The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-31
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 Nay 1866, make the
following declaration of principles:
1, We congratulate the country ON the assured
OF the reconstruction policy of Congress, as
eyinced 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 q state of anarchy.
O. 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 belongs
to the people of those States.
g. We denounce all forms of reputation as O
tional crime; and the national honor requires the
payment Of the public indebtedness in the utter
most good faith to all creditors at home aud abroad
not only according to letter. but tho spirit of the
laws under which it was contracted.
d. 1t is due to the labor of the nation that taxa
ton should be equalzed and reduced as rapidly as
the national faith will permit.
g. The national debt, contracted as it has been for
the preservation of the Union for all time to come,
should be extended fair period for redemption;
and it is tie duty of Congress to reduce the rate OF
interest thereon, whenever it be honestly done.
g. That the best policy to diminish burden of
debt is to improve our credit that capitalists will
seek TO loan us money at lower rates of interest than
we now pay and must continue 10 pay long as re-
pudaton partial or total open or covert, is threat
ened or suspected
+ The Government of the United States should be
administered with the strctest economy; and the
corruptons which have been shamefuly nursed
and fostered by Andrew johnson call loudly for radi
cal reform.
s. We profoundly deplore the untimely and tragic
death of Abraham Lincoln, and regret the accession
to the Presidency of Andrew Johnson who has acted
reacherously to the people who elected him and the
cause he was pledged to support; who has usurped
high Legislative and judicial functions; who has
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
| 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.
| o. The doctrine of Great Britain and other Eu.
ropean powers, that because man il subject
he is always 3d. must be resisted at every hazard by
the United States, a relic of fendal times, not
thorized by the laws of nations, and atwar with
national honor and independence. Naturalized cit.
liens entitled to protection in all their rights OF
citizenship, as though they were natve-born; and
no citizen of the United States, native natural
ized must be liable to arrest and imprisonment by
any foreign power for acts done or words spoken in
this country; and, if arrested and imprisoned 1t
the duty of the Government to Interfere in his be-
| half.
TO- Of all who were faithful In the trials of the
late war; there were entitled to more especial
| honor than the brave soldiers and seamen who
dured the hardshps Of campaign and cruise, and i'm
perlled 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 the wards of the people-a
| cred legacy bequeathed to the nations protecting
care.
[ IL. Foreign immigration, which in the past has
added 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.
| IL. This convention declares itself in sympathy
with all oppressed peoples struggling for their rights
Is. That we 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 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 disqualihcations and restrictions i'm
posed upon the late rebels in the same as
the spirit of dsloyaly will die out, and may be con-
sistent with the safety of the loyal people. go
Ia. That we recognize the great principles laid
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 Of
American soil.