The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-29
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL PLATFORM

The National Republican party of the Unite,
States assembled in National Convention in the cit
of Chicago, the 2lst day of May, 1865, make tn,
| following declaration of principles:
| l. We congratulate the country on the assured
success of the reconstruction policy of Congress- al
evinced by the adoption, in the majority of til,
States lately in rebellion, OF constitutions securing
equal civil and political rights to ALL and it is tht
duty of the Government to tain those institutions
and to prevent the people of such States from being
| remitted to state of anarchy.
2 The guaranty by Congress of equal suffrage Il
ell loyal men ct the South was demanded by every
consideration of public safety, of gratitude and
justice and must DO maintained while the question
Of suffrage in all the loyal States properly belongs
to the people of those States.
3. We denouDce all forms of reputation as ma
tional crime; and the national honor requires tht
payment of tho public indebtedness in the utter
most good faith to all creditors at home aud abroad
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.
tiou should be equalized and reduced rapidly as
the national faith will permit.
s. The national debt, contracted it has been for
the preservation of the Union for all time to come
should be extended fair period for redemption
and is the duty of Congress to reduce the rate
interest thereon whenever it can be honestly DONE
9. That the bost policy to diminish our burden Of
debt Is to 80 improve our credit that capitalists will
seek to loan money at lower rates of interest than
we now pay, and must continue to pay so long as re.
pudaton, partial or total, open or covert, is threat
ened or suspected.
T. The Government of the United States shoud be
administered with the strictest economy; and the
corruptions which have been so shamefnliy nursed
and fostered by Andrew johnson call loudly for radi-
cal reform.
g. We profoundly deplore the untmely and tragic
death of Abraham Lincoln, and regret the accession
to the Presidency of Andrew johnson, who has acted
treacherously to the people who elected him and the
cause he was pledged to support; who has usurped
high Legislative and Judicial functions; who has re-
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 ctizen who has abused the pardon
ing power; who has denounced the national legisa-
tire as unconstitutional; who has persistently 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 COR
rupton; and who has been justly impeached for
high crimes and msdemeanofs aud properly pro-
nounced guilty thereof by the vote of thirty five
Senators.
g. The doctrine Of Great Britain and other Eu.
ropean powers, that because man is once subject
he is always So must be resisted at every hazard by
the United States, relic of feudal times not al-
thorized by the laws of nations and atwar with our
national honor and independence. Naturalized cit
liens entitled to protection in all their rights OF
citizenship, as though they were nativeborn; and
no citizen of the United States, native or natural
lied, must be liable to arrest and imprisonment by
any foreign power for acts done words spoken in
this country ana, II 80 arrested and Imprisoned it
is the duty Of the Government to interfere in his be-
half.
TO- OF all who were faithful ia the trials of the
late war; there were none entitled to more especial
honor than the brave soldiers and sesmen who en-
dured the hardshps Of campaign and cruise and i'm
periled their lives in the service of the country
the bounties and pensions provided by the laws tor
these brave defenders of the nation are obligations
never to be forgotten the widows and orphans Of
the gallant dead are the wards of the peopie-a
cred legacy bequeaihed 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 the
asylum of the oppressed of all nations, should be
fostered and encouraged by liberal and just policy.
H. This convention declares itself in sympathy
with all oppressed peoples struggling for their rights
3D. That we highly commend the spirit of mag
nanimity and forbearanee with which men who have
served in the rebellion, but who now frankly and
honestly cooperate with in restoring the peace
OF tho country and reconstructing the South
ern State governments upon the basis of impartial
justice and equal rights are received back into the
communion OF the loyal people, and we favor the
posed upon the late rebels in the same measure as
the spirit of disoyalty will die out and may be
sistent with the safety of the loyal people.
IA. That We recognize the great principles laid
down in the immortal Declaration of Independence,
as tbs true foundation Of democratic government
and we hail with gladness every effort toward max.
Ing these principles living reality on every inch Of
American aoii,