The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-08-26
The Republican Platform.

The following platform, reported BY tn,
Committee on Resolutions. was unanimously
adopted by the National Republican Conven
tion in session at Chicago on the 2ist inst:
The National Republican party Of the Uni.
ted States, assembled In National Convention
In the city Of Chicago on the 10th day Of May,
1868, make the following declaration Of prinei-
pies:
First-Wo congratulate the country on the
assured success of the reconstruction policy
Of Congress, as eyinced by the adoption, In q
majority Of the States lately in rebellion, Of
Constitutions securing equal civil and political
rights to all, and regard it as the duty Of the
Government to sustain these Institutions, and
TO prevent tho people Of such States from be-
ing RENTED to a 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-We denounoe all forms OF repudia-
tion as q national crime, and the nation Il honor
requires the payment Of the public indebted.
ness in the utmost good faith to all creditors
at home and abroad, not only according to
the letter but the spirit Of the laws under
which 1t was contracted.
Fourth-It Is due to the labor Of the nation
that taxation should be equalised, and reduced
as rapidly as the national faith will permit.
Fifth-The national debt, contracted as II
has been for the preservation Of the Union fol
all timo to come, should be extended over fail
period for redemption, and II Is the duty o.
Congress to reduce the rate Of interest there
on whenever 1t can possibly DO dons.
SiIth-That the best policy to diminish oul
burden Of debt Is to 80 improve our credit
that capitalists will seek to loan us money u
lower rates Of interest than we now pay, ant
must continue to pay SO long as reputation
partial or total open or covert, Is threatened
Or suspected,
Seventh-Tho Government of the United
States should DO administered with the strict
est economy, and tho corruptions which bav,
oecn SO shamefully nursed and fostered By
Andrew johnson call loudly for radical reform
Eighth-We profoundly deplore the untimely
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 be
was pledged to support has usurped legisla-
I've and Judicial functions; has refused to 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, peace, liberty
and life OF the citizens; has abused the par
doning power has denounced the NAtiona
Legislature as unconstitutional; has persis
tontly and corruptly resisted, by every mean
In his power, every proper attempt at the re
construction Of the States lately In rebellion
has perverted the public patronage into al
engine Of Wholesale corruption, and has beer
justly impeached for high crimes and misde.
meanors, and properly pronounced guilty BY
the votes Of thirty five Senators
Ninth The dact rina NJ Graal Rrit al a
other European powers, that because man Il
once subject ho 10 always so, must DO resist
e1 at every hazard by the United States rs
relic Of the feudal times, not authorised BY
the law Of nations and at war with our ma
tional honor and independence. Naturaiize,
ietiEens are entitled to be protected In all thei
rights Of citizenship as though they were ma
born, and no citizen Of the United States
native or naturaliIed, must be liable To ar
rest and imprisonment by any foreign powell
for acts done or words spoken In this country.
And If so arrested and Imprisoned, It 10 the
duty Of the Government to interfere in his be
half
Tenth-0f all who were faithful 10 the trial
Of the late war there were none entitled Il
more especial honor than tho brave soldier
and seamen who endured the hardships O
campaign and cruise, and imperiled thsi
lives in the service ofthe country. The boun
ties and pensions provided by law Tor thes'
brave defenders Of tho nation are obligation
never to be forgotten. Tho widows and or
phans OF the gallant dead are the wards Of the
people, sacred legacy bequeathsd to the ma
tons protecting care.
Eleventh-Foreign emigration, which In
the past has added % much TO the wealth and
development Of the resources and the inereas,
Of power Of this nation, 'the asylum Of tn,
oppressed Of all nations" should b fostered
and encouraged by liberal and Just policy
Twelfth-This convention declares Its sym
patty with all the oppressed people who ar,
struggling for their rights.
On motion Of General Carl SohurI, the fol
lowing additional resolutions were unanimous,
Iy adopted as part Of the platform.
Resolped, That We highly comuend thu
spirit Of magnanimity and forbearance with
which the men who have served in the rebel.
lion, but now frankly and honestly cooperate
with US In restoring the peaos Of the country
and rscOnstruoting the Southern State Gov