The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-08-04
Tho Republican Platform,

adopted by tho National Republican Conven-
tion in session ut Chicago on the 2ist 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
1858, make the following declaration Of princi.
pies:
First-wo congratulate the country on the
assured success OF tho reconstruction policy
Of Congress, rs ovinccd by the adoption, In a
majority Of the States lately In rebellion, OF
Constitutions 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 DO
ing RENTED to state Of anarchy.
Second-The guarantee Of Congress Of equal
suffrage to all loyal men at tho 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 denounco all forms Of repudia-
ton as 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 10 the labor Of the nation
that taxation should be equalized, and reduced
as rapidly as tie national faith will permit
Fifth-The national debt, contracted as 1t
has been for the preservation Of the Union for
all time to come, should be extended over fair
period for redemption, and Il Is tho duty Of
Congress to reduce the rate Of interest there
on whenever 1t can possibly be done.
Sixth-That the best policy to diminish our
| burden Of debt Is 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 reputation,
partial or total, open or covert, Is threatened
or suspected,
Seventh-The Government Of tho United
States should be administered with the strict
est economy, and the corruptions which have
been go 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 70.
| gret the accession of Andrew johnson to tho
Presidency, who has acted troacherously to the
| people who elected him and the cause be
was pledged to support; has usurped legisla.
tive 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 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 latoly 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-Tke doctrine OF Great Britain and
other European powers, that because a man is
onse q subject he is always so, must be resist
ed at every hazard by the United States as
| relic OF tho feudal timos, 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
live born, and no citizen Of the United States,
native or naturaliZsd, must be liable to ar
rest and imprisonment by my foreign power
for acts done or words spoken in this country.
And II so arrested and imprisoned, 1t Is the
duty Of the Government to interfere in his be-
half.
Tenth-of all who wore 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 hardships Of
, campaign and cruise, and imperiled their
I lives in the service ofthe country. The boun.
ties and pensions provided by law for these
+ brave defenders Of the nation are obligations
never to be forgotten. The widows and or.
I phans Of the gallant dead are the wards the
n people, q sacred legacy bequoathed to the ma.
a tons protecting care.
n Eloycnth-Foreign emigration, which in
the past has added so much to the wealth and
, development Of the resources and the increase
Of power Of this nation, "the asylum Of the
a oppressed Of all nations should be iostered
and encouraged by a liberal and just policy,
. Tweltb-This convention declares its sym;
, PATTY with all the oppressed people who are
struggling for their rights.
On motion Of General Carl Schurz, the fol.
lowing additional resolutions were unanimous
Iy adopted as part Of the platform.
Resolved, That we highly commend The
n spirit Of magnamimity and forbearance with
a which the men who have served in the rebel
a lion, but now frankly and honestly 90 .operat,
with US In restoring the peace Of the country
# and reconstructing the Southern State Gov
|. ernments upon the basis Of impartial justice
and equal rights, are received back into th'
! communion Of the loyal people, and We favo
tho removal Of the disqualifcations and re
v strictions imposed upon the late rebels in tn,
direct, and as may be consistent with tn
a safety OF the loyal people.
!. Resolved, That we recognize the great prin
!, cip,es laid down in the immortal Declaration
" Of Independence IS tho true foundation o
4 democratic government, and we hail wit
gladnesS every effort toward making thes
E principles q living reality on every inch of tn
ia American soil
&c GRANT AND CoLFAN-TuEm LETTERS OF &C
y CErTAEcE-TuE PLATFORM ENDORSED,
g The following are the letters Of General Gran
VI and Hon Schuyler COiGax, accepting the nomi
al natiou for the presdcucy aud Vice Pre5Jenc
D. Of the United States by tho Republican Nj