The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-27
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL PLATFORM.

The National Republican party of the United
States, assembled in National Convention in the CITY
Of Chicago, the 2lst day of May, 1866, make tho
following declaration of principles
l. We congratulate the country on the assured
success OF the reconstruction policy of Congress as
evinced 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 q 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
of suffrage in all the loyal States properly belongs
to the people of those States.
B. We denounce all forms of reputation AZ 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 and abroad
not only according to letter, but the spirit of the
laws under which 1t was contracted.
A. 1t is due to the labor Of the nation that taxa
tion should be equalzed and reduced as rapidly as
the national faith will permit
o. The national debt contracted as 1t has been for
the preservation of the Union for all time to come
should be extended over fair period for redemption:
and is the duty of Congress to reduce the rate OF
interest thereon whenever it can be honestly done
9. That the best policy to diminish our burden of
debt Is to so improve our credit that capitalists will
seek to loan money at lower rates of interest than
we now pay, and must continue pay SO long as re-
ened or suspected.
7. The Government of the United States should bo
administered with the strictest economy; and the
corruptions which have been so shameftiliy nursed
and fostered by Andrew johnson call loudly for radi-
cal refsrm
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
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 citizen; who has abused the pardon
ing power; who has denounced the national legisa.
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 cor
ruption; and who has been justly impeached for
hlgn crimes ana misdemeanors, and properly pro-
nonnced guilty thereof by the vote of thirty.fye
Senators.
Q. The doctrine of Great Britain and other Eu.
ropean powers, that because man Is once a subject
he always So must be resisted at every hazard by
the United states, as relic of feudal times not au-
thorzed by the laws OF nations and at war with our
national honor and independence. NaturaIized cit
liens are entitled to protection in all their rights OF
citizenship, as though they were native-born 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 and, II so arrested and imprisoned it
Is 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 none entitled to more especial
honor than the brave soldiers and seamen who en-
dured the hardshps of campaign and cruise and i'm
peried their lives in the service of the country:
the bounties and pensions provided by the laws for
hese brave defenders of the nation are obligations
never to be forgotten the widows and orphans of |
the gallant dead are the wards Of the peoples sa-
cred legacy bequeaihed to the nations protecting
care.
IL. Foreign immigration, which in the past has
added 30 much to the wealth. developement and re-
sources, and increase of power to this republic the
lsylum of the oppressed of all nations should be
ostered aud encouraged by liberal and lust policy
IL. This convention declares itself in sympathy
With all oppressed peoples struggling for their rights
ID. That we highly commend the spirit of mag
,animity and forbearance with which men who have
erved in the rebellion, but who now frankly and
honestly cooperate with us in restoring the peace
II tho country and reconstructing the eouth-
rh State governments upon the basis of impartial
ustce and equal rights, received back into the
OF the loyal people; and we favor the
emoya of the disqualifcations and restrictions inn
,osed upon the late rebels in the same measure as
he spirit of dsloyaty will die out and as may be con-
istent with the safety of the loyal people.
IA. That we recognize the great principles laid
own in the immortal Declaration of Independence,
8 the true foundation of democratic government |
nd we hail with gladness every effort toward max.
ng these principles living reality every inch Of
american soil,