The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-08-07
Tho Rsnnhlicnn Platform.


adopted by tho National Republican Conyen.
tiOn in session at Chicago on tho 2lst inst:
The National Republican party Of the Uni.
tod 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 q
majority Of tho States lately In rebellion, Of
Constitutions securing equal civil and political
rights TO all, and regard II a. the duty Of the
Government 10 sustain these Institutions, and
to prevent tho people Of such States from b.
ing RENTED to Q state Of anarchy.
Second-The guarantee Of Congress Of equal
suffrage to all loyal men at the 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-Ws denounce all forms Of repudia-
tion as q 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
the letter but the spirit Of the laws under
which II was contracted.
Fourth--It 10 due to the labor OF the nation
sahs sh&osioh ruouiu bo cuuhiiEout uuu feuuutu
rs rapidly ss the national faith will permit.
Fifth-The national debt, contracted as IL
has boon for the preservation Of tho Union for
all time to come, should be extended over fair
period for redemption, and II Is the duty Of
Congress to reduce the rate OF interest there.
on whenever II can possibly be done.
Sixth-That the best eolicy 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 now pay and
must continue to pay SO long as reputation,
partial or total, open or covert, Is threatened
or suspected,
Seventh-Tho Government of tho United
States should be administered with tho strict
| est economy, and the corruptions which have
boon so shamefully nursed and fostered by
Andrew johnson call loudly for radical reform.
Eighth-We profoundly deplore the untimoly
and tragic death of Abraham Lincoln, and re-
greet the accession Of Andrew johnson to the
Presidency, who has acted treacherously to the
people who elected him and the cause he
was pledged to support; has usurped logisla-
tive and Judicial functionsi has refused to OK.
ecute the laws; has used his high office to in.
duce other officers to ignore and violate tho
laws; has employed his executive power to
render insecure the prosperity, peace, liberty
and life Of the citizens; has abused the par
doning power; has denounced tho National
Legislature a. unconstitutional has persis-
tently 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 been
justly impoached for high crimes and misde-
meanors, and properly pronounced guilty by
the votes Of thirty five Senators.
Ninth-The doctrine Of Great britain and
other European powers, that because a man Is
once a subject ho is always SO, must DO resist
ed at every hazard by the United States as q
relic Of the feudal times, not authorised by
the law Of nations and at war with our na.
tional honor and Independence. Naturalized
citizens are entitled to be protected In all their
rights Of citizenship as though they were ma
tive born, and no citizen Of the United States,
native or nAturalized, must be liable to ar
rest and imprisonment by any foreign power
for acts done or words spoken in this country.
And If SO arrested and imprisoned, 1t is the
duty Of the Government TO interfere in his be.
hall.
Terth-Os all who were faithful In the trials
Of the late war there were none entitled 10
more especial honor than tho brave soldiers
and seamen who endured the hardships of
campaign and cruise, and imperled their
lives in the service ofthe country. The boun-
ties and pensions provided by law for these
never to be forgotten. The widows and or.
phans Of the gallant dead are the wards of the
people, sacred legacy boqueathed to the ma
tons protecting care.
Eleyenth-Foreign emigration, which In
the past has added 80 much to tho wealth and
DEVELOPMENT of the resources and the increase
of power Of this nation, 'the asylum Of the
oppressed Of all nations" should be fostered
and encouraged by liberal and Just policy.
to- -
PATTY with all the oppressed people who are
struggling for their rights.
On motion Of General Carl Schurz, the fol-
lowing additional resolutions were unanimou,s
ly adopted as part Of the platform.
Res0iUed, That We highly commend the
spirit Of magnamimity and forbearance with
which the men who have served in the rebel.
lion, but now frankly and honestly CO. operate
with US in restoring the peace of tho country
ernments upon the basis Of impartial justice
and equal rights, are received back into tho
communion Of the loyal people, and We favor
the removal Of the disquaii1cations and re-
strictions imposed upon the late rebels in the
same measure as their spirit Of loyalty will
direct, and as may be consistent with tho
safety Of the loyal people.
Resolved, That We recognize the great prn.
cples laid down in the immortal Declaration
VI independence as tue true FOUNDATION OF
democratic government, and we hail with
gladness every effort toward making these
principles living reality gu every inch of the
American soil.
GRANT AND coLIAx-rHEIR LETTERS oY AC.
cEPrAScIr-ruE PLATYoRM ENDORSED.
The following are the letters Of General Grant
and Hon. Schuyler Colfa1, accepting the nomi.
nation for the Presidency aud Vice Presidency
Of the United States by the Republican Ma
tional Convention:
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 20, 1858.
Gen. Joseph r. HaWley, President National
Union Republican Communicable formally
accepting tho nomination Of the National
Union Republican Convention, of the 2lst Of
May instant, 1t seems proper that some state
ment Of views beyond the mere acceptance Of
the nomination should be expressed.
The proceedings of tho Convention were
marked with wisdom, moderation and patrL
otism, and believe express the feelings of tie
great mass Of those who sustained the coratry
through its recent trials. endorse their re-
solutions. If elected to the Office cS Presi-
dent of the United States, 1t will h my on
deayor TO administer all tho laws - good faith,
with economy, and with the view Of giving
peace, quiet and protection everywhere. In
times like the present i. ia impossible, or, ut