Year: 1868

PLAIFORM
First-We congratulate tile country on
the assured success of the reconstruction pol
icy Of Congress as evidenced by the adoption
in majority Of the States lately in rebellion
of Constitution securing equal civil and po-
litieal rights to all: and we regard it as the
duty of the Government to sustain these
Constitutions and prevent the people of such
States from being remitted to state of anar-
chy or military rule.


Second-The guaranty by Congress of
equal suffrage to all loyal men in the South
was demanded by every consideration OF
public safety, gratitude and justice. and
must be maintained while the question of
suffrage in all the loyal States properly be-
longs to the people o. those States.


Third-We denounce all forms of re-
pudiation as q national crime. and declare
that the national honor requires the pay
ment of the public indebtedness in the utmost
good faith to our creditors at home and
abroad, not only according to the letter, but
according to the spirit of the laws under
which it was contracted.


Fourth-lt is due to the labor of the ma
ton that taxation should be eqaaiized and
reduce as rapidly as the national faith will
permit.


Fifth-The national debt, contracted as
it has been for the preservation of the Uniun
for all time to come, should be extended over
fair period to reduce the rate of interest
| thereon, whenever II can honestly be done.
| Sixth That the best policy to diminish
our burden of debt is so to improve our credit
that capitalists will seek to lend us money
at lower rates of interest than we now pay,
and must continue to pay so long as repu-
diation, partial or total. open or covert, is
| threatened or suspected.


Seyenth-The Government Of the United
States should be administered wits the strict
est economy. The enrruDtlous which have
| been so SHAMEFUL nursed aud fostered by
Andrew johnson call loudly for radical re-
form


Eighth-We profoundly deplore the un.
timely and tragic death OF Abraham Lincoln.
and regret the accession of Andrew johnson
to the Presidential chair, who has acted
treacherously to the ople who elected him
and the cause he WAS pledged 10 support
has usurped high legislative and judicial
functions has refused to execute laws has
used his high office TO induce other officers
TO violate laws bas employed his executive
power to render insecure the lives, property,
peace. liberty, and life of citizens has abus-
ed the pardoning power; has denounced the
| hdlioudl ftriSltllNV uds
persstently and fabitually resisted by every
means in his power every proper attempt at
the reconstruction of the States lately in re-
belion has~perverted the public patronage
into an engine of wholesale corruption and
has been justly impeached for high crimes
and misdemeanors, and pronounced guilty
thereof by the votes of thirty five Senators.


Ninth-The doctrine of Great Britain and
other European Powers, that because man
is once subject he is always SO. must be
resisted at every hazard by the United States
as relic of feudal times. not authorized by
the law of nations, and at war with our ma
tional honor and independence : and natural
lied citizens are entitled to be protected in
all their rights of citizenship as though they
were native born; no citizen of the United
States, native or naturalzed. must be liable
to arrest or imprisonment by any foreign
Power for acts done words spoken in this
country, and if so arrested and imprisoned,
it is the duty of Government to interfere in
his behalf


Tenth-Of all who were faithful in their
trials of the late war there were none more
fitted for especial honor than the brave SOL
diers and seamen who endured the hardships
of camp and cruise and imperiled their lives
in the service If their country The boun





these brave defenders Of the Union are obi
cations never to be forgotten. The widows
and orphans OF the gallant dead are the
} wards of the people-a sacred legacy be-
queathed to the United States for its protect-
ing care.


Eeventh-Foreign immigration in the past
has added so much to the wealth and increas-
ed so much the resources of this nation. the
asylum of all nations. that it should lie fos-
tered by liberal and just policy.
Twelfth-This Convention declares it's
sympathy with all oppressed people who are
struggling for their rights.


Resolved. That we highly commend the
spirit of magnanimity aud forgiveness with
which the men who have served in the ra.
bellion and VINO are now frankly and honestly
cooperating with Us in restoring the course
of the country and in rrcanstructinp the
Southern States on basis of impartial
Justice and equal rights, are received back
into communion with the loyal people. and
that we are in favor of the removal Of the
disaualifcations and restrictions unused
upon the late rebels in the same measure and
spirit of loyalty as may be consistent with the
safety of the loyal people.


Resolved, That we recognize the great
principles laid down in the Declaration of
Independence as the foundation of democratic
government, and we hail with giadness every
effort toward making these principles a
living reality on every iuch Of American Ill.


Resolved. That the adjournment of this
Convention shall not work she dissolution If
the same. bat it shall remain as organized.
subject to be called toge her at any time and
place tina, tue Executive Committee shall
designate.