Year: 1867

these organizations, and, finding them
both Illegal and anti.republicau, to re-.
fuse them representation. That it was
III the power and it was tic duty OF
Congress to sweep from existence any
and all governments IN any States which
were aptl'republican, as these govern.
ments in the rebel States were, and ia
provide tor the establishment of other
governments therein, on the basis of re,
publican equality.


5. That Congress was correct in its
decision that any governments in these
States denying suffrage to all treemen
without distinction of race or color. were
Illegal and anti republican, and rs iustif,
ed IN denying representation to those
States until they do grantsuffrage to the
people without such distinctions.


6. The right OF suffrage is the only
secure means by which any person can
protect his liberty, aud that it cannot be
denied to the colored people, who, in
most OF the States, if not all, constitute
the majority Of those who proved stead
fast to the Union, and fought in the
ranks OF its armies, without denial of
the republican principles upon which the
Government is founded.


7. That the Constitutional Amend
ment proposed by the Inst Congress, was
an indispensable necessity created by
the war that Congress did right in pro-
posing it, and in making It's ratification
a prerequisite of the recognition Of any
Government in the rebel States. That
the amendment in all Its parts--the
declaration of citizenship, the limitation
OF representation to those admitted to
suffrage, the inyiolablIity of the national
debt, the reputation OF the rebel debt.
the dlstranchisement Of those rebels who
had added official PERJURY to treason
was wise and just, and of its necessity
there can be no doubt.


s, That the Reconstruction Acts of
the last Congress were the result of a
wise exercise of the unqucstonable
power of the law, making branch of the
Government; at the military provis>
ions Of the acts are no more violations
OF liberty than the employment Of the
army for the Suppression Of the rebel
lion, and that the South must accept the
situation fully and unreservedly.


.. That reconst.uclirn and restora
ton of the whole Union are eminently
desirable that it must DO accomplished
before there can be full return 10 all
the blessings Of a wise and economical
administration OF the affairs OF the Gov.
ernment; that there Is no portion of the
people who more earnestly desire such
restoration than the army generally, or
the live commanders Of the military dis.
trlcts; mat the Union thus restored
upon the broad and enduring basis of
the political equality of all troemen, the
future glory and safety Of the nation will
be secured beyond danger.


10. That all Northern States which
have not established impartial suffrage
should do so without delay.


This is the comprehensive platform
embodied In the able speech of General
Rawlings, 1t will meet with hearty
response from the whole American
people, 1t is not open to doubt each
point Is clearly stated and fortified with
lmpregnable arguments. 1t is the plat.
form OF the army, it is the platform of
the Republican party. it is, empbalicaly,
the platform OF the country, and it is,
nnqnestionably, the platform OF General
Grant.