The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-18
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL PLATFORM.

1ne Nationai hepupHcan party OF lhe uhiteo
States assembled in National Convention in the city
of Chicago, the 21st day of May, 1866, make the
following declaration of prnciples
1. We congratulate the country on the assured
of the reconstruction policy of Congress,
evlnced by the adoption, in the majority of the
States lately In rebellion of constitutions securing
equal civil and political rights to all; and it is the
duty of the Government to sustain those institutions
and prevent the people of such States from being
RENTED to state of anarchy.
2. The guaranty by Congress of equal suffrage to
all loyal men at 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 properly beon gs
to the people of those States
8. We denounce all forms of reputation as ma
tionsl crime; and the national honor requires the
payment of the public Indebtedness in the tier
most good faith to all creditors at home aud abroad
not only according to letter. but the spirit of the
laws under which 1t was contracted.
T. 1t is due to the labor of the nation that ia xa-
ton should be eoualized, and reduced rapidly
the national faith will permit.
g. The national debt, contracted 1t has been for
the preservation of the Union for all time to
should be extended fair period for redempti
and it is the duty of Congress to reduce the rate of
interest thereon, whenever IL can be honestly done.
6. That the best policy to diminish our burden of
debt Is to improve credit that capitalists will
seek to loan money at lower rates of interest than
we now pay, and must continue to pay 30 long
rudiation partial total open or covert, is threat
I. The Government of the United States should be
administered with the strictest economy; and the
corruptions which have been SO shamefuly nursed
and fstered by Andrew johnson call loudly for radi
cal reform.
8. We profoundly deplore the untimely and tragic
death of Abraham Lincoln, and regret the accession
to the Presden of Andrew johnson, who has acted
treacherously the people who elected him and the
cause he pledged to support; who has usurped
high legislative and judicial functions who has re-
fused to execute the lava; who has used his fgh
M indr ofiCAra ignore and yiDIate
the laws; who has employed his executive powers
to render insecure the property the peace, liberty
and life of the citizen; who has abused the pardon
ing power; who has denounced the national legsla-
ture as unconstitutional; who has persistenty and
corruptly resisted, by every means in his power,
every proper attempt at the reconstruction OF the
States lately in rebellion; who has perverted the
public patronage into engine Of whole sale cor
ruption and who has been justly impeached for
high crimes and msdemeaDors, and properly pro-
nounced guilty thereof by the vote Of thirty five
O. The doctrine of Great Britain and other Eu.
ropean powers, that because man is once subject
he is al ways must be resisted ut every hazard by
the United States relic of feudal times not au-
thorized by the laws OF Iatons and atwar with our
national honor and Independence. Naturalized cit
liens entitled to protection in ell their rights OF
citizenship, as though they were native-born; and
no citizen of the United States, native natural
lied, must be liable to arrest aud imprisonment by
any foreign power for acts done words spoken In
this country and, If so arrested and imprisoned, il
is the duty OF thu Government to interfere In bis DO
half.
TO-. or all who were faithful In the trials of the
late war, there none entitled to more especial
honor than the brave soldiers and seamen who en-.
dured the hardships Of campaign and cruise, and i'm
perilled their lives In the service OF the country
the bountes and pensions provided 10y the laws fol-
these brave defenders of the nation obligations
never to be forgotten the widows and orphans of
the gallant dead are the wards of the people-a sa.
cred legacy bequeashed to the nations protecting
care.
IL. Foreign immigration which in the past has
added SO much TO the wealth, Development, and re-
sources and increase of power to this republic thu
asylum of the oppressed Of all nations, should be
fosered and encouraged by liberal aud just policy
IL This convention declares itself in sympathy
with all oppressed peoples struggling for their rights
49, That we highly commend the spirit of ms x
nanimity and forbearance with which men who have
served in the rebellion, but who now frankly ant
honestly cooperate with us in restoring the peace
of tho country and reconstructing the south
err State governments upon the basis of impartial
Justice and equal rights, received back into th'
Communion OF the loyal people; and we favor thu
removal of the disquaiifcatons and restrictions I'm
posed upon the late rebels in the same measure a
the spirit of disoyaty will die out and may be con
| sistent with the safety of the loyal people.
a. That we recognize the great principles lait
down In the immortal Declaration of Independence
| as tho true foundation OF democratic government
and we hail with gladness every effort toward max
ing these principles living reality on every inch
| American soil.