The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-08-18
The Republican Platform.

The Republican Platform.
The following platform, reported by the
Committee on Resolutions, was unsuimously
adopted BY the National Republican Convsn-
ton In session at Chicago on the 2lst inst:
The National Republican party of the Uni
ted States assembled in National Convention
In the city Of Chicago on the goth day Of May,
1868, make the following declaration Of princi-
pies:
First-Wo congratulate tho country on the
assured success Of the reconstruction policy
Of Congress, as evinced by the adoption, in a
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 remitted to u state Of anarchy.
Sscond-The guarantee of Congress Of equal
suffrage to all loyal men at the South was
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-We denounco all forms of repudin-
ton as a national crime, and the national honor
requires the payment Of the public indebted
ness in the utmost good faith to all creditors,
at homo and abroad, not only according to
Inc lettcr Out tub spirit OF tue laws unuof
which 1t was contracted.
Fourth-It is due to the labor Of the nation
chat taxation should be equalized, and reduced
as rapidly as the national faith will permit.
Fifth-The national debt, contracted MS It
has been for the preservation Of tho Union for
all time to come, should be extended over fair
period for redemption, and It Is the duty of
Congress to reduce the rate Of interest there
on whenever 1t can possibly be done.
VII hat h. beet pnIicy 70 ip,ip ish
burden of debt is to so improve cur credit
that capitalists will seek to loan us money at
lower rates Of interest than We now pay, and
must continue to pay go long as reputation,
partial or total, open or covert, is threatened
or suspected,
Seventh-The Government Of tho United
States should be administered with the strict
est economy, and tho corruptiOus which have
ooen so shamefully nursed and fostered by
Andrew johnson call loudly for radical reform
Eisath-We profoundly deplore the untinc!y
and tragic death Of Abraham Lincoln, and re-
greet the accession Of Andrew Johnson to the
Presidency, who has acted trcacherously to the
people who elected him and the cause he
was Iledged to support has usurped lcgisla
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
lava has employed his executive power to
render insecure tho prosperity, peace, liberty
and life Of the citizens; has abused the par
doniIg power; has denounced the National
Legislature as unconstitutional; has persis-
tontly and corruptly resisted, by every means
in his power, every proper attempt ut the re.
construction Of the States lately in rebellion
has perverted the public patronage into an
engine Of Wholesale corruption, and has been
justly impsached for high crimes and INSIDE
meanors, and properly pronounced guilty by
the votes Of thirty.hve Senators
Ninth-The doctrine OF Great Britain and
other European powers, that because q man IL
once a subject he Is always so, must bo resist
ed At every hazard BY the United Ststes as
relic Of the feudal times, not authorized by
the law Of nations and at war with our ma
tiGnal honor and Independence. NatuializeC
citizens are entitled to be protected in all thei
rights Of citizenship as though they were ma
tive-horn, and no citizen Of the United States
native or naturaliEed, must be liable to ar
rest and imprisonment by any foreign pove
for acts done or words spoken in this country
And If SO arrested and Imprisoned, 1t is tn,
duty of the Government 10 interfere in his be
half
Tenth-0f all who were faithful in the trial
Of the late war there were none entitled u
moro especial honor than the brave soldier
and seamen who endured the hardships 0
campaign and cruise, and imperiled thei
lives In the service Of the country. The boun
ties anu pensions pTONlutu INV tLcb
brave defenders Of the nation are obligation
never to be forgotten. The widows and or
phans Of the gallant dead are the wards Of th,
people, 4 sacred legacy bequeathed to the ma
tons protecting care.
Eleventh-Poreign emigration, which Il
the past has added so much to the wealth AM
development Of the resources and the increas
Of power Of this nation, "the asylum Of tn,
oppressed Of all nations" should be fostereC
nd hv IA EhsraI nd tns IL,
Twelith-This convention declares its sym
PATTY with all the oppressed people who ar,
struggling for their rights.
On motion Of General Carl SchUrz the fol
lowing additional resolutions were unanimou
ly adopted as part Of the platform.
RsS0iUed, That We highly commend th
spirit of mSgnamimity and forbearance will
which the men who have served In the rebel
lion, but now frankly and honestly o.. operat
with US in restoring the peace Of tho countr.
and reconstructing the Southern State Gov
ernments upon the basis of impartial justice
and equal rights, are received back into tn,
communion Of the loyal people; and we fayo
tho removal Of the disquRiihcatious and re
strictions imposed upon the late rebels in th,
same measure as their spirit Of loyalty viii
iirect, and as may be consistent with tn
safety of the loyal people,
ReS0lred, That we recognize the great prr
ciples laid down In the immortal Deolarati0
Of Independence as the true foundation O
democratic government, and we hail wit
gladness every effort toward making thes
principles living reality on every inch Of tb
American soil.
GRANT AND COLfAN-THEIR LETTERS OF AZ
CEPTANCE-THE PLATFORM ENDORSED.
The following arc the letters OF General Graz
and Hon. Schuyler Colfa1, accepting the nom
nation for the Presidency aud Vice Presidenc
of the United States by the Republican Nj
tiOnal Convention:
WASHINGTON, D. C., May go 1868
Gen. JOSqh X Harley, P,sSaeWt Nation
URiOR Republican Communicable formal
accepting tho nomination Of tho Nationi
Union Republican Convention, Of tho 2lst
May instant, II seems proper that some stat,
ment Of views beyond the mere acceptance
the nomination should DO expressed
The proceedings of tho Convention wer
marked with wisdom, moderation aud patTi
otism, and believe express the feelings 9th
great mass Of those who sustained the oountr
through its recent trials. / endorse their re-
solutions. If elected to the Office Of Presi