Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1868-08-12
THE TRIBUNE,
MINERAL POINT:
WEDNESDAY,, AUGUST II, 1868
National Republican Platform
ADOPTED AT CHICAGO, MAY 20, 1865

/ The National Union Republican party of
the United States, assembled in National
Convention, in the city of Chicago, on the
goth day of May, 1868, make the following
declaration of principles:
/ i. We congratulate the country on the as
sured success of the reconstruction policy OF
! Congress evidenced by the adoption, in a
majority of the States lately in rebellion, OF
constitutions securing equal civil and polit-
zeal rights TO all, and regard it as the duty
/ of the Government to sustain these Consti-
tutions, and thus prevent the people of such
States from being remitted to state of an
archy and misrule.
.. The guarantee by Congress of equal
suffrage to all loyal men in the South was
demanded by every consideration of public
4 safety, of gratitude and OF Justice, and mus :
be maintained, while the question of suf-
frage in all the loyal States properly belongs
to the people of those States
/ 3. That we recognize the great principle
laid down in the Declaration of Indepel-
dence as the true foundation of democr.tic
government. anu we hail with gladness very
/ effort toward making these principles liV-
ing reality on every inch of American soil.
4. That we highly commend TIE spirit Of
maguanimity and forgiveness wish which the
| men who have served the rebellion, and who
are now frankly and honesty cooperating
| with US in reeonstructing che Southern State
1 Governments upon the basis OF impartial
/ Justice and equal rights, are received back
| into the communich of the loyal people, and
| that we are in favor of the removal of the
disoualifcations and restrictions imposed
upon the late rebels in the same measure as
the spirit q disloyalty dies out, and as may
be consistent with the safety of the loyal
people
s. We denounce all forms of reputation
as a national crime and national honor
Quires the payment of the national indebt-
edness in the utmost good faith to our cred
itors at home and abroad, not only accord
ing to the letter, but the spirit of the laws
under which it was contracted.
g. 1t is due to the labor of the nation
that taxation should be equaized and re-
duced as rapidly as the national faith will
permit.
Z The national debt, contracted as it has
heen for the preservation of the Union for
all time to come, should be extended over
fair period for redemption, and it is the
duty of Congr ess to reduce the rate of in
terest thereon whenever it can be honestly
done.
S That the best policy to diminish our
burden of debt is to improve our credit, so
that capitalists will seek to lend Us money
at lower rates OF interest than now pay,
and must continue to pay, as long as repudi-
threatened or suspected
9 The Government of the United States
should be administered with the strictest
economy The corruptons which have been
SO shamefully nursed and tostered by Andrew
johnson, call loudly for radical reform.
10 We profoundly deplore the untimely
aud tragic death of Abraham Lincoln, and
regret the accession of Andrew Johnson to
the Presidency; who has acted treacherous-
~ to the people who elected him and the
cause lie was pledged to support has usurp-
ed high legislative and judicial functions
has refused to execute the laws , has used
his high office to induce other officers t. vIe-
late the laws has employed his executive
power to render insecure the lives. proper
tv, peace, liberty and life of the citizen
has abused the pardoning power has De-
nounced the National Legislature as uaeau-
sttutional has persistently and habiraa.is
resisted, by every means in his power, every
proper attempt at the reconstruction @. tas
States lately in rebellion; has perverted
the public patronage into an engine Fl
Wholesale corruption, and has been justly
impeached for high crimes and misdemean-
ors, and properly pronounced guilty thereof
by the votes of thirty-tFe Senators.
IL The doctrine of Great Britain and
other European powers, that because man
Is once a subject he is always so, must be re
sisted at every hazard by the United States
as a relic of the feudal times, not authorized
bv the law Of nations, and at war with our
national honor and independence Natural
lied citizens are entitled TO be protected in
all their rights of citizenship, as though
they were native born. No citizen of the
United States, native or naturalized, must
be liable to arrest or imprisonment by any
foreign power. for acts done or words spo-
ken in this country; and if 50 arrested and
imprisoned. it is the duty of the Government
to interfere in his behalf
u Of all who were faithful in the trial of
the late war Il ere were none more entitled
te special honor than the brave soldiers and
seamen who endured the hardships of the
camp and cruise and imperIled their lives
in the service of the country The bountles
and pensions provided by law for these brave
defenders of the Union are obligations new
er TO be forgotten. The widows and orphans
of the gallant dead are the wards OF the peo-
plc-a sacred legacy, oequeathed TO the ma
tions protecting care.
13. A. Migration has in the past added
TO the wealth Of the country, the develop
ment of our resources, and the increase of
our power as a nation, the coming Of the
oppressed of all nations should be fostered
and encouraged by an impartial and just
policy.
IA. This Convention tenders its sympathy
to all the oppressed people which are strug-
Cling for their rights.