The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-08-06
Thn Repuhlicnn plntferm.

Y
Committee on Resolutions. was unanimously
adopted By the National Republican conven-
tiOn in session at Chicago on the 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-ws congratulate the country on the
assured success Of the reconstruction policy
Of Congress, a. evinced BY the adoption, In Q
majority Of the States lately in Rebellion. Of
Consultations securing equal civil and political
rights 10 ALL and regard II As the duty Of the
Government to sustain these Institutions, and
to prevent the people Of such States from be-
ing RENTED TO state Of anarchy.
Sseopd-The guarantee Of Congress ofequai
suffrage to all loyal men ct the South vas
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
Tbird-We 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 10 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 Is due TO the labor Of the nation
that taxation should be equaliIsd, and reduced
as rapidly as the national faith will permit.
Fifth-The national debt, contracted as II
has boon for the preservation Of tho Union for
all time to come, should be extended over fair
period for redemption, and II Is tho duty Of
Congress TO reduce the rate Of interest there.
on whenever II can possibly be done.
sixth-That the best policy to diminish our
burden Of debt 10 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 repudiation,
partial or total, open or covert, n threatened
or suspected,
Seventb-The Government Of tho United
States should DO administered with the strict
est economy, and the corruptions which have
been 80 shamefully nursed and fostered BY
Andrew johnson call loudly for radical reform.
Eiehth-we profoundly deplore the untimely
and trsgic death Of Abraham Lincoln, and re-
gret 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 legisla-
tive and judicial functions; has refused 10 ex.
ecute the laws has used his high Office to in
duce other officers to ignore and violate the
laws; has employed his executive power to
render insecure the prosperity, pence, liberty
and life Of the citizens; has abused the par
donipg power; has denounced the National
Legislature as 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 impcaehed for high crimes and INSIDE
meanors, and properly pronounced guilty BY
the votes Of thirty.6ve Senators.
Ninth-The doctrine Of Great Britain and
other European powers, that because man Ii
once q subject he 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 ma
tional honor and independence. Naturalized
citizens are entitled to be protected in all theil
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 II so arrested and imprisoned, 1t 10 the
duty Of the Government to interfere in his be
hall.
Tenth-0r oil who were faithful In the trial
Of the late war there were none entitled t.
more especial honor than the brave soldiers
and seamen who endured the hardships o
campaign and cruise, and imperiled thei
lives 10 the service ofthe country. The boun
ties and pensions provided by law for thcs
brave defenders Of the nation are obligation
never to be forgotten. The widows and or
phans Of the gallant dead are tho wards Of th
people, Q sacred legacy bequeathed to the ma
lions protecting care.
Eleveuth-Foreign emigration, which Il
the past has added so much to the wealth an
. development Of the resources and the incress
! Of power Of this nation, ''the asylum OF tn
oppressed Of all nations" should be foStere
and encouraged by liberal and just policy
Twelnb-This convention declares its sym
pathy 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.
Re,oiosd, That We highly commend th
spirit Of msguamimity and forbearance wit
I which the men who have served in tho robe
. lion, but now frankly and honestly co.operAt
with US In restoring the peace Of tho countr
, and reconstruotipg the Southern State Go,
. ernments upon the basis Of impartial justic
, and equal rights, are received back into th
communion Of the loyal people; and We fave
tho removal OF the disqualifoations and =,
= strictions imposed upon the late rebels In II
sine measure as their spirit Of loyalty wi
direct, and as may be consistent with Il
e safety of the loyal people.
!, Resolved, That we recognize the great pri
i ciples laid down in the immortal DeclarAtic
Is Of Independence as the true foundation
democratic government, and We hail vii
gladness every effort toward making tho
principles living reality on every inch Of Il
American soil.