Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-05-27


al Convention in tie city of Chicago, on
the goth day Of May, 1868, made the
following declaration Of principles:
THE RESOLUTIONS.
/. We congratulate the country on the
assured success Of the reconstruction
policy of Congress, as evidenced by the
adoption in majority of the States late
ly in rebellion of Constitutions securing
equal. civil and political rights to all, and
regard it as the duty Of the Government
to sustain these Constitutions and prevent
the people Of such States from being re-
mitted to a state Of anarchy or military
rule.
2. The guarantee Of Congress for 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 guess
ton of suffrage in all the loyal States pro-
perly belongs to the people Of those
States.
3. We dcnounce all forms of repudia-
ton as a rational crime; and national
honor requires the payment of the public
Indebtedness in the utmost good faith to
our creditors at home and abroad not on
ly according TO the letter, but the spirit
| of the laws under which it was contracted
f. 1t is due to the labor of the nation
that taxation should be equalized and re-
duced as rapidly as national faith will
permit
5. The national debt con tracted as it
has been for the preservation Of the I'm
ion for all time to come, should be ex-
tended over a fair period for redemption,
and it is the duty of Congress to reduce
the rate of interest thereon whenever it
can honestly be done.
| 6. That the best policy to diminish
our burden of debt is to improve our
credit that capitalists Will seek to lend
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
| Z. The Government of the United
States should be administered with the
strictest economy. The corruptions which
have been so shamefulIy nursed and foster
ed by Andrew Johnson, call loudly for
radical reform.
| 8. We profoundly deplore the untime-
" and tragic death of Abraham lincoln
and regret the accession of Andrew John
son to the Presidency; who has acted
treacherousl y to the people who elected
him and the cause he was pledged to sup
port ; has usurped high Legislative and
judicial functions, has refused to execute
the laws has used his high Office to in
duce other officers to violate the laws !;
has employed his executive power to rem
der insecure the lives, property, peace
liberty and life Of the citizen has abused
the pardoning power; has denounced the
National Legislature as unconstitutional
has persistently and habitually resisted
by every means in his power, every pro
per attempt at the recontruction 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.
meanors and properly pronounced guilty
thereof by the votes of thirty five Sena.
tors.
8. The doctrine of Great Britain and
other European Powers, that .ccause 8
man is once subject he is always So
must be resisted 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. Natpralized 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 deny or words spoken in
this country; and if so arrested and i'm
prisoned, it is the duty Of the Govern
ment to interfere in his behalf.
10. Of all who were faithful in the
trials of the late war there were none en-
titled to more especial honor than the
brave soldiers and seamen who endured
the hardships Of the camp and cruise,
and Imperfect their lines in the service
OF the country. The bounties and pen
slons appropriated by law for these brave
defenders Of the Union are obligations
never to be forgotten. The widows and
orphans Of the gallant dead are the wards
OF the people-a sacred legacy bequeath-
ed to the United States protecting care.
Ii. Foreign emigration, which in the
past has added so much to the wealth and
increased the resources of this nation
the asylum of all nations should be fos-
tered by liberal and just policy.
II. This convention declares it's SYM
pathy with all oppressed people who are
struggling for their rights.