The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-11-03
FOR vICE-PREsIDENr,
SCHUYLER COLFAX.
The Republican Platform.

States, assembled in National C0nUentioa, in the
city Of Chicago. fhe tacentiefh day of Nay, 1865
make the fotiSacing declaration QfPrinciptes:
First We congratulate the country on the assur-
ed OF the reconstruction policy of Congress-
as evineed by the adoption by a m9iority OF the
States lately in rebellion, of constitutions Sc uring
equal civil and political rights TO all. 1t is the duty
OF the government 10 sustain these institutions and
to prevent the people ofsuch States IRON being re-
mitted to a state OF anarchy.
Second-The guarantee by Congress of equal suff-
rage TO all loyal at the South was demanded by
every consideration of public safety of gratitude
and of justice, and must be maintained The whole
question of suffrage in the loyal States properly be-
longs to the people Of those States.
bird We denonnce all forms OF repudia ion as
national crime. fhe national honor requires the
payment of the public Indebtedness in the utmost
good faith, to all creditors at home and abroad not
only acco ding to the letter. but to the spirit OF the
law under which it was contracted.
Fourth-It is due to the labor of the nation that
taxation shall be equalized and reduced as rapidly
as the national faith shall permit.
Fifth-The national debt contracted as it has
been tor the preservation Of the Union for all time
to come, should be extended over fair period for
redemption and it is the duty Congress reduce
the rate OF interest thereon whenever it can lie hon
estly dcne.
Sixth-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 now pay, and must continue {, pay so long re-
pudation partial total, open covert, is threat
ened suspected.
Seventh-The government of the United States
should be administered with the strctest economy,
and the corruptons which have been shamefully
nursed and ostered by Andrew johnson, call loudly
for radical reform,
Eighth.-We profoundly deplore the untmely and
tragic death OF Abraham Lincoln and regret the ac
cession of Andrew johnson to the presidency; who
has acted treacherously to the people who elected
him and the cause he was pledged to support who
has ururpe high legislative 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
powers to render insecure the property, the peace,
abused the pardoning power; who has denounced
the national legislature as unconstitutional; who
has persistently and corruptly resisted by every
measure in his power every proper attemot at the
reconstruction OF the States lately in rebellion; who
has perverted the public patronage into engine of
wholesale corruption, ana who has Justly been i'm
peached for high crimes and misdeme anors and prop
ly pronounced guilty thereof by vote OF 35 Sena-
tors.
Ninth-The doctrine of Great Britain and other
European powers, that because man is once sub
ject he is always SO, must be resisted at every haZ
ard by the United States as Il relic of the feudal
times, not authorized by the law of nations and at
war with our rational honor and independence
Naturaized citizens entitled to be protected in
all their rights OF citizenship as though they were
native born; and no citizen OF the United States
native naturalized, must be liable to arrest and
imprisonment By any foreign power for acts done
words spoken in this country; and If they are
rested and imprisoned, it is the duty OF the govern
ment to interfere in their behalf.
Tentb- Of all who were faithful in the trials of
the late war there were entitled to more special
honor than the brave soldiers and seamen who en-
dured the hardships of campaign and cruise and i'm
perilled their lives in the service of the country
The bounties and pensions provided by law these
brave defenders are obligations never to be forgot
ten; the widows and orphans of the gallant dead
are the wards of the people-a sacred legacy be-
queathed to the nations fostering care.
Eleventh-Foreign emigration, which in the past
mas added so much to the wealth, development and
resources and the increase OF power to this nation,
the asylum OF the oppressed of all nations, should
be fostered and encouraged by liberal and just
policy.
Twelfth-This convention declares itself in sympa-
thy with all the oppressed peoples which strug-
Cling for their rights.
Unanimously added, motion OF Gen. Schurz
Resotred, That we highly commend the spirit of
magnanimity and iorbeaTance with which men who
have served in the Rebellion, but who now frankly
and honestly cooperate with In restoring the peace
OF the country aud reconstructng the Southern
State governments upon the basis OF impartial JUS
tice and Equal Rights, are received back into the
communion of the loyal people; and we favor the re-
mOval of the disquacations and restrictions impos-
ed upon the late Rebels in the their
spirit ofloyaty will direct and may be consistent
with the safety OF the loyal people.
Resotced That we recognize the great principles
laid down in the immortal Declaration OF lndepend-
ence, as the true foundation of democratic govern
ment; and we hail with gladness every effort towards
making these principles living reality on every
inch of American soi