The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-09-12
Aatiuual gspablitaa.
The R,pubiie.n Platform.

adopted BY the National Republican ConVs
ton in session at Chicago on the 2lst Inst;
Tho National Republican party Of the Unt.
tad States assembled in National Convention
In the city OF Chicago on the goth day OF May,
1868, make the following declaration Of princi-
pies: -.
assured success OF tho reconstruction policy
of Congress, as ovinced by the adoption, In a
majority of tho 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 the people Of such States from be-
ing RENTED to 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 tho
people of those States.
Third-We deuounce all forms OF repudia-
ton 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 home and abroad, not only according to
the letter but the spirit Of the laws under
which it was contracted.
Fourth-It Is due to tho labor Of the nation
that taxation should be equalized, 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 for
all time to come, should be extended over fair
period for redemption, and 1t is the 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 30 improve our credit
that capitalists viii seek TO loan Us money At
lower rates Of interest than we now pay, and
must continue to pay % long as reputation,
partial OF total, opon or covert, 10 threatened
u inspected,
Bsssnth-Ths Government Of the United
States should b administered with the strict.
est economy. and the ooruptions which have
been 20 shsmsfuily nursed and fostered by
Andrew johnson call loudly for radical reform.
Eighth-We profoundly deplore the untimely
and tragic death Of Abraham Lincoln, and 70.
gret thu accession OF Andrew johnson to the
Presidency, Who has Aotsd trsacberously to the
people who elected him and the cause he
was piedsed 70 support; has usurped legisia.
i've and judicial Functions; has refused TO ex .
eeuto the laws; has used his high ONCE to in
duee other otHcers 10 ignore and violate the
lsss; 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 as unconstitutional; has persis.
tently and eorruptly 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 impeached 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 becau.o man Is
once n subject he is always so, must be resist
Ell Mt every hazard BY the United States aa n
relic Of the ieudal times, not authorised BY
the law Of nations and at war with our ma
tional honor and independence. Naturalizsd
citizens arc entitled to be protected in all theii
rights Of citizenship as though they were ma
tivs-born, and no citizen Of the United States
native or naturalized, must be liable to ar
rest and imprisonment by any foreign powe,
for acts done or words spoken in this country
And If so arrested and Imprisoned. II IL III,
duty of the Government TO interfere In his be
half
Tenth-0f all who were faithful in the trial
of the late war there were none entitled l.
more especial honor than the brave soldier
and seamen who endured the hardships a
campaign and cruise, and imperiled thoi
lives In the service of the country The boun
ties and pensions provided by law for th.E
brave defenders Of the nation are obligation
never to be forgotten The widows and orphan
of the gallant dead are the wards Of the people
a sacred legacy bequeathed to the nation
protecting care.
past has added so much 10 the wealth and de
velopment Of the resources and the increase o
power Of this nation, " the asylum Of the op
Ptesseu Of Az ha'iUhs, snoaid De fostered ant
Twsifsb Xxi. nonvsrt;on Ssct py .vn
patty with all the oppressed people who ar
struggling for their rights.
On motion oil General Carl sehur1, the iol
LOWING adaitlonal resolutions we're unanimous
adop,ed as part OIL lhe pp.t,otm. #,
h"n'"' inat no hnghy eomueha u
sPitit o. nasnahimty anu iO,'s.'a t wv
wnicn INC men Nno na'o setsoa 10 'no rooe'
non, out now nahhIy anu honesty eo'oPeral
Win W IN iestyrnB tne peaee VI enc eounlr
anu Neohsiueups tno 'opt , otS'e ooN
ernments upon Inc oasis % iHPA Jssetc
ana equai hgn.,' arc reserved oAes INTO 20
communion OF the ioyal peop,ei anu We iaVc
the removal oil the dhquaiheatlons ana n
strictions Imposed upon the late rebels In u
same measure as their spirit OF loyalty wi
Direct and as may DC CONSISTENT WIN u
saiety OF tne Ioyai people
he'ofrea mat we recognize tue great pri
oipieS lAia uoNh IN sne lihhorsi Deciafa''c
oil Independence ana inc uue iounuation
democrauo government, anu we nan wa
giadne,s every enotI toward making we
pinciPiea nHinB feahty On e'efy 'neu Oh u
American SOIL
GRANT AND coLFAx-raElR LETTERS OF A
cEPrAscE-rnH PLATFORM ksDoRskD'
The following are tho letters Of General Ora
.,a Uon SehuyI.r Colfa. accsntino tba pou