The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-08-24
The Republicans Platform.

&aN aSaSWAhk pihtivIh, krPoItso Dy t0o
Committee on Resolutions was unanimously
adopted by tie 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
in the city Of Chicago on the Goth day Of May,
1858, make the following declaration Of princi-
pies;
First-We congratulate the country on the
assured success Of the reconstruction 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 it as the duty Of the
Government to sustain these Institutions, and
to prevent the people of such States from be.
ing remifted to q state Of anarchy. 3
Second-The guarantee Of Congress Of equal
suffrage to all loyal men at tho South was
demanded by every consideration Of public
safety, ofgrautude 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 denounce all forms Of ropudia.
tion as a national crime, and 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 1t was contracted.
Fourth-It is due to tho labor Of the nation
chat taxation should be squaliIsd, and reduced
ms rapidly as the national faith will permit.
Fifth-rhe 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 II Is the duty Of
Congress to reduce the rate Of interest there
on whenever 1t can possibly be done.
Sxtb-That the best policy to diminish our
burden Of debt is to so improve our credit
that capitalists will geek to loan us money at
lower rates Of interest than we now pay, and
must continue to pay SO long as repudiatiop,
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
oeen so shamefully nursed and fostersd by
Andrew johnson call loudly for radical reform.
Eighth-Wo profoundly deplore the untimely
and tragic death Of Abraham Lincoln, and re-
xret the accession Of Andrew johnson to the
Presidency, who has acted treaeherously to the
people who elected him and the cause he
was Iledged to support has usurped legisla-
I've and judicial functions has refused to OK
ecute the laws has used his high office to in.
duce other officers to ignore and violate the
lawfi has employed his executive power to
render insecure the prosperity, peace, liberty
and life Of the citizens; has abused the par
doniDg 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 lately in rebellion;
has perverted the public patronage into an
engine Of Wholesale corruption, and has been
justly impeached for high crimes and INSIDE
meanors, and properly pronounced guilty by
the votes OF thirty five Senators
Ninth-The doctrine Of Great Britain and
other European powers, that becauso a man Is
once O subject he Is always so, must DO resist
Ell at every hazard by the United States as a
relic Of tho ieudal times, not authorised by
the law Of nations and at war with our ma.
uonal honor and Independence, Naturalized
iotizens entitled to be protected In all their
rights Of citizenship as though they were M.
tive-born, and no citizen Of the United States
native or naturalized, must be liable to ar
rest and imprisonment by any foreign power
for acts done or words spoken In this country.
And If so arrested and Imprisoned, II is the
duty Of the Government to interfere In his be.
half
Tenth-Of 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 hardships Of
campaign and cruise, and imperiled their
lives in the serl ice Of the 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.
phans Of the gallant dead are the wards Of the
people, sacred legacy bsqueathed to the ma.
tiOu's protecting care.
Eleventh-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, 1.-THE asylum Of the
oppressed Of all nations" should be fostered
and encouraged by liberal and Just policy. |
Twellth-This convention declares Its sym
patty with all tho oppressed people who are
struggling for their rights.
On motion Of General Carl SchurE, the fol. |
lowing additional resolutions were unanimous
Iy adopted as part Of the platform.
RsS0ipsd, That wo highly commend the
spirit Of magnamimity and forbearance with
which the men who have served In tho rebel
ion, but now frankly and honeHtly cooperate
With us Ia restoring the peace 81 the country
md reoonstruetipg the Southern State Gov
rnments upon the basis Of impartial Justice |
nd equal rights, are received back into tho
Of the loyal peoplsj and We favor
no removal OF the disquali6cation aud 70.
.rictions imposed upon the late rebels In the
me measure % their spirit sf Ioysity will