The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-24
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL PLATFORM.

The National Republican party of the United
States assembled in National Convention in the city
Of Chicago, the 21st day of May, 1866, make til.
| following declaration of principles:
| l. We congratulate the country on the assured
success of the reconstruction policy OF Congress- as
| evlnced 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 a 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 maintained; while the question
of suffrage in all the loyal States properly belop
| to the people of those States
3. We denounoe all forms of reputation as a 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 it was contracted
4. 1t is due to the labor of the nation that taxa
tion should be equalized and reduced es rapidly as
the national faith will permit
s. The national debt, contracted as it has been for
the preservation of the Union for all time to come
should be extended over fair period for redemption
and ia the duty of Congress to reduce the rate OF
interest thereon, whenever il be honestly DONE
6. That the best policy to diminish our burden of
debt Is to SO improve credit that capital SITS will
seek to loan money at lower rates of interest thar
now pay and must continue 10 pay long as re-
P"i u eoe"As opeh VI
ened or suspected.
7. The Government of the United States should be
administered with the strictest economy; and the
corruptons which have been so shamefuiy nursed
and fJstered by Andrew johnson call loudly for rad
cal reform. 3
s. We profoundly deplore the untimely and tragic
death of Abraham Lincoln, and regret the Accession
to the Presidency of Andre 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 re-
f,aa go IN tha 10 vulN hna
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 egisla-
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 engine of wholesale COR
ruption; and who has been justly impeached for
high crimes and misdeineanors, and properly pro-
nounced guilty thereof by the vote of thirty five
Senator's
9. The doctrine of Great Britain and other E,,.
ropean powers that because man is once subject
he is always must be resisted at every hazard by
the United States a relic of feuda times not at-
thorized by the laws of nations and war with our
national honor and independence. Naturalized cit.
liens entitled to protection in all their rights of
citizenship, as though they were natiye-born; and
no citizen of the United States native or natural.
ized must be liable to arrest and imprisonment BY
any foreign power for acts done words spoken In
this country; and, if so arrested and imprisoned it
Is the duty Of the Government to interfere in his be-
half.
10. OF all who we're faithful in the trials of the
late war, there entitled to more especial
honor than the brave soldiers and seamen who on
dured the hardshps of campaign and cruise and i'm
perilled 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 sa
cred legacy bequeathed to the nations protecting
care.
. IL. Foreign immigration, which in tho past has
added 30 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
ID. That we highly commend the spirit of mag
nanimity and forbearance 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 reconstruoting the fouth-
erh 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 Disqualification and restrictions i'm
posed upon the late rebels in the same measure az
the spirit of dsloyalty will die out and as may he cor
sistent with the safety of the loyal people.
IA. 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 every inch Of
American soil.