The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-05-29
PL LAiTFORM M
OF THE
National Union Republican Party

NdllUlH UllUl hGpuDHCdl IdlU.
The National Republican party OF
the United States assembled in Ma
tional Convention, in the city of Chi
cago, on the 20th day of May, 1868,
make the following declaration of
principles:
1st. We congratulate the country
on the assured success of the recon-
struction policy of Congress, as
evinced by the adoption, in majori.
ttty 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 those institutions, and to pre-
vent the people Of such States from
being remitted to state of anarchy.
I'd. 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
suffrage in all the loyal States prop
erly belongs to the people of those
States.
Sd. We denounce all forms of re.
pudiation as national crime,
and the national honor requires the
payment of the public Indebtedness
In the utmost good faith, to all cred.
itors, at home and abroad, not only
according to the letter, but the spirit
OF the laws under which it was con.
tracted.
4th. IL is due to the labor of the
nation that taxation should be equal
lied and reduced as rapidly as the
national faith will permit.
5th. The national debt, contracted
as it has been, for the preservation
of the Union for all time to come
should be extended over q fair period
for redemption, and 1t is the duty ol
Congress to reduce the rate of inter.
est thereon, whenever 1t can honestly
be done.
9th. That the best policy to dimin-
ish our burden of debt is to so I'M
prove 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 repu.
diation, partial or total, open or GOV
ert, is threatened or suspected.
9TH. The Government of the Unit
ed States should be administered with
the strictest economy, and the cor
ruptions which have been so shame.
fully nursed and fostered by Andrew
johnson call loudly for radical re-
form.
9th. We profoundly deplore the
untimely and tragic death of Abra-
ham Lincoln, and regret the acces-
sion of Andrew Johnson to the Pres.
idency, who has acted treacherously
to the people who elected him, and
the cause he was pledged to support
has usurped high Legislative and ju'
dicial functions; has refused to exc.
cute the laws; has used his high
office to induce other officers to ignore
and violate the laws; has employed
his executive powers to render inse
cure the property, peace, liberty,
and life of the citizens; has abused
the pardoning power; has denounced
the National Legislature as uncon-
stitutional; has persistently and cor
ruptly resisted, by every measure in
his power, every proper attempt at
the reconstruction Of the States lately
in rebellion has perverted the public
patronage into an engine of whole,
sale corruption, and has been justly
impeached for high crimes and mis-
demeanors, and properly pronounced
guilty thereof by the vote Of thirty
five Sen ators.
9th. The doctrine of Great Britain
and other European powers that be-
cause man is once a subject, he Is
always so, must be resisted at every
hazard by the United States as a relic
of the feudal time, not authorized by
the law of nations, and at war with
our national honor and independence.
Naturalized citizens are entitled to
be protected in all their rights of
citizenship, as though they were nat
ural born, and no citizen OF the Unit
ed States, natural or naturalized,
must be liable to arrest and impris-
onment by any foreign power, for
acts done, or words spoken, in this
country, and if so arrested and i'm
prisoned, it is the duty of the Gov
ernment to interfere in bis behalf.
10th. 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 the
campaign, and cruise, and imperilled
their lives in the service Of the coun.
try. The bOunties and pensions pro
vided by law, for these brave defend
ers of the nation, are obligations new
er to be forgotten. The widows and
orphans of the gallant dead are the
wards of the people, a sacred legacy,
beoueathed to the nations protecting
care.
Ilth. Foreign emigration, which in
the past has added so much to the
wealth, development of resources,
and increase of power Of this nation,
the asylum Of the oppressed OF all
nations should be fostered and en-
couraged by liberal and just policy.
10Th. This Convention declares its
sympathy with all the oppressed
people which are struggling for their
rights.
ADDITIONAL RESOLUTIONS.
Resolped, That we highly COM
mend the spirit of magnanimity and
forgiveness with which the men who
have served the rebellion, but now
frankly and honestly cooperate with
us in restoring the peace Of the coun-
try, and the reconstructing OF the
Southern State Governments upon
the basis of impartial justice and
equal rights, be received back into
the communion of the loyal people;
and we favor the removal of the dis
qualifications and restriction imposed
upon the late rebels in the same
measure as the spirit of disioyalty
will direct, and as may be consistent
with the safety of the loyal people.
RESOLVED, That we recognize the
great principles, laid down in the i'm
mortal Declaration of Independence