundly dcplore the uutimely
and tragic death Of Abraham Lincoln, and re.
.'rct the Eccessiun Vi AGdrgw J0hnson to the
Presidency, who has acted treGcLerously to the
people who elected him and the cause he
was lodged to support has usurped legisla.
we and Judicial functions; has refused to ex.
ecute the laws; has used his high office to in.
duce other officers to ignore ard violate the
laws; has employed his executive power to
render insecure the IrOsIerity, peace, liberty
aEd life Of the citizens; has abused the par.
dOGing power; has denounced tho National
Legislature as unconstitutional; has persis.
tently and corruptly resisted by every means
IL his power, every proper attempt at the re.
construction If the States lately in rebc!Iiori
as perverted the public patronage into an
caBiuG Of wholesale corruption, and has been
jLstIy iwpenched for high crimes AMI mi.de
meauors, and properly proEounceI guilty by
tie votes of thirty.fve Senators
Hiuth-Ihe doctrine OF Great Bftain and
Uiner EuroIt powers, that because n man Is
once subject he is always so, must be resist
el At every hazard by the United States as a
relic Of the icudal times not auth 'rizsd by
the law Of nations and at war with our na
tional honor and independence. NGtutaized
ic;!Eens are entitled 20 be protected in all their
rights Of citiEen,hip as though they were ma.
tivc-born and n citizen Of the United Std'es
native or naturalized, must b. liable ,n ar.
rest and imprisonment by any foreign pnwer
Tor net done or words spoken in this cCuatry.
And if 20 arrested and Imprisoned, 1t l. tie
duty Of the Government to interfere in his be.
half
Tcnth-Of all who were faithful In the trials
Of tic late war there were none entitled TO
more especial honor than tho brave sol
and seamen who endured the hardshps Of
rGuplign and cruise, AMI imferiled their
ETe' 10 the service Orthe country. The boun.
ties AMI pensions provided by law for these
brave defenders Of the nation are obligations
never to be forgotten The widows and or.
plan OF the gallant dead are the wards 0! the
people, a sacred legacy bcqueathel to the ma.
tome protecting care.
E!oycEth-Forei gn emigration, which in
tie past has added go much to the wealth and
development Of tho resources and the increase
C' power Of this nation, tile asylum of the
o?treGsci Of all natiOns,h should be fostrred
E.i encouraged by a liberal and just policy.
TwelEh-This convention declares It's sym
I9lhy wth all the oppressed peel &c VITO are
struggling for their rights.
"a Notion Of General Carl ScLurz, the 70;
lowing additional resolutions were unlLim9u.
) adopted as part Of the platform.
R''Oirsd, That we highly commend the
s;int Of naguamimity and forbearance with
which the men who have served In the rebel.
lion, but now frankly and honestly cooperate
W.T. US in restoring the peace Of the country
NJ rcconstrnctiDg the Southern State Gov.
esErGents upon the basis Of impartial justice
and equal rights, are received back into the
communion Of the loyal people and We lavCr
tie removal 0! the disquaifcutions and 70.
t,rictious imposed upon the late rebels in the
g.Ee measure as their spirit Of loyalty will
trect, and as may be consistent with the
safr'y Of the loyal PEOPLE
RCsOirtd That We recognize the great Prin
c'pIcs laid down in the immortal Declaration
Of hide peLdeuce Gs the true foundation OIL
Ggm0crHtc government, and we hail with
El~dntss every effort toward making these
prinrPlr, living reality OIL every inch Of the
AMcr!cGn ssil