The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-08-15
rna RenuhIicnn Platform.

ton in session at Chicsgo on the 2lst inst:
The National Republican party Of the Uni. !
ted States, assembled In National Convention
in the city Of Chicago on the 20th day Of May,
1868, make tho following declaration Of prinoi-
PIES:
First-wo congratulate the country on the |
assurel success OF the roconstruction policy !
Of Congress, as evinced by the adoption, 10
majority Of the States lately In rebellion, OF
Constitutions securing equal civil and political
rights to all, and regard 1t as the duty OF the
Government to sustain these Institutions, and
TO prevent the people of such States from be-
ing r.mitted to a state Of anarchy.
Seeond-The guarantee Of Congress Of equal
suffrage to all loyal men at tho 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 denounce all forms OF repudia-
tion as 4 national crime, and the national honor
requires the payment Of the public indebted
ness in the utmost good faith to nil creditors
ut home and abroad, not only according to
the letter but the spirit Of the laws under
which 1t was contracted.
Pourth--It is due to the labor Of the nation
that taxation should be equaliEed, and reduced
as rapidly rs the national faith will permit.
Rifth-The national debt, contracted as It
has been for the preservation Of the Union for
all lime to come, should be extended over fair
period for redemption, and Il 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 Is TO so improve our credit
that capitalists will seek to loan US money at
| lower rates Of interest than we row pay, and
muit continue 70 Pay so long as reputation,
partial or total, open or covert, is threatened
| or suspected.
| States should be administered with the strict
est economy, and tho corruptons which have
oeen so shamefully nursed and fostered by
| Andrew johnson call loudly for radical reform l..
Eighth-We profoundly deplore the untimely
| and tragic death of Abraham Lincoln, and re-.
gret the accession Of Andrew Johnson to the
| Presidency, who has acted treaoherously to the
people who elected him and the cause he
was lodged to support has usurped logisla.
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
Lawn; has employed his executive power to
render insecure tho prosperity, peace, liberty
| and life Of the citizens; has abused the par.
| doning power; has Denounced the National
| LEGISLATURE as unconstitutional; has persis
teatly 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 beer
| Justly impesched for high crimes and misde.
Ineanors, and properly pronounced guilty BY
the votes OF thirty five Senators.
| Ninth-Tbe doctrine OF Great Britain and
other European powers, that because a man Il
onoe u subject he Is always so, must be resist
cd ut every hazard by the United States as 1
relic OF tho Ieulal times, not authorized by
the law Of nations and at war with our ma
tional honor AID independence. Naturaiizrt
citizens are entitled to be protected in all thei
rights Of citizenship as though they were ma
tive born, and no citizen Of the United State.
native or pG.uraiized, must be liable TO ar
rest and Imprisonment by any foreign povel
for acts done or words spoken in this country
And il 20 arrested and imprisoned, 1t Is tn,
duty Of the Government to interfere in his be
Laf.
Tsnth-Of all who were faithful in the trial
Of the late war there were none eptiIed Il
morc especial honor than the brave soldier
aud srnmen WHO endured the hardships @
campaign and cruise, and imperiled thei
/ lives In the scrN ice ofthe country. The boun
ties and pensions provided by law for Ties
brave defenders of the nation are obligation
7 never to be forgotten. The widows and Of
! phans Of the gallant dead are the wards Of ID
people, a sacred legacy bequeathed to the nj
e lions protecting care.
d E!eventh-FUreign emigration, which
l. the past has added 50 much to the wealth an
\ development of rhe resources and the increal
); Of power Of this nation, 'the asylum of Il
e oppressed Of all nation, should be iostere
!; and encouraged by a Iibsrll and just polio,
q Twelth-Thls convention declares it's syn
T. PATTY with all the oppressed people who a
J. | STRUGGLING for their rights.
G On motion Of dsnerRl Carl Schurz, the f.
Il loving additional resolutions were unRnimou
~ adopted as part Of the platform.
Rssoirsd, That we highly commend Il
spirit Of msgnanimity and forbearance wi
which the men who have served in tho reb'
lion, but now frankly and honestly CO opera
IS with us in restoring the peace Of the count
=, and reconstructing the Southern State Go
ernments upon the basis Of impartial justi
z ard equal rights are received back into q
d communion Of the loyal people, and We fay
u the removal of the disqualifcatiops and I
y stric,ions imposed upon the late rebels in 4
Is saue measure as their spirit Of loyalty W
direct, and as may be consistent with /
~ safety of the loyal people
be Resgirea, That We recognize the great pr
IN ciples laid down in the Immortal! Deolarsti
- Of Independence as the true foundation
dc democratic government, and we hail VI
n. Eladncss every effort toward making the
or principles living reality on every inch Of t
"a American soil.