The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1868-05-28
TEH PLATFORM OF THE RAD
ICAL PARTY.

tional Convention in the city Of Chi
cngo on the goth day of May, 1868,
make the following declaration of
principles:
First.-We congratulate the coun-
try on the assured success of the
reconstruction policy of Congress
as evinced by the adoption in the
majority of the States lately in re-
bellion, of constitutions securing equal
civil and political rights to all; and
it is the duty of the Government to
snstain those institutions and to pre-
vent the people of those States from
being RENTED to state of anarchy.
Sscond.-The guarantee by Con-
gress of equal suffrage to- all loyal
men at the South was demanded by,
every consideration of public safety.
of gratitude, and ofjustice, and must.
be maintained; while the question of
suffrage in all the loyal States pro-
perly belongs to the people of those
States. ,, x, ~ = ~
x,.Eaird.-We denounce all forms of
Reputation as a national crime, and
the national honor requires the pay
ment of the public indebtedness in
the utmost good, faith to al ? creditors
at.home and abroad, not only accord
ind to the letter. but the spirit of the
laws under which twas contracted.
Fourth.-It is due to the labor of
the nation that taxation should be
equalised and reduced as rapidly as
the m. :onal faith will permit. 'ts9
Fitth.-The national debt, con-
tracted, as it has been, for the pre-
servation of the Union forall time to
come, should be EXTENDED: over a fair
period for redemption; md it is the
duty of Congress to reduce the rate
of, interest thereon whenerer9it can
be honestly done.1 +i q
Sirth.-That the best policy to
diminish our burden of debts 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 shame
fully nursed and fostered by Andrew
johnson GALL loudly for radical re-
form. fAi n = ~.
Eig1th..-We professedly deplore
the untimely and tragic death of
Abraham Lincoln, and regret the ac-
cession of Andrew johnson to the
Presidency, who has acted treache-
rously to the people who elected him
and thecause he was pledged to sup
port who has usurped high legisla-
tive and judicial functions; who has
refused to execute the laws; who has
used his high Office to induce other
officers to ignore and violate the laws;
who has employed his executive,pow-
ers to render insecure the property,
the peace, liberty, and life of the
citizen; who has abused the pardon
ing power; who has denounced the
National Legislature as unconstitu-
tional; who has persistently and cor
ruptly resisted, by every measure in
his power, every proper attempt at
the reconstruction of the States lately
in rebellion; who has perverted the
public patronage into an engine Of
wholesale corruption, and who has
been justly impeaclled for high crimes
and misdemeanors. and properly pro-
nounced guilty thereof by the vote Of
thirty-6ve senator's. ..es'
NSntA.-The doctrine of Great
Britain and other European Powers
that because man is once q subject
he is always so, must be resisted at
every hazard by the United States,
as relic Of the feudal times, not au-
thorized by the law of nations, and
at war with our national honor and
independence. Naturalized citizens
are entitled to be protected in all their
rights Of citizenship as though they
were native-born, and no citizen of
the United States, native ornatural-
lied, must be liable to arrest and
Imprisonment by any foreign Power
for acts done or words spoken in this
country; and if so arrested and in
prisoaed, it is the duty of the Gov
crnment to interfere in his behalf.
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 and seamen
who endured the hardships of cam
paign and cruise, and imperiled their
Il - - =