Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1868-05-27
OUR PLATFORM.


adopted at the National Convention
held in Chicago last week, to which
we invite the attention of all classes
of readers. We believe every loval
man in the land will most heartily
approve every sentiment contained
therein With GRANT and CoLFAx
as our leaders, on this platform, we
anticipate victory in November next,
that will be hailed with as much joy
as was the victory of General GRANT
and his brave followers over the reb-
els, when LEE was forced to lay down
his arms and yield to the superior
generalship of the greatest military
leader of the age.
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
The National Union Republican party of
the United States, assembled in National
Convention, in the city of Chicago, on the
Goth day of May, 1865, make the following
declaration of principles
l. We congratulate the country on the as
sured success of the reconstruction policy of
Congress as evidenced by the adoption, in
majority of the States lately in rebellion, of
constitutions securing equal civil and polit-
zeal rights to all, and regard it the duty
of the Government to sustain these Consti-
tutions, and thus prevent the people of such
States from being RENTED 10 a state of an
archy and misrule.
. The guarantee by Congress of equal
suffrage to all loyal men in the South, wa.
demanded by every consideration of public
safety, of gratitude and of Justice, and must
be maintained, while the question of suf-
frage in all the loyal States properly belongs
to the people of those States
3. That we recognize the great principles
laid down in the Declaration of indie pen
dence as the true foundation of democratic
government. and we hail with gladness every
effort toward making these principles liv-
ing reality on every inch of American soil
4. That We highly commend the spirit of
magnanimity and forgiveness with which the
men who have served the rebellion and who
are now frankly and honestly cooperating
with us in demonstrating the Southern State
Governments upon the basis of impartial
Justice and equal rights, are received back
into the communion of the loyal people, and
that we are in favor of the removal of the
disqualif cations and restrictions imposed
upon the late rebels in the same measure as
the spirit of disloyalty dies out, and as NAV
be consistent with the safety of the loyal
people.
g. We denounce all forms of population
as a national crime and national honor re-
quires the payment of the national indebt-
edness in the utmost good faith to our cred
itors at home and abroad, not only accord
ing to the letter, but the spirit of the laws
under which it was contracted.
6. 1t is due to the labor Of the nation
that taxation should be equalzed and re-
duced rapidly as the national faith will
permit.
7. The national debt, contracted as it has
been for the preservation of the Union for
all time to come, should be extended over
a fair period for redemption, and il is the
duty of Congress to reduce the rate of in
terest thereon whenever it can be honestly
done.
s. That the best policy to diminish our
burden of debt is to improve our credit so
that capitalists viii seek to lend us money
at lower rates of interest than now pay,
and must continue to pay, as long repudi-
alton, partial or total, open or covert, is
threatened or suspected.
9. The Government of the United States
should be administered with the strictest
| economy. The corruptions which have been
SO shame fully nursed and fOstered by Andrew
johnson, cali loudly for radical reform
10. We profoundly deplore the untimely
and tragic death of Abraham Lincoln, and
regret the accession of Andrew johnson to
! the Presidency; who has acted treacherous-
| " to the people who elected him and the
cause he was pledged 10 support has usurp-
/ ed high legislative and judicial functions ;
/ has refused to execute the laws has used
his high Office to induce other officers to vio-
| late the laws ; has employed his executive
| power to render insecure the lives, proper
| ty, peace liberty and life of the citizen !;
| has abused the pardoniug power; has de-
| nounced the National Legislature as uucon-
| stitutional; has persistently and habitually
resisted, by every means in his power, every
/ proper attempt at the reconstruction of the
| States lately in rebellion; has perverted
| the public patronage into an engine of
| wholesale corruption, and has been Justly
! impeached for high crimes and misdemean-
| Ors, and properly pronounced guilty thereof
/ by the votes of thirty-fv Senators.
II. The doctrine of Great Britain and
| other European powers, that because a man
| Is once subject he is always so, must be re-
sisted at every hazard by the United States
as a relic of the feudal times not authorized
! by the law of nations, and at war with our
national honor and independence. Natural
/ lied citizens are entitled to be protected in
! all their rights OF citizenship. as though
/ they were native born. No citizen of the
! United States, native or naturalized must
! be liable to arrest or Imprisonment by any
/ foreign power, for acts done or words spo-
4 ken in this country; and if so arrested and
/ imprisoned, it is the duty of the Government
| to interfere in his behalf.
| y. Of all who were faithful in the trial of
| the late there were none more entitled
! TO special honor than the brave soldiers and
seamen who endured the hardships of the
camp and cruise, and imperiled their lives
! IN the service of the country. The bounties
| and pensions provided by law for these brave
! defenders of the Union are obligations new
! er TO be forgotten. The widows and orphans
| of the gallant dead are the wards of the peo-
| plea sacred legacy, bequeathed to the ma
/ tion's protecting care.
! ID As immi grafton has in the past added
/ TO the wealth of the country, the develop
ment of our resources. and the increase OF
our power as a nation, the coming of the
! oppressed of all nations should he fostered
4 and encouraged by an impartial and just
/ policy.
IA This Convention tenders its sympathy
| TO all the oppressed people which are strug-
Cling for their rights.
3 Y