The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-19
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL PLATFORM.

The National Republican party of the United
States assembled in National Convention in the city
of Chicago on the 2lst day of May, 1866, make the
following declaration of principles:
l. We congratulate the country on the assured
of the reconstruction policy of Congress as
evnced by the adoption, in the majority of the
States lately in rebellion Of constitutions securing
equal civil and political rights to ALI and it is the
duty of the Government to sustain those Institutions
and to prevent the people of such States from being
RENTED to q state of anarchy. ep slf !
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 he mantained while the question
of suffrage in all the loyal States properly belongs
to the people of those States. y 'eiff1
g. We denounce all forms of reputation as a ma
tionsl crime and the national honor requires the
payment of the public Indebtedness in the utter
most good faith to all creditors at home aud abroud
not only according to letter, but the spirit of the
laws under which it was contracted.
4. 1t is due to the labor of the nation that taxa
ton should be equalized, and reduced as rapidly as
the national faith will permit.
6. The national debt, contracted as it has been for
the preservation of the Union for all time to come
should BIO extended over fair period for redemption
and it is the duty OF Congress to reduce the rate of
interest thereon, whenever it be honestly DONE
9. That the best policy to diminish burden of
debt is to 30 improve our credit that capitalists will
seek to loan money at lower rates of interest than
now pay, and must continue 10 pay long as re-
pudiation, partial total open covert is threat
ened or suspected.
7. The Government of the United States should be
administered with the strictest economy; and the
corruptions which have been shamefuily nursed
and fostered by Andrew johnson call loudly for rad-
cal reform
g. We profoundly deplore the untimey and tragic
death of Abraham Lincoln and regret the accession
to the Presidency of Andrew Johnson who has acted
treacherousy to the people who elected him and the
cause he was pledged to support; who has usurped
fused to execute the laws who has used his high
Office to induce other officers to ignore and violate
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 an engine of wholesale corr
ruption; and who has been justly impeached for
high crimes and misdemeanors and properly pro-
nounced guilty thereof by the vote Of thirty. five
Senators. g
Q. The doctrine of Great Britain and other Eu.
ropean powers, that because man is subject
he is always So must be resisted ct every hazard by
the United States, relic of feudal times,
thorized by the laws of nations and atwar with our
national honor and independence. Naturalized cit
izens entitled to protection in all their rights OF
citizenship, as though they native-born; and
no citizen of the United States, native natural
lied, must be liable to arrest and imprisonment by
any foreign power for acts done words spoken in
this country; and, if 80 arrested and imprisoned it
ia the duty of the Government to interfere in his be-
half
10. OF all who were faithful In the trials of the
late war, there none entitled to especial
honor than the brave soldiers and seamen who en-
dured the hardship5 Of campaign and cruise and inn
perilled their lives in the service of the country
the bounties and pensions provided by the laws for
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
cred legacy bequeathed to the nations protecting
IL. Foreign immigration, which in the past has
added 80 much to the wealth, development, and re-
sources and increase of power to this republic the
asylum of the oppressed of all nations, should be
fostered aud encouraged by liberal and just policy
IL. This convention declares itself in sympathy
with all oppressed peoples struggling for their rights
Is. That highly commend the spirit of mag
nanimity and forbearance with which men who have
served in the rebellion, but who frankly and
honestly cooperate with us In restoring the peace
of the country and reconstructing the South
era State governments upon the basis of impartial
justice and equal rights, received back into the
communion OF the loyal people; and we favor the
removal of the disqualihcatons and restrictions i'm
posed upon the late rebels in the same measure as
the spirit of disloyalty will die out aud may be
sstent with the safety of the loyal people.
a. That We recognize the great principles laid
down In the immortal Declaration of Independence,
the true foundation of democratic government
and we hail with gladness every effort toward max
ing these principles Irving reality every inch Of
American soil.