The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-17
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 tho
following declaration of principles
1. We congratulate the country on the assured
success OF the reconstruction policy of Congress-
evnced 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 to prevent the people of such States from being
remitted 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 mantained while the question
of suffrage in all the loyal States properly belongs
to tho people of those States.
3. We denounce all forms of reputation as 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
a. 1t is due to the labor of the nation that taxa
tion should be equalized, and reduced rapidly
the national faith will permit
6. The national debt contracted 1t has been for
the preservation Of the Union for all time to come
should be extended over fair period for redempton;
and it is the duty of Congress to reduce the OF
interest thereon whenever it can be honestly DONE
g. That the best policy to diminish our burden of
debt Is to improve our credit that capitalists will
seek to loan money at lower rates of interest than
now pay, and must continue to pay SO long
pudiation, partial total open covert, is threat
ened or suspected.
|. T. The Government of the United States should be
administered with the strictest economy; and the
corruptions which have been 30 shamefuliy nursed
and fosered by Andrew johnson call loudly for radi
cal reform.
g. We profoundly deplore the untimely 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
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 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
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.
0. The doctrine of Great Britain and other Eu-
ropeaA 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
thorizcd by the laws of nations and atwar with our
national honor and independence. Naturalized cit
entitled to protection in all their rights OF
citizenship, as though they wore natve-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 arrested and imprisoned, it
Is the duty OF tn6 government 10 interfere III MS
half.
TO- or all who were faithful in the trials Of the
late war, there entitled to more especial
/ honor than the brave soldiers and seamen who en-
dured the hardshps Of campaign and cruise, and i'm
perilled their lives in the service of the country
the bountes 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 peope-a sa-
cred legacy bequeaihed to the nations protecting
care.
H. Foreign immigration, which in the past has
added much TO the wealth. development, and re-
asylum of the oppressed of all nations, should be
fostered aud encouraged by liberal and just policy.
H. This convention declares itself in sympathy
with all oppressed peoples struggling for their rights.
49, That we highly commend the spirit OF mag
nanimty and forbearance with which mon 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
era State governments upon the basis Of impartial
justice and equal rights received back into the
communion Of the loyal people, aud we favor the
removal of the disquafcations and restrictions inn
posed upon the late rebels in the
the spirit Of disloyalty will die out aud may be con-
sistent with the safety of the loyal people.
a. That we recognize the great principles laid
down in the immortal Declaration OF Independence,
as the true foundation of democratic government
and We hail with gadness every effort toward max
ing these principles living reality on every inch OF
American soil.