The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-27
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
l. We congratulate the country on the assured
success 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 10 all; and it is the
duty of the Government to tain those institutions
and to prevent the people of such States from being
RENTED to a 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 oil the loyal States properly belongs
to the people of those States.
g. 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 and 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
tou should be eaualized and reduced as 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 fair period for redemption;
and IL 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 SO improve credit that capitalists will
seek to loan money at lower rates of interest than
we now pay, and must continue to pay 80 long
pudaton, partial or total open or covert, is threat
ened or suspected.
u The Government of the United States should be
administered with the strictest economy; and the
corruptions which have been so shamefully nursed
and ostered 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 the people who elected him and tho
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
tho 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 as unconstitutional who has persistently and
corruptly resisted, by every means in his power,
every proper attempt at the reconstruction of tho
States lately in rebellion; who has perverted ths
public patronage into an engine Of wholesale COZ
ruption; and who has been justly impeachea for
high crimes aud misdemeanors, and properly pro-
nounced guilty thereof By the vote of thirty Eve
g. The doctrine OF Great Britain and other Eu.
ropean powers, that because is once q subject
he is always 80 must be resisted ut every hazard by
the United States, as relic of feudal times not al-
thorzed by the laws OF nations and at war with our
national honor and Independence. Naturalized cit
izens are entitled to protection in all their rights
citizenship, as though they natve-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
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 hardships of campaign and cruse, and i'm
perilled their lives in the service of the country
the bountes and pensions provided by the laws foI
these brave defenders of the nation are obligations
never to be forgotten the widows and orphans OF
the gallant dead the wards of the peoplea sa-
cred legacy bequealhsd to the nations protecting
care.
IL. Foreign immigration, which in the past has
added so much to tho wealth, developement and re
sources and increase of power to this republic the
asylum of the oppressed of all nations, should be
fosered and encouraged by liberal and just policy
H. This convention declares itself In sympathy
with all oppressed peoples struggling for their rights
H. 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 us in restoring the peace
of the country and reconstructing the south.
err 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 disquaiicstions aud restrictions i'm
posed upon the late rebels in the same measure as
the spirit of disloyalty will die out and may be con-
sstent with the safety Of the loyal people.
a. That 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 soii,