The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-07
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:
1. We congratulate tho country on the assured
success of the reconstruction policy OF Congress-
svlnced by the adoption, in the majority of the
States lately in rebellion of constitutions securing
equal civil and political rights to al and it is the
duty of the Government to sustain those institutions
and to prevent the people of such States from being
RENTED to state of anarchy.
z 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 a ma
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 the spirit of the
laws under which it was contracted
d. 1t is due to the labor of the nation that taxa
tion should be equazed and reduced az rapidly as
the national faith will permit.
e. 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 redempon;
and is duty of Congress to reduce the rate OF
interest thereon whenever it can be honestly done.
G. That the best policy to diminish burden of
debt is to improve credit that capitalists will
seek to loan us money at lower rates of interest than
we now pay, and must continue to pay long
pudiation partial or total open or covert is threat
| ened or suspected.
Y The Government of the United States should be
administered with the strictest economy; and the
corruptions which have been go shamefully nursed
and fostered by Andrew johnson call loudly for rad-
| cal reform.
death of Abraham Lincoln, and regret the accession
to the Presden, ~ of Andrew Johnson who has acted
treacherouay to the people who elected him and the
| cause he was pledged to support; who has usurped
| hieh Legislative and judicial functions who has
| fused to execute the laws who has used his high
l ..oasn 20, ttr.nr dufaI m
| 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-
ture as unconstitutional who has perslstently 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
nublic patronage int an engine of wholesale cor
| ruption; and who has been justly impeached fol-
high crimes and misdemeanors, and properly pro-
nounced guilty thereof by the vote OF thirty i've
9. The doctrine of Great Britain and other Eu
ropean powers, that because man is once subject
he il always So must be resisted at every hazard by
tina United States as relic of feudal times, not au
thorized by the laws OF rations and atwar with our
| national honor and independence. Naturalized cit
jyans are entitled protection in all their rights Of
citizenship as though they we're natiye-born; anc
| no citizen of the United States, native or natural
lied must be liable to arrest and imprisonment BY
any foreign power for acts done or words spoken III
this country; and, if so arrested and imprisoned II
ia the duty OF Government to interfere in his be
half.
TO- OF all who we're faithful In the trials Of ths
late war there were none entitled TO moro especia
| honor than the brave soldiers and seamen who en-
dured the hardshps Of campaign and cruise, and i'm
| perled their lives In the service of the country
lie bounties aud pensions provided 10y the laws fol
,hese brave defenders OF the nation are ohiigation
| never to be forgotten the widows and orphans OF
tho gallant dead the wards OF the people--a sa
| cred legacy bequeaihed to the nations protecting
care. 80 -,
IL Foreign immigration, which in the past hs
added so much to the wealth, Development, and re-
eources and increase of power to this republic tn
asylum of the oppressed OF all nations, should be
fostered aud encouraged by liberal and just policy
4 10 This convention declares itself in sympath,
with ali oppressed peoples struggling for their rights
IS That we highly commend the spirit OF msg
panimity and forbearance with which mon who hay
served in the rebellion, bu who now frankly ant
honestly cooperate with us In restoring the peace
| of tho country and recohstructng the south
| err State governments upon tho basis OF Impartial
iustice and equal rights are received back into tn
Communion OF tho loyal people; and we favor tn
removal of the disquaifcations and restrictions I'm
posed upon the late rebels in the same measure
the spirit disloyalty Will die out aud 90 may be con
sistent with the safety of the loyal people,
IA That We recognize the great principles ie
down In the immortal Declaration oil independence
| as the true foundation of democratic government
| and we hail with gladaess every effort toward MAI
ing these principles living reality on every inch
! American soil.