Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1868-05-30
The Renuhlioan Platform.

The Union Republican party of the United
States assembled in National Convention In
the city of Chicago, May goth, 1868, 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 a
majority of the States lately in rebellion of
constitutions securing equal civil and political
rights to all, and we regard it as the duty of
The government to sustain these constitutions
and to prevent the people of such States from
being remitted to a state of anarchy or militia
~ rule.
IL The guarantee by Congress of equal
suffrage to all loyal men at the South, is de-
manded by every consideration of public safe
ty, 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 these States.
Ill We denounce all forms of reputation
as a natural crime, and national honor requires
the payment of the public Indebtedness in the
utmost good faith to our creditors at home
and abroad, not only according to the letter
but the spirit of the laws under which it was
contracted.
~ 1t is due to the labor of the nation that
taxation should be equalized and reduced as
rapidly as the national faith will permit
V. The national debt, contracted as it has
been for the preservation of the 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 thereon
whenever it can be honestly done.
VI. That the best policy to diminish our
burden of debt is so to improve our credit
that capitalists will seek to loan us money at
bower 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.
VII The Government of the United States
should be administered with the strictest econ
Ony. The cOrruptions which have been so
shamefully nursed and fostercd by Andrew
johnson, call loudly for radical reform.
VIII. We profoundly deplore the untime-
ly and tragic death of Abraham Lincoln, and
regret 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 who has usurped
high legislative and judicial functions who
has refused to execute the laws who has used
his high Office TO induce other officers to ig-
more and violate the laws who has employed
his executive powers to render insecure the
property, peace, liberty and life of the citi-
zens who has abused the pardOning power :;
who has denounced the national legislature as
unconstitutional who has persistently and
oorruptly resisted by every means in his pow
er every proper attempt at the reconstruction
Of the States lately in rebellion who has per-
Verted the public patronage into an engine of
wholesale corruption, and who has been just
g impeached for high crimes and misdemean-
ers, ana properly pronounced guilty thereof
by the votes of thirty-five senator's.
TX. The doctrine of Great Rritain and 9TH
er European powers, that because man is
once a subject he is always So must be resisted
at every hazard by the United States, as a rel
c OF feudal times, not authorized by the law
of nations, and at war with our national hon.
or and independence, Naturalized citizens
are entitled to be protected in all their rights
of citizenship as though they were native
born, and no citizen of the United States, ma
tive or naturalized, must be liable. to arrest or
imprisonment by any foreign power for acts
done or words spoken in this country and if
so arrested and imprisoned it is the duty of
the government to interfere in his behalf
\. Of all who were faithful in the trials of
especial honor than the brave soldiers and sea-
men who endured the hardships of the cam
paign and cruise, and imperilled their lives in
the service of their country. The bounties
and pensions provided by law for these brave
defenders of the Union are obligations never
to be forgotten. The widows and orphans of
the gallant dead are the,w wards of the people
asacred legacy bequeathed to the nations pro-
tective care
XII Foreign immigration, which in the
past has added so much to the wealth, and in
creased the resources of this nation, the asy-
lum. OF the oppressed of all nations, should be
festered and encouraged by liberal and Just
policy.
XII. This Convention declares its svmpa-
thy with all oppressed people which are strug-
Cling for their rights.