Year: 1868

National Union Republican Platform


First-We congratulate the country on the
ASSURED success of the reconstruction policy
OF Congress as evidenced by the adoption in
majority of the States lately in rebellion OF
a Constitution securing equal civil and
apolitical rights to all. and regard it as the
duty of the Government to sustain these
Constitutions and prevent the people OF such
States from being remitted into a state OF
anarchy or military rule.


Second-The guarantee 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 suf-
frage, in all the loyal States, properly be-
longs to the people of those States.


Third We denounce all forms OF repuiia-
tion as national crime, and the national
honor requires the paymedt of the public in
debtedness in the utmost good faith to our
creditors at home and abroad, not only ac-
cording to the letter but the spirit of the
laws under which it was constructed.


Fourth-It is due to the labor of the ma
tion that taxation should be equalized ard
reduced as rapidly as the national faith will
permit.


Fiftb-The national debt, contracted as it
has been for the preservation of the Union
for all time to come, should be extended OF er
fair period, and the rate of interest thereon
reduced whenever it can honestly be done.


Sixth-That the best policy to diminish
our burden of debt is 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 reputation.
partial or total, open or covert, is threatened
or suspected.


Seventh-That the Government of the
United States should be administered with
the strictest economy, and corruptions which
have been so shamefully nursed and fostered
by Andrew johnson. call loudly for radical
reform.


Eighth-We profoundly deploIe the un-
timely death of Abraham Lincoln, and regret
the accession of Andrew johnson to the
Presidential chair who h,s acted treacher-
ously to the people who decked him and the
cause he was pledged to support has usurp-
ed high legislative and judicial functions
has refused to execute the laws has used
his high Office to induce other officers to vio-
late the laws; has employed his executive
power to render insecure the lives. property,
peace, liberty and life of the citizens has
abused the pardoning power has denounced
the National Legislature as unconstitutional;
has persistently and habitually resisted by
every means in his power every proper at
tempt at reconstruction of the States lately
in rebellion has perverted the public pat
rOnage into an engine of wholesale coerup-
tion, and has been justly impeached for high
crimes and misdemeanors and pronounced
guilty thereof by the votes of thirty-five
Senator'S.


Ninth-The doctrine of Great Britain and
other European powers, that because man
is once a 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. Naturalized
citizens are entitled to be protected in all
their rights of citizenship as though they
were native born; and no citizen of the
United States, native or naturalized, must
be liable to arrest or imprisonment Dy any
foreign power fer acts done or words spoken
in this country and if so arrested and i'm
prsoned. it is the duty of the Government
to interfere in his behalf.


Tenth-Of all who were faithful in the
trials of the late war there were none more
fitted for especial honor than the brave
soldiers and seanen who endured the hard
ships of camp and cruise, and imperrilled
their lives in the service of the country. The
bounties and pensions appropriated by law
for these brave defenders of the Union, are
Obligations never to he forgotten. The
widows ami orphans of the gallant dead are
the wards OF the people. sacred legacy be-
queathed to the protecting care Of the United
States.


Eleventh-Foreign immigration, which. in
the past. has added so much to the wealth
and increased the resources of this nat on
the asylum of all nations-should be fostered
by a liberal and just policy.


Twelfth-This Convention declares its SYM
pathy with all oppressed people who are
struggling for their rights.


The resolutions were unanimously adopt
ed. The following additional resolutions
were offered and adopted:


By Mr.. Thompson. of -:


Res0loed. That the adjournment of this
Convention shall not work the dissolution of
the sam :, Tut it shall remain as organized,
subject to be called together at any time or
place that the Republican Executive Com
mittee shall designate.


By Carl Shurz:


Res Iced, That we highly commend the
spirit of magnanimity and forgiveness with
which men who have served in the rebellion,
and who are now frankly and honestly CO.
operating with us in restoring the cause of
country and in the reconstruction of the
Southern States on q basis of impartial
justice and equal rights, are received buck
into communion with loyal people, and that
we are in favor of the removal of the dis,
qualifications and restrictions imposed upon
the late rebels in the same measures as their
spirit of loyalty. and as may be consistent
with the safety of the loyal people.


By Carl Shurz:


Reso'red, That we recognize the great
principles laid down in the Declaration of
Independence as the true foundation of a
democratic government, and we hail with
gladness every effort toward making these
principles living reality on every inch of
American soil.