The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-09-16
Aational Republitau.


The following platform, reported by the
Committee on Resolutions, was unanimously
adopted by tho National Republican conven'
tion In session at Chicago on the 2lst inst!
The National Republican party Of the Uni
ted States, assembled in National convention
10 the city Of Chicago on the goth day Of May,
1858, make the following declaration OF prinei'
ples:-
First-we congratulate the country on the
assured success Of the reeon'truetion policy
of Congress- as evinced by the adoption, in a
majority of the States lately in rebellion, Of
Constitutions securing equal civil and political
rights to all, and regard 1t as the duty Of the
Government to sustain thee Institutions, and
to prevent the people OF such States from DO.
ing RENTED to a state Of anarchy.
Second-Tho guarantee Of Congfs's ofequal
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 denouncc oil forms OF repudia-
ton rs Q national crime, aud the nation al 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 Il was contracted.
rOurtu--ll 10 " tuo lhOOF OIL tue uutlOn
that taxation should be eQualized, and reduced
rs rapidly as the national faith will permit.
Fifth-The nnfkpnal debt, contracted as It
has been for the preservation Of tho Union for
oil 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 it can possibly be done.
Sixth-That the best policy to diminish our
burden Of debt is TO so improve our credit
haN sNnt, III n, 49,
lower 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,
Seventh-The Government Of the United
States should be administered with the strict.
est economy, and the corruptions which have
been SO THANKFULLY nursed and fostered by
Andrew johnson call loudly for radical reform.
Eighth-Wo profoundly deplore the untimely
and tragic 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.
live 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.
Legislature as unconstitutional has persis.
tently and c0rruptly 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
moanors, and properly pronounced guilty by
the votes OF thirty.fve Senators.
Ninth-The doctrine Of Great Britain and
OthRr EurOFAar nj n 4
once subject he IL always so, must be resist
ei at every hazard by the United States as
relic Of the teuial times, not authorized by
the law Of nations and at war with our ma
tional honor and independence. Naturalized
citizens are entitled to be protected In all their
rights Of citizenship as though they were ma
tiye-bcrn, and no citizen OF the United States,
native or nAturslized must be liable To ar
rest and imprisonment by any foreign power
for acts done or wordr spoken in this country
And If sU arrested and imprisoned 1t Is tho
duty Of the Government to interfere in his be.
half
Tenth-or all who were faithful In the trials
of the late war there were none entitled to
more especial honor than the brave soldiers
and seamen who endured the hardshits Of
campaign and cruise, and impariled their
lives in the service Of the country The boun.
ties and peI.ions provided by law for these
brave defenders Of the nation are obligations
never to be forgotten. The widows and orphans
Of the gallant dead are the wards Of the PEG
sacred legacy bequeathed to the nation
protecting care.
Eleyenth-FOreign emigration, which In the
past has added so much to the wealth and de
velopment of the resources and the increase oil
power Of this nation, " the asylum Of the op.
pressed Of all nations, should be fostered aud
encouraged by liberal and just policy.
Twelfth-This convention declares Its sym.
Pathy with all the oppressed people who are
struggling for their rights.
On motion Of General Carl SchurI, the fol.
lowing additional resolutions were unanimous
ly adopted as part of the PLATFORM
R,SoiUed, That We highly commeLd thu
spirit OF magranimity and forbearance with
which the men who have served In the rebel
lion, but now frankly and honestly cooperate
with US in restoring the peace Of the countr,
and reconstructing the Southern State Gov
ernments upon the basis Of impartial justice
and equal rights, are received back into tn,
communion of the loyal peoples and We fayoi
the removal Of the disqualifcations and re
strictions imposed upon the late rebels IL TIL
same measure as their spirit Of loyalty viii
direct, and as may be consistent with tn
safety Of tho loyal people.
ReSOiUcd That we recognize the great prin
ciples laid down in the immortal Declaration
of Indope and tho true foundation 0
democratic government, and we hail wit
gladness every effort toward making thts
principles living reality on every inch Of th
American soil.
GRANT AVN cGIPAX rUyIR LPTTEns OP Ar