Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1868-07-29
THE TRIBUNE.
MINERAL POINT:
WEDNESDAY, JULY %, 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
| 10th day of Nav, 1868, make the following
declaration of principles:
l. We congratulate tie country on the as
/ sured success of the reconstruction policy of
| Congress as evidenced by the adoption, in a
majority of the States lately in rebellion of
constitutions securing equal civil and polt-
ical 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 a state of an
srchy and misrule.
, The guarantee by Congress of equal
| suffrage to all loyal men in the South, was
| demanded by every consideration of public
safety, of gratitude and of Justice, and must
be maintained, while the question of suf-
frage in all the loyal States properly belongs
to the people of those States.
g. That we recognize the great principles
/ laid down in the Declaration of Indepen-
dence as the true foundation of democratic
government, and we hail with gladness every
| effort toward making these principles liv-
] ING reality on every inch of American soil.
l. That we highly commend the spirit of
magnanimity and forgiveness with which the
men who have served the rebellion, and who
/ are now frankly and honestly cooperating
| with us in reconstructing the Southern State
| Governments upon the basis of impartial
! Justice and equal rights, are received back
/ into tire communion of the loyal people, and
! that we are in favor of the removal of the
/ disqualiications and restrictions imposed
upon the late rebels in the same measure as
/ the spirit of disloyalty dies out, and as may
/ be consistent with the safety of the loyal
| people.
g. We denouncc all forms of reputation
| as a national crime and national honor re-
qures the payment of the national indebt-
| edness in the utmost good faith to our cred
itors al home and abroad, not only accord
ing to the letter, but the spirit OF the laws
/ under which it was contracted.
s. 1t is due to the labor of the nation
that taxation should be equalized and re-
duced as rapidly the national faith will
permit
7. The national debt, contracted as it has
been for the preservation Of the Union for
all time to come, should he 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,
that capitalists viii seek to lend US money
at lower rates Of interest than we now pay,
and must continue to pay, Is long a repudi-
+
threatened or suspected.
9. The Government of the United States
should be administered with the strictest
/ economy. The corrupt.ons which have been
50 shame fully uursed and fostercd by Andrew
Johnson. call loudly for radical reform.
10. We profoundly deplore the untimely
and tragic death of Abraham Lincoln, and
regret the accession of Andrew Johnson to
/ the Presidency; who has acted treacherous-
/ lv to the people who elected him and the
cause he 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 to vIo-
late the laws has employed his executive
4 power to render insecure the lives, proper
ty. peace, liberty and life OF the citizen;
/ has abused the pardouing power; has de
nounced the National Legislature as uncon-
! stitutional has persistently and habitually
resisted, bv every means in his power, every
proper attempt at the reconstruction 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 misdemean-
/ ors and properly pronounced guilty thereof
/ by the votes of thirty-five 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
+ by the law Of nations, and at war with our
national honor and independence. Natural
4 lied citizens are entitled to be protected in
all their rights Of citizenship, as though
4 thew 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
i 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 there were none more entitled
+ to special honor than the brave soldiers and
seaTnen who endured the ..ardships of the
/ camp and cruise, and imperiled their lIve1
/ in the service of the country. The bountics
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-
I plea sacred legacy, bequeathed TO the ma
tion's protecting care.
i 13 As immj jgration has III the past added
. TO the wealth of the country, the develop
/ n.eut Cf our resources. and the increase of
our power as nation, the coming of the
oppressed Of all nations should be foStered
and encouraged by an impartial and just
+ policy
II. This Convention tenders its sympathy
to all the oppressed people which are strug-
CLING for their rights.