The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-17
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:

lHo NutOuai RepuDlCdu party VI INC Oulttu
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
OF the reconstruction policy of Congress-
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
RENTED 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 maintained; while the question
of suffrage in all the loyal States properly belongs
to the people of those States.
8. We denouncs all forms of reputation as ma
tional crime; and the national honor requires the
payment of the public indebtedness in the utter
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.
a. 1t is due to the labor of the nation that taxa
ton should be equaized and reduced as rapidly as
the national faith will permit.
g. The national debt, contracted as 1t has been for
the preservation of the Union for all time to eome
should be extended over fair period for redemption
and 1t Is the duty of Congress to reduce the rate of
interest thereon whenever it 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
we now pay, and must continue TO pay long as
pudaton, partial or total open or covert is threat
I. The Government of the United States should be
administered with the strictest economy; and the
corruptions which have been shamefully nursed
and fostered by Andrew johnson call loudly for radi-
cal reform.
g. We profoundly deplors 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
of To induca fhera ignore viOlata
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-
turs 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 cor
rupton and who has been justly impeached for
high crimes and msdemeanors, and properly pro-
nounced guilty thereof by the vote of thirty five
Senator's
.. The doctrine Of Great Britain and other Eu.
ropean powers that because man is once subject
he al ways So must be resisted at every hazard by
the United States as relic of feudal times not au-
thorzed by the laws OF Lations, and atwar with our
national honor and independence. Naturalized cit
izens entitled to protection in all their rights OF
citizenship, as though they were natve-born; and
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 If so arrested and imprisoned, it
is the duty of the Government to interfere in his be-
half.
10. or all who were faithful In the trials of the
late war, there were none entitled to especial
honor than the brave soldiers and seamen who en-
dured the hardships 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 are the wards of the peope-a sa-
cred legacy bequeaihed to the nations protecting
care.
IL. Foreign immigration, which in the past has
added SO 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 oil oppressed peoples struggling for their rights
10. That we highly commend the spirit of msg-
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 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 pc ople; and favor the
removal of the dsquahcations and restrictions i'm
posed upon the late rebels in the same measure as
the spirit of disIoyalty will out and may be
sstent 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 gladness every effort toward max.
ing these principles living reality on every inch OF
American soil.