American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-07-10
PLATFORM uF PRINCIPLES
Promulgated by the Radical Party of
Mississippi. July l, 1869.

amlty ana peace towards their OpDO-
nents, and OF justice to themselves.
make the following declaration of
principles and policy:
Unfaltering devotion to the Union
first, last, and forever.
Faith in and fidelity to the princi
pies, objects and aims, of the great
National Republican party, with
which and with the President and
Congress we are in full accord and
sympathy.
A fair, impartial, just ami eco
nomlcal administration of the gov
errment, National and State.
Full and unrestricted right of
speech TO all men, at all times. and
all places with the most complete
and unrestrained freedom of the bal
lot, including protection to citizens
in The exercise Of the suffrage.
A system Of free schools which
shall place the means of liberal edu-
cation within the reach of every
child in the State.
Reformation of the Ubiquitous and
unequal taxation and assessments,
which discriminating against labor
and laborers, have borne so uniustly
and unequally upon tue people.
That all men, without regard to
race, color, or previous condition,
are equal before the law, and that to
be freeman is to possess all the
civil and political rights of citizen,
are not only enduring truths. but the
settled and permanent doctrines. of
the Republican party.
This Convention recognizes but
two great national parties-that' I'M
der the administration of the one.
the material and industrial resources
of the country will languish, whilst
under the liberal and fostering care
of the national Republican party,
commerce, manufactures and inter
nal improvements by the general
government, will surely make the
people of Mississippi what nature,
soil and climate, intend they should
be-rich, prosperous and contented.
Recognizing as peculiarly Ameri-
can and Republican the sentiment,
that the true basis of government is
the consent of thegoverned," which
i'll Republic, is expressed through
| the ballot box we, in the language
of the Chicago Platform, "favor the
removal of the disqualitications and
restrictions imposed upon the late
rebels, in the same measure as the
spirit of disloyalty may die out, and
as may be consistent with the safety
of the loyal people, and we shall
hail with unfeigned delight the day
when the spirit of federation now
dawning npon our State, shall be so
firmly established as to warrant Con
gress and the nation, in declaring
disabilities and restrictions forever
at an end-when there shall be no
citizen of Mississippi, clamoring for
his rights
That the present modified condi-
ton of public sentiment in this State,
renders it wise and expedient, that
the Republican party should embrace
the opportunity which is to be pre-
scented in the approaching election,
of ratifying the new Constitution, so
far modified in the franchise and
general provisions thereof, as to con
form to the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, and the reconstruction
flaws and that as soon as Mississippi
shall be fully reconstructed accord
ing to the true intent of the laws,
all disabilities imposed upon the late
rebels, should be entirely removed.
That we favor the prompt ratifica.
ton by this State of Article 10, as
amendment to the Constitution OF
the United States at the earliest
practical opportunity.
We declare for universal amnesty
and universal suffrage. the enlight
ened spirit of the age demanding that
the fossil remains of prescription
must be numbered with the things
of the past.
The languishing condition of oul
State, notwithstanding her genial
climate, and productive soil, capable
of sustaining and inviting popula
ton of fifteen millions, reminds us
not only Of the necessity of recon
structiUn on proper basis but ot
the need of immigration. Schemes
designed for class immigration, such
as laborers only. or favoring one
section, or country, or people, Oh
portions of people over another, OIL
account of political or any othcl
causes, will meet with 10 success
plans to increase our population
must embrace all countries, climes
people, professions, politics and rell
gious beliefs any plan, stopping
short of this, or hesitating to give ;
practical, earnest, cordial welcom,
to settlers, without regard to race
color, locality, politics or religion
will meet with merited failure, be
cause indicating the existence of big
otry and intolerance.
We recognize in Gen Grant, IT,,
chosen leader of our party and cause
as well as the representative man o
the age. AS Washington was il
his time, SO is Grant now, " first il
war, first in peace, and first in tn,
hearts of his countrymen." Through
ulS eicClion, peace, IoleIdtloil aIl'
prosperity, at last dawn upon Mis-
sissippi, and ere long Throughout
these States, the old flag and the an
cient principles. he and it represents
, will be respected, adopted and ador
ed. The magic words ;" Let us hav,
, peace" possess a power, and have ;
mission which will embrace thu
whole world, and will cease OILY will
, time.
, We endorse and adopt his Ian
, guage that the question of suff'rag,
is one which is likely to agitate tn
public so long as a portion of tn
citizens of the nation are excluded
from its privileges, and in his OWL
words, we favor such constitution
and laws, AS will effectually secur
, the civil and political rights of al
, pers ons,' conSummation we de
voutly desire at the earliest practi
cable moment, with safety and jus
tice to all.
, We confide in and will supper